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Interesting night on the longwave band + 800KHZ + tropical band

Monday Oct 26 2009
Location: Southwest Ohio
Times are Eastern
Equipment: R8B, plus a Wellbrook 1530+ on a mast with rotator.

I did a little DXing after 10:00 last night, splitting time between MW and longwave. As others have mentioned, MW has been interesting in the last few days & I was able to log about 10 new stations last night, including 800KHZ PJB Bonaire with a moderate signal around 10:18PM Eastern. Religious sermon in english followed by spanish translation. I did not get an ID, but I presume it was Bonaire as my antenna was aimed in there direction.

153 - Nothing
162 - Nothing, at least when I checked the frequency several times. France Inter is usually here.
171 - Mixing of at least two (2) signals. Don't know if I was also getting a local in the mix. 1st time I have heard anything on this frequency.
183 - Germany Europe 1 / Readable signal. Listened for about 20 minutes from about 10:55PM through 11:15PM. A man and woman in French either interviewing or talking to a third person. Played a couple of tunes during the period. 1st reception of Europe 1.
189 - Iceland / Heard some music and talking, but this evening the signal level was too low to confirm it was Iceland.
198 - UK / Talk. Didn't ID, but the signal strength rose high enough that I could hear that the english being spoken was very much "british". 1st time I have heard anything here.
207 - Something was there, but the signal was way too low to discern anything.
216 - Monte Carlo / I assume RMC, but the signal was too weak to tell.
225 - Nothing
234 - Luxumbourg / RTL in French. Male announcer. 1st time I have heard RTL.
252 - Ireland / Readable signal for several minutes.
261 - Nothing.
270 - Nothing.
279 - Nothing.

I'm not much of a tropical bands DXer but several Brazilian broadcasters, Guatamala and maybe Peru were present in the high 4000's, all with readable signals. 3320 KHZ, SABC was also present with a nice siganal as is often the case.
 
That equipment you have sure makes all the difference in the world! On this side of the pond, I have yet to pick up anything on the LW band aside from beacons using my E5, ICF-SW7600GR or any other worldband radio with internal antenna. Haven't even had any luck from New England! And believe me, I've tried.
 
I think it is the rotatable Wellbrook antenna that makes the major difference. Great Britain came in only when I had it directed North. I can't say enough good things about the 1530+, although I have to re-convince my wife weekly as to why I needed to spend the money on it and an ALA100.

I am in the process setting up the Wellbrook ALA100 antenna. We will see how it compares.

I have been DXing here in the midwest off and on for 50 years now, and this is the first time I have ever heard trans-Atlantic stations in either longwave, or medium wave.

The other factor is that we are in a very rare period of low sunspot activity, which I understand is very favorable for long and medium wave reception.

Oh, to have been able to hear RTL on medium wave, Europe #1, Radio Andorra, and Radio Caroline back in the 60's and 70's when they were playing top 40.
 
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