WHO Des Moines IA 1040 kHz QSL

WHO Des Moines IA on 1040 kHz was heard in Pinelands on the 28th August 1980 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report

CALLSIGN ORIGIN

George Kuhns, the president of the owning company Bankers Life, promoted the creation of the station. He chose the callsign WHO due to the fact that during the 1920s, people searching for stations on the radio dial would ask, "Who is it ?"

CFGO Ottawa ON 1440 kHz QSL

The 1980's proved to be an fascinating era for dxing in South Africa with many memorable highlights received for the first time.

Pinelands remained a good location for dx from North America during the early part of the decade. During the middle 1980's the "Sea Gain" effect at Sandbaai (Hermanus) provided sensational reception from Australia. The latter part of the decade will be remembered for some remarkable dxpeditions to Swartriet, situated on the West Coast of South Africa, where a 1 km beverage antenna was set up for the first time by dxer Vince Stevens.

I was fortunate to receive a few interesting QSL's during the 1980's. The verifications featured in the following posts will include highlights from North America, the Caribbean and Australia.

The first QSL card to arrive in my mailbox during the 1980's was from CFGO Ottawa ON on 1440 kHz. The Canadian station made a surprise appearance on the 19th August 1980 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.


This CFGO sticker was included with the QSL card. Also included was a cool key chain which became a useful item for my car keys during the 1980's but has long since disintegrated !

WSJS Winston-Salem NC 600 kHz T-Shirt and Mug

It was a pleasant surprise to receive a WSJS T-shirt and mug from across the Atlantic this week !

Morning Show News Director Smith Patterson kindly sent through the items in response to my reception report to the station.

Thank you Smith for your kind gift which will certainly be put to good use during future dxpeditions !

The WSJS T-shirt, mug and Sony SRF-M37V receiver.

John Bryant

John Bryant (Photograph with kind permission from Guy Atkins c/o www.fivebelow.squarespace.com).

I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of John Bryant's sudden passing this week.

On behalf of South African dxers John Plimmer, Graham Bell, Vince Stevens and myself, our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to John's wife Linda, daughter Mary Ellen and her family in addition to all the dxers who were fortunate to know John personally.

We are all still in a state of shock and disbelief at the moment and quite frankly, I'm still finding it hard to express the loss of such a valuable friend from the dxing world.

John Bryant's enthusiam, generosity and encouragement have been an inspiration to us in South Africa.

I would like to share John's recent thoughtful and meaningful comment from a post for the ULR group :

" ... It sure is nice to stop for a few minutes to think about the bigger picture. It is very nice to have you all around. It makes my life much richer. Yours, too, I hope! "

Our lives have certainly been enriched by the encouraging, engaging, informative and friendly correspondence with you John.

Rest In Peace.

Dxer Guy Atkins, a close friend of John Bryant for 24 years, has kindly invited dxers to leave any thoughts or memories in the comments section for an in-memoriam post, availalble at http://fivebelow.squarespace.com/posts/2010/2/10/in-memoriam.html .

Ultralight Centurian Awards From The U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive two additional ultralight award certificates from John Bryant on behalf of the other ultralight awards commitee members Robert Ross and Gary DeBock. My humble thanks and appreciation for the acknowledgement guys !

The two Centurian Awards are for the reception of 104 mediumwave stations from Australia with the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG (Beverage On Ground) during the second quarter of 2009.


The interesting graphic is taken from the front cover of Citizens Radio Callbook, Spring 1928 and is known as "Our Lady of the Globes" in some quarters.

Visit http://www.dxer.ca/ for an insight into the fascinating hobby of Ultralight Radio Dxing.

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightdx/ which is an interesting discussion area regarding ULR Dxing.

MALTA Radio Mediterranean 1557 kHz QSL and Audio

Radio Mediterranean on 1557 kHz was heard with a strong signal via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands during the late 1970's. 

The vintage QSL card above was received in response to my reception report on the 3rd May 1979.

