Phase Box Tool for FM DX

[BobOnTheJob]

There is a marvelous toy available to hear distant stations on channels with semi-locals. It's called a Phase Box & requires two rotatable antennas on two different masts and a couple of variable attenuators & a garden variety splitter. If literally performs miracles...I am 30 miles S of Indianapolis & have heard Cookeville, TN and the A near Louisville on 94.7 with WFBQ at full power as well as Columbus, OH on 97.1B with WLHK just 23 miles N of me. It took a good band opening, but KSHE St louis, MO on 94.7 also made it past WFBQ with this little gem. Arguably the sharpest trick so far is getting WIAU Franklin, IN 95.9 (12 miles) to disappear & hearing WTTS' Bloomington translator on 95.9 at 35 miles. The passive device electrically varies the length of one of the feedlines. When used with the variable attenuators, one can have both antennas feed a strong local signal into the splitter (which is used backwards as a combiner) and adjust for a 180 degree phase difference at equal level. The nulls can take a Class B at 30 miles & drop it to where the signal meter on the tuner barely moves. A Class A at 25 miles can often be taken to the noise level. An example of what this does...I aim both antennas at WAKW 93.3 Cincinnati (a full B) and am able to make it disappear and the next station in that direction (93.3B south of Columbus,OH) is there waiting to be logged. Not everyone is serious enough to put up 2 antennas & 2 rotors and spend about $140 on a Phase Box, but for those who are determined to bypass the FM traffic jam, the tools do exist... Too much info about the phase box is here : http://pages.cthome.net/fmdx/phase.html

 

[AugC]

Can you log WLWD-FM?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

If it's playing rap music at 3:13PM EDT, then probably so. WLWD's at 145 miles at 42 degrees. 6KW WWFT is on the same channel at 32 miles/350 degrees. WWFT goes very noisy with the phase box and WLWD (assuming they play rap) occasionally fades up above the noise. Is that what they play? If not, any idea who plays rap on 93.9?

Findlay on 100.5 is fairly common here with WWKI 100.5/Kokomo easy to nuke. Findlay is NOT there at this moment. WLWD should be clear with the slightest improvement in ground wave.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Can you log WLWD-FM?

"Wild 93 9" was heard clearly at 9:34AM (with WWFT on the air) 30 miles S of Indianapolis. Without the phase box, there was no trace. No sign of Findaly on 100.5 this AM.

 

[matt94]

Bob you da man.....I'm the one on Wild from 3 to 6 in the am hours!
I have got to try this set up of yours....amazing!
Matt

 

[matt94]

OH ya, About forgot to ask if you can log WIMT 102.1 FM Lima?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

OH ya, About forgot to ask if you can log WIMT 102.1 FM Lima?

I used to hear Lima frequently on 102.1 but we got a K-LOVE translator 4 miles from here on that channel. I can take the translator down to less than a 1 on the meter, but there's going to have to be some enhanced ground wave to hear Lima again. WKXA 100.5 Findlay is fairly common here as well.

3 - 6 AM? Is that a live shift or VT? Most of the stations here are VT in every shift outside of 6A-6P. Some are VT all shifts except morning & afternoon drive.

You'd love this thing if you have the space to put up two antennas on two rotors and--here's the catch--you have time to enjoy it.

 

[matt94]

I usually do it live...although it is set up to VT. Now, don't get me wrong..I do VT that shift. I do sunday afternoons 2 to 7 as well.
I would find time to do that!