Re: [IRCA] WNTP 990/WFIL 560 DX Test Results

["Rene F. Tetro" <rene@xxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to all who participated this year.  And congrats to those who picked 
us up.  On our next test, we should be able to hit you even better because 
our new Day Directional Pattern will be up and running.  And thanks to Les 
for his handling of the QSL's this time around, and for his idea of running 
it at a later time period than the normal 12A-1A EST.

73,
Rene'

Rene F. Tetro
Chief Engineer
Salem Communications - Philadelphia
WNTP-AM / WFIL-AM
117 Ridge Pike
Lafayette Hill, PA  19444
Phone:  610- 828-6965  Extension 41
Fax:  610-828-6725
Email:  rtetro@xxxxxxxxx

"Blessed are the peacemakers....." (Mat. 5)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "ABDX" <ABDX@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <mwc@xxxxxxxxxxx>; "IRCA" 
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <Amdx@xxxxxxxxxx>; "Glenn Hauser" 
<wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>; "Geralyn Hollerman" <lynnhollerman@xxxxxxxxx>; 
<amfmtvdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "NRC AM List" <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Rene F. Tetro" <rtetro@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 3:10 PM
Subject: WNTP 990/WFIL 560 DX Test Results


> DX Friendly (and DX'er himself) Rene Tetro conducted the now annual WNTP 
> 990khz
> and WFIL 560khz DX Test. This year's effort was directed at giving more 
> West
> Coast DX'ers a chance to log the Philadelphia, PA stations by testing much
> later than normal at 0500AM Eastern.
>
> Complete test details are listed below:
> ============================================
>
> WNTP 990khz Philadelphia, PA DX Test
> WFIL 560 Philadelphia, PA DX Test
> Date(s): Sunday Morning December 10th, 2006
> Time: 0500-0600 Eastern Time. One hour test.
>
> Modes of Operation: Transmitter Testing to check on improvements to the 
> new audio chain.
>
> WNTP:    0500-0530  50kw Day Directional Pattern
>               05530-0600 5kw Non-Directional
>
> WFIL:     0500-0530  5kw Day Directional Pattern
>              0530-0600  2.5kw Non-Directional
>
> Programming: Morse Code ID's, Sweep Tones, Voice ID.
>
> Notes:  Transmitter audio chain testing. With WNTP running daytime power 
> for ½ hour (50KW) this should present a real opportunity for DX'ers on the 
> West Coast to log this station/state.
>
> TEST RESULTS
> ======================================================
>
> Tom Dimeo of nearby Harrisburg, PA reported easy copy on the tests, 
> followed quickly by
> your editor, Les Rayburn, in Helena, AL who easily copied both stations as 
> well. I used
> my Icom 746Pro with an LF Engineering M-601 active antenna phased against
> a Wellbrooke loop.
>
> A Drake R8A and Quantum Loop proved to be the perfect combination for 
> Robert
> Pote in Greenwood, Indiana who even managed to copy parts of the voice 
> announcements
> despite powerhouse CKGM.
>
> Neil Kazaross got the perfect Christmas gift in the form of a new logging, 
> when he managed to null
> WIND using only his bedside Sony 2010 and pull in the sweep tones from 
> WFIL. Guess Santa came
> to Barrington, IL early this year!
>
> A Sony 2010 and a Radio West Loop were also the tools of Stephen Howe who 
> managed to
> log both tests from his home in St. Albans, Vermont. And William Wilkins 
> of Springfield, MO
> also managed to log WNTP, during the lower power part of their test.
>
> Alas, not everyone had such luck. Despite using top of the line equipment, 
> in the form of a
> Drake R8B and a Kiwa Loop, Doug Pifer of Albany, OR reported no joy at his 
> shack. He
> must have been on the naughty list. Hopefully Santa will bring him 
> something nice later
> in the test season!
>
> My sources at the North Pole indicate that Jim Progue was a frequent 
> member of the
> naughty list during his boyhood days, so it's no surprise that he got coal 
> in his stocking
> this time around. Actually, Jim's a great guy and well known DX'er from 
> Memphis. He
> usually can bag the rarest ones, but found no luck on this test. He's got 
> locals
> on both frequencies, and they proved too much of an obstacle for this 
> test.
>
>
>
> SOAPBOX
> =======================================
>
> I tried for WNTP from 0510-0520 ELT during their 50 kW day directional 
> pattern to no avail.
> I checked back at 0537-0600 ELT during the 5 KW non-directional
> pattern and heard several of the sets of the solid, sweep, step,
> pulse, oscillating, and telephone tones, and the Morse code letter,
> very faintly way under CKGM during pauses in their spots and sports 
> program.
> -Stephen Howe, St. Albans, VT
>
> I'm working on it, no luck yet up until 0516ET.   Local on 990 three miles
> west of me is a big factor. Have modern SS music so far.
> Thanks a bunch! and 73
> -Doug Pifer,Albany, OR
>
> Sadly I wasn't able to knock down either of my locals
> on 560 or 990 to the point where I could hear anything underneath
> (both are less than 12 miles away from me). Just the same, many thanks
> to Les, Rene and everyone else involved for airing the tests. Maybe
> next time I'll try driving out of town a few miles and see if I can
> get a proper null.
> -Jim Pogue, Memphis, TN
>
> My alarm went off at 0513 EST this morning and I flipped on the bedside 
> Sony
> 2010 and nulled WIND and there was WFIL with code and a few minutes later
> something like a two-tone siren. QRM u/nulled WIND was music, most likely
> unn CFOS
>
> 73 and thx for a new station, Rene.
> -Neil Kazaross, Barrington IL
>
>
> Again, a big "Thank you!" to Rene Tetro, one of the most DX friendly 
> engineers
> in the history of the hobby. This test has become an annual event, and 
> it's really
> something for DX'ers to look forward to.
>
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator
> Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter
> will be off the air for maintenance.
> (205) 253-4867
>
> 

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