Kevin Tarr (Central PA): Asking for help. I bought a GE Superadio (boy the tuner IS way off). I don't have the equipment to tune it correctly, as some people suggest, but will someday. It worked great in my house but I bought it for work. I'm in a high rise building, maybe 20 yards from the windows. The radio works mostly okay, but some stations only come in if I have the radio on this side of the desk, others only come in on that side of the desk. I'm using batteries. Basically I'd like it to pick up stations just that little bit more.
Do those antennas that use a house's AC wiring work? Would a mini-rug antenna, like described on the web site, help? Any other things I could try?
I'm going to bring in my radio shack antenna, it has an AM loop and two long masts with a eight position knob, but I don't want my cubicle to get filled with masts if there is something else I could try that would work better.
Thank you for any help.

Quentin R. Davis WA9WME (Clarksville, IN): Just a little info on stations such as KFI-640. Haven’t heard them in a long time, but do have a QSL from KFI, plus KSL-1160. But have good luck with KOA-850 when WHAS-840 cuts power. More later (using a SR III, 392/RS Loop).

And thanks also to Ken Onyschuk for the University of Illinois sports network list, my apologies for not getting it into the column during the season – I’ll hold on to it to begin next year’s lists.

And now back to our recent subjects…

Finishing up some of the discussions on longwires from last time…first on the wires themselves:

Craig Healy <ng1u@chowdanet.com>: This talk of wire antennas on the ground, and their performance, reminded me of something. About 15 years ago, I had my radio room in a section of basement. There was an unused electrical wire that went through the cement wall, and was buried maybe 18" underground for a distance of 30' or so to an outside pole lamp. For grins, I hooked that to the antenna input of the R7A. In tuning around, I discovered that signals from the east were severely attenuated. For example, semi-local WPEP-1570 was non-existent, and a western MA station was dominant. This wire aimed in a generally west direction. Since laying the wire on the ground slows the velocity of propagation, I wonder if burying it slows it even more? Like anything, there must be a point of diminishing returns.

Doug Smith W9WI <w9wi@w9wi.com>: "The heavier the wire, the more current conducted because the outer surface is larger. More rf current can be carried to your receiver." True as far as it goes, but the amount of current induced in an antenna is so small as to not use anywhere near the carrying capability of the wire. Using small-gauge wire will not harm the electrical effectiveness of the antenna, especially if you don't intend to transmit. Mechanical stability is another question. (I had a 200' longwire made with #28 enamel wire for a few years. It worked great, even for transmitting at 100 watts. However, it had to be replaced frequently for mechanical reasons.)

Robert Foxworth <rfoxwor1@tampabay.rr.com>: This is true. It even has a classy high-tech name.... "skin effect". HOWEVER, it becomes more pronounced at higher frequencies, such as at VHF. On medium wave, and with the lower currents found in receive mode, I doubt you'd ever see a difference. But the heavier wire is good for the mechanical stability of the antenna, and of course it can't *hurt* the signal anyway. This is the theory behind the use of "copperweld" wire (steel core, copper skin).

And regarding railroad tracks…

Doug Smith W9WI <w9wi@w9wi.com>: "If the tracks where you live have trains running with pantographs extended for electric power, then I would NOT use the RR ROW for the antenna." Not good for receiving, but for transmitting maybe <grin>…(one of the real old-timers in the West Allis Radio Amateur Club once told the story of tapping the streetcar lines for plate power for his transmitter. He also coupled the transmitted RF back into the lines to use them as a transmitting antenna. Needless to say, it was an INCREDIBLY dangerous thing to do, and it's really rather amazing the guy survived longer than the streetcars. Not to mention the noise coupling to his receiver.)

Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@nrcdxas.org>: "will (overhead electric lines) cause undue interference with a longwire running essentially parallel to it???" Almost certainly!!

Now we move on to more DX targets:

Frank Doosey <Frank.Doosey@MWHSE.com>: I'm probably grasping for straws in the dark here, but I'd like to work on getting a few new states, and I know this won't be easy from NJ, but here goes anyway: are there any stations from Vermont or the Dakotas which make it to NJ, even if irregularly?