AUDIO

The audio clip of the sign-on announcement was recorded at 1800 UTC on the 3rd May 1979 :

   

Panoramic view of Valletta, Malta (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WSM Nashville TN 650 kHz QSL

It was a pleasant surprise to receive WSM Nashville TN on 650 khz for the first time on the 7th May 1979 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

WSM's impressive 808 feet (246 m) Blaw-Knox tower was erected in 1932 and is the tallest of eight such towers that remain in use in North America (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

ST. VINCENT Radio St. Vincent Kingstown 705 kHz QSL and Audio

It was a pleasant surprise to receive and identify Radio St. Vincent on 705 khz for the first time at 05h00 UTC on the 19th April 1979 via the vintage Siera valve receiver and a modest 20 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands (a fair signal peak just before local sunrise at 05h11 UTC). 

I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

AUDIO

Radio St. Vincent identified as "705 Radio" followed by an enjoyable program of jazz music.

A VOLCANIC ERUPTION AND IMPENDING EVACUATION !

More trans-Atlantic dx heard in Pinelands - 

recorded exactly five days before the above reception :

A dramatic news report concerning a volcanic eruption from WBT Charlotte NC heard in Pinelands on the 14th April at 05h00 hours UTC is available here

BAHAMAS ZNS 1 Nassau 1540 kHz QSL and Audio

ZNS 1 from the Bahamas on 1540 kHz was heard at Pinelands on the 18th April 1979 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

Audio

Radio Bahamas is a regular here at Fish Hoek. The station is usually received with an almost local quality signal around dawn during our dxpeditions to Seefontein as heard on this recording made on the 28th July 2005 :

U.K. Capital Radio London 1546 kHz QSL and Audio

Capital Radio from the United Kingdom on 1546 kHz made it through to Pinelands on the 1st September 1978 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card, signed by C. Tyroll, in response to my reception report. 

The transmitter had an output of 27.5 kW producing a maximum e.r.p. of 97.5 kW to the south which would have contributed greatly to the reception in South Africa. 

AUDIO CLIP 

A huge signal from Capital Radio on 1548 kHz was recorded almost 10 years later on the 6th July 1988, during my first dxpedition to Swartriet (just north of Saldahna Bay) on the west coast of South Africa.

 

Fellow South African dxers Vince Stevens and James Arm set up a 1 kilometre beverage which was directed towards the north west. The resulting dx from North America and Europe was memorable to say the least !

MONTSERRAT Radio Antilles 930 kHz QSL

Radio Antilles from the Caribbean island of Montserrat used to get through to Pinelands on quite a few occasions during the 1970's.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL in response to my reception report from the 3rd September 1978 at 2220 hrs UTC via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO

A dramatic image of the Plymouth Courthouse buried in lahar deposits with the Soufriere Hills Volcano in the background (Image from www.photovolcanica.com ).

After a long period of dormancy, the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat became active in 1995 and has continued to erupt ever since.

The site of Radio Antilles was totally obliterated by pyroclastic flows in October 1997. A pic of the collapsed roof of Radio Antilles is available here.

WCAU Philadelphia PA 1210 kHz QSL

This 1970's vintage QSL from WCAU Philadelphia PA on 1210 kHz was received in response to a reception report via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

WWVA Wheeling WV 1170 kHz QSL and Audio

WWVA Wheeling WV on 1170 kHz made it through to Pinelands on the 31st May 1977 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

The three WWVA 122 metre free standing antenna towers. Built during the 1940s, the transmitter plant building has a bomb shelter with 1 metre thick walls! (Photograph with kind permission from Ken Andrews).

Audio

Station id "A Country Radio Legend - WWVA Wheeling " was recorded during early 1989 at Fish Hoek via the FRG7 and 40 metre longwire antenna.

KMOX St. Louis MO 1120 kHz QSL and Audio

KMOX St. Loius MO on 1120 kHz made it through to Pinelands at 0001 UTC on the 30th May 1977 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report. 

AUDIO

KMOX was heard with a good consistent signal via the FRG7 and modest 40 metre longwire antenna on the 26th February 1989 in Fish Hoek. The recording was made at 0411 hours during a weather report and station id by Mike O'Conner, followed by "Moonglow", the signature tune for the Saturday night jazz programme presented by "Cactus" Charlie Menees.

ULTRALIGHT RECEPTION 

It was a surprise to receive 1120 KMOX via the Sony SRF-M37V's internal 5 cm loopstick antenna, a year ago on the 24th January 2009 (The report and reply from KMOX News Director John Butler).

BELIZE Radio Belize, Belize City 834 kHz QSL

A vintage QSL from Radio Belize on 834 kHz, received in 1976.

