[Scan-DC] 1680 KHz AM

Chris Smolinski csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com
Fri Feb 2 08:04:28 EST 2024 

Quite good here in Westminster MD at 1301z. Occasionally another station fades in overtop. 

Checking my SDR recordings, it looks like yesterday the presumed pirate faded out, or at least became non-dominant, shortly before 1400z. Then re-appeared around 2200z last night. 

Chris Smolinski, W3HFU
Black Cat Systems
Westminster, MD USA
https://www.blackcatsystems.com






> On Feb 2, 2024, at 7:59 AM, James K4JK <k4jk.james at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> UNID Soul station is fading in and out this AM with WOKB in Orlando. I
> haven't logged WOKB before.
> 
> But I'm hearing the UNID station well after sunrise this AM....
> 
> 2/2/24 12:48 UTC "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)
> 2/2/24 12:51 UTC "Hey DJ" (Malcolm McLaren)
> 2/2/24 12:57 UTC "Private Line" (Gerald Levert)
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 11:24 AM Chris Smolinski <
> csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
> 
>> Last night I had good reception starting at around 2230z. Still no TOH/BOH
>> IDs.
>> 
>> Chris Smolinski, W3HFU
>> Black Cat Systems
>> Westminster, MD USA
>> https://www.blackcatsystems.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Feb 1, 2024, at 9:39 AM, James K4JK <k4jk.james at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I have noticed that I can hear this station during critical and night
>>> hours, but during daytime/morning hours here it fades out and WTTM
>>> dominates.
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 7:39 AM Chris Smolinski <
>>> csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I checked my overnight X Band SDR recording, again I had what sounds
>> like
>>>> this station, mostly after midnight, some extended periods when it
>>>> dominated. I checked the TOH and BOH periods, and no sign of an ID at
>> all,
>>>> even when the carrier was strong at this time.
>>>> 
>>>> Chris Smolinski, W3HFU
>>>> Black Cat Systems
>>>> Westminster, MD USA
>>>> https://www.blackcatsystems.com
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jan 30, 2024