Long Wave DX - anyone here do it?

[BRNout]

- - - While on vacation in Morocco, North Africa in 1969 I remember listening to the BBC on 200 kHz.

in the middle of the day. So yes, Longwave stations do cover a lot of territory, and because it propagates primarily

by ground wave, its not as affected by the Sun as skip propagation on higher frequencies.

Isn't it at 198 kHz? I know, it's a minor detail, but I think that the 198 kHz channel is still occupied by BBC Radio 4. One issue these days is that there are some multiple stations on the same channel in that region of the world, so today's reception may not be quite as impressive.

 

[radioman148]

>>One issue these days is that there are some multiple stations on the same channel in that region of the world, so today's reception may not be quite as impressive>>

Kind of like we have here.

 

[frcradio]

Isn't it at 198 kHz?

- - - Yes, it is now, but in 1969 the BBC was on 200 kHz. Since then there has been

a realignment of medium and long wave frequencies in Regions I and III

 

[markwooldridge]

Yeah the radio in question is one of those Sangean-made and RS-rebranded deals. Not a great unit by any stretch, but it does have RDS on FM.

Those of you who've been overseas, what the LW reception like over there? Do they cover a lot of territory? Do they suffer even more from noise and interference than MW?

As others have said, LW is good in Europe for covering lots of distance. RTE's 252Khz in Ireland covers the entire British Isles and captures a good part of NW Europe - from one transmitter. BBC take a different approach with 198Khz - they have one main tx and two fillers. However even then MW fillers were used in poor LW areas. But LW is good - I've been in parts of Wales where you can either climb a mountain, or just have longwave radio.

 

[radioman148]

Yeah the radio in question is one of those Sangean-made and RS-rebranded deals. Not a great unit by any stretch, but it does have RDS on FM.

Those of you who've been overseas, what the LW reception like over there? Do they cover a lot of territory? Do they suffer even more from noise and interference than MW?

As others have said, LW is good in Europe for covering lots of distance. RTE's 252Khz in Ireland covers the entire British Isles and captures a good part of NW Europe - from one transmitter. BBC take a different approach with 198Khz - they have one main tx and two fillers. However even then MW fillers were used in poor LW areas. But LW is good - I've been in parts of Wales where you can either climb a mountain, or just have longwave radio.

Are the LW signals in Europe better during the day than at night?

 

[cyberdad]

Offhand I'd say day.

I'm in Paris at the moment. Not exactly a low noise location (especially my hotel on the Champs Elysees). Five LW signals available in my room on the YB PE400....which is greater than the number of daytime listenable MW (standard a.m.) signals. No 252 here on LW, but I'll try that later in the week when I'm in London. BBC on 198khz is no particular problem. Not sure where all of the other stations are from, but two a city-grade quality.

MW? Local stuff here on 585 and 864, Next strongest (but weak) is Belgium on 621. Also traces of the Arrow (675 from Netherlands) and BBC on 648 (if I can null the noise in the building). I'm in Brussels tomorrow (Wed.) before I go on to the UK, so I'll check things out from there if I get the chance. That's rather unlikely, since I have wall-to-wall biz appointments.

 

[cyberdad]

Offhand I'd say LW is better during the day day.

I'm in Paris at the moment. Not exactly a low noise location (especially my hotel on the Champs Elysees). Five LW signals available in my room on the YB PE400....which is greater than the number of daytime listenable MW (standard a.m.) signals. No 252 here on LW, but I'll try that later in the week when I'm in London. BBC on 198khz is no particular problem. Not sure where all of the other stations are from, but two a city-grade quality.

MW? Local stuff here on 585 and 864, Next strongest (but weak) is Belgium on 621. Also traces of the Arrow (675 from Netherlands) and BBC on 648 (if I can null the noise in the building). I'm in Brussels tomorrow (Wed.) before I go on to the UK, so I'll check things out from there if I get the chance. That's rather unlikely, since I have wall-to-wall biz appointments.

 

[radioman148]

Offhand I'd say LW is better during the day day.

I'm in Paris at the moment. Not exactly a low noise location (especially my hotel on the Champs Elysees). Five LW signals available in my room on the YB PE400....which is greater than the number of daytime listenable MW (standard a.m.) signals. No 252 here on LW, but I'll try that later in the week when I'm in London. BBC on 198khz is no particular problem. Not sure where all of the other stations are from, but two a city-grade quality.

MW? Local stuff here on 585 and 864, Next strongest (but weak) is Belgium on 621. Also traces of the Arrow (675 from Netherlands) and BBC on 648 (if I can null the noise in the building). I'm in Brussels tomorrow (Wed.) before I go on to the UK, so I'll check things out from there if I get the chance. That's rather unlikely, since I have wall-to-wall biz appointments.

