Outdoor AM Loop

[Icangelp]

BOTJ,

I had some issues with one of the BNC connectors on the coaxial to my antenna, and today I both replaced the connector and found some time to do a little daytime DXing.

Equipment: Drake R8B, Wellbrook 1530+ mounted about 7' from the ground, Yeasu 5500 rotator.

This was a typical winter day with the sunrise skip extending right till a very early sunset skip replaced it. As a result, the frequencies you listed were filled with stations mixing together and fading in and out all day long.

860 KHZ WMRI Present as usual.

1010 KHZ WCSI Moderate signal. Another reliable small town Indiana station.

1220KHZ WSLM Weak to moderate signal most late morning through early evening. Antenna @250 degrees.

1260KHZ 10:35AM I was hearing WPNW in Zeeland (Grand Rapids) MI on top of WNDE, and at times sounding like a local. WNDE was fading in and out. I don't do a lot of daytime DXing, but I can say this is not the usual case. WNDE is usually weak, but stable. Best signals came with antenna rotated to 0 degrees for WPNW, and 285 degrees for WNDE still mixing with WPNW.

1310KHZ 11:20AM WTLC on top and stronger than usual.

1330 KHZ WTRE was weak to unreadable during the time I was listening.

1390 KHZ 1390 Seymour, IN with an ID. Antenna at 270 degrees.

1460 KHZ WJCP was mostly under the threshold but I was did hear a station with an oldies format which I assume was WJCP. The dominant station was a Spanish Mexican music station. I didn't have th patience to I.D. the SS station. Both stations were best received with antenna at 90/270 degrees. 1460 in Columbus OH was not present.

At about 4:00PM, I decided I would try check out what I could hear on the frequencies adjacent to 700/WLW, no easy task. As expected, the IBOC slop made these frequencies useless. When I was on 710KHZ, I began rotating the antenna and at about 125 degrees the IBOC mostly disappeared and I was able to ID 710/WFNR in Blacksburg, VA. Changed frequencies to 690KHZ with the antenna in the same position and was able to ID WZAP in Bristol, VA. The IBOC free window was only about 3 degrees. I have no idea why this would be the case.

To give you some idea of the directional properties, I can often get 540/WWCS in Canonsburg, PA with a weak to moderate signal days. Peak signal is at 45-60 degrees, and it is completely nulled at 0 degrees and 115 degrees.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

BOTJ,

I had some issues with one of the BNC connectors on the coaxial to my antenna, and today I both replaced the connector and found some time to do a little daytime DXing.

Equipment: Drake R8B, Wellbrook 1530+ mounted about 7' from the ground, Yeasu 5500 rotator.

This was a typical winter day with the sunrise skip extending right till a very early sunset skip replaced it. As a result, the frequencies you listed were filled with stations mixing together and fading in and out all day long.

860 KHZ WMRI Present as usual.

1010 KHZ WCSI Moderate signal. Another reliable small town Indiana station.

1220KHZ WSLM Weak to moderate signal most late morning through early evening. Antenna @250 degrees.

1260KHZ 10:35AM I was hearing WPNW in Zeeland (Grand Rapids) MI on top of WNDE, and at times sounding like a local. WNDE was fading in and out. I don't do a lot of daytime DXing, but I can say this is not the usual case. WNDE is usually weak, but stable. Best signals came with antenna rotated to 0 degrees for WPNW, and 285 degrees for WNDE still mixing with WPNW.

1310KHZ 11:20AM WTLC on top and stronger than usual.

1330 KHZ WTRE was weak to unreadable during the time I was listening.

1390 KHZ 1390 Seymour, IN with an ID. Antenna at 270 degrees.

1460 KHZ WJCP was mostly under the threshold but I was did hear a station with an oldies format which I assume was WJCP. The dominant station was a Spanish Mexican music station. I didn't have th patience to I.D. the SS station. Both stations were best received with antenna at 90/270 degrees. 1460 in Columbus OH was not present.