I've logged 37 states and am going to shoot for all 50 (which probably means a west coast trip at some point). I'll assume Vermont would be the easiest for me since it's fairly close by. Sad I've logged KFI in Los Angeles and KOA in Denver (so it IS possible, Emily!) but never got Rhode Island or Maine until a few weeks ago.

Rick Shaftan <shaftan@ptd.net>: 620 Vermont is a nightly visitor here once you phase out WSNR.

Sheldon Harvey <ve2shw@yahoo.com>: For Vermont, you might like to try 620 kHz. WVMT in Burlington, VT, or 1420 kHz. WWSR in St. Albans, VT. They are the two strongest VT stations here in the Montreal area. I haven't checked out to see if you might have locals on these frequencies in your area.

Frank Doosey: 620 has a local but their signal stinks and are pretty easy most of the time to null out. 1420 is clear, I believe.

Rick Kenneally <woodlandview@yahoo.com>: Frank, I'm not too far from you, in southwest Fairfield County, CT. Vermont is a regular here every night. I've logged:

550 WDEV Waterbury all alone at 3:30PM

620 WVMT almost every night in WSNR null

910 WNHV rare

1420 WWSR Saint Albans after midnight

1380 WSYB Rutland during/after sunrise in WNNY null

1480 WNBX Springfield at sunrise

1390 WKDR Burlington after midnight - fairly common

plus some graveyarders not worth mentioning. Try sunrise, when the VT stations have come up to day power/pattern.

As for North Dakota, I just logged KFYR-550 at 7:00 AM on 12/29. To get it, I set up my backup receiver and loop and tape recorder with an appliance timer, and I recorded a few minutes across the top of the hour at 7:00AM and at 6:00PM for a week. When I started to listen to the tape this morning, KFYR was on the very first segment. I fully expect it to be there later in the tape as well, so I don't think it is that hard.

Haven't set my sights on South Dakota yet, but the usual suspects are:

570 - WNAX - Yankton

1060 - KGFX - Pierre

1140 - KSOO - Sioux Falls

1150 - KIMM - Rapid City

Have you logged Nebraska & Kansas? If so, how?

Frank Doosey: Rick, I logged a few from Kansas and Nebraska, albeit when I lived in Indiana. Since I lived there, I count 'em, but qualify it.

The ones I got were: an Omaha station on 590 (it used to be WOW) KFAB on 1110.

All I got from Kansas was KFH on 1330.

They must be doable since I logged WOI 640 Ames, Iowa on 12/30 and they run less power at night than those stations. I don't know what you use, but it ought to be possible to null out WBT on 1110. I haven't even tried for either state from NJ, but if I can get Iowa easily, they shouldn't pose a challenge.

Neil Kazaross <neilkaz@interaccess.com>: Some of the best chances for you guys in the east to get this deep midwest stuff will be just prior to the sunset pattern switches at the target station. This means that they will be still be running day power and pattern. KFAB 1110 gets out extremely well on 50 kW ND but has little signal to the east on night pattern. I think Bruce in NH just caught Kansas on 860 thru Toronto via the similar sunset skip method. That is another station that gets out great on day power as does KFDI 1070.

For SD, try nulling WRVA and getting KSOO on day facilities.

However, if conditions don't seem good. Chicago clears in well early and WHO/KMOX/maybe WCCO in well, you're likely not going to hear anything tougher.

Emily <AmBandDxers@aol.com>: I have logged 1620 ESPN Radio in Omaha using the Sony 6700 barefoot. It was a January catch last year.

Doug Smith W9WI <w9wi@w9wi.com>: I would suggest the best shots from ND would be KFNW-1200 and KQJD-1660. (unfortunately the latter probably a problem for you due to WWRU) From SD, probably KSOO-1140 and KOKK-1210 which likes to forget about night pattern. (but WPHT probably kills that for you) I've also heard KWYR-1260 blasting in to Indiana just before sunrise.

