The tests this weekend were an amazing success with receptions
across North America! With two years to go before the bottom of
the sunspot cycle, we can expect even better conditions next year!
Hats off to Kent Winrich, Juan Gualda, and Michael Richard for their
efforts in conducting these tests. DX'ers around the world are
grateful for them. The ABDX E-Mail list was also responsible
for arranging most of these tests, and we are all grateful.
Also much credit should go to the large group of "real time"
monitors
on Internet Relay Chat in the #mwdx channel. A large group of
us listened to the tests in real time, comparing notes on what
we were hearing around the country. If you haven't tried this
yet, you're missing out on one of the best tools for AM
DXing available.
Here are the results of the test as reported to the IRCA, NRC,
ABDX, AMFMTV, and MWC DX Lists.
WTTP 1490khz Vero Beach, FL DX Test
This 20 minute test was successfully received by Robert Foxworth (a
legendary graveyard DXer) in Tampa, FL, along with reports from John
Sgrulletta of Mahopac, NY;
Mike Hardester in Jacksonville, NC; and John Callarman of Krum, TX.
Robert Foxworth noted that the now famous NRC sweep tones were easier to
make
out than the Morse Code ID's.
Among those who tried for the test without success were Russ Edmund of Blue
Bell, PA;
Les Rayburn, Helena, AL; Bill Dvorak of Madison, WI; Russ Johnson of
Lexington, NC;
Steve Francis in Alcoa, TN; Saul in Burnt River, Ontario; Jim Renfrew in
Bryon, NY; Curt Deegan in
Boca Raton heard weak code, but not enough to claim a success in the test.
Others who tried but failed included Craig in Colorado; John Hunter of
Rossville, GA;
Brett Saylor in PA; Barry McLarnon of Ottawa, Ontario; Morris Sorensen of
Winnipeg, MB; Bruce Winkelman of Tulsa, OK. Also Bjarne Mjelde of
Artic
Norway tried without success.
This test was received in four states but considering how short the
test was (20 minutes)
and on a graveyard channel, very successful. Thanks again to Juan Gualda
for this
wonderful treat. We hope that he'll agree to do an even longer test in the
near
future.
WISN 1130khz Milwaukee, WI DX Test
This test was widely heard throughout most of the country with reports
coming in
rapidly, just as the local newscast was being broadcast at the TOH. Kent
Winrich was
even live with us on the #mwdx chat channel to keep us updated on the
progress
of the test...he reported much excitment among the staff of the station(s)
as
the reports began to come in from far away!
Among those successful dxers were Russ Edmunds of Blue Bell, PA; Les
Rayburn in
Helena, AL; Steve Francis of Alcoa,TN; John Sgrulletta of Mahopac, NY;
Patrick
Martin in Seaside, OR; Robert Foxworth in Tampa FL; Rick Shaftan in NJ;
Greg
Myers in Largo, FL; Scott Fybush in Rochester, NY; David Yocis of
Shannondale,
WV; Craig in Front Range, CO; Blaine Thompson in Fort Wayne, IN; James
Niven
in Moody, TX; Greg Myers heard the code very well; Jerry Bond of Rochester,
NY;
Doug Pifer of Albany, OR finally pulled the code in at 2300; Phil
Bytheway of Seattle, WA also
pulled in a Code ID at the TOH; Mike Booker in Toronto, Ontario; Saul in
Brunt
River, Ontario.
Just before the end of the test Mike Hardester in Jacksonville, NC pulled
in a
voice ID followed by several code ID's; Steve Ratzlaff of Elgin OR also
pulled
in CW from the test; John Hunter of Rossville, GA; Doug Smith of Nashville,
TN;
Greg Coniglio pulled them in; Chris Johnson of Taylors, SC heard both
WI
tests while lying in bed listening to his Sony Sports Walkman!
Other successful receptions included Tom Dimeo of Harrisburg, PA;
Barry
McLarnon of Ottawa, Ontario; Morris Sorensen of Winnipeg, MB; Bruce Bacon
of
Boise County, ID; Nigel Pimblett in Dunmore, Alberta; Bill Dvorak of
Madion, WI;
Bruce Whaley of Lilburn, GA;
The following DX'ers tried for this test, but without success-Kevin in
Mesa, AZ;
Curt Deegan of Boca Raton, FL couldn't pull them out; Don Kaskey had
trouble
with nearby stations; Brian Leyton of Valley Village, CA; Bjarne Mjelde
of
Berlevag, Artic Norway tried without success-noting conditions were poor
to
the United States.
