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What's Next?

cyberdad

cyberdad

For the last couple of years or so, it has been my pleasure to launch "AM Frequency of the Week" threads in sequential order. Prior to then, we were taking turns with F.O.T.W. on a more random basis, until somehow it more or less "defaulted" me. I don't mind that at all. I'm glad to do it.

But now, we've just competed our last series or "journey", as I prefer to call it. We did what used to be known as the "1-A clears", "regionals", "locals" and the (relatively) new X-band channels. Prior to that, we did channels formerly known as "1-B clears" in sequential order. For anyone who may be unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, those are channels with two dominant 50kw stations which usually (but not always) protect each other with directional antennas at night. Other stations are also obliged to provide nighttime protection those dominant stations.

So the question now is what...if anything...do we do next?

If it were up to me, I'd just go back and do the 1-B clears in order once again. Start at 540 (or actually 530) and continue until we reach 1580. Enough time has passed so that by comparing notes, I wouldn't be surprised if we found changes on many, if not most, of those channels.

But I don't want it to be just up to me. What do you guys think? Should we start at 530/540 and just revisit the entire dial? Should we take a broader geographical approach (by states/provinces, as one example), or something else? Would someone else like to take over launching these threads every week?

I guarantee my feelings won't be hurt in the slightest if we go to another format, if someone else takes over, or if we pull the plug completely.

So let me know your feelings during the coming week. If you want changes, let's make them. If not, and if you want me to, I'll continue as I outlined above and lead off next weekend with 530. Thanks in advance for your consideration and response.
 
Thank you cyberdad for continuing these threads. I've enjoyed them and I would like them to continue. Being an "oldtimer" who was able to DX the AM band starting back in the very early 60s, I would be all for including the 1-A clears as well as that was one of my favorite DX interests back in the day. I remember the excitement I felt back in those days grabbing a "new one" especially from the west coast here in the midwest. However, anything the group decides is OK with me. If it's decided to just do the 1-Bs, or whatever, I'm in.
Also, you get my vote for continuing to lead the charge!
 
Merely a few suggestions, from a big fan of F.O.T.W. Many (if not all) of these will be for bygone days. Most of them would not sustain orderly frequency-template interest from start to end. But as I said, these are just what pops into whatever that thing is called between my earphones at this hour. In no apparent order :

a) Call letter changes logged ....
b) Stations heard signing on ....
c) Stations logged signing off ....
d) Scheduled DX test broadcasts and frequency checks logged ....
5) Record number of beer bottles fired against the den wall during some unID rage ....
f) Most interesting emergency catches (hurricanes, blzzards, et al) ....
g) Most-wanted stations on each frequency ....
h) Your traditional DX beverage or snack through the years, and any changes in your multitasking, hi ....
i) Those first station(s) that turned you into a hopeless addict, and maybe the culpable make of radio ....

I'm thinking of the AM dial, primarily.

('5' is just a joke)

* * * * * * *

WONDERFUL theme and tours through the dial, Cyberdad. Great fun. And in acquiesce to what Radioman says, I have to 'third' his 'second'.
 
How about "Stations you visited or hung around when you started out playing radio"? Favorite staff members or characters....first time you got on the air. Prizes and clubs the stations created for listeners...did you win anything?
I remember the "Nail it Down Club" on WBML. They were the first 24/7 station in town, and you could "Nail It Down", rather than change frequencies when someone went off at night. And, the "Buckle Up Club", where they would look for folks who used seat belts, and give way prizes (back when cars didn't come with seat belts, and people were being encouraged to have them installed after-market).
 
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Some great ideas. Anyone interested in an FM frequency of the week, particularly since so much has changed? Not neccesarily left to right frequency order but maybe traditional class B/C frequencies, than A for example? I'd be willing to head that up.
 
@ Kenglish :

That 'stations-visited' muse sounds really neat. We used to do that all the time, and even kept lists (which we checked twice every so often). I'd often go on the hook and stay on the A train past the school exit, get off at the Port Authority and take a bus to visit some improbable station.

Before any such memoirs are listed though, if they ever are, I have a related story to relate.
Unknown date, except I remember it was one March -- Presidents Day -- when three of us got bored and decided to drive to Maine, for some reason I'm convinced must've seemed logical at the time. In a huge fog. It accompanied us from near JFK Airport all the way to Maine before it lifted.
Now, we didn't consider it a 'visit' unless we were allowed into the building. Just seeing the place and its towers didn't count as an Official Visit.
We wound up in Sanford Maine and located WSME 1220, out in the woods. Whoever was on duty took one look at us outside the door and shook his head. See, even though our buddy Art played classical piano, smoked a pipe and liked jazz, he looked like a Hell's Angels bodyguard. Funny, funny fellow too -- a genuine gentle giant.