It was a pleasant surprise to hear Radio Belize for the first time on 834 kHz in Pinelands at 0435 UTC on the 3rd September 1976 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna. I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

Radio Belize used to make it through to Pinelands on a few rare occasions during the 1970's. I also managed to hear the station on 830 kHz in Sandbaai (Hermanus) during the middle 1980's.

Radio Belize closed down on November 30, 1998.

WCBS New York NY 880 kHz QSL

The flagship station of the CBS Radio Network, WCBS New York NY on 880 kHz, can get through quite well during good propagation conditions from the U.S.

The station made it through to Pinelands at 0450 UTC on the 22nd August 1976 via the Siera valve receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive a QSL card from WCBS, signed by C. Adams, in response to my reception report.

HISTORICAL PERSPECIVE FROM 1978


Click here for a well documented and fascinating account from the http://www.nyradionews.com/ website featuring a behind-the-scenes historical profile of WCBS from 1978.

CBM Montreal QC 940 kHz QSL

The CBM QSL card received in 1976.

The kind verification letter received from Audience Relation Assistant Marcia Morris identified the programme heard as "Midday".

An unexpected follow-up verification letter from Marcia Morris who kindly corrected the programme details heard.

It was a pleasant surprise to receive my first Canadian MW station, CBM Montreal QC on 940 kHz which made it through to Pinelands at 0445 UTC on the 22nd August 1976 via the Siera receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

Audience Relation Assistant Marcia Morris kindly verified my report with a QSL card and letter. An unexpected follow up verification letter with the correct programme details was also received.

CBM's FM transmitter went on the air in 1998 and the station's AM 940 transmitter was shut down in May 1999.

WOWO Fort Wayne IN 1190 kHz QSL

Inside of the QSL folder.

Outside of the QSL folder.

Continuing with the QSLs from the 1970's :

WOWO, Fort Wayne IN on 1190 kHz made it through to Pinelands at 0447 UTC on the 13th August 1976 via the Siera valve receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

The informative QSL folder signed by Chief Engineer Billy L. Wolfe was received in response to my reception report.

Click here for a visit to an excellent website which contains a fascinating account of the rich history of Fort Wayne's legendary 50,000 watt radio station !

Noordhoek DXpedition Ultralight Loggings : 4th - 11th January 2010

A view of the dx location for the 10th/11th January.

Noordhoek's pristine position on the coast provides the dxer with a great opportunity to hear MW stations from across the Atlantic.

Fair reception conditions were experienced during a family holiday/dxpedition to Noordhoek at the beginning of January 2010.

TRANS ATLANTIC PROPAGATION FROM NORTH AMERICA

The mid summer season can be quite productive for the reception of TA signals from North America with stations fading up before midnight local / 2200 hrs UTC.

1610 Caribbean Beacon appeared at 10:55 pm local / 2055 hrs UTC while 1600 WWRL New York was the first U.S.A. station to fade up at 11:35 pm / 2135 UTC on the 4th January.

It's interesting that TA propagation from the U.S.A. seemed best during the early hours (1:00 am - 4:00 am local / 2300hrs - 0200 hrs UTC) with no local dawn enhancement. In fact U.S. signals seemed to fade quite significantly with the onset of local dawn (around 5:00 am local / 0300 hrs UTC) - a sharp contrast to the superb local dawn/sunrise enhancement experienced during the January 2009 Noordhoek dxpedition.

600 WSJS WINSTON SALEM NC


WSJS, Winston Salem NC on 600 kHz was heard for the first time via the Sony SRF M37V and 220 metre BOG ( The 5 kw signal made it through over a distance of 12 830 km). The enthusiastic response from Morning Show News Director Smith Patterson made my day (See previous post).

1670 kHz BBC RELAY

An unidentified station relaying the BBC World Service on 1670 kHz was received for the first time.

The Loggings : Freq (kHz) and Time (UTC)

600 0050 U.S.A. WSJS Winston Salem NC w id in promo " ... This is Smith Patterson. Start your day informed with the WSJS early morning news, weekdays at 5:00 am on the Triad's News Radio AM 600/1200 WSJS " - poor w fair peaks 11/01 * personal first

670 0047 U.S.A. WSCR Chicago IL w Packers vs Cardinals football comm - poor 11/01

680 0001 U.S.A. WRKO Boston MA w Boston College basketball - fair 6/01.

