[Lowfer] LW AM Stations Heard in N.A.

[Steve Ratzlaff]

I try for LWBC for many years now; when I lived in northeast Oregon I 
regularly heard them during the winter months. Since moving to Arizona 
(20 miles southwest of Tucson) 12 years ago I have been thrilled to also 
be able to hear LWBC. However this season has been the worst that I can 
remember, apparently due to the high and frequent solar activity. Only a 
few times so far this season have I heard any LWBC when normally it's 
been at least several times a week. For me, 171 Morocco is generally the 
best, then the low pitched data signal on 162 France, 198 BBC, 252 
Algeria; I've heard others (when they were still on), but much less 
frequently. I first check in CW mode; I use 100 Hz bandwidth--listening 
for the carrier. If strong enough then I switch to SSB or sometimes AM 
and check for modulation. Since the 198 DIW, NC NDB has been off past 
year or so, anything on 198 is LWBC from BBC. At least for me, it 
doesn't take too much detected carrier to be able to get at least some 
recovery of the modulation. Surely a 20 db out of the noise carrier 
ought to produce some modulation for you!

I'm fortunate (living on my brother's 20 acre property) to have room to 
string  700' N/S and  900' E/W unterminated longwires; usually the N/S 
gives better LWBC reception at my location.

73,

Steve AA7U

On 3/8/2023 9:01 AM, Gedas wrote:
> New member here, TU for allowing me to join in.
>
> I have a question regarding the ability of N.A. SWL's being able to 
> receive the few remaining LW AM stations from Europe and N. Africa.
>
> I have a not so horrible VLF-MF SWL station consisting of a RSPdx and 
> several wire antennas. My usual best is a 75m band Inv-V at 70. At 
> times a pure 40m elevated vertical works well. I am in a fairly quiet 
> rural area and keep my antennas several hundred feet away from the 
> home and I like to use VLF CMC at both ends of my coax cables for 
> insurance.
>
> In any event, I have been trying for several years to at least hear 
> some modulation from a station like BBC-4 on 198 kHz. I can always see 
> it's carrier, at times 20 dB above my NF but never able to detect any 
> sidebands or hear any modulation. I have monitored many times 
> (sometimes right from my sunset to sunrise in the UK) and can see the 
> several hours of peak propagation but even then it's a no-go for any 
> actual reception.
>
> I am located in Indiana which I know is going to make it a lot more 
> difficult compared to stations along the east coast of the states.
>
> I have absolutely no issues detecting all of the dozen of so FSK/MSK 
> military signals from various parts of the world and can nicely hear 
> the ticks of DC77 and digital data from TDF on 162 kHz. TDD and Negev 
> are easy to spot as well. Alphas no problem etc, etc, etc.
>
> So what is the issue with me not being able to hear any LW AM 
> stations? I realize as of today only a few remain and I am hoping I 
> can nab one before they are all retired. Are others able to hear BBC 
> or Algeria from N.A. and if so what is the secret ?
>
> TU 73
>