Will the solar flare have an effect on DXing?

[w9wi]

Solar flares don't have any effect on e skip.

They will affect F2 skip, however.

The same ionized patches that cause the visual aurora display will also refract radio signals. However, there's a LOT of phase distortion -- identifying the distant stations is apparently pretty difficult and the chances of getting a "lock" on a digital TV signal are pretty close to zero. (analog FM signals have been identified) Ranges seem to be on the order of 600-1500km. The geographic restrictions (how far north you have to be) are more or less the same as those on seeing the visual display.

The effect on F2 skip is generally negative -- after a flare, F2 conditions are relatively poor -- although there's often a brief period of very *good* conditions shortly before it hits.

 

[schmave]

A few hours ago just east of Columbus, Ohio, a quick bandscan showed all the big Chicago 50Ks coming in loud and clear (as usual) - expect for WSCR. It was nowhere to be found behind a weak Spanish-language station; I presume the Cuban that used to clobber it here 15-20 years ago. Didn't hear Radio Reloj on 570 or 790, but will check back later this evening after midnight. The rain's moved out and the sky is clearing, so maybe that will make a difference.

I think WSCR was off the air for transmitter maintenance

I'm pretty sure they weren't off that early. The stuff I'm referencing in my post was around 9 p.m. CT that night. Obviously if they were off, that would be the explanation. It's been a long time here since the Cuban was strong enough to completely blot out WSCR, and on this night that signal strength was maybe a 4-5 on a 10 scale.

 

[ddsparxx]

Last night at 9 PM EST in VA I heard the Spanish 780 with tropical/dance music blotting out WBBM, 800 with a lady speaking Spanish along with some music within a genre I can't think of, not banda or similar somewhat like Spanish easy listening. It overpowered the Canadian 800. The het was heard (again) on 670. An 840 was stronger than WHAS, with vocals/tropical (probably Radio Enciclopedia), and I heard the R. Progreso ID on 890. This station came in clearly over WLS. Later at 1 AM I heard a Spanish 990 (unknown, perhaps R.Guamá?).
I wonder if all this has to do with solar flares?

 

[radioman148]

Last night at 9 PM EST in VA I heard the Spanish 780 with tropical/dance music blotting out WBBM, 800 with a lady speaking Spanish along with some music within a genre I can't think of, not banda or similar somewhat like Spanish easy listening. It overpowered the Canadian 800. The het was heard (again) on 670. An 840 was stronger than WHAS, with vocals/tropical (probably Radio Enciclopedia), and I heard the R. Progreso ID on 890. This station came in clearly over WLS. Later at 1 AM I heard a Spanish 990 (unknown, perhaps R.Guamá?).
I wonder if all this has to do with solar flares?

I'm assuming it is because of the flares. In the Chicago area I've hardly been able to get anything from the east coast. Even normally strong WBZ & WCBS are virtually missing the last few nights. Stations from the south are blasting in.

 

[Tincap]

I did a quick check on 1060 last night, but the frequency was blank...not even a peep out of KYW. However, this morning, just after 7am EDT, I was able to confirm XEEP (Radio Educación), which would be quite something, as WRTH lists it, as running 20kW night time??? I've picked up XEEP, on at least one occasion before (Oct. '09), but that was an evening snag, when it would've been running daytime 100kW. That's the interesting thing about radio...you never know what you'll get.

~BG

 

[MarioMania]

Will it reach California tonight??

Too hear something from Vallejo

 

[crainbebo]

I did a quick check on 1060 last night, but the frequency was blank...not even a peep out of KYW. However, this morning, just after 7am EDT, I was able to confirm XEEP (Radio Educación), which would be quite something, as WRTH lists it, as running 20kW night time??? I've picked up XEEP, on at least one occasion before (Oct. '09), but that was an evening snag, when it would've been running daytime 100kW. That's the interesting thing about radio...you never know what you'll get.

~BG

Tincap, keep trying! Try 990, 1130, 1170 and 1220 tonight! On 1220 you might get Radio Globo Brazil, 1170 Colombia, 990 also Brazil.

-crainbebo

 

[KR4BD]

Here's a Heads Up....

Tonight (Monday) could be another GREAT NIGHt for AM DX.

Here in Lexington, KY, for the third night in a row, I am hearing no skywave from the Northeast, North or Northwest. That's right....No WJR, WLS, WABC, WTAM, WOWO, KDKA, WGN, WBBM, WCCO, WHO, WBZ and all the normal "regulars" usually heard. There is NO TRACE of any of these station. On 770, when local WCGW signed off at sunset, there was a Spanish station "right there". I'm hoping to catch KKOB-770 which has NEVER been logged here. Last night, KGYN-1210 OWNED that frequency with no sign of WPHT. All the high power southern stations (WSM, WWL, WSB, etc) are LOUD as usual. Lots of Spanish... I wish my brother was here to translate for me! Also last night, Oklahoma City on 1520 and Tulsa on 1170 WERE LOUD. Both of these are rarely heard here except at sunset.

 

[borderblaster]

I'm about 150 miles south of Lexington in Knoxville tonight and getting much the same result. How many frequencies is Radio Reloj on anyway? Heard them probably in about 5 places. 670 had no WSCR and 3 Spanish language stations plus the het others have talked about. Little or no WGN, though WLW and WFNI were strong. 830 had a religious program, 890 had the Cuban, I did, however have WABC (but no WCBS). WTAM faded up as well. Georgia on 930 and 940 (assuming Macon) and tons of Spanish; one on 600 did not sound like Cuba.

 

[tanner]

There is not a 550 in Plant City Fl. There is 540 Orlando and 570 Tampa

 

[borderblaster]

There is not a 550 in Plant City Fl. There is 540 Orlando and 570 Tampa

I misspoke, it was WAYR Orange Park (Jacksonville).

 

[ddsparxx]

I heard what sounds like Spanish CHR or AC when a male announcer talking in Spanish at 6 AM EST here in northern VA. I don't think it's the daytimer WWGB in the DC area. There was no WBZ at all, not even its IBOC hash. ??? It was still dark at this time here.
Not able to find out what this station is.

 

[ddsparxx]

I forgot to mention that this Spanish station I heard this morning was on AM 1030. My Bad.

 

[Buckeyes2001]

I forgot to mention that this Spanish station I heard this morning was on AM 1030. My Bad.

Might have been WONQ from Oviedo, FL. Their night pattern is nulled towards the north but with all this Aurora action, anything's possible.
BTW has anyone DXed any AM stations from Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic or any of the other Spanish speaking countries/territories (aside from Cuba and Mexico) during this Aurora event?

 

[borderblaster]

There are Colombians and Venezuelans who make the trip, especially with auroral conditions. Paging David Eduardo on specifics?

 

[Tincap]

There are Colombians and Venezuelans who make the trip, especially with auroral conditions. Paging David Eduardo on specifics?

At least one of the two made it up here, this past Thursday (Radio Nacional on 550...trouble is, both Columbia and Venezulia have a 'Radio Nacional' on 550 kHz ).

~BG

 

[Tincap]

Tincap, keep trying! Try 990, 1130, 1170 and 1220 tonight! On 1220 you might get Radio Globo Brazil, 1170 Colombia, 990 also Brazil.

-crainbebo

Brazil would be fantastic! Presently, the more usual suspects seem to be back. Having said that, I'm currently hearing XEEP on 1060, faintly coming in and out, under a strong KYW.

~BG

 

[nocomradio]

1AM this morning here in Central VA, there was a LOT of Spanish language stations, mostly between 530 and 800 or so. Sounds like the flares sent a bunch of them pretty far north.

I'll be back to DXing later on this evening or early this AM. Interesting to see what will be there. WSM usually comes in pretty regularly, and clearly, but its been absent too.

 

[ddsparxx]

I forgot to mention that this Spanish station I heard this morning was on AM 1030. My Bad.

Might have been WONQ from Oviedo, FL. Their night pattern is nulled towards the north but with all this Aurora action, anything's possible.
BTW has anyone DXed any AM stations from Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic or any of the other Spanish speaking countries/territories (aside from Cuba and Mexico) during this Aurora event?

It's possible that it may not be WONQ. A little online research shows it being a Spanish news/talk. I did heard the music on 1030. But who knows. I might be wrong. Remains a mystery.

This morning, WBZ returned while it's still dark, but I heard a tropical Spanish music on 750 instead of WSB and I think it's R. Progreso. Otherwise things are a bit more normal.

 

[davideduardo]

There are Colombians and Venezuelans who make the trip, especially with auroral conditions. Paging David Eduardo on specifics?

Anything is fair game during auroral events.

My best anecdote is having WTAM (under other calls) fully nullable and hearing a 10 kw inland Venezuelan 100% audible and clear on 1100... less than 30 miles from the 50 kw WTAM transmitter.

I recall an election day in Venezuela in the early 60's which occurred on an auroral day. I logged over 30 new Venezuelans on with election coverage and swamping US clears and even some regional channels.

You just have to keep in mind that not everything in Spanish is Cuba. In fact, in a good auroral incident, Cuba will be wiped out, and only the deep Caribbean basin will be "hot."