680 0100 U.S.A. WPTF Raleigh NC w id "Newsradio WPTF Raleigh" and news - poor 11/01

690 0128 CANADA CINF Montreal QC in FF w ad - poor 11/01

700 2347 U.S.A. WLW Cincinatti OH w "700 WLW" id - fair 5/01

700 2305 ST. VINCENT NBC Kingstown (presumed) w religious programme on 10/01 also at 0300 w BBC news fair - 11/01

710 2338 U.S.A. WOR New York NY w id and talkback - very good 10/1

720 0231 U.S.A. WGN Chicago IL w sports comm - poor 11/01

730 0259 CANADA CKAC Montreal ON w ann in FF - poor 11/01

750 0010 U.S.A. WSB Atlanta GA w talkback - poor 11/01

760 0044 U.S.A. WJR Detroit MI "Newstalk 7-60 WJR" id - poor 8/01

770 2357 U.S.A. WABC New York NY w talkback - poor 10/01

780 0156 U.S.A. WBBM Chicago IL w ad - poor 11/01

790 0343 U.S.A. WNIS Norfolk VA w talkback - fair 11/01

800 2335 NETHERLANDS ANTILLES TWR Bonaire w "Unshackled" - good 10/01

810 2355 U.S.A. WGY Schenectady NY (presumed) w ad - very poor 10/01

820 2330 ST. KITTS Radio Paradise w ann "This is the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Reaching our world with the love of Jesus for 36 years" - fair 10/01

830 2358 U.S.A. WCRN Worcester MA w ad " .. new year's best prices on dozens of late model, low milage cars ... at both locations in Worcester and ... " on 5/01. Also at 2244 w ad for "The Spacious Place - Call 978 895 63 62 or visit them online at the spacious place.com" - fair 10/01

840 0102 U.S.A. WHAS Louisville KY w news and WHAS id at 0103 - poor 11/01

850 0044 U.S.A. WTAR Norfolk VA w talkback - fair 11/01

870 2352 U.S.A. WWL New Orleans LA w "Star Registery" ad and football comm - poor 10/01

880 2326 U.S.A. WCBS New York NY w promo ann and id "Bussiness news at 25 and 55 past every hour on WCBS Newsradio. WCBS News time 6:26" - good 10/01

Apart from sentry duty at the caravan farm, our feathered friend provided some early dx wake up calls at around 3:00 am !

900 0157 CANADA CHML Hamilton ON w ad for "Honda" and "AM 900 CHML" id. Aso at 0215 w promo for "The Roy Green Show" - fair 11/01

950 0014 U.S.A. WPEN Philadelphia PA w Packers vs Cardinals football comm. Also at 0032 w ad for "The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Sunday January 31st at 8:00pm on CBS" - fair 11/01

960 0014 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED w sports comm - poor 11/01

990 0049 U.S.A. WNML Knoxville TN a strong possibility here w post match discussion and ad for "Food City Red Tag Specials" - poor 11/01

1000 0015 U.S.A. WMVP Chicago IL w sports report - good 10/1

1010 2301 U.S.A. WINS New York NY news, wx and timecheck "WINS news time 6:01" - fair 5/01

1040 0140 U.S.A. WHO Des Moines IA w "WHO three day weather forecast". Also at 0154 w id and timecheck "Newsradio 10-40 WHO. 10:53" - fair 11/01

1050 2159 U.S.A. WEVD New York NY - fair 11/01

1060 2310 U.S.A. KYW Philadelphia PA w news report - poor 10/01

1080 2335 U.S.A. WTIC Hartford CT (presumed) w sports comm - poor 10/01

1090 2347 U.S.A. WBAL Baltimore MD w id and "Geiko.com" ad - fair 10/01

1110 2359 U.S.A. WBT Charlotte NC w ad - poor 10/01

1120 0235 U.S.A. KMOX St. Louis MO (presumed) w sports news - poor 11/01

1130 2332 U.S.A. WBBR New York NY financial news report - good 10/01

1140 2255 U.S.A. WRVA Richmond VA w medical talkback - fair 10/01

1170 0224 U.S.A. WWVA Wheeling WV Religious px - poor 11/01

1180 2259 U.S.A. R. Marti Marathon Key FL SS w talkback - very good 10/01

1190 2212 U.S.A. WLIB New York NY w id “Your Praise And Inspiration Station 11-90 WLIB” - fair 10/01

1210 2312 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED w discussion poor 10/01

Our caravan camp site, situated in a cool position under a gigantic old oak tree.

