I checked a couple frequencies Bob's SDR as well (Edinburgh, Ind.). WSCR was missing around midnight ET, although I'm not certain if it is a frequent catch there. WLW was present and strong, as was WHAS.
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Geomagnetic Storm Today may affect power and communications
- Thread starter Greg Strickland
- Start date
WSCR is a strong daytime catch but often gets wiped out by the Radio Rebelde chorus. WLW and WHAS are almost locals.
Crain- I am going to try to drive from Vancouver BC up to Whistler BC tonight to get a chance at photographing the northern lights. Any advice on what I should look for on the radio? This is a great place to try it out, since FM is entirely blocked.Aurora FM DX!!! My first time ever in Yakima. Two new in the last hour! Drove home from substitute teaching in Naches WA and heard:
3:25PM - 96.7 KKEX Preston, ID; Kenny Chesney song, ID "Kix 96". Heard over the course of 25-30 minutes. NEW #830, 100KW at 543 miles. Au log #1 in Yakima. I've only heard Au DX one other time. It was a few years ago in Ellensburg, 105.5 KKHB in Eureka CA heard on that opening.
3:40PM - 95.1 KCGY Laramie, WY; local ads, car dealer in Laramie, etc. Drat - was hoping for KYCS (would be new). This becomes the first-ever Es/Au double-play here, heard by both DX modes. Relog, 100KW at 835 miles. I have several (mostly CA) stations via both Es and meteor scatter.
3:46PM - 93.9 KZBQ Pocatello, ID; strong with country music, KZBQ.com mentions. NEW #831, 100KW at 473 miles.
UNIDs on 91.7 (jazz - KEMC MT?), 92.3 ('80s rock, national ads - KYUS MT?), 94.1, 95.5, 96.5, 97.5, 98.1, 101.5, 100.7, other channels too.
We have several CMEs coming our way so this is just the beginning. I expect killer southern AM DX out of this. Look for the Northern Lights - and point the antennas south! Oh, and get the headphones plugged in
Fordranger...
The AM band could still be dead tonight given that you are going even further north.
The Orcas Island SDR (not too far from Vancouver) didn't even get KFBK *at night*. For example...1280 was a weak KLDY Lacey on 500 watts (no KIT, KZNS, KRVM, etc.). Only KITZ on 1400. Only KBRO on 1490 (with a classic hits station faintly in the background, maybe KLOG?) It was one of the wildest bandscans I have ever witnessed - to be completely dark with no skywave propagation.
810 was completely empty. KGO should be S9+20 easily. Nothing at 11PM last night.
KABC-790 L.A. was huge last night from Yakima, around 12:30AM. All alone with no sign of KFPT Clovis or any others. Easily S9+10.
Over on the W0AY SDR in western MT, skywave returned a little bit before I went to bed. All stations were to the southwest. 1490 KRKC King City (799 miles) was HUGE as mentioned earlier. But I also had some interesting SSers on 1190 and 1120 that were unexpected. Easily could have been 100 watt stations in Mexicali. Another SS station on 1270 all alone, sounded like news. There's a 500W XEAZ in Tijuana, but I couldn't get an ID from it. 1260 KMZT all alone and they beam very little north. 1210 KPRZ 'K-Praise' confirmed just before 2AM (Mountain), very little power going towards Montana. 1230 KPRL Paso Robles on top of 2-3 others. These signals were enhanced like FM sporadic-E.
1160 completely blank. No sign of KSL, normally S9+30 with wipeout HD hash on 1150/1170. I could actually hear a station on 1170 faintly, possibly KCBQ.
The AM band could still be dead tonight given that you are going even further north.
The Orcas Island SDR (not too far from Vancouver) didn't even get KFBK *at night*. For example...1280 was a weak KLDY Lacey on 500 watts (no KIT, KZNS, KRVM, etc.). Only KITZ on 1400. Only KBRO on 1490 (with a classic hits station faintly in the background, maybe KLOG?) It was one of the wildest bandscans I have ever witnessed - to be completely dark with no skywave propagation.
810 was completely empty. KGO should be S9+20 easily. Nothing at 11PM last night.
KABC-790 L.A. was huge last night from Yakima, around 12:30AM. All alone with no sign of KFPT Clovis or any others. Easily S9+10.