At about 4:00PM, I decided I would try check out what I could hear on the frequencies adjacent to 700/WLW, no easy task. As expected, the IBOC slop made these frequencies useless. When I was on 710KHZ, I began rotating the antenna and at about 125 degrees the IBOC mostly disappeared and I was able to ID 710/WFNR in Blacksburg, VA. Changed frequencies to 690KHZ with the antenna in the same position and was able to ID WZAP in Bristol, VA. The IBOC free window was only about 3 degrees. I have no idea why this would be the case.

To give you some idea of the directional properties, I can often get 540/WWCS in Canonsburg, PA with a weak to moderate signal days. Peak signal is at 45-60 degrees, and it is completely nulled at 0 degrees and 115 degrees.

Thanks! Hoping for some usable weather this week to get the loop in the air...doubtful that the rotor will get done this winter. Sounds like the nulls make the rotor a useful item.

WTRE has a deep null toward 1320/Covington which results in very little signal going your way. However, it carries well past Indy to the northwest on a good car radio. WJCP 1460 is oldies. My brother lives a few miles north of Kings Island and all he hears is on 1460 is Columbus. What neighborhood are you in? I left College Hill in 1974 and Northbrook in 1977.

 

[Icangelp]

What are the differences between the ALA100 and the 1530+ versions? Frequency coverage, or? Which one is better suited for LW/MW reception?

kilokat7,
I would suggest that you go to the Wellbrook site and do a little reading up.

Both antennas were designed primarily for long and medium wave reception, but both do a reasonable job on the shortwave bands.

There main advantages of the 1530 versions over indoor loop antennas are that they are designed for outdoor use, and are amplified broadband antennas, so no antenna tuner is required. If they are mounted about 20’ or more from the house and away from power lines, you get a signal that is virtually free from man made noise, and in a compact format to boot. If you add a rotator, you can direct the antenna for maximum signal strength. Both antennas are bi-directional and like any loop antenna, have the capability of nulling signals.

Our house is loaded with dimmer switches, computers and electronics, and the noise level is so high that my indoor air core and ferrite loop antennas are not very usable due to the “noise”. When I began using my 1530+, it was like I was back in the 1960’s again. Everything was quiet, and formerly unreadable frequencies were again noise free. Since I have limited space for an outdoor antenna, the 1530+ is perfect for my situation.

The ALA 100 & the 100M are based on the same principles as the 1530, however they take up more space and are less easily rotated. You supply the wire for the required rectangular or triangular antenna. Because they are wire antennas, they are very “portable”. I assume they would be better for AM DX, if only for the fact that they are bigger antennas.

There are Wellbrook Yahoo groups, but I don’t know how active they are.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Icangelp]

Thanks! Hoping for some usable weather this week to get the loop in the air...doubtful that the rotor will get done this winter. Sounds like the nulls make the rotor a useful item.

WTRE has a deep null toward 1320/Covington which results in very little signal going your way. However, it carries well past Indy to the northwest on a good car radio. WJCP 1460 is oldies. My brother lives a few miles north of Kings Island and all he hears is on 1460 is Columbus. What neighborhood are you in? I left College Hill in 1974 and Northbrook in 1977.
[/quote]
I live on the west side, in Green Township.

You will definitely want to have some way to rotate the antenna even if manually, as everything perpendicular to the receiving ends will be nulled to varying degrees.

Of course, 1320 just went silent, but there is no reason to change patterns.

I was a little surprised that North Vernon was not a stronger signal.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Thanks! Hoping for some usable weather this week to get the loop in the air...doubtful that the rotor will get done this winter. Sounds like the nulls make the rotor a useful item.

WTRE has a deep null toward 1320/Covington which results in very little signal going your way. However, it carries well past Indy to the northwest on a good car radio. WJCP 1460 is oldies. My brother lives a few miles north of Kings Island and all he hears is on 1460 is Columbus. What neighborhood are you in? I left College Hill in 1974 and Northbrook in 1977.