Frank Doosey: I'm going to guess pulling this out will require something a little more than what I am using now. I have an ICF-2010 with a Select-A-Tenna. I spoke offline with Rick Shaftan and he suggested using a phaser, but I live in an apartment so that's right out for me...at least until I get a house. Had I known about the DX I could have pulled in (while in) Indiana, I would have taken the radio out of the building.

Rick Kenneally: Frank, I got KFYR-550 on a Sony 2010 with a Quantum QX loop, but it was more a case of right place & right time rather than equipment. If you're there every morning at 7:00, I'll bet you get it.

Frank Doosey: Hey, I can actually try that one...I leave for work right after 7. And I'm far enough from WFIL 560 in Philadelphia to where I shouldn't get splatter from it. I just have to see which window in the apartment gives the best conditions. The trick is to be in the right place at the right time no matter what you're DXing. =)

If I can nail Vermont and the Dakotas, I'll have every state east of Colorado, plus Colorado, Utah, and CA.

Bob Galerstein <bgwb2vgd@nac.net>: For Vermont...try the 550 outlet at sunset. It's also possible to null 620, WSNR, where you live, and get a mix of WVMT and WHEN. And if you have patience with graveyard frequencies, WIKE-1490 sometimes comes in along with WSKI-1240.

If you need Maine...the easiest for northern Joisey is probably 1440. Be careful, as both the 1440 in suburban Portland, Maine, and 1440 in Worcester both program sports. It seems easier to differentiate them these days a bit because I think 1440 Worcester simulcasts WEEI-Boston.

Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@nrcdxas.org>: Dakotas?? Don't hold your breath!

Vermont has several possibilities - 1390 is probably your best bet at sunset. Otherwise, look for 'potent' graveyarders on 1240 & 1490.

For Maine, Don't forget Bangor on 620, which is often in the 4-staton mix here with WHEN, WSNR & WVMT....

Also don't count out 1160-Skowhegan at its sunrise.

Eric Loy <eloy@wdws.com>: One station that has really become a pest here (Champaign, IL) is KWYR-1260 Winner. Listen for the Real Country format and stick with it for awhile for the automation to ID or for some local ads. They are usually atop overnight here, frequently loud.

Rick Kenneally: Russ, That's what I thought, then I rolled my sunrise/sunset tape on 550. Got a nice KFYR-ND ID, a really nice ID from KTRS-MO, and half a dozen great 55-KRC IDs. Now for SD, NE and KS...

Seriously, as an earlier thread discussed, KFYR and WNAX really do get out very very well and are quite possible if you can get a null on the locals and work the sunset/sunrise to advantage.

Kevin Redding <amfmtvdxer@email.msn.com>: Believe it or not, KWYR is not real loud and really quite weak but it is here often in Arizona.

Neil Kazaross: Yep...there's two chances that they run their 146 watts at night ! None and never...they blast in here anytime it is non AU.

Russ Edmunds: WNAX was always impossible for me in NJ (and so would be for Emily & Frank) because of WMCA. I tried for KFYR several times from up there and never heard it, mostly thanks to an inability to get past WGR and others. Of course if you were on a beverage for that reception, that explains a lot, too!

Rick Kenneally: Russ, A clear top-of-hour ID from KFYR-ND was heard here from Wilton, CT on a Sony 2010 with a Quantum QX loop at 7:00am a week ago. WGR-NY was nulled by the loop, and WKRC-OH was in the mud. There was no sign of KTRS-MO, so except for a murmur from WGR, KFYR was alone.

My only beverage aims south and is of no use to the west. In fact, my property prevents running any sort of westerly wire. So now I'm considering running two wires due east, terminating only one of them, and phasing the results. But this is, as you might expect, a pain in the backside. Not to mention the fact that I've got 400' of mucky 8' deep swamp to cross going east. Here's hoping for a serious deep freeze this winter.

Saul Chernos <schernos@sympatico.ca>: Yes, Have often been able to null WGR-NY to get KFYR-ND on 550. The vast majority of the time it's WKRC, and occasionally a PQ station whose calls I don't recall offhand (my log is up at my Burnt River ON DX site for the season and I'm too lazy to check the web right now).

