** CHINA. Firedrake June 3; generally poor reception. When are we ever going to attain solar flux consistently above 80?
8400, JBA at 1313
11500, fair at 1324 with CCI
13300, very poor at 1328
14700, at 1334, possibly there under local TVI/noise blob
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. RHC English enjoyed four frequencies, June 3 at 0609, as feeds randomly change on some of them: 5040, 5970, 6010 and 6060; while Spanish was on 6120 and 6150.
13580, RHC lower leapfrog from huge 13780 signals over 13680, June 3 at 1329 mixing with something, and much weaker than its higher match on 13880. Now the victim is VOA Somali northward from Madagascar, Prague having abandoned 13580 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, VOI English, somebody turned up the modulation today unlike yesterday so it`s at good level atop hum, June 3 at 1319 talk about ASEAN, the YL pronouncing it like ``Afghan``, which was the ``Focus`` segment, 1320 on to ``News in Brief``; music later until 1357 hit by het from CRI Russian 9525.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBERIA. Another attempt to hear Star Radio on 4025: June 3 at 0533 there is definitely a carrier, and it is very slightly on the lo side, compared to Cuba on 5025, unless the latter be slightly on the hi side, i.e., with BFO slightly offtuned, and tuning 1.0 MHz apart on the FRG-7, slightly different pitches are heard. Still too much T-storm noise, at the moment from the next county to the east. Without that, and with adequate modulation, I might have been able to log some details (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. June 2 was another huge sporadic-E TV DX day from here. Unfortunately a lot of this cannot be traced to a specific station. Times always in UT. Referenced are the listings at http://www.w9wi.com/tv-channel-index.html
1417, when I turn on TV, already open up to channel 6. As the day goes on with 2-6 full, I frequently check channel 8 in case there be some hiband skip (and some was reported elsewhere), but nothing yet. Unfortunately my channel 7 is blocked by KOCO-DT OKC (as are 9 and 13 tho 9 is supposed to give up for 39 permanently instead).
1420 on 5, talk show with 2M and 2W, mentioning Veracruz, Veracruz. Must be XHAJ Las Lajas, 100 kW, which is listed on the XHGC-5 net but apparently local programming at the moment.
1425 on 5, CCI from Smurfs cartoons; also seen earlier on lower channel. 1434 on 5, italic 5 bug in UR, with the cartoons, so XHGC-5 net if not XHGC DF itself.
1437 on 3, tv3 bug in UR, talkshow. This is XHP Puebla. See very useful logo reference at http://www.tvdxtips.com/mexlogos.html
1624 on 6, Azteca 13 bug in UR, talkshow. This bug is the Aztec numeral 13, two vertical lines and three dots to the right (5+5+3). Eight full-power stations and two low-power fit this description, including Puebla.
Opening continues, but I am too busy to log stuff until ---
1915 on 6, A-13 bug in UR again, may or may not be same as at 1624.
1936 on 5, cartoons from net-5, Pixies, dubbed (XHGC-5 net seems to run cartoons most of the day)
1930 on 5, toons, El Chavo
1945 on 4, gameshow, kids (or small adults), on trikes negotiating obstacle course and running into things, ha ha; some are wearing red jumpsuits, others blue. A bug in LL says DICO, program name? TV Guide listing for XHTV-4 net has ``Se Vale`` at 17-20 UT, including games.
1958 on 6, Azteca-7 net, cartoon. 4 full power and 1 low power listed; CCI from soccer
2000 on 5, net-5, cartoon credits, El Chavo
2000 on 4, newscast, bug in UR says tv and maybe something else more identifiable I can`t make out. Maybe XHGV Veracruz, with rtv logo as in Oglethorpe`s logo reference. Can`t find listing for channel at TV Guide for Veracruz, which deals only with cable channels.
Only thing close in TV Guide is XEQ-9 Galavisión net with ``NX`` which is about entertainment rather than hard news. The only two stations with net-9 on 4 are XHBO Oaxaca and XHBK Tapachula.
2008 on 5, ads recorded for later analysis
2017-2027, took a break for FM DX: see USA [and non]
2037 on 5, net-5 with Spongebob, at times // audio on channel 4
2050, opening weakens to channel 4 and below
2201 on 5, ``El Poder de la Fe`` program starts, with large phone numbers and addresses supered across bottom, alternating Xalapa, Orizaba and Poza Rica, all Veracruz. No doubt XHAJ Las Lajas again. CCI from Spongebob and again at 2220
2257 on 3, net-5 with Penguins toon. Opening continuing until about 0200, but no further logs.