I was a little surprised that North Vernon was not a stronger signal.
[/quote]WJCP is on a fairly short tower (I want to say 160'). It gets out better than 1580 WIFE's 250 watts on a 217' tower, but not a lot better. Bit of history...the old WCIN towers from the 1960's are in use at 2 places in Indiana that I know of...WJCP's STL tower and as the transmitting antenna for WZZB 1390. So when you log 1390, you're actually listening to 199' of one of the old towers from 106 Glenwood Avenue.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

It's outdoors in a less than great location, but the noise level is notably lower. The frequency range of this antenna is far beyond AM. There's something on every NOAA weather channel in the 162mhz range. Even hearing broadcast microwave STL signals in the 950mhz range at 12 miles...even ones not aimed at me. When the roof gets less slippery & a warm day hits, the rotor & a better perch for it are on the to-do list.

 

[Icangelp]

Never even thought about going above the shortwave frequencies as I don't have the receivers to go there...actually, I do have my Regency MR-10 from 1963, and a Bearcat 210XL.

The WCIN tower story explains the R&B music fading in and out as I was listening to WZZB. The ghosts of Rounsaville past must have been trying to break through.

I will have time this week for some more daytime DX & will again give WJCP a try. Being on the western side of Cinti, I really should be able to get a steady signal in true daytime reception conditions.

Over the years, I have logged quite a few Indiana, daytime only, small market stations, often during sunrise & sunset skip. My most prized reception though, is the world famous Mighty 1560/WVAK in Paoli. I was driving from a sales visit with Paoli Seating, and started listening to WVAK. It was about 4pm which must have been after grade school let out, because the disc jockey couldn't have been over 13. He was doing his best to sound like a major market top 40 personality, but his voice was cracking. I actually was embarrassed for him.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Never even thought about going above the shortwave frequencies as I don't have the receivers to go there...actually, I do have my Regency MR-10 from 1963, and a Bearcat 210XL.

The WCIN tower story explains the R&B music fading in and out as I was listening to WZZB. The ghosts of Rounsaville past must have been trying to break through.

I will have time this week for some more daytime DX & will again give WJCP a try. Being on the western side of Cinti, I really should be able to get a steady signal in true daytime reception conditions.

Over the years, I have logged quite a few Indiana, daytime only, small market stations, often during sunrise & sunset skip. My most prized reception though, is the world famous Mighty 1560/WVAK in Paoli. I was driving from a sales visit with Paoli Seating, and started listening to WVAK. It was about 4pm which must have been after grade school let out, because the disc jockey couldn't have been over 13. He was doing his best to sound like a major market top 40 personality, but his voice was cracking. I actually was embarrassed for him.

What year was 1560 using the WVAK calls? I hadn't heard those calls before. Was the FM in existence at that time?

 

[Icangelp]

I believe the station signed on as WVAK in 1963 and was owned by the King family. The call letters changed to WUME in early 1978 when the station was sold to Omnia Corporation.

I assume it was around 1977 when I passed through Paoli and heard WVAK.

Sadly, just about everything in AM radio has changed since then, except the previously mentioned WSLM. "Tic toc, tic toc. It's twelve o'clock."

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I believe the station signed on as WVAK in 1963 and was owned by the King family. The call letters changed to WUME in early 1978 when the station was sold to Omnia Corporation.

I assume it was around 1977 when I passed through Paoli and heard WVAK.

Sadly, just about everything in AM radio has changed since then, except the previously mentioned WSLM. "Tic toc, tic toc. It's twelve o'clock."

Actually 1560 in Paoli is getting ready to change again. I wired most of the studio last week & expect to return at the end of next week to finish it. Not sure if the man behind the new format has gone public with it yet, so I'll withhold comment except to say that it will not be fed from a satellite, a lot of money has been invested to make it be all that it can be and the community has put their money where there mouth is in terms of supporting/backing this new AM venture. It's an LMA, so don't look for an ownership change. This may actually be a success...time will tell.

I moved the loop to a better spot & you are right...the noise level on the band is LOW with this thing. Not sure if the band was up all day, but I was hearing WKNR 850 Cleveland 3.5 hours before sunset...and that's a station I haven't heard often in the past. Also logged WWXL 1450 Manchester,KY an hour before sunset & WSAL 1230 Logansport,IN (100 air miles on a graveyard channel!) during daytime conditions. Also logged CLB, Carolina Beach, NC on 216khz tonight. I hear weak AM audio on 170khz day & night, but it's too weak to tell what it is...possible it's not a real signal. Once I get the rotor, maybe I'll get an answer on that one. I'm very pleased so far!