Over on the W0AY SDR in western MT, skywave returned a little bit before I went to bed. All stations were to the southwest. 1490 KRKC King City (799 miles) was HUGE as mentioned earlier. But I also had some interesting SSers on 1190 and 1120 that were unexpected. Easily could have been 100 watt stations in Mexicali. Another SS station on 1270 all alone, sounded like news. There's a 500W XEAZ in Tijuana, but I couldn't get an ID from it. 1260 KMZT all alone and they beam very little north. 1210 KPRZ 'K-Praise' confirmed just before 2AM (Mountain), very little power going towards Montana. 1230 KPRL Paso Robles on top of 2-3 others. These signals were enhanced like FM sporadic-E.
1160 completely blank. No sign of KSL, normally S9+30 with wipeout HD hash on 1150/1170. I could actually hear a station on 1170 faintly, possibly KCBQ.
Only slightly less dead tonight in Denver. Almost none of the regulars have shown up. From Mexico, 1570 XERF is coming in as is 1050 XEG. As a path of darkness set up, 1070 KNX was coming in faintly just before 9 pm MDT. There's some interference tonight to Boulder's 1490 KCFC but it's still fairly clear to hear. A couple of class D stations in Colorado with low night power are coming in: 1580 KFCS (140 watts, Colorado Springs), regional Mexican with deep fades; 870 KJMP (Pierce, north of Greeley, 320 watts aimed west; I'm south - KJMP can also be heard here in the daytime, barely, with 1.2 kW) and hip-hop. KJMP was verified with its online feed; I had to figure out KFCS through elimination of stations on the frequency with other formats. I think there is more noise tonight compared to last night's eerie quiet, but I can't pin it down.
Snooze. Solar storms demolish AM and HF Reception up here, they absorb signals before it hits the ground. 50kw AM's 250 miels away are useless. WWVH is useless.
Though, the alarmist nature of alot of media on how dire these solar storms are is a bit annoyingI
Its not affected my NPR satellite feed, Starlink internet or cell phone useage that im aware of and im in prime territory for this so called horses&^t of the solar storm having dire consequences to comms.
Though, the alarmist nature of alot of media on how dire these solar storms are is a bit annoyingI
Its not affected my NPR satellite feed, Starlink internet or cell phone useage that im aware of and im in prime territory for this so called horses&^t of the solar storm having dire consequences to comms.
Too much electrical noise to hear much indoors. Heard WWV 5000 kHz barely coming in like with the old "Disturbed 4" (W4 ._ _ ...._) morse code notation. Only other station heard on SW was WBCQ 9330. AM BC Groundwave only, with a few exceptions, KMOX 1120 and KXEL 1540. Strongest skywaves, WFDF 910 and WWJ 950, were absent. Might hear their groundwave in electrically quiet conditions.
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Western Montana SDR is less dead than last night as well. Still mostly dead 530-750khz. KERR Polson (75 miles north) alone on 750, no Portland/Price UT. KEAR-610 OK, faint KMJ-580.
KSL back to S9+20 with HD sidebands strong. Last night they were completely absent. 1210 KHAT, 1250 KNEU, 1220 KHTS also noted, all three alone on their respective channels. 1380 KLPZ Parker AZ mixed with SS (probably KVSM Santa Maria CA). And KRKK WY is on top of 1360.
The K level is back down to 6 and back down to G1 levels - but only temporarily! Why?
Per Spaceweather, TWO MORE X-flares shot off the sun, and one is the biggest yet this month. X5.8 at 0123 UTC 5/11...followed by another X1.5 flare around 1100 UTC. Both sent a CME and have the potential to return us to G5 levels.
KSL back to S9+20 with HD sidebands strong. Last night they were completely absent. 1210 KHAT, 1250 KNEU, 1220 KHTS also noted, all three alone on their respective channels. 1380 KLPZ Parker AZ mixed with SS (probably KVSM Santa Maria CA). And KRKK WY is on top of 1360.
The K level is back down to 6 and back down to G1 levels - but only temporarily! Why?
Per Spaceweather, TWO MORE X-flares shot off the sun, and one is the biggest yet this month. X5.8 at 0123 UTC 5/11...followed by another X1.5 flare around 1100 UTC. Both sent a CME and have the potential to return us to G5 levels.