June 3: on HF again at 1330+ signs of Es, tho F2 worldwide reception is pits. 1410, TV on to find Mexicans channels 2-5 including toons on 3. Opening not so strong as yesterday, meaning less QRM on lower channels.
1533 on 2, Azteca-7 net bug in upper right and clock for 10:33 during novela (?). There are 5 full-power and 1-lower power listed. But two of them are west of the CDT zone, so that leaves only 4 to pick from.
By 1700 UT opening has weakened, but still plenty of CCI on 2 southward. What I am really hoping for is an opening from Caribbean/Central/South America at least double hop, excluding Mexico, so should leave antenna SE a lot of the time and keep an eye on DX Sherlock which however has been accused of virality (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SWAZILAND [non]. 11640, June 3 at 0614, still at 0632, open carrier registering S9+10. TWR via SOUTH AFRICA scheduled in English, and normally heard here. Now all they need is modulation while burning up 500 kW, 320 degrees USward like in the good old Radio RSA days via Meyerton.
Same site also on 11605 in French at 0614, notably weaker, since that`s Meyerton relaying RFI at 05-07, only 100 kW at 345 degrees, including modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 13845, WWCR inbooming at 1333 June 3, but no signal on 15825. Since sporadic E was also in play up to 85 MHz, I must conclude that WWCR-1 was off the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Checking out sporadic E on HF before I turned on the VHF, June 3 at 1335, WWV VG on 20000, normally inaudible this close. Zero ham activity on 21 or 28 MHz, but the CBers were all over 27 MHz working skip, and I noticed an isolated freeband frequency 26105 with lots of signals, hets as they fail to accurately tune their AM carriers. Others below the CB on 26735, 26815 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. When channels 2-6 are full of TV DX [see MEXICO], it`s likely that the FM band is also open. I have not been trying to DX there yet as it requires undivided attention unlike keeping one eye on the TV screens. But at 2017 UT June 2 I do deliberately take a break to FM, using the DX-398 with AC on the south-facing porch, and the whip antenna immediately manipulable to compensate for QRM, polarizations. There are few open frequencies here any more with lots of locals, semi-locals and blocking adjacent frequencies too. Spanish will stand out, compensating for several OK SS stations. I don`t find anything except:
At 2017 on 87.75, ID in Spanish as ``87.7``, plugging a pastor, then another slogan but no legal ID, ``87.7, en tu casa, la primera en el dial``, and ad for Restaurán El Salvador in Víctorville, California (which is between San Bernardino and Barstow), then ``música cristiana que te bendice``, mariachi. The stereo pilot goes on at fadeups! Shortly heard St. George, Utah mentioned, a music dedication, so a network program also heard there rather than by another DXer?
At 2021 87.75 has CCI (mono it seems) from other Spanish talk, 2022 an ad for Banorte, so this is probably a real Mexican TV station. At 2023, the stereo station puts phone caller on air, YLs talking, birthday dedication. 2027 timecheck for 1:26 = PDT.
This is of course one of those low-power TV stations funxioning as a radio station. Old analog stereo TV on channel 6 was a different system and would not come thru as stereo on an FM receiver, so they are axually running ordinary FM stereo on a TV audio channel! Yes, I made sure it was really on 87.75, not 87.70. This appears to be another loophole in FCC regs. I have previously identified the prime suspect in southern California, KSFV-CA, Los Ángeles, licensed for 3 kW to Almavisión.
But W9WI shows a number of other stations on channel 6 thruout the state, but disregarding the ones relaying real TV stations or networks, and dealing only with the ones in the W9WI list which are LICensed rather than just APPlications or Construction Permits, and disregarding all DTV ones: the only ones with unaccounted for programming are in the Bay Area or the north: KEFM-LP Chico, KBKF-LP Glen Arbor, KFMD-LP Redding. The only close one in the south is K06MB, Indio (between Thousand Palms and Mecca), also 3 kW, but supposed to be running real TV, ION/RTV.
There is also a KCIO-LP in Victorville, relaying TBN, on analog with app for DTV, so if that is really on it`s hard to see how another station on 87.75 could have any listeners to benefit from the restaurant ad there. Unless the same station/network has another outlet in Victorville.
Unfortunately the new FM Atlas does not deal with any of these faux-TV stations on 87.75 which are really radio, of which there are a growing number around the country.
