P
PoughkeepsieDXer
Guest
Since thunderstorms can cause power outages at radio stations, not to mention electrical damage from direct hits, scanning the FM band for stations off the air during or immediately after thunderstorms can lead to new loggings on frequencies normally blocked by locals.
I noted two stations off the air during Friday thunderstorms in the Hudson Valley. First around 3pm, local WBPM-92.9 Saugerties, NY was off for a few minutes. I noted WEZF-92.9 Burlington, VT and WEHM-92.9 Southhampton, NY coming in... but both had been logged previously. WBPM came back on before I could do any more digging.
A little later I noted semi-local WKZE-98.1 Sharon, CT off the air. They were off the air for several hours, but as luck would have it, DX conditions were very poor. I immediately noted WHWK-98.1 from Binghampton, NY, also previously logged. The swinging the antenna North, I caught new logging WJJR-98.1 Rutland, VT at 3:45pm, 138 miles. Then I tried for one of my most wanted.. WCTK-98.1 New Bedford, MA, but nothing. Later, I was parked on 98.1, and suddenly WCTK Cat Country started fading in, logged at 6:24pm!!! 153 miles.
I also noted previously logged WOGL-98.1 Philly in and out weakly through the evening.
So 2 new loggings WJJR and WCTK thanks to the thunderstorms. Of course, if the thunderstorm is raging right at my DX Shack, the radio is off and the antenna is disconnected. <P ID="signature">______________
Chris from Poughkeepsie
DX Enthusiast for more than 40 years
http://hometown.aol.com/dx1ng</P>
I noted two stations off the air during Friday thunderstorms in the Hudson Valley. First around 3pm, local WBPM-92.9 Saugerties, NY was off for a few minutes. I noted WEZF-92.9 Burlington, VT and WEHM-92.9 Southhampton, NY coming in... but both had been logged previously. WBPM came back on before I could do any more digging.
A little later I noted semi-local WKZE-98.1 Sharon, CT off the air. They were off the air for several hours, but as luck would have it, DX conditions were very poor. I immediately noted WHWK-98.1 from Binghampton, NY, also previously logged. The swinging the antenna North, I caught new logging WJJR-98.1 Rutland, VT at 3:45pm, 138 miles. Then I tried for one of my most wanted.. WCTK-98.1 New Bedford, MA, but nothing. Later, I was parked on 98.1, and suddenly WCTK Cat Country started fading in, logged at 6:24pm!!! 153 miles.
I also noted previously logged WOGL-98.1 Philly in and out weakly through the evening.
So 2 new loggings WJJR and WCTK thanks to the thunderstorms. Of course, if the thunderstorm is raging right at my DX Shack, the radio is off and the antenna is disconnected. <P ID="signature">______________
Chris from Poughkeepsie
DX Enthusiast for more than 40 years
http://hometown.aol.com/dx1ng</P>