This test was received in 17 states and two Canadian providences! Wow!
WOKY 920khz Milwaukee, WI DX Test
While the excitement was going on WISN; even more DX'ers seemed to
want
to log WOKY 920. It's been on the "most wanted" lists for several DX'ers
for
some time. Most were not disappointed, with this test also being widely
heard.
Among the lucky were David Yocis in Shannondale, WV; Les Rayburn of
Helena, AL; Russ Johnson in Lexington, NC; Russ Edmunds of Blue Bell, PA;
John Callerman of Krum, TX; Steve Francis of Alcoa, TN; Craig in Front
Range, CO;
Patrick Martin of Seaside, OR; Saul in Burnt River, Ontrario; Scott Fybush
in
Rochester, NY; Blaine Thompson in Fort Wayne, IN; Mike Booker in
Toronto,
Ontario; John Hunter of Rossville, GA; Chris Johnston of Taylors, SC;
Marc
DeLorenzo of Cape Cod, MA.
Othe successful receptions were reported by Ron Gitschier from his
hotel
room in Manning, SC; Nigel Pimblett in Dunmore, Alberta, Canada; Bill
Dvorak
of Madison, WI; Bruce Whaley of Lilburn, GA; and Bruce Winkelman of
Tulsa, OK.
Not everyone was lucky enough to pull this one out, among those unfortunate
souls
were Kevin of Mesa, AZ; Mike Hardester in Jacksonville, NC had trouble with
a
Spanish speaking local station; James Niven of Moddy, Texas had trouble
with KARN;
Robert Foxworth in Tampa couldn't pull them out either; Curt Deegan of
Boca
Raton had trouble with a SS station; Doug Kaskey couldn't pull them
through locals; Doug Smith made have heard them from his home in Nashville,
TN
but missed code and announcements...fortunately, Doug has already
logged
this station in the past; Morris Sorensen of Winnipeg, MB had trouble with
his
local CFRY; Brain Leyton of Vally Village, CA had no joy; Bjarne Mjelde of
Berlevag, Artic Norway tried without success-noting conditions were poor
to
the United States.
Heard in 15 states and two Canadian Providences! Incredible!
KEVA 1240 Evanston, WY DX Test
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening came when reports began to roll
in across
the country for successful receptions of this test. KEVA 1240 conducted a
full hour
of tests including Morse Code ID's, sweep tones, and voice announcements.
This station also tested last year and was widely heard then too. With good
conditions
to the West and more listeners this time, they did even better. Conditions
change
rapidly on the graveyard channels too,which is why a full hour of test
material
can make big differences in the amount of success.
Some DX'ers who were lucky enough to log this 1KW signal included Craig of
Wondervu,
Colorado; Les Rayburn of Helena, Alabama; Kevin in Mesa, Arizona,
Patrick
Martin in Seaside, Oregon, Bill Harms of Elkridge, Maryland who shared
my
disbelief at our mutual reception while chatting on #mwdx; Phil Bytheway
in
Seattle, WA; Doug Pifer in Albany, OR; Brent Mangrum of Murphysboro,
TN;
Jerry Atherton of Rice Lake, WI; Pete Traylor of Tacoma, WA; Don
Kaskey
pulled in the code but no audio; Nick Hall-Patch reported successful
code reception too; Steve Ratzlaff of Elgin, OR; Michael Procop of Bedford,
OH
had a probable reception of the code (still checking the tape); John
Callarman of
Krum, TX.
Other successful receptions were reported by Art Peterson of Richmond, CA;
Morris
Sorensen of Winnipeg, MB; Brian Leyton of Valley Village, CA; Mike Delmage
of
Sherwood Park, Alberta;
Some were not so lucky including John Hunter of Rossville, GA; Bill Dvorak
of
Madison, WI; Bjarne Mjelde of
Berlevag, Artic Norway tried without success-noting conditions were poor
to
the United States.
A graveyard test logged in 12 states and two providences of Canada,
can
you believe that!??
This are initial results only, and the actual number of loggings/states,
etc.
may grow. Again, the sincere thanks of the entire DX community to
those who arranged these tests! Hats off!
Les Rayburn, N1LF
IRCA CPC Chairman