Longwire Signal Strength Tests

Here is a chart of signal strength tests for 3 longwire lengths - 70 ft., 150 ft., and 240 ft., made Nov. 30, 2008 between 1200 and 1300 local time. In all cases, strength increased with incremental increase in wire length, except for 810 kHz, KGO. I'm sure this anomoly was due to band conditions at the exact time of monitoring.

KPLY, 630 kHz, Reno, NV was not receivable at all.

All stations monitored transmit below 1000 kHz. The 240 ft. longwire is resonant at approximately 1000 kHz at a quarter wave, the 150 ft. longwire approximately 1520 kHz. It is apparent that increasing wire length up to at least one quarter wave will always increase signal level. Two stations were not receivable at all (no signal apparent) until wire length was increased from 70 ft. to 150 ft., where they then became readable. It seems at least 150 ft. of wire is necessary for daytime DXing.

Signal strengths are indicated in S-units. See notes at bottom for symbol explanation. Eton E1, preamp off.

Strengths indicated as follows: 70ft---150ft---240ft

550 kHz KFYI Phoenix, AZ 6---8---9
560 kHz KBLU Yuma, AZ 5---**1---**1
580 kHz KSAZ Marana, AZ 1.5---4.5---6
590 kHz KSUB Cedar City, UT 1---1.5#---2.5#
600 kHz KOGO San Diego, CA 1.5---3.5---5
630 kHz KPLY Reno, NV 0---0---0
640 kHz KFI Los Angeles, CA 3.5---5.5---7
660 kHz KTNN Window Rock, AZ 0---$---3
680 kHz KNBR San Francisco, CA 3---3.5---5
700 kHz KALL N. Salt Lake City, UT 0---2#---4.5
720 kHz KDWN Las Vegas, NV 5---7---8
740 kHz KCBS San Francisco, CA 1.5---5.5---8.5
760 kHz KFMB San Diego, CA 1---3---4.5
770 kHz KKOB Albuquerque, NM 1---1---3
810 kHz KGO San Francisco, CA 3---2.5---4
830 kHz KFLT Tucson, AZ 3.5---6.5---9
930 kHz KAFF Flagstaff, AZ $---2---4

Symbols-

0 No signal apparent
$ Signal there, but not intelligble
# Signal there, poor intelligibility

Notes-

**1 Station was off the air at this time for some reason.

More Wire Procured

I procured an extra 90 feet of wire for the antenna yesterday. That will bring the longwire out to about 240 feet. That length is resonant, at a quarter wave, to about 1000 kilocycles (oops, KHz kilohertz - my age is showing).

It will be interesting to compare signal strengths between the new length and the old 150 ft. length. Signal strengths were markedly improved in going from 70 ft. to 150 ft., generally 2-4 S-units on the long distance mediumwave stuff. I don't expect a like-improvement, but we'll see. I'm anxious to try this out on KALL, 700 KHz, N. Salt Lake City, UT, and KPLY, 630 KHz, Reno, NV, a very difficult daytime catch.

Signal strength improvement on the short range stations (up to 100 miles) was small at best going from 70 ft. to 150 ft. My short range test station is often KBLU, 560 KHz, Yuma, AZ. Its distance is 80 miles. It's a 1 KW station, both night and day, and changes antenna patterns at sundown. Good copy, though somewhat weak during the day, when they shift to the nighttime pattern it is difficult copy as its strength drops to near zero with added Mexican interference. They must have a terrific phasing network.

More on this in a few days.

Eton E1 Review Coming

Been working for some time on a comprehensive Eton E1 review. It is about 70% complete. I'll be posting it when it is done. The E1 continues to perform admirably. It's sensitivity, particularly on a longwire, is excellent. Selectivity is good as well. It's performance is similar to the Drake SW-8 in many respects, and goes well beyond what one would expect in a portable. Of course, the E1 was a multi-year design effort by the Drake team, so probably not much of a surprise there.

Heard the mystery "presumed" Chinese station again Monday morning (local) at the usual time. Forgot to check it this morning, but will try again tomorrow. Coincidence has it that this station has only been received on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays so far. Possibly another clue in the puzzle? Hopefully we shall see.

Snow back east in New York this morning in the news. We are basking in the 80 degree sunshine as I write. Perfect for outside DXing!

AM Bandscan 530-1000 KHz

Been working on getting the AM bandscan filled out. This is time consuming duty, as many stations these days don't identify as readily as they used to. Sundays is always a good day, especially during football coverage, as they tend to identify more readily during this time.

This first effort covers 530 KHz through 1000 KHz. These are daytime loggings only, according to the rules set forth in a previous post, making sure stations are logged no closer than 3 hours from sunrise and sunset times. These loggings have been recorded since mid-October 2008.

All loggings were recorded using the Eton E1 with a 150 ft. longwire.

530 KHz
540 KHz
550 KHz KFYI Phoenix, AZ 5KW
560 KHz KBLU Yuma, AZ 1KW
570 KHz KLAC Los Angeles, CA 5KW
580 KHz KSAZ Marana, AZ 5KW
590 KHz KSUB Cedar City, UT 5KW
600 KHz KOGO San Diego, CA 5KW
610 KHz
620 KHz KTAR Phoenix, AZ 5KW
630 KHz KPLY Reno, NV 5KW very weak, outstanding catch for daytime
640 KHz KFI Los Angeles, CA 50KW
650 KHz KMTI Manti, UT 10KW
660 KHz KTNN Window Rock, AZ 50KW
670 KHz KBTB? Las Vegas, NV 10KW why won't stations identify?
680 KHz KNBR San Francisco, CA 50KW
690 KHz XETRA Tijuana, BC 78KW
700 KHz KALL N. Salt Lake City, UT 50KW
710 KHz KSPN Los Angeles, CA 50KW
720 KHz KDWN Las Vegas, NV 50KW
730 KHz
740 KHz KCBS San Francisco, CA 50KW
750 KHz
760 KHz KFMB San Diego, CA 50KW
760 KHz KKZN Thornton, CO 50KW
770 KHz KKOB Albuquerque, NM 50KW
780 KHz KAZM Sedona, AZ 5KW
790 KHz XESU La Dinamica Mexicali 1KW
800 KHz
810 KHz KGO San Francisco, CA 50KW
820 KHz Probable Mexican
830 KHz KFLT Tucson, AZ 50KW
830 KHz KLAA Orange, CA 50KW
840 KHz KXNT N. Las Vegas, NV 50KW
850 KHz La ZF, Mexicali 500W
860 KHz Probable Mexican
870 KHz Probable Mexican
880 KHz
890 KHz KDXU St. George, UT 10KW
900 KHz
910 KHz KGME Phoenix, AZ 5KW
910 KHz XEAO R. Mexicana, Mexicali 1KW
920 KHz KBAD Las vegas, NV 5KW
930 KHz KAFF Flagstaff, AZ 5KW
940 KHz XEMMM Mexicali 1KW
950 KHz XEKAM Tijuana, BC 20KW
960 KHz KKNT Phoenix, AZ 5KW
970 KHz KNWS Coachella, CA 5KW
980 KHz KNTR Lake Havasu, AZ 1KW
990 KHz XECL Rocola 990, Mexicali 5KW
1000 KHz Identifies as K-Star