Before we drove off after being turned away, Art kiddingly asked if it was considered an official visit, physical entry and presence, for him at least, if he put his fist through one of WSME's windows.
 
gr8oldies said:
Some great ideas. Anyone interested in an FM frequency of the week, particularly since so much has changed? Not neccesarily left to right frequency order but maybe traditional class B/C frequencies, than A for example? I'd be willing to head that up.
Click to expand...

100% agree...some great ideas right out of the box. Thanks! As for the FM FOTW, we've done a few of those, and I'd personally like to see that as a weekly feature. But I'd like to defer that one to someone who spends more time on the FM band than me. The other suggestions are excellent, and I do have some thoughts on those, but I'd like to wait until I get a little more feedback before sharing them.
 
I'm new here, and new to Arizona, but not to AM DXing. I wouldn't mind starting over at the bottom of the AM band. In fact, that's my project now, to work my way up the band and see what can be logged.

Jim
 
KR1S said:
I'm new here, and new to Arizona, but not to AM DXing. I wouldn't mind starting over at the bottom of the AM band. In fact, that's my project now, to work my way up the band and see what can be logged.

Jim
Click to expand...

Welcome to the board, Jim. Glad to have you with us. As I said earlier today, I have a couple of ideas regarding what comes next. I'll post them within the next day or two. I think there's a good chance what we come up with we'll be to your liking.
 
I'll go ahead and do that then (of course will love to hear about everyone's retro catches, and I have some classic DX recordings to share)


cyberdad said:
100% agree...some great ideas right out of the box. Thanks! As for the FM FOTW, we've done a few of those, and I'd personally like to see that as a weekly feature. But I'd like to defer that one to someone who spends more time on the FM band than me. The other suggestions are excellent, and I do have some thoughts on those, but I'd like to wait until I get a little more feedback before sharing them.
Click to expand...
 
gr8oldies said:
I'll go ahead and do that then (of course will love to hear about everyone's retro catches, and I have some classic DX recordings to share)
Click to expand...

That sounds great. And now that I've set a record for saying "but I'd like" the most times in a single post...LOL...I'll look forward to seeing what you have to share.
 
Again, guys, great stuff! Thanks for the feedback. Love the great suggestions! Yet, except for FM FOTW, I don't see most of them as lending themselves as a continuing series. But they're all good topics (I especially liked Steve's idea about beer bottles flung at the wall when you can't get an ID), and I'd like to see most, if not all, of them covered. So let me propose the following.

@gr8oldies, why don't you go ahead and launch FM Frequency of the week. I don't spend as much time on FM (for DX) as AM, but I'll certainly chirp in here and there.

I'll pick up the AM FOTW once again, but let's go ahead and revisit ALL of the "clears". Both the 1-A and 1-B channels. Frankly, those two categories seem to resemble each other more and more seemingly every day. When we finish those, we can go back to the "regionals", "locals", and x-band.
I'll start it off with 530 this coming weekend. (A channel that doesn't seem to quite fit any category).

Also, I think Radioman is on to something with perhaps adding a few personal notes about your first encounters with some of the distant 50kw blowtorches dominating the clears "back in the day", and how they affected you.

@kenglish....Why don't you go ahead and launch the one about the role that "vintage" stations played that led to you getting r hooked on radio/DX. Just off the top of my head, I'd probably be able to talk about K-POI and a couple of the "Poi Boys". anyway, Feel free to get started anytime.

@Steve...Let's take yours one at a time. Launch a thread, and when it runs its course, move on to the next one. Do as many or as few of these as you like, whenever you like.

Have I overlooked anyone/anything? If so, please speak up. There's still time for other ideas. If anyone has one, and hasn't posted it yet, again, please speak up.

Finally, if you'd just as soon have someone else launch a thread other than yourself, take it up with the person you'd have in mind. Or, you can always "default it" to me. Glad to help out if I can, but I really think AM FOTW is plenty to keep me involved.

So thanks once more for everyone's input and participation. Hopefully the result of what we've talked about this week will result in us adding a little more energy to the board and a little more fun, as well1 :)
 
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I'll get FM FOTW started this weekend. I'm thinking along the lines of doing the same thing you did with AM, using the FCC station classes, and starting with commercial B/C frequencies.
 
gr8oldies said:
I'll get FM FOTW started this weekend. I'm thinking along the lines of doing the same thing you did with AM, using the FCC station classes, and starting with commercial B/C frequencies.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to it, thanks!

As stated previously, I'll start AM FOTW this weekend with 530...which of course defies classifiction. As in the past, I'll post most of mine on Sundays. But that could vary by a day or two, depending on travel or "whatever".
 
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