AM Frequency of the week: 1600:

[ente]

What does CH mean?

CH is critical hours, the time when the sun is lower than at noontime, but not sunrise/sunset. The effects of skywave can start long before sunset and continue after sunrise, especially in winter months when the sun doesn't get as high.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

I was up near the Straits for a couple of weeks, where I've observed WLCO 1530. There are other 1600s that come and go, one from WI, WRPN, which is also powerful. The 1530s are mostly a lot weaker, so WLCO comes in very clearly, whereas WAAM is intermittent with WRPN Ripon. But WAAM is very strong when it's in. There are also no 50 kW stations on 1600 in this region, so those don't override the 5 kW ones on 1600, like WCKY does on 1530 when it gets closer to SS. WTRU and the old WCGO are gone from 1600.

There are a couple 1530s which reduce power during CH, WCKG Elmhurst, IL to 760 watts, and WLAK New Holstein, WI to 250 watts.

 

[davideduardo]

CH is critical hours, the time when the sun is lower than at noontime, but not sunrise/sunset. The effects of skywave can start long before sunset and continue after sunrise, especially in winter months when the sun doesn't get as high.

And "CH" is an official standard FCC abbreviation, just as "DA" means "directional antenna" and "PSA" means "Pre Sunrise Authorization".

 

[wildthangjim]

From west Houston, daytime is slop from local KMIC 1590. At sunset I've heard KOGT Orange TX, and KOKE (Austin area). At night it's a mess, but have picked out KOKE and KRVA (Dallas area). I've heard snatches of music that could be KLEB but haven't ID'd.

Retro: in Tulsa in the early 70's I actually logged KLEB on a DX test one Monday morning. KATZ was usually dominant with soul music, but heard the Dallas station (then country music) and the country formatted Denver station as well.

 

[jim-satx]

From NW San Antonio:

Day: A weak to moderate signal from "Tejano 1600" KOKE in Pflugerville. KRVA "Radio Saigon Dallas" in Cockerell Hill can be heard when there is winter daytime skywave.

Sunset: KOKE and KRVA fight it out for dominance. Occasionally I'll hear KOGT and brief fadeups of KLEB in Golden Meadow LA. If I aim NW, KIVA in Albuquerque can be heard.

Night: KOKE drops to 700 watts and KRVA drops to 930 watts and are heard a lot less often, especially the latter. Aiming N-NE, I can occasionally hear KATZ in St. Louis, KOGT, and KLEB fadeups. To the NW, KIVA is stronger.

Sunrise: KOKE and KRVA dominate again when they go to day power. Also, KUSH in Cushing, OK, is in/out for a while after going to day power.

DX/RETRO: One time catches include KXEW (South Tucson, AZ) and WMQM (Lakeland, TN) around sunrise and KEPN (Lakewood, CO) around sunset. Also, I used to hear XEAE in Ciudad Acuña occasionally before it was retired.

 

[The New Chico]

We have an interesting one up here by the Canadian border in WA state. KVRI 1600 is 50/20 with 6(!) towers and pushes as much of it's signal into Vancouver-Surrey as possible. It's a true "border blaster" that has been under the skin of the CTRC for years. I get it fine daytimes at the other end of the county where I live, but at nights, forget it. Might be in there somewhere. But I guarantee it blows into Vancouver and Surrey no problem! (Which is the whole point.) For all I know there is an Indo-Canadian version of Wolfman Jack somewhere in the mix. The calls literally stand for K Vancouver Radio India. Licensed to Blaine WA with towers less than 1000 meters from the border, as they are won't to say up there.

 

[cyberdad]

We have an interesting one up here by the Canadian border in WA state. KVRI 1600 is 50/20 with 6(!) towers and pushes as much of it's signal into Vancouver-Surrey as possible. It's a true "border blaster" that has been under the skin of the CTRC for years. I get it fine daytimes at the other end of the county where I live, but at nights, forget it. Might be in there somewhere. But I guarantee it blows into Vancouver and Surrey no problem! (Which is the whole point.) For all I know there is an Indo-Canadian version of Wolfman Jack somewhere is rin the mix. The calls literally stand for K Vancouver Radio India. Licensed to Blaine WA with towers less than 1000 meters from the border, as they are won't to say up there.

KVRI is easily audible with a good signal most of the time on the Massett SDR in British Columbia, just across the strait from Ketchikan and the Alaska panhandle. it's definitelt not the only "border blaster" aimed at a major Canadian City. WTOR is in Yougstown, New York, right on the shore of Lake Ontario, and aimed directly on Toronto on 770. Then there's at least one other in thre Burlington, Vermont area aimed at Montreal. On 760, IIRC.

 

[The New Chico]

KVRI is easily audible with a good signal most of the time on the Massett SDR in British Columbia, just across the strait from Ketchikan and the Alaska panhandle. it's definitelt not the only "border blaster" aimed at a major Canadian City. WTOR is in Yougstown, New York, right on the shore of Lake Ontario, and aimed directly on Toronto on 770. Then there's at least one other in thre Burlington, Vermont area aimed at Montreal. On 760, IIRC.

Figured there were a few out there, thanks C-Dad. This one has been in and out of trouble for most of the last decade, shifting "ownership" around and such to avoid the wrath of the Canadian authorities. Even though I don't speak the language (or languages) it is abundantly clear this station is broadcasting from Canadian studios for a Canadian audience. Enough English or Anglicized words come through to get the gist.

 

[cyberdad]

This one has been in and out of trouble for most of the last decade, shifting "ownership" around and such to avoid the wrath of the Canadian authorities. Even though I don't speak the language (or languages) it is abundantly clear this station is broadcasting from Canadian studios for a Canadian audience. Enough English or Anglicized words come through to get the gist.

I used to be in Vancouver about 2-3 times a year on business trips during 2000s. KVRI had a reasonabily good signal in the city and immediate suburbs 24/7, although at night, you could hear stuff underneath. KARI on 550, a religious station also aimed at Vancouver, had a better signal there, as you might expect.

 

[wildthangjim]

From west Houston, daytime is slop from local KMIC 1590. At sunset I've heard KOGT Orange TX, and KOKE (Austin area). At night it's a mess, but have picked out KOKE and KRVA (Dallas area). I've heard snatches of music that could be KLEB but haven't ID'd.

Forgot about KIVA Albuquerque, a regular at sunset in the winter.

 

[boombox4]

KVRI comes in well into Seattle all night, and often late in the mornings. I listen to it a lot, especially overnights, when they have their Sikh prayer and meditation music, which is really cool.

I also get KOPB from time to time (Eugene NPR or JPR station), and I've heard KUBA and KGST on rare occasions, and I'm pretty sure I've logged KEPN / Colorado, but I don't have my log handy.

I've also heard a Regional Mexican station on the frequency, do not recall the call letters, though.

Mostly, it's KVRI.

Daytime, it's either an extremely weak KVRI or static.