Up there, I have nulled 1210 in Philly to get Huron SD. SD is also a pest on 1630.

Looking for SA? Now that Timmins has moved from 750 to FM (99.3), there's a station out there that came in a few times last season. Just null WSB or Venezuela, and get by a MI oldies station.

Easiest from AB: The CBC in Calgary has been reported in Ontario this season, but I've never had it. I have had: 960, 1140 and 740 (740 without a Toronto station around to interfere).

BC? Easiest these days is 690 CBC, 1130 CKWX (if I have calls correct) and someone in IN logged a 580. Man I would like that one!

Neil Kazaross: KOKK cheats on power when they run HS sports, especially football and makes a good target for anyone who can null WPHT to DX to the west.

re 1630..you must mean IA over WY (no SD there)

SA: I wondered why I wasn't hearing Timmins.

AB: 960 and 1140 seem to get out well to the east.

BC: BC on 580 from Indiana...is he sure he wasn't hearing CKY?? unless this is a logging from decades ago?

Russ Edmunds: I forgot one other very important difference. The former Bloomsburg PA on 550 which gave me trouble when I nulled WGR is now gone!

Randy Stewart <jrs555t@smsu.edu>: I find both Carolinas pretty hard to log here in southern Missouri, but especially SOUTH Carolina...

Neil Kazaross: The SC on 970 comes in quite well here near Chicago at times. Off course there is nothing really strong on 970 most often here and that made it easy to hear some code last night.

Rick Dau <rdau1965@yahoo.com>: Randy, if you don't have any interference at night from KWOS in Jeff City or KXJK in Forrest City, Ark., a good possibility for South Carolina would be WSPA-950 in Spartanburg. This is a newstalk station that gets out rather well whenever conditions to the southeast are good. BTW, it is slated to swap calls and format with the 910 in Spartanburg soon, so you may be hearing "WORD" on 950 in the near future. Other than that, you might try for WRIX-1020 in Homeland Park at its local sunrise time (it signs on with 1 kW), or the 1070 in Sans Souci or the 1390 in Charleston whenever there's a decent opening to the Carolinas.

Neil Kazaross: Here near Chicago WJMX 970 or WBSC 1550 are basically regulars. Not guaranteed, but not DX. 1070 San Souci may, at time not go on night pattern as it can really blast in from time to time.

Randy Stewart: Rick, KWOS is a bit of a pest here at night. Never heard the Sans Souci on 1070, which is a REAL mess at this location. My best logging of South Carolina is actually from a DX test on 1250 (don't remember which station) several years ago.

Doug Smith W9WI: Here in Pleasant View, Charleston 1390 is probably the most often-heard SC station. 910 and 1330 are relatively common. In Wisconsin, I used to hear WESC-660 at sunrise from time to time. It's worth a try.

Joe Rocchino <rocchino74@yahoo.com>: Since this is my first year of DXing and have never met a DXer in person, I am wondering what you all set out to do whenever you sit down and turn your radio

on. For example, what are your goals? Do you try to find stations based on tips from other people? Do you try to find stations from places you've never received before? Or do you just wing it, scan up and down the dial and stop on something you find interesting. The latter is the category I'm in right now.

I know there's no right or wrong answer to this question, but it would be interesting to hear how you feel about this.

Bob Klinger KB3HEY <Rklinger97@aol.com>: Joe: I just scan up and down the dial unless I am after something that everybody else seems to be hearing.

Kevin Redding <amfmtvdxer@email.msn.com>: I want to hear #627. That’s my goal. There are several of us in the Phoenix area that tip each other for good or rare catches.

I "just wing it, scan up and down the dial and stop on something you find interesting" 99% of the time.

