Big tropo in Texas last night

[Triple Fake Jerry]

I'm new to the art of DXing, and especially considering I live so close to DFW, it's almost an afterthought. Till last night.

I was coming home from work and trying to listen to KERA 90.1 FM (which broadcasts BBC World Service) to see what's up with the election over there, and there is a ton of static. I get to a stop sign and pause for just a sec, and I hear death metal.

Turns out KERA, whose tower I should be practically able to look at, is being stepped all over by KPFT out of Houston. In fact, just about all the DFW FM stations whose towers aren't on the north side, are almost unlistenable.

It's all seemed to clear up by now. Is this classic tropo? Seems strange for it to be so strong that it messes up close to city grade signals.

EDIT: My apologies, fixed the call on KPFT. I have it saved on my Blackberry.

 

[jd]

Turns out KERA, whose tower I should be practically able to look at, is being stepped all over by KPFT out of Houston. In fact, just about all the DFW FM stations whose towers aren't on the north side, are almost unlistenable.

I noticed the same thing, and you're right. Virtually all the Cedar Hill sticks had at least some interference this morning (and yesterday, too), much of it involving stations from southeast Texas and western Louisiana. KEGL was being trashed by the Houston area "Country Legends" on 97.1.

Is this classic tropo?

Yes, in the general sense, but this event falls into the tropospheric enhancement category. For info on tropo and its various forms, here's what a lot of DX'ers rely on: www.dxinfocentre.com/propagation/tr-modes.htm The main site page at www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html also features constantly updated "Tropospheric Ducting Forecasts" which are really fascinating. Hope you find this helpful.

 

[jserigny]

DX was pretty extreme in SE LA too. New Orleans TV and radio stations were getting clobbered in Houma, LA about 45 to 60 miles to the SW of New Orleans.

The event lasted until about 10:30 AM. I was even able to pickup KIAH in Houston in Houma early in the morning. Some tropo nights, I have even been able to pickup the CBS out of San Antonio. A day or 2 before, I was even able to pick up KALB in Alexandria with no drop outs.

This morning, my box even locked onto KLPC's PSIP data on Channel 7, but I could not lock a signal. There is an LP on 7 in Morgan City that blocks KPLC. Don't get me started on the other LC station. KVHP 29 (RF 30) causes a little bit of chaos on the Class A in Houma on the same frequency.

 

[jserigny]

DX was pretty extreme in SE LA too. New Orleans TV and radio stations were getting clobbered in Houma, LA about 45 to 60 miles to the SW of New Orleans. Even the stations were dropping out on cable like flies.

The event lasted until about 10:30 AM. I was even able to pickup KIAH in Houston in Houma early Friday morning.
Friday morning, my box even locked onto KLPC's PSIP data on Channel 7, but I could not lock a signal. There is an LP on 7 in Morgan City that blocks KPLC. Don't get me started on the other LC station, KVHP 29 (RF 30), and what it does to the Digital Class A in Houma on the same frequency.

On Friday night before the cool front neared about 10:30 p.m. KATC and KLFY were screaming into Houma. They were literally pegging the signal meter showing almost full strength.

Some tropo nights, I have even been able to pickup the CBS out of San Antonio, and KBTV in Houma. A day or 2 before, I was even able to pick up KALB in Alexandria with no drop outs.