Has anyone had any luck dx'ing AM signals from Russia on the west coast?

[fordranger797]

If so, what in particular should I make an effort to catch? Location is Washington State

 

[boombox4]

If so, what in particular should I make an effort to catch? Location is Washington State

In the late 1980's I heard a Russian station from Vladivostok on 1477 khz. It was on a Sanyo boombox and a 3 ft. spiral loop antenna, so you didn't need a beverage antenna to hear it.

I have no idea if the station would be audible today -- the band is more crowded, and the station might not even be on the air anymore.

I think it was a high powered station back then, maybe in the 100kw range: back then there was a lot more MW and SW service from the Soviet government to the maritime industry (for example, Mayak used to be heard all over the lower SW frequencies).

 

[fordranger797]

In the late 1980's I heard a Russian station from Vladivostok on 1477 khz. It was on a Sanyo boombox and a 3 ft. spiral loop antenna, so you didn't need a beverage antenna to hear it.

I have no idea if the station would be audible today -- the band is more crowded, and the station might not even be on the air anymore.

I think it was a high powered station back then, maybe in the 100kw range: back then there was a lot more MW and SW service from the Soviet government to the maritime industry (for example, Mayak used to be heard all over the lower SW frequencies).

Well it sounds like it's going to be pretty difficult. I wonder if people who live in Alaska catch Russian AM's on a regular basis.

 

[Gregg.]

I know of one station that goes the other way. 50,000 watt 850 KICY (as in Icy) from Nome Alaska airs Russian-language Christian programming at night, hoping to be heard in Siberia.

KICY's signal is pointed west (to avoid hurting KOA Denver) but it really doesn't hit Siberia directly. And many people in Siberia speak native languages, although I guess they learn Russian in school.

 

[crainbebo]

576 used to be a big Russian station (Mayak) - think they are now Radio Rossii. They were caught many times in WA, BC and OR, not by me.

 

[Ai4i]

Russia closed down nearly all of their longwave stations around the end of 2014.

 

[AKDXer]

I live in southeast Alaska and have never heard anything from overseas. Granted, my DX situation isn't ideal...not much in terms of antennas, and a house full of RFI-producing things like wall-wart switching-mode power supplies, fluorescent lights/CFLs, etc.

 

[fordranger797]

Thanks for the replies so far. I couldn't help but notice that we have a dx'er in this forum picking up all kinds of interesting catches from Hawaii, therefore I figured that I might have a shot at something overseas. RadioLocator works great for dxing in North America; it's a shame that countries overseas don't have a similar resource that might shed some light on what could potentially be caught..

 

[wildthangjim]

I suggest mwlist.org, usually pretty accurate in my experience.

 

[Ai4i]

The Russian-speaking population of far eastern Siberia must be pretty sparse.
I have read that a limiting factor of creating a bridge or tunnel between Alaska and Siberia is that the infrastructure, the roads connecting the valuable populated areas of Asia to eastern Siberia, would cost many times more that the "wonder of the world" itself.

 

[cyberdad]

The Russian-speaking population of far eastern Siberia must be pretty sparse.
I have read that a limiting factor of creating a bridge or tunnel between Alaska and Siberia is that the infrastructure, the roads connecting the valuable populated areas of Asia to eastern Siberia, would cost many times more that the "wonder of the world" itself.

Vladimir Putin is on record as wanting to do the bridge. My thought when I saw that, about a year ago, was "what's the point"? You'd be connecting hundreds or thousands of miles of currently undeveloped territory with another.

 

[boombox4]

Vladimir Putin is on record as wanting to do the bridge. My thought when I saw that, about a year ago, was "what's the point"? You'd be connecting hundreds or thousands of miles of currently undeveloped territory with another.

The point would be commerce. A railroad connection would be faster than ships for cargoes between Asia and North America.

From what I've read the plan is a railroad bridge.

RE Lists: there is an online resource of Asian MW stations, Pacific something or other. IRCAs Phil Bytheway is involved in it. Lots of info on Asian MW, including Russia & Oceania, if memory serves... Google is your good friend.

 

[Ai4i]

A rail connection makes very good sense.
The Chunnel is one,
but what about the rail lines leading to the connection points, especially in Russia?
Just think, one would be able to ride their Australian bicycle throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, everywhere except islands, Antarctica, and back home.