On 92.1 at 2025 I was getting Spanish CCI to my local KAMG-LP. Back inside to the computer and TVs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
8400, JBA at 1313
11500, fair at 1324 with CCI
13300, very poor at 1328
14700, at 1334, possibly there under local TVI/noise blob
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. RHC English enjoyed four frequencies, June 3 at 0609, as feeds randomly change on some of them: 5040, 5970, 6010 and 6060; while Spanish was on 6120 and 6150.
13580, RHC lower leapfrog from huge 13780 signals over 13680, June 3 at 1329 mixing with something, and much weaker than its higher match on 13880. Now the victim is VOA Somali northward from Madagascar, Prague having abandoned 13580 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, VOI English, somebody turned up the modulation today unlike yesterday so it`s at good level atop hum, June 3 at 1319 talk about ASEAN, the YL pronouncing it like ``Afghan``, which was the ``Focus`` segment, 1320 on to ``News in Brief``; music later until 1357 hit by het from CRI Russian 9525.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBERIA. Another attempt to hear Star Radio on 4025: June 3 at 0533 there is definitely a carrier, and it is very slightly on the lo side, compared to Cuba on 5025, unless the latter be slightly on the hi side, i.e., with BFO slightly offtuned, and tuning 1.0 MHz apart on the FRG-7, slightly different pitches are heard. Still too much T-storm noise, at the moment from the next county to the east. Without that, and with adequate modulation, I might have been able to log some details (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. June 2 was another huge sporadic-E TV DX day from here. Unfortunately a lot of this cannot be traced to a specific station. Times always in UT. Referenced are the listings at http://www.w9wi.com/tv-channel-index.html
1417, when I turn on TV, already open up to channel 6. As the day goes on with 2-6 full, I frequently check channel 8 in case there be some hiband skip (and some was reported elsewhere), but nothing yet. Unfortunately my channel 7 is blocked by KOCO-DT OKC (as are 9 and 13 tho 9 is supposed to give up for 39 permanently instead).
1420 on 5, talk show with 2M and 2W, mentioning Veracruz, Veracruz. Must be XHAJ Las Lajas, 100 kW, which is listed on the XHGC-5 net but apparently local programming at the moment.
1425 on 5, CCI from Smurfs cartoons; also seen earlier on lower channel. 1434 on 5, italic 5 bug in UR, with the cartoons, so XHGC-5 net if not XHGC DF itself.
1437 on 3, tv3 bug in UR, talkshow. This is XHP Puebla. See very useful logo reference at http://www.tvdxtips.com/mexlogos.html
1624 on 6, Azteca 13 bug in UR, talkshow. This bug is the Aztec numeral 13, two vertical lines and three dots to the right (5+5+3). Eight full-power stations and two low-power fit this description, including Puebla.
Opening continues, but I am too busy to log stuff until ---
1915 on 6, A-13 bug in UR again, may or may not be same as at 1624.
1936 on 5, cartoons from net-5, Pixies, dubbed (XHGC-5 net seems to run cartoons most of the day)
1930 on 5, toons, El Chavo
1945 on 4, gameshow, kids (or small adults), on trikes negotiating obstacle course and running into things, ha ha; some are wearing red jumpsuits, others blue. A bug in LL says DICO, program name? TV Guide listing for XHTV-4 net has ``Se Vale`` at 17-20 UT, including games.
1958 on 6, Azteca-7 net, cartoon. 4 full power and 1 low power listed; CCI from soccer
2000 on 5, net-5, cartoon credits, El Chavo
2000 on 4, newscast, bug in UR says tv and maybe something else more identifiable I can`t make out. Maybe XHGV Veracruz, with rtv logo as in Oglethorpe`s logo reference. Can`t find listing for channel at TV Guide for Veracruz, which deals only with cable channels.
Only thing close in TV Guide is XEQ-9 Galavisión net with ``NX`` which is about entertainment rather than hard news. The only two stations with net-9 on 4 are XHBO Oaxaca and XHBK Tapachula.
2008 on 5, ads recorded for later analysis
2017-2027, took a break for FM DX: see USA [and non]
2037 on 5, net-5 with Spongebob, at times // audio on channel 4
2050, opening weakens to channel 4 and below
2201 on 5, ``El Poder de la Fe`` program starts, with large phone numbers and addresses supered across bottom, alternating Xalapa, Orizaba and Poza Rica, all Veracruz. No doubt XHAJ Las Lajas again. CCI from Spongebob and again at 2220
2257 on 3, net-5 with Penguins toon. Opening continuing until about 0200, but no further logs.
