Re: [IRCA] Wobbler everywhere tonight!

["W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve,

Let me take the occasion of your message to make what I hope are some 
clarifying comments for everyone.

The reach is truly amazing of the 1100kHz Radio Cadena Habana, Havana, 
Cuba, Wobbler.  I'll have to check all the reports I saw to determine if a 
new distance record has been established, but you're probably right that 
Deane McIntyre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, will likely take the prize.

Rather than a massive signal as it might seem, as far as I know the power 
of the station producing the 1100kHz Wobbler is only moderate.  WRTH 
reports it as 1kW.  That may be low, but based on my daytime reception of 
R.Cadena Habana on 1100kHz -- which includes the same Wobbler as at night 
-- the signal is barely detectable and consistent with a moderately powered 
station near Havana, Cuba, as heard on ground wave from my location on the 
opposite, east coast of Florida.

The ability of the Wobbler to reach such distances is the magic of sky wave 
propagation and a carrier that is wildly swinging across other stations on 
1100, producing a siren-like beat note.  The Wobbler is effective just as 
is a CW signal.  Those people who report TA and TP carriers with no audio 
are hearing the same thing as the Wobbler, but without the added affect of 
the fluctuating carrier frequency.  Sweep tones during DX tests can be 
heard when nothing else is, and they are just sweeping audio, not the 
underlying carrier.

The issue of DFing was thought relevant when the Wobbler was first 
heard.  I and others have DFed the Wobbler, but when dealing with the 
extreme carrier fluctuation and nighttime sky wave propagation, it produces 
less than optimal results.  Daytime results point squarely at Cuba, even at 
specific transmitter locations.  However, after a year of hearing it every 
single day, during the day, on a number of easily identified Cuban 
stations-- a daily log appears on the Wobbler web site --  there is no 
longer a need to DF, at least not to narrow down the origin as Cuba.  There 
is no doubt it is coming from Cuba.  The precise location of some Cuban MW 
transmitters may not be well established, but that they are in Cuba is 
certain.  Florida DXers frequently DF Cuban MW stations -- including on 
ocean excursions and trips to locations like the Bahamas -- to determine 
their likely locations, especially when it seems a different station is 
coming up on a particular channel.  From where most Cuba signals originate 
are fairly well known, and that those same stations produce the Wobblers is 
also a matter of frequent observation.

What produces the Wobbler and what the cause is, are still open to 
considerable conjecture.  Some suggested possibilities have been 
investigated or considered -- such as jamming, for example -- and been 
eliminated, at least to my satisfaction.  Based on what information is 
available about Cuban transmitters and the country's beleaguered power 
system as reported in the press, and after eliminating those less likely 
possibilities, I have satisfied myself the Wobbler is probably the result 
of malfunctioning old and poorly maintained transmitters suffering the 
added burden of an unreliable power source.  Just how this all comes 
together to result in a Wobbler is yet a technical mystery to be unraveled.

More on all this can be read about on the Wobbler web site, link in my 
signature, below.

Again today at just before noon-time here in Florida, the Wobbler on 
1100kHz Radio Cadena Habana, was being heard.  Just as vigorous as the past 
three days, but as I say, of such a weak signal with just ground wave, that 
it was only with considerable effort that I could detect it at all.  As the 
evening comes, so too I suspect, will the howling banshee from the 
Caribbean.  Unless, of course, they fix it or it breaks entirely.

Curt
-------
W. Curt Deegan
Boca Raton, (southeast) FL
http://ScooterHound.com/WWWR/wobbler


At 01:08 AM 1/23/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Curt,
>I'm sure pleased at the much better response of folks saying they've heard 
>the Wobbler tonight. Or perhaps it's noticeably stronger than last night. 
>Hard to believe it's coming from Cuba; they must be running huge power. I 
>strain to hear one or two Cuban nondirectional beacons on LF; this Wobbler 
>is easily heard, and now as far as Alberta. Perhaps he takes the new 
>distance record now!
>Wish we could find folks over the southeast to DF it better using loops, 
>to positively say it's coming from the Cuba direction. I believe so far 
>it's just you DFing it.
>Maybe a request to the list for folks down your way with loops or portable 
>radios to get a rough bearing on it. Anything with several people giving 
>bearings would help a lot.
>see ya and thanks for continuing to carry the Wobbler torch.
>Steve


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