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Which State Can Hear The Most States ?

Steve Green NEPA

Steve Green NEPA

Long ago, there were DXers who had logged all 50 states with the AM dial.

In fact, a few of these veteran DXers rightfully thought they had the puzzle complete already -- when two new states inconveniently got added. A few of our forefathers just shrugged and added AK and HI anyway, given their skill and a much less cluttered dial.

Nowadays it can be a tough chore just to hear the 13 original states on AM. And obviously, such a DXer would have to live in the Northeast. But still, of that Baker's Dozen, four do not have 50,000 watt nighttime signals.

Past and present : Which U.S. state or states was and is best situated for someone looking to log all fifty from it on AM?

And has anyone here logged all fifty from one spot on FM ?

* * * * * * *

I was one of a cadre of four DXers from near Kennedy Airport in Queens NYC. Each of us heard 46 of the 50 from there. Each set of four missing states was different.
 
I agree that it would be more likely , someone in the central area of the continent that would have the best chance of logging all 50 states

From Newfoundland since 2008 I have heard 40 of 50 states including Washington and California so far using an Ultralight radio

Using larger rigs ( living in Alberta previous to 2003 and now Newfoundland the past 12 years combined, that total is at 48 states with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii which surprisingly I couldn't even log from Alberta.
 
From North Carolina, I've never come close to getting 50 states on AM but the west coast was fairly easy to get back in the 60s late night and early in the morning, even with a table top radio. I guess with some of the top of the line radios and antenna systems today, it would be possible but not probable to get AK and HI from the Eastern US. Somewhere in the middle of the US would be more likely to pull in those two states. The remaining 48 should be possible from just about anywhere in the contiguous states.

As for FM, I don't think it would be possible to get AK and HI from the Eastern US. Multiple hop e-skip? Pointing a yagi over the pole? Too many other stations on all of the channels.

But with all of that said, this is DXing and radio fun and you just never know what might pop up when you least expect it.
 
Good stuff, N4GBK .....

After reading these responses, I'd tend to go a little more east -- and north.

Michigan, perhaps. Or maybe even Ohio.

Three of those wee New England states (plus New Jersey and Delaware) had no blowtorches in the Sixties to reach to KS or MO. Recently, that Disney station from NJ on 640 should provide a bit of breathing room for a few. For the longest while, though, NJ had to've been a tough state to log in, say, Wyoming.

* * * * * * *

My AM DXing sub- sub-hobby here in NE PA has involved nowhere near the fury it had seen back in NYC. The count today from 'the new den', 150 miles west of the old NYC digs, is a sort-of causal yet somewhat respectable 31 states and 6 provinces. The needed CO and UT are just a matter of time, to get all the way up to * gasp * 33 states, hi.

In any case, my guess is that the spot would be more 'north' than NE or KS, primarily because of the Aurora factor.
Yours and my mileage may vary, hi.

Thanks for the interest, folks.
 
Well, I was always amazed at how much of a difference it made just going from Southeast Michigan to Northeast Illinois. Within just a few days, I had logged a very strong KGLC Miami, OK and KXYZ Houston, TX. And I was amazed at what stations I could get from Michigan before I knew what the patterns looked like, like WILS and WKMI at night. If I knew what I know now, I would have tried for stations I would never expected to hear based on the day patterns at twilight. Sometimes 500 watts can be stronger than 5000 watts. I think that throws a lot of people, and I notice even in Sweden and Finland they log very few US stations below 1000 watts, even though they log the Class Cs with no directional gain, and many 500 watt stations radiate in excess of 1000 watts equivalent inverse field toward Europe. I really believe its from lack of trying, or lack of believing they heard what they heard.
 
Just about every other AM frequency here in central Texas is coming from Mexico at night and that covers up a lot of potential "dx targets" from other US states.

Just using a car radio, I can get maybe 17 other states at night mostly from the deep South and Mountain states (KOA and KSL).

Nothing from the Northeast US or Eastern seaboard and only KNX in LA from the far western states on some nights.
 
Steve Green NEPA said:
Good stuff, N4GBK .....

After reading these responses, I'd tend to go a little more east -- and north.

Michigan, perhaps. Or maybe even Ohio.

Three of those wee New England states (plus New Jersey and Delaware) had no blowtorches in the Sixties to reach to KS or MO. Recently, that Disney station from NJ on 640 should provide a bit of breathing room for a few. For the longest while, though, NJ had to've been a tough state to log in, say, Wyoming.

* * * * * * *

My AM DXing sub- sub-hobby here in NE PA has involved nowhere near the fury it had seen back in NYC. The count today from 'the new den', 150 miles west of the old NYC digs, is a sort-of causal yet somewhat respectable 31 states and 6 provinces. The needed CO and UT are just a matter of time, to get all the way up to * gasp * 33 states, hi.

In any case, my guess is that the spot would be more 'north' than NE or KS, primarily because of the Aurora factor.
Yours and my mileage may vary, hi.

Thanks for the interest, folks.
Click to expand...
No KOA?!?!?!?