June 3: on HF again at 1330+ signs of Es, tho F2 worldwide reception is pits. 1410, TV on to find Mexicans channels 2-5 including toons on 3. Opening not so strong as yesterday, meaning less QRM on lower channels.
1533 on 2, Azteca-7 net bug in upper right and clock for 10:33 during novela (?). There are 5 full-power and 1-lower power listed. But two of them are west of the CDT zone, so that leaves only 4 to pick from.
By 1700 UT opening has weakened, but still plenty of CCI on 2 southward. What I am really hoping for is an opening from Caribbean/Central/South America at least double hop, excluding Mexico, so should leave antenna SE a lot of the time and keep an eye on DX Sherlock which however has been accused of virality (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SWAZILAND [non]. 11640, June 3 at 0614, still at 0632, open carrier registering S9+10. TWR via SOUTH AFRICA scheduled in English, and normally heard here. Now all they need is modulation while burning up 500 kW, 320 degrees USward like in the good old Radio RSA days via Meyerton.
Same site also on 11605 in French at 0614, notably weaker, since that`s Meyerton relaying RFI at 05-07, only 100 kW at 345 degrees, including modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 13845, WWCR inbooming at 1333 June 3, but no signal on 15825. Since sporadic E was also in play up to 85 MHz, I must conclude that WWCR-1 was off the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Checking out sporadic E on HF before I turned on the VHF, June 3 at 1335, WWV VG on 20000, normally inaudible this close. Zero ham activity on 21 or 28 MHz, but the CBers were all over 27 MHz working skip, and I noticed an isolated freeband frequency 26105 with lots of signals, hets as they fail to accurately tune their AM carriers. Others below the CB on 26735, 26815 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. When channels 2-6 are full of TV DX [see MEXICO], it`s likely that the FM band is also open. I have not been trying to DX there yet as it requires undivided attention unlike keeping one eye on the TV screens. But at 2017 UT June 2 I do deliberately take a break to FM, using the DX-398 with AC on the south-facing porch, and the whip antenna immediately manipulable to compensate for QRM, polarizations. There are few open frequencies here any more with lots of locals, semi-locals and blocking adjacent frequencies too. Spanish will stand out, compensating for several OK SS stations. I don`t find anything except:
At 2017 on 87.75, ID in Spanish as ``87.7``, plugging a pastor, then another slogan but no legal ID, ``87.7, en tu casa, la primera en el dial``, and ad for Restaurán El Salvador in Víctorville, California (which is between San Bernardino and Barstow), then ``música cristiana que te bendice``, mariachi. The stereo pilot goes on at fadeups! Shortly heard St. George, Utah mentioned, a music dedication, so a network program also heard there rather than by another DXer?
At 2021 87.75 has CCI (mono it seems) from other Spanish talk, 2022 an ad for Banorte, so this is probably a real Mexican TV station. At 2023, the stereo station puts phone caller on air, YLs talking, birthday dedication. 2027 timecheck for 1:26 = PDT.
This is of course one of those low-power TV stations funxioning as a radio station. Old analog stereo TV on channel 6 was a different system and would not come thru as stereo on an FM receiver, so they are axually running ordinary FM stereo on a TV audio channel! Yes, I made sure it was really on 87.75, not 87.70. This appears to be another loophole in FCC regs. I have previously identified the prime suspect in southern California, KSFV-CA, Los Ángeles, licensed for 3 kW to Almavisión.
But W9WI shows a number of other stations on channel 6 thruout the state, but disregarding the ones relaying real TV stations or networks, and dealing only with the ones in the W9WI list which are LICensed rather than just APPlications or Construction Permits, and disregarding all DTV ones: the only ones with unaccounted for programming are in the Bay Area or the north: KEFM-LP Chico, KBKF-LP Glen Arbor, KFMD-LP Redding. The only close one in the south is K06MB, Indio (between Thousand Palms and Mecca), also 3 kW, but supposed to be running real TV, ION/RTV.
There is also a KCIO-LP in Victorville, relaying TBN, on analog with app for DTV, so if that is really on it`s hard to see how another station on 87.75 could have any listeners to benefit from the restaurant ad there. Unless the same station/network has another outlet in Victorville.
Unfortunately the new FM Atlas does not deal with any of these faux-TV stations on 87.75 which are really radio, of which there are a growing number around the country.
On 92.1 at 2025 I was getting Spanish CCI to my local KAMG-LP. Back inside to the computer and TVs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
