AmateurLogic 192: AM Broadcast Eclipse DXing

DXing the entire AM Broadcast Band during the 2024 solar eclipse.
Rattlegram, a new digital text messaging mode for HF/VHF/UHF recreational and emergency communications.
Smith charts with the NanoVNA.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

This was one of the most interesting show to date. I love chasing MW stations, and George's segments put this way over the top. Thanks for all you do!

[@kk0dj]

WHO radio is a 50,000 watt blowtorch often heard on the coasts in the evenings. It's clear channel on 1040KHz. Really enjoyed the segment you provided George! as well as Tommy's, Mikes and the totally cool Rattlegram segment by Email.... er uh... Emile. 🙂

[@ItsRael108]

Very interesting gentlemen

[@BronsonTheCat]

Thanks for that segment George. Definitely need to purchase a SDR.

[@EmileDiodeneKE5QKR]

Let us know if/when you've decoded the encoded Easter egg message in this video via accoustic coupling and Rattlegram.

[@donniedotson3318]

I have just about forgot what I knew about chasing airport NDB's but I think I used to hear some beacons a pretty good way's away. I discussed it was a tech that worked on the one at the airport I worked at. I can't remember if I heard it or he just told me about it but he gave the frequency for the one at Bimini. I think they were like everything else you needed the right band conditions. I could receive beacons 35-40 miles away on a regular basis. I will have to see if I can find my list.

[@EmileDiodeneKE5QKR]

rxx.classaxe.com/en/rna/signals

[@EmileDiodeneKE5QKR]

Looks like most will be gone by 2026... dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm

[@richardyoung1657]

George, SWL registry was run py Popular Electronics Magazine. Call signs assigned began WPE####. Canadian listeners were VPE####.

[@AC9BXEric]

George, surprised you don't have a tuned loop for the broadcast band. It's fairly easy to build. You could make a servo control to turn a variable cap much like your remote coax switch or use a couple varactors & vary their voltage, to get remote tuning & put the antenna outside. The 1690 towers you showed are the daytime ones. The nighttime array is just a stone's throw away from me.

[@kk0dj]

For Mike... I think the addage "I have some swampland in Florida..." actually in the last 50 years referred to the land no one wanted but Disney bought and is still today making it pay quite nicely with Disney World... however DisneyWorld is no longer a good family oriented company!

[@AmateurlogicTv]

Here are the maps. www.nf8m.com/nf8m/us-medium-wave-pattern-references/day-patterns/ I also entered the frequency followed by kHz into Google to get a list of what stations are on a particular frequency. Example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/540_AM

[@WebVid]

Just curious… When you were talking about solving the mystery on 640 kHz, it didn’t look like you had 640 kHz in Toronto as a possibility. I’m pretty sure it’s 50 kW by day and 25 kW at night.

[@AmateurlogicTv]

I'm not sure. Here is the link to the maps and information about them. www.nf8m.com/nf8m/us-medium-wave-pattern-references/day-patterns/

[@OhYeah-qx9qn]

What app or web site were you using to get the transmitter info? Sorry if you mentioned it during the video, I kinda skipped through it 🫢