Daytime Skywave 3 Hours Before Sunset

[stacker]

A poster asked, "Is it normal"?

I guess the answer is, "It depends."

Daytime skywave is the result of the D layer not getting enough excitation. Usually the layer charges up and absorbs skywave signals. Maximum absorption occurs at about noon, local time, and ramps down quickly around sunset.

During solar minimums, I have heard skywave signals on the upper part of the broadcast band as late as 11 a.m.

 

[charlestondxman]

Even this far south it occurs a lot during the late fall and winter. Even during the summer, the signal from 1560 out of Lancaster is in much of the time in the Charleston area. That might be enhanced skywave.

1660 Charlotte and 1670 Macon are also in a lot during the winter a few hours before sunset. The big clears also can be heard very early in the afternoon. I've heard WCBS as early as 3 or 3:15 pm, and on some cloudy days it stays in. Most of the Eastern clears are in for a while.

I've heard KMOX and WLS as late as 9:15am during the dead of winter.

 

[schmave]

Not at all unusual for WMVP to be heard here in central Ohio as early as 3 p.m. some winter afternoons. I've actually heard it earlier.

 

[N4GBK]

From NE NC not much unusual heard 3 hr before sunset. Will be much different in the winter. Hearing 50 kW stations around 200 miles. WFED 1500, WNEW 1580, WTRU 830. UNID weak signal on 1690.
It gets much better about an hour before sunset.

 

[jim-satx]

This past Tuesday I had my first ever experience of AM daytime skywave. Shortly before 2 p.m. I heard something weak on 1640 on the car radio. At first I thought it was a harmonic, but it slowly got stronger until it became listenable and I realized it was 10 kW KZLS "The Eagle" in Enid, OK. That's a distance of 456 miles, and this was over 3½ hours before local sunset (and a little less than 3½ hours before Enid's sunset).

The station eventually slowly faded and then was gone until closer to sunset a couple of hours later. Since that day I've been checking 1640 in the early afternoons. There has been no sign of KZLS until about 1½ hours before sunset, which is more typical reception.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

I noticed some skywave about 2:00 PM yesterday, above 1100 kHz.

 

[mimo]

For the past 4 days, we've been getting daytime skywave all day, as we usually do here in Ottawa this time of year. It usually goes as far south as New York city an sometimes will go all the way down to 600 khz.

 

[benale]

In NE Pa. I was receiving CHML 900 Hamilton,ON at 2PM loud and clear. CFZM 740 usually booms down here at night. Wish CFTR,CFMJ and CFRB got down here. Once in a while CFRB and WINS will battle it out,but WINS is usually dominant. Another Toronto station, 860 in French booms in.

WCBS has a marginal signal during the day. I'm about 160 miles due west of NY. The other day at 1PM it was booming in. Crazy skywave.

 

[benale]

In NE Pa I was getting CHML 900 Hamilton ON loud and clear at 2PM. This time of the year WTAM 1100 Cleveland booms in well before sunset, as well.

 

[cyberdad]

I haven't noticed any daytime skywave myself yet this season. But, then again, I haven't been looking. We're definitely getting into that time of year.

 

[HGR1290]

A couple of days each year, I can hear WKNR-850 in Cleveland all day long, despite 850 in Birmingham AL.

This is in just North of Atlanta

 

[FreddyE1977]

WBBR in New York often comes booming into Pittsburgh around 3PM this time of year.
The former WASP in Brownsville, PA would have to go to critical hours power at that time.

Others that often appear on mid-winter afternoons are WRVA, Richmond, VA,
WHAM, Rochester, NY, and KYW, Philadelphia.