Robert Foxworth <rfoxwor1@tampabay.rr.com>: Joe, if you decide that DXing is the art of hearing any unusual (not a normally-heard) station, then what you may want to do is to familiarize yourself with your local dial situation. Learn what stations are normally heard during the day, during transitional times (sunset skip, sunrise) and dead-of-night conditions. You could keep a simple list of what is normally on each frequency. The idea is to learn the sound of each frequency so that when the skip is unusual, and the seldom-heard stations are coming in, you'll recognize it right away. Many good catches are heard at sunrise or sunset, as you can gather from the reports here. These conditions don't last long so the DXer has to be nimble. Using several receivers with tape recorders is an option that some DXers embrace.

You'll learn to be able to tell the difference between good westerly skip, versus good South skip, by just spot checking a half dozen channels to see what they sound like. You'll want to memorize the formats of each of the major signals you regularly hear, so that when you hit 720 and hear C&W music, or gospel, and not the traffic report on the Dan Ryan, you'll instantly know that something is happening. If a semi-local 'pest' is off the air you'll know right away.

So you'll start with a combination of 'just tuning around' and 'targeted frequencies' until you develop your internal database in your mind. Then when the really good conditions do occur you'll have an idea of what to look for. Check Neil 'KAZ's reports of California stations he heard recently for an example of how to do this. That's my 2cents, anyway.

Rick Kenneally: Joe, It's a good question. For me, it all depends. I have a bunch of targets depending on the conditions. I keep a list of all stations in the immediate surrounding states, and I try to hear everything in each state. I'm now working on New Jersey:-)

I've got other lists: Latin American stations reported by other DXers in the Northeast, Trans-Atlantics, top stations from states I haven't heard, etc. When I sit down at the dials, I tune around and determine the conditions, and if they're strong to someplace interesting, out comes the list.

Also, I keep the radio working when I'm not listening by recording a couple minutes across the top of each hour overnight, then I listen to the tapes while commuting. This is a very quick way to get to know the various frequencies.

Finally, the tips sent over the dxtip mailing list are a great source of information. Welcome to a dangerously engrossing hobby.

Pete Taylor <ptdx@att.net>: Yes, all of the above - but in a logical sequence:

(1) Determine what comes in on every frequency day and night. In other words, do what we call a "bandscan."

(2) Once you do that, look for variances.

(3) Go after DX tests - and also other unusual stations being reported on this list by people in your general geographic area.

(4) Consider buying the NRC Log and NRC Nighttime Pattern Book. With the latter, you can go after stations which are beaming their signal in your direction.

It takes time to learn what is "normal" on every channel, especially since so many stations on networks only ID once an hour. Also, the X-band is still productive for many people. You will also read here when stations appear to be using their daytime facilities at night and also when atmospherics are out of whack (this provides a different set of opportunities).

Where is Cuddy, PA?

Good luck, report often and enjoy the club!

David Hochfelder <hochfeld@rci.rutgers.edu>: Joe, a very good question. And you'll get as many answers as there are DXers. Lately I've been following other people's leads, mainly because I don't

have lots of free time recently to spend at the dials, maybe an hour or so. The DXTips reflector has been a very good resource for this, especially for stations running day power when someone "forgets" to pull the switch. The main NRC reflector and the DXN newsletter have also been good resources to determine targets.

That being said, I've only been at this for a year and a half. When I started out I basically tried to fill in entries in the log for all the channels. Of course, I would spend more time on interesting channels than

on channels with a strong local or the graveyards which tend to be an incomprehensible jumble.

Another thing I watch out for are auroral conditions. If I hear Spanish under or instead of the Chicago clear channels then I'll do whatever it takes to spend a few hours trying to get Latin Americans or Caribbean’s I haven't yet logged. They're my favorite anyway.

Regardless, you'll likely spend a great deal of time camped out on certain channels. So it helps to have something else to do in those situations. I've had nights when I've logged a couple-three new stations

in the space of fifteen minutes, and I've had nights when I've waited an hour or so for an ID only to hear a relog. So I resort to things like answering my email, paying bills, fussing the cats, and so on if it looks like a slow night.

As far as targets, I have them but haven't had much success in getting them. I've had much better luck following others' tips and loggings or random tuning around.

However you evolve your approach to this sleep-deprivation hobby, enjoy!