This explains why:
- No auroras visible at my location
- Relatively normal AM and SW band (most regulars are coming in more or less, and WWV is loud and clear on 5 and 10 MHz)
When is this going to happen?
c
Kenosha, WI 10:30 PM CDT- Entire lower portion of the AM band DEAD. I usually try to catch some of Saturday Night Bandstand on CFZM. Not tonight (sometimes I stream it, but what fun is that?). All the usual big signals gone, or virtually gone; noise floor very high with unusual "rolling / waterfall static." Didn't make it to the upper end of the band or FM due to technical issues (i.e. fell asleep).
Aurora Borealis was very visible here between 11:00-Midnight, but not by me.
Aurora Borealis was very visible here between 11:00-Midnight, but not by me.
I did see the Aurora near Pellston, but no pretty colors. A lot of clouds, but ion cloud flashes in between.
WLIP 1050 was probably receivable on the far side of Lake Michigan, KenoGuy. WLIP gets out amazing well for 250 watts. And WHFB 1060 is only 1.3 watts Nights. Usually, CHUM 1050 and WTKA 1050 interfere in Michigan.
WLIP 1050 was probably receivable on the far side of Lake Michigan, KenoGuy. WLIP gets out amazing well for 250 watts. And WHFB 1060 is only 1.3 watts Nights. Usually, CHUM 1050 and WTKA 1050 interfere in Michigan.
No WHAS in Owensboro that night? I think you are a little under a hundred miles from Louisville.
WSM is a surprise too. As it's a daytime regular in that part of the state.
I made a trip to Hopkinsville Wednesday and WSM in the daytime was solid ( except for the lightning static) all the way down the WK Parkway...one of my favorites...
I have to concur with many of you folks, the current Geo storm has really damaged DX on the AM/MW Band. I live in SoCal where normally at night 680, 740, 810 and 1160 come in virtually like locals, were barely receivable Friday night.
Based on my tuning of the dial at 10am friday, i havent been dxing at all since then... because i knew the A/K and solar stuff would get worse.
The 10kw Class A's & 50kw Class A's 250-300 miles away in ANC and FBX which are usually well audible at night are total mush, no discernable audio.
WWVH is useless.
Im going to be going outside later today so ill tune the band just for the heck of it, but i expect to be able to scan for signals in like 2 minutes and go back inside
The 10kw Class A's & 50kw Class A's 250-300 miles away in ANC and FBX which are usually well audible at night are total mush, no discernable audio.
WWVH is useless.
Im going to be going outside later today so ill tune the band just for the heck of it, but i expect to be able to scan for signals in like 2 minutes and go back inside
Hams must be glad that none of their major contests (Field Day, DX, Sweepstakes) were scheduled this weekend.
I've been in Field Days with crappy band conditions, but this would have to be crappiest of conditions to have it
Auroral FM DX clips now posted from 5/10
KOLC - KOLC 97.3 Carson City NV 5 10 24 AURORA DX from Yakima WA
KRXQ - KRXQ 98.5 Sacramento CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KFBK - KFBK-FM 93.1 Pollock Pines CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KISQ - KISQ 98.1 San Francisco CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KTHU - KTHU 100.7 Corning CA 5 10 24 AURORA FM DX from Yakima WA
I couldn't get audio of KZBQ, KCGY or KKEX.
KOLC - KOLC 97.3 Carson City NV 5 10 24 AURORA DX from Yakima WA
KRXQ - KRXQ 98.5 Sacramento CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KFBK - KFBK-FM 93.1 Pollock Pines CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KISQ - KISQ 98.1 San Francisco CA 5 10 24 AURORAL FM DX from Yakima WA
KTHU - KTHU 100.7 Corning CA 5 10 24 AURORA FM DX from Yakima WA
I couldn't get audio of KZBQ, KCGY or KKEX.
I heard a tentative KCKM Monahans on the Weiser ID SDR. That's 300 miles away from Yakima.
HOWEVER...I have KCKM in the logs here in Yakima too. Heard on a DX test in 2014 that was heard all the way to Sweden and Norway, on full day power. 1390mi. Have heard their former simulcast on 94.7 a few times (KTXO Goldsmith).
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