 

[KyDXIn]

Can either of you receive our 250 watt station WOCC in Corydon on 1550? At night I believe it is a hot 6 watts these days. Previous calls were WJDW and WPDF. If you like WSLM, you'll love WOCC.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I love WSLM...no question there. We have a 250 watter in New Castle on 1550 & it's what I hear on that freq in the day. It gets out rather well. It's a multi-tower directional signal. I have heard WOCC in my travels...seems the audio was kinda tinny & they play oldies. Didn't hear anything that rose to the level of WSLM at the time though...

 

[Icangelp]

I'll give WOCC a shot, although there is a TN station that tends to take over during sunset skip.

I too love WSLM. When I was a kid, just about every small town station sounded like it. Nostalgia I guess.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Got the loop & rotor installed the day before the snow hit. Just heard WSEZ Paoli,IN 250 watts at 65 miles with WCNW 1560 5000 watts on the same freq at 75 miles. Probably won't get a perfect handle on the daytime performance until the days are a little longer...in winter, the skip never seems to completely go away...for example, right now at 12:23PM, there's skip on all but two of the ex-band channels.

The null drops WLW's IBOC hash almost to the noise floor. Pretty impressive. The loop works up to at least 955 mhz...don't know what else to look for above that freq.

One thing I'm having an issue with is WTTS 92.3 (37KW, 1050', 12 miles) comes in on 600khz in all of it's wideband glory unless I null it with the loop (my receiver has a wideband FM mode & indeed I can listen to WTTS on 600khz--messes with the 500 - 700khz range). The Wellbrook people told me to put a 50 to 100pf cap across the loop to roll off some of the VHF gain...haven't done that yet. Has anyone else had an FM station mess with their Welbrook 1530 loop?

 

[Icangelp]

Never had a problem with my wellbrook, and I am reasonably near several FM signals.

I do get some of my local ams on a couple of the euro longwave frequencies.

 

[carmen]

not only is wellbrook near 1 wavelength at VHF but its boosted thru a wideband amplifier (this introduces noises)

im a fan of passive resonant loops, or larger antennas if you have the space and quiet locationl..

 

[BobOnTheJob]

not only is wellbrook near 1 wavelength at VHF but its boosted thru a wideband amplifier (this introduces noises)

im a fan of passive resonant loops, or larger antennas if you have the space and quiet locationl..

I'm a fan of not having to go up on the roof to peak a variable cap when I want to change frequencies on my receiver.

 

[Tom Wells]

not only is wellbrook near 1 wavelength at VHF but its boosted thru a wideband amplifier (this introduces noises)

im a fan of passive resonant loops, or larger antennas if you have the space and quiet locationl..

I'm a fan of not having to go up on the roof to peak a variable cap when I want to change frequencies on my receiver.

First you get about a dozen old speedometer cables...about 45 standoffs... 11 cable couplers....a knob of your preference.....

 

[BobOnTheJob]

not only is wellbrook near 1 wavelength at VHF but its boosted thru a wideband amplifier (this introduces noises)

im a fan of passive resonant loops, or larger antennas if you have the space and quiet locationl..

I'm a fan of not having to go up on the roof to peak a variable cap when I want to change frequencies on my receiver.

First you get about a dozen old speedometer cables...about 45 standoffs... 11 cable couplers....a knob of your preference.....

And a good divorce lawyer when the missus sees that method in place...LOL

 

[ddsparxx]

Has anybody ever heard of Palstar's LA30 loopstick antenna? I recently bought one and it appears to be a good MW antenna. In the daytime I can hear Pittsburgh's WWCS 540 from 178 miles away at my home in northern VA, even with my computer on about 5 ft away. WWCS's signal was listenable and not too weak (though I wouldn't want to listen to its Radio Disney programming). If the Welbrook loop ALA 100/1530's were available in the US and not have to go through unsecured ordering (I think it now changed), I would probably bought it instead. But I like the LA30's small size and the ability to use batteries. The radio that uses the LA30 is the R30A.