Don't forget to DX for North America in your spare time ;D

 

[cyberdad]

Don't forget to DX for North America in your spare time ;D

I'm in Central London for the next four days....probably too much noise here for North America, but lots of stuff coming through from the continent.

 

[radioman148]

Don't forget to DX for North America in your spare time ;D

I'm in Central London for the next four days....probably too much noise here for North America, but lots of stuff coming through from the continent.

I picked up WCBS in London in the late 70s so don't give up hope. You'd have to try before London sunrise to have the best chance at North America.

 

[cyberdad]

I'll probably take a stab at WCBS, although U.S. armed forces radio from Germany is fairly strong most nights here on 873. Noise here is bad, but probably not insurmountable.

 

[BRNout]

I had a lot of trouble with MW and LW in London thanks to interference, but I mainly stay around Paddington Station or Heathrow and both areas are hotbeds of interference. DXing MW/LW is always more fun once you get outside of the city. Nonetheless, enjoy! London is a great city.

 

[radioman148]

I'll probably take a stab at WCBS, although U.S. armed forces radio from Germany is fairly strong most nights here on 873. Noise here is bad, but probably not insurmountable.

That's why my best chance at WCBS came right before London sunrise when the rest of Europe was lost to daylight.

 

[cyberdad]

I had a lot of trouble with MW and LW in London thanks to interference, but I mainly stay around Paddington Station or Heathrow and both areas are hotbeds of interference. DXing MW/LW is always more fun once you get outside of the city. Nonetheless, enjoy! London is a great city.

I'm in Mayfair, which is mostly residential. So while there's noise here, its undoubtedly nowhere near as extreme as would be the case around Paddington (with all the train stuff!) or Heathrow. I've stayed by Heathrow when I've had an early morning flight, but there my main problem has been t the construction of the hotel building blocking signals. The greenbelt a few miles from the airport, however, would probably be a prime location for dxing.

 

[radioman148]

I had a lot of trouble with MW and LW in London thanks to interference, but I mainly stay around Paddington Station or Heathrow and both areas are hotbeds of interference. DXing MW/LW is always more fun once you get outside of the city. Nonetheless, enjoy! London is a great city.

I'm in Mayfair, which is mostly residential. So while there's noise here, its undoubtedly nowhere near as extreme as would be the case around Paddington (with all the train stuff!) or Heathrow. I've stayed by Heathrow when I've had an early morning flight, but there my main problem has been t the construction of the hotel building blocking signals. The greenbelt a few miles from the airport, however, would probably be a prime location for dxing.

I had no problem in London when I was there as long as I was near a window. However, that was 30 years ago & I'm sure there's more noise now.

 

[DavidKaye]

I live near Chicago and I get 1160AM at 260.

This is an image frequency generated by your radio not by the station. 1160-260=900 and 900/2=450. 450 is one of the Intermediate Frequencies (IF) used in superhet radios.

 

[radioman148]

I live near Chicago and I get 1160AM at 260.

This is an image frequency generated by your radio not by the station. 1160-260=900 and 900/2=450. 450 is one of the Intermediate Frequencies (IF) used in superhet radios.

Right we were discussing this awhile back. Also I live fairly close to 1160s daytime 50KW site.
At night I don't hear them on 260 because they switch to their site that's further away from me.

 

[cyberdad]

Never got a chance to do any serious DXing during my five days in London....just a few casual scans. I counted six signals (daytime) on LW. BBC on 198 being the strongest. Most surprising, however, was 252 from Ireland with talk. Not sure if this is a new incarnation of the old 252 rocker, or something completely different.

My other surprise was on MW (the regular am band). Netherlands' 675 blowtorch had flipped from classic rock stalwart, "The Arrow", to what seemed to be religion (Dutch language).

 

[radioman148]

Never got a chance to do any serious DXing during my five days in London....just a few casual scans. I counted six signals (daytime) on LW. BBC on 198 being the strongest. Most surprising, however, was 252 from Ireland with talk. Not sure if this is a new incarnation of the old 252 rocker, or something completely different.

My other surprise was on MW (the regular am band). Netherlands' 675 blowtorch had flipped from classic rock stalwart, "The Arrow", to what seemed to be religion (Dutch language).

Shame on you. What's more important business or DXing? ;D

 

[cyberdad]

Well, actually, family. I had a couple days' biz, but daughter lives and works in London. English teacher, no less! ;D

She, her bf, and his fam kept Mrs. Cyberdad & I hoppin'!