1400 2324 GRENADA The Harbour Light Of The Windwards w religious sermon - poor 10/01

1500 0037 U.S.A. WFED Washington DC - fair 11/01

1510 0205 U.S.A. WLAC Nashville TX w discussion - good peak 11/01

1520 0232 U.S.A. WWKB Buffalo NY w "KB 15-20" id - poor 11/01

1530 0214 U.S.A. WCKY Cincinatti OH w sports talkback - fair 11/01

1540 2345 BAHAMAS ZNS1 Nassau w ad for "Burger King" - fair 5/01

1600 2150 U.S.A. WWRL New York NY w ad for vitamins "It's only 24.99 for shipping and handling. Your satisfaction is guaranteed." 10/01 The first station from the U.S. to fade up at 2135 UTC on the 4/01.

1610 2055 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon w fade-up on 4/01. Also ann at 0138 UTC over gospel music bed "You are watching the University Network. The phone number to call is 1-800 338 30 30 ... " very good peak 8/01

* Audio clip available on the right hand side of the web page.

1620 0203 U.S.A. WTAW College Station TX w ABC news and id at 0205 - good 8/01

1630 0135 U.S.A. KKGM Fort Worth TX w ad "C.C. Creations. Building better relationships througout Texas for 25 years" - fair 8/01

1640 0259 U.S.A. WTNI Biloxi MS a possiblity here w ads - poor 8/01

1660 2300 U.S.A. WWRU Elizabeth NJ w "WWRU Jersey City, New York State" id then into in KK - fair 5/01

1660 0034 U.S.A. WCNZ Marco Island FL w Lely High School girls basketball commentary, "AM 16-60 ... Super Sports Network" id and ad for "Morgan and Morgan" - poor w fair peaks 8/01

1670 0104 U.S.A. WFSM Dry Branch GA w promo " weekdays 9:00 'till noon Fox Sports 16-70" - fair 8/01

1670 2212 UNIDENTIFIED w BBC World Service relay - poor w fair peaks 10/01

1700 0055 U.S.A. KVNS Brownsville TX "Now. News and weather from ten o' five on Classic Hits 17-00 KVNS" fair/good 8/01

Receiver : Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight

Antenna : 60m, 100m and 220m BOGs

Sunset reflection at Noordhoek Beach (Photograph Gary Deacon).

WSJS Winston-Salem NC 600 kHz QSL and Audio

It was a pleasant surprise to receive WSJS Winston-Salem NC on 600 kHz for the first time during the latest January dxpedition to Noordhoek. The 5 kw signal made it through over a distance of 12 830 kilometres on the 11th January 2010 via the Sony M37V Ultralight and 220 metre BOG.

Morning Show News Director Smith Patterson was quite surprised to receive my email reception report :

" Confirmed most assuredly - Wow ! Really though thanks for sharing ! Everyone in the station, including the engineers are amazed. Glad to have corresponded with you. This made my day ! "

Thank you Smith for your kind words and interest ! Your kind response certainly made my day too !

Google image showing the WSJS transmitter site at 36° 07' 00" N, 80° 21' 26" W.

AUDIO * available on the right hand side of the web page

Station identification was included in a promo for Smith Patterson's early morning news programme :

" This is Smith Patterson. Start your day informed with the WSJS early morning news, weekdays at 5:00 am on the Triad's News Radio AM 600/1200 WSJS ".

Panoramic Image of the picturesque receiving location at Noordhoek. The road is directed towards the central part of the U.S. - convenient for a quick and easy set up of the 220 metre BOG along the left hand side (Click onto the image for a higher resolution).

WBAP Fort Worth TX 820 kHz QSL

WBAP's QSL card received in 1974.

WBAP on 820 kHz made it through to Pinelands at 0520 UTC on the 17th August 1974 via the Siera valve receiver and 20 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive WBAP's QSL card, from Director of Engineering Rupert Bogan on the 3rd September 1974 (In 12 days after posting my reception report).

A close-up of the AM station details.

Google Earth Image of WBAP's omnidirectional transmitter tower.