[IRCA] WODI DX Test Report (In Progress Report as of December 2006)

["Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

DX'ers this season have been blessed with a very rare "Weekly DX" test from
WODI, 1230khz in Brookneal, VA. The test was the brainchild of Tony 
DeNicola, WA2IHZ ,
and Dave Marthouse, N2AAM who jointly run the station.

The station has been conducting a five minute duration DX Test each week
since October 1st, allowing many DX'ers to put this station into their logs
for the first time. If you don't see your name listed here, it's not too 
late, the
test continues into January and possibly quite a bit longer. So take
advantage, and give them a try this Saturday night!

QSL INFORMATION
=======================================

QSL's for all received reports have already been sent, so if you haven't 
received
yours yet, please send me another report. The club is handling all the QSL
requests for the station.

Here are the details:
Reception reports are desired via e-mail (first choice) and
snail mail (only if e-mail is not available) Station would prefer
to received recordings of the test (MP3, CD, or cassette).

Submit reports to:
les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please put "WODI DX Test" in the subject line.

All standard mail reports should go to:
Les Rayburn
High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216

*SASE Required for reply.

TEST RESULTS AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2006
==========================================

The first WODI test premiered on the same night as the WNJC Test on October 
1st. Many DX'ers
attempted to log both of them on the same night, with many reporting that 
success. First to nail them
both was Bob Antoniuk of Clifton, NJ. He used his Sony 2010 with only the 
stock antenna
to pull it off.

Next up was Bert New of Watkinsville, GA, followed by Russ Johnson in 
Lexington, NC. Our neighbors
to the North got into the act too, with Jerry Coatsworth, VE3KXO of Merlin, 
Ontario reporting
reception of both station's test signals.

J.D. Stephens seems to hear them all from his shack in Hampton Cove, AL. He 
used his trusty
Drake R8, and the Kiwa Loop to pull in the graveyard signal of WODI on the 
first night of the test.

Other's hearing the test on it's inaugural night were Richard Line of 
Sterling Heights, MI using his
Drake R8B and a 100' N/S wire. Brett Saylor got them on his Icom R-75 and a 
100' sloper
from his home in Central PA.

While the first night of the test was very successful, many DX'ers 
(including your editor) had
to try several times, waiting for the perfect conditions to pull in WODI. 
This is part of what
makes this test so special---repeated week after week, DX'ers can wait on 
conditions
and luck to bring home the prize.

In the weeks since the first test, lots of others have heard the WODI signal 
too including
Tom Jasinski of Shorewood, IL, Joe Miller of Troy, MI (he also designed the 
QSL
cards! Thanks Joe!) and Larry Russell of nearby Flushing, MI.

Canadians continued to enjoy success with Saul Chernos logging WODI from his 
car
radio in downtown Toronto. Does anyone know what Saul is using for a card 
radio? I gotta
get me one of those! And of course, Barry McLarnon logged the test from his 
home
in Ottawa. (Yawn!) My contacts in the government have determined that Barry
has access to the HAARP system allowing him to manipulate the ionosphere at
any time. What else could account for his uncanny ability to hear 
everything?

Ken Wilson added Kentucky to the list of states logging the test. He pulled 
them in using
his JRC NRD545 and a K9AY antenna array. Chris (last name unknown) logged 
the
test from his home in Taylors, SC using only a Sony Walkman, proving that 
fancy radios
aren't always required for DX.

Others hearing the test included Jim Pursel, of Lancaster, PA, Bill Swiger 
of Bridgeport,
WV, and Jim Pogue of Memphis, TN. Delaware received the signal too, thanks 
to
Pete Jernakoff, who also seems to have the ability hear pins drop at great
distances.

Jim Chenard in Blairstown, NJ reeled in the WODI signal using a Drake R8 and 
the
Kiwa Loop, while Jim Sgrulletta used a JRC receiver and a BOG antenna to
hear the test from his shack in Mahopac, NY.

Week five was "the charm" for both Steve Francis of Alcoa, TN and Les 
Rayburn
in Helena, AL. John Hunter added Georgia to the list, after sleeping through 
his
alarm the week before! John, it gets harder to do these late night DX 
sessions
every year doesn't it?

Dave Hochfelder in Highland Park, NJ found success after a few weeks of 
effort, as did
Steve Howe in St. Albans, Vermont. Steve has a great "batting average" this 
DX season!

Dave Pyatt in Burlington, Ontario, Canada used his famous 40" box loop 
antenna to
pull the test in after trying several weeks. While the AOR7030 (great 
receiver) and
130' terminated random wire turned the trick for Jeff Falconer in Clinton, 
Ontario. Wade
Smith, VE9WGS rounded out the list of Canadian DX'ers who have managed to
log this test.

A bit further South, George Clement of Keyston Heights, Florida used an EWE 
antenna
to capture the graveyard signal and Brandon Jordan (of www.dxtests.info 
fame)
heard clear Morse Code ID's and sweep tones from his shack in Memphis, TN.

The last report received was from Phillip Chiello, who had a great reception 
of the
test from his home in Elm Grove, WI, adding yet another state to the list.

The results are very impressive from a 1,000 watt signal on a crowded 
graveyard
frequency. Our thanks again to Tony and Dave for this unique test---and if 
you haven't
logged it yet, tune in Saturday night! Maybe Santa will come a bit early 
this year!


SOAPBOX
===========================================
Surprised to get both these Northeasterners with the A
index at 15. Thanx, Les, and the stations' staff for a great start
to the DX test season!
-J.D. Stephens, Hampton Cove, AL

Just minutes ago logged the weekly 5 minute WODI 1230 Khz DX test (00:00 to
00:05 ELT on Sunday Morning).  Heard well, slightly above the noise with
Morse Code and sweep tones.
-Tom Jasinski, Shorewood, IL

Heard with some fairly good sweep tones from
000-0004 and around 0005 something sounding like a
mild beep beep / beep beep / beep beep / ...

In downtown Toronto ON in the car. Didn't have to go
too far mobile - in front of my house was good enough.
Thanks Dave et al at WODI!
-Saul Chernos, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Heard fairly well here too: cw with many repeats of WODI, alternating with
swept tone.  Not new, but fun to hear anyway - thanks for the test!
-Barry McLarnon  VE3JF  Ottawa, ON

I picked up WODI's October 15 DX test here in Lancaster, PA, using my ICOM 
IC-T90A handheld and a homebrew hentenna (indoors) cut for 144MHz.  The code 
was difficult to pick up at times, but the sweep tones came through loud and 
clear.  Any voice ID was lost in the noise.  As the attached audio clip will 
show, there was a ton of noise!
-Jim Pursel, Lancaster, PA


Approx. 15 seconds of very faint Morse code W-O-D-I IDs over GY rumble 
followed by about 70 seconds of faint but obvious sweep tones. The test was 
apparently a few minutes early (originally scheduled for midnight 10-22-06 
east coast time). New. A 257 mile catch. Many thanks to all who arranged 
this DX test!!!
-Pete Jernakoff, Northern DE

Week five was the charm - Morse code and sweep tones in solid from midnight 
to 12:06 10/29.  I'd forgotten to listen one weekend, and had no sign of it 
on the other three.  Thanks, Dave and Tony!
-Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee




_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx