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DX-TV & FM News (30th August 2022)
Reception Reports for July
By Keith Hamer & Garry Smith
TV Reports
TV DXers in the United Kingdom seem to be struggling to receive anything at the moment now that Moldova (M1) have finally switched off their analogue transmitters in Bands I and II. However, deeper into Europe, with shorter skip-distances involved, signals, albeit weak, are getting through.
On July 1st, between 1410 and 1500UTC, Niels van der Linden (Épinal, France) noticed a very weak signal on 55.25MHz from the south or southeast. It seems likely to have been a weak 525-line 60Hz signal on channel A2 because the image kept rolling and some adjustment of the vertical hold was required to lock it.
Transatlantic signals were received by Hugh Cocks (Portugal) on July 6th. The images were identified as CIII Global Network on Channel A2 (55.25MHz) from Ontario, Canada, accompanied by sound. The reception lasted from 1300 until 1415.
More Canadian reception occurred on July 10th at 1700 on Channel A3 (61.26MHz, positive offset), with CTV Atlantic, from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. The event was short-lived and was only visible during an advertising break.
Transatlantic FM
In early July, there were instances of transatlantic reception when European and African FM stations were identified in the USA and Canada.
On July 5th, between 1226 and 1230UTC, Bryce Foster (Mashpee, Massachusetts) heard France (France Culture Network) on 87.80MHz from Angoulême at just 2kW ERP. On the 8th at 1946UTC, Bryce identified Portugal (RTP Antena 1) on 87.70MHz from Serra do Mendro and on 87.90MHz from Serra da Lousã. Reception distances were in excess of 5,500km.
On July 6th at 1605UTC, Larry Horlick (VO1FOG) at Coley's Point, Newfoundland, Canada, heard a transmitter on 90.90MHz which was identified as Mecheria (Chaîne 3), Naâma Province, Algeria, with 50kW ERP. The reception distance was 4,641km.
Our thanks to Tony Mann (Perth, Australia) for sending this information. Tony adds that on July 14th, at around 0800UTC, a path between Poland and Perth was established.
OIRT and CCIR FM
On the 3rd, between 1654 and 1940, Stephen Michie (Bristol) discovered a path into North Africa which produced Algeria (Radio Laghouat, Aflou) on 87.60MHz and unidentified Arabic stations on 87.50, 87.80 and 88.20 MHz.
From 0724 on the 7th, captures included Italy on 88.00MHz and Poland (PR 1), from Krosno, identified by its ‘JEDYNKA’ RDS on 88.00MHz; an unidentified Polish station was present on 88.50MHz.
Here in Derby on the 7th, the FM band was packed full of Italian stations during the afternoon. Two Italian stations were present on 108.00MHz, the strongest was Radio Studio Emme, Ercolano, the weaker probably Love FM, Corato. Do many other European countries use this frequency?
An intense opening was encountered by Chris Howles (Lichfield) that day between 0550 and 1248, with at least 17 countries clocked and 12 on the following day.
The best day was the 9th which was active for several hours with Italy, Tunisia, Albania, Croatia, Lithuania, Russia, Latvia and Estonia being identified. There was even double-hop reception from Russia. Highlights at around 1612 included Russian stations Novoye Radio, Smolensk, on 87.70MHz at 2,218km, Like FM, Balashikha, on 87.90MHz at 2,567km, and Vesti FM, Pskov, on 87.70MHz at 1,972km.
Estonia was received from Kuku Ralliraadio on 91.80MHz from Pikareinu/Valgjärve Levira (only 300W, 1,881km). On the OIRT band at 1734, Radio Rossii, Smolensk, on 68.54MHz was received at 2,217km. The station was also noted at 1745 Moskva/Ostankino on 66.44MHz at 2,549km.
OIRT highlights at around 1500 on the 11th, included Moldova (RFE/RL), Edinet, on 70.31MHz at 2,106km, Ungheni with distorted audio on 69.53MHz at 2,193km, and Straseni on 68.48MHz at 2,243km. Ukrainian stations included Radio Mariya v Ukraini, Horodok, on 73.55MHz at 2,013km and UR 3 Radio Kul'tura, Bershad', on 71.93MHz at 2,239km.
Simon Hockenhull (Bristol) encountered a short-lived opening on July 23rd at around 1635UTC, initially with a few weak FM signals just rising through the noise on the lower end of the band with speech and music heard, but not strong enough to positively identify the language or activate RDS. Countries identified included Sweden (SR-1) on 88.40MHz, and Iceland (RUV-1) on 89.10, 91.30 and 92.40 MHz.
A surprise catch were the Faeroe Islands (Torshavn) on 89.90MHz, which caused considerable interference to Simon’s local Radio 2 from Wenvoe.
On July 24th, Pascal Colaers (Carlsbad, California) witnessed a Sporadic-E opening to the east producing strong signals from four lo-band (Band I) transmitters in Texas from early morning to the early afternoon, namely:
Channel A2 (55.25MHz) KSFW-LD (Independent), Dallas/Fort Worth (3kW).
Channel A3 (61.25MHz) KODF-LD (KODF-TV), Mansfield (2.5kW).
Channel A4 (67.25MHz) KDFW-LD (FOX 4 SPORTS), Dallas/Fort Worth (3kW).
Channel A5 (77.25MHz) KCWX (MyNetworks), San Antonio (45kW).
Stay Tuned!
Our thanks to all our readers and DX colleagues who have submitted information and reception reports for this month’s column.
Please send DX-TV and FM reception reports, photographs and equipment details to us via the E-mail addresses shown at the top of this column by the end of the month.
CAPTIONS TO PHOTOGRAPHS
Fig. 1: Channel A2 Global Network, Ontario, Canada, on July 6th (Photo: Hugh Cocks, Portugal).
Fig. 2: Another signal on Channel A2 from Global Network in Canada (Photo: Hugh Cocks, Portugal).
Fig. 3: KDFW-LD on Channel A4 from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (Photo: Pascal Colaers (California, USA).
Fig. 4: Enhanced tropospheric conditions produced KIRO-TV on Channel A23 from Seattle-Tacoma, WA (715kW ERP) with their weather forecast showing high temperatures (in Fahrenheit!) on July 27th. Photo: Wesley Colaers (Vancouver, Canada).
Fig. 5: The UK also experienced record temperatures in July! (Photo: Keith Hamer and Garry Smith).