On a typical night, I can get stations from Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
 
In 2011, Alaska was heard by a lucky DXer while on a DXpedition in Lubec, ME. (reference http://realmonitor.com/am_logs_QH.php)

Since 2009, I've logged 47 states from Michigan on the AM dial. Delaware, Alaska and Hawaii are still needed and Delaware is just as challenging as the other two for me. I think Hawaii is possible from here, but it will take an enormous amount of patience and perfect conditions, or a critically timed DX test during the early morning hours when conditions are favoring the Pacific. Overall, I have to say Michigan is an excellent state to DX from!
 
In Michigan, I have successfully confirmed 45 of the 50 states through AM and FM DX.

Here are the states I'm missing-

FM: Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho
AM: New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii

So.. Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska are my only zero logs.
 
I think it would really have to be somewhere in the middle of the U.S.A. (which shouldn't surprise anyone). If you go too far west, you will cut out some of the northeastern states. I've been AM DX'ing for almost 50 years from here in southwestern Ohio and have used a number of diffrent radios, but the farthest west that I have ever picked up is Denver and Salt Lake City. At the same time, I've never gotten: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware or South Carolina. Also, I was in south-central Kentucky the only time I got Alabama and Florida and those were over 45 years apart. (I will always remember that Alabama AM station. It was around 690 on the dial and they signed off at sundown by playing Dixie).

Just wondering where DX'ers were that heard 50 states and what kind of radio and antenna they might have been using?
 
Good topic, Steve!

I've never thought of my catches in terms of states but cities, however this topic makes you think what state may be the best location for DXing.

With the exception of the center of the country, I think Florida would be near the top of the list of states to be able to pick up other states because on AM, there is also the advantage of having the Gulf of Mexico to enhance skip at night from the west.

Between AM and FM, the states I've logged from Tampa are Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, and California.

And if it were not for E Skip, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, Kansas, and Iowa would not be on the list.
 
AM:

From near Cleveland OH, since mid-90's, car or table radio, no special antennas. Based on city of license and not TX location (if in a different state).

States heard and most common stations:

AL - WVNN under WABC before pattern change, also Birmingham 850 under WKNR once.
AR - KAAY SS skip (provided WTAM's IBOC off), KFAY under WBZ a couple of times when they forgot to change patterns.
CA - KNX a few times in the 90's, also the 1630/1640 station in Bay Area when they had the channel to themselves
CO - KOA with local WKNR nulled
CT - WTIC almost every night
FL - WOKV heard once years ago when they forgot to change patterns
GA - WSB every night
IL - Chicago blowtorches
IN - WOWO, WFNI
IA - WHO, KXEL almost every night
KY - WHAS every night
LA - WWL most nights
MD - WBAL mornings/evenings if WTAM IBOC off
MA - WBZ nightly blowtorch, also the 1200 station heard.
MI - WJR et. al.
MN - WCCO most nights, KSTP rarely, WCTS once
MS - WJNT before pattern change rarely
MO - KMOX every night
NE - KRVN heard before pattern change a few times
NJ - WNJE under WHO when they forgot to change patterns
NY - NYC blowtorches, WHAM, WGY, et. al.
NC - WBT (provided WTAM IBOC off), WPTF under CFTR
OH - Of course
OK - KFAQ under WWVA before pattern change a couple of times
PA - KYW, KDKA, WPHT every night
SC - WORD a couple of times
SD - KSOO under WRVA before pattern change once
TN - WSM, WLAC every night
TX - WBAP occasionally, KRLD, WOAI rarely, KCTA under WBZ
UT - KSL once under Chicago station
VA - WRVA every night
WV - WWVA most nights (and faintly days)
WI - WTSO once

So that's 33 states.

States never heard: AK, AZ, DE, HI, ID, KS, ME, MT, NV, NH, NM, ND (WZFG close but no cigar since licensed to MN), OR, RI, VT, WA, WY (tried for KTWO but never heard)

that's 17 states not heard to date.


Steve Green NEPA said:
Long ago, there were DXers who had logged all 50 states with the AM dial.

In fact, a few of these veteran DXers rightfully thought they had the puzzle complete already -- when two new states inconveniently got added. A few of our forefathers just shrugged and added AK and HI anyway, given their skill and a much less cluttered dial.

Nowadays it can be a tough chore just to hear the 13 original states on AM. And obviously, such a DXer would have to live in the Northeast. But still, of that Baker's Dozen, four do not have 50,000 watt nighttime signals.

Past and present : Which U.S. state or states was and is best situated for someone looking to log all fifty from it on AM?

And has anyone here logged all fifty from one spot on FM ?

* * * * * * *

I was one of a cadre of four DXers from near Kennedy Airport in Queens NYC. Each of us heard 46 of the 50 from there. Each set of four missing states was different.
Click to expand...
 
In VA,

FM: I logged in the following states:

NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, TX, KS, NE, OH, WI, MN, ND, SD, IA, WV. That's 24 states, never heard KY, TN, nor New England. This was both E skip and tropo.

On AM:

VT, NY, MA, RI, CT, PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA (of course), NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TN, MS, KY, WV, OH, IN, MI, IL, IA, MN, AR, TX, LA, OK, and CO. That's 30 states and 20 more to go but I don't expect to get all 50.

So far, if I done my math in my head correctly, I've heard 35 states with both AM and FM, and that would be 15 more to go.

In the FM DX case, I had a yagi on a house for a few years, now these days, it's indoors in an apartment.
 
Obviously the reason you can hear some states on FM but not AM is because AM is overwhelmingly directional at night, whereas FM is generally omnidirectional or as omnidirectional as is permitted, and in no case less than 15 dB below maximum. AM nulls are frequently 30 dB below maximum. But in that 500-1500 mile outer tropo and Sporadic E range, FM may have the advantage. AM is thus often limited to around sunrise and sunset when on day pattern.

The claim by many Class I-A/I-B/A stations that they cover 38 states regardless of location or pattern always seemed unbelievable.
 
Here in Charleston, SC it is nearly impossible to pick up all the states. On AM radio here, I've gotten SC, NC, GA, FL, TN, VA, AL, KY, IN, OH, MI, PA, NY, MD, DC, IL, MO, IA, MN, LA, TX, CO, MS, AR and OK, but it is difficult to get much west of that. I've tried for West Coast stations like KFI and KGO but there's so many hoops you have to jump thru.

Even KOA might come in a couple times a year. With FM I've gotten SC, NC, GA, FL, MN, WI, NY, NE, OK, TX, VA, and several others. FM here with the huge tropo and e-skip episodes a few times a summer it sometimes is easier to get FMs from distant places compared to AM. I've gotten several Ontario and even Quebec stations on FM when it can be difficult to log some of those on AM from the south (740, 860 Toronto two of the constants).
 
I would have to agree with the other DXers here that the best location for hearing all 50 states on MW would have to be somewhere in the Great Plains states.

And even at a central plains location one may also have to have a beverage or FSL antenna to hear Hawaii and Alaska, as those states are not that commonly heard here in the inland PNW.

Here in W. WA I've heard about 31 states (going off the top of my head); most of the unheard ones including a huge swath of states in the Deep South and another swath in the NE, including all of New England. Alaska is a difficult catch but I've heard it in the 80's and also more recently; Hawaii I only heard a couple times in the 80's.

Two catches (NY and PA) were flukes of propagation, done on a TRF -- they were also in the early 1980's when there were less stations on the air. A couple of the eastern Midwest states (MI and OH) were in the 80's with a boombox and a loop, during local stations' silent periods.

I doubt I'll ever hear some states, due to distance (and the two mountain ranges that lie in the way).
 
From Western WA (in my logbook), I have WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, CO, CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, ND, OK, TX, NE, IA, IL, OH, LA, AK. So that's 20 states there, but missing East Coast stuff. When will WCBS ever make it here?!?

-crainbebo
 
There are people who've logged 48 states on FM. I want to say Frank Merrill in western Illinois and John Zondlo near Oklahoma City but please don't hold me to that. It definitely happened in the middle of the country.

Logging of 50 states on FM is probably theoretically possible from somewhere on the West Coast, between San Francisco and Portland. Someplace where the California<=>Hawaii tropo duct is functional; where extreme southeastern Alaska might be loggable via Es. The remaining 48 states would be logged via E-skip or, for the East Coast states, double-hop E-skip.

It is EXTREMELY unlikely anyone will actually ever do it. You'd need to log at least 25 states via double-hop. Many serious DXers have yet to log *one*.

===========

Actually, I think probably the best location for hearing all 50 states on MW is Northern Canada or even Europe. Many stations beam their power out of the country at the nearest border -- and right at Nunavut.
 
from s El Cajon / e la Mesa (east of San Diego, CA), I have only logged two states on FM - CA and BN.  (Of course AM stations identifying as FM stations - hello "FM" Newsradio "100.5" KXNT serving Vegas NV, I listen to you on 840 *AM* - don't count.)

As for AM states…

CA - too many to list
BN - too many to list
SO - forgot which ones now
CH - XEROK & XEJUA
DF - XEW
SI - XEEX
CO,MX - XERF
CO,US - KHOW, KKZN, KOA, KDDZ
AZ - too many to list
NM - KKOB
TX - WBAP, KRLD, WOAI, KHEY
OK - KOKC
NE - KRVN, KFAB
IA - WHO
IL - WGN, WBBM
LA - WWL, WLNO
KY - WHAS
MN - WCCO, KSTP
OR - KBND, KEX
WA - KOMO
WY - KTWO, KRND
UT - KALL, KOAL, KDXU, KWDZ, KANN, KSL, KLO
ID - KBOI
BC - CKWX
Akita - JOUB
Tokyo - JOAK
S. Chungcheong - HLCA
Jeju - HLAZ
Thailand (don't know what "state") - 1575-VOA
Pyongyang - 657-KCBS

Looks like the count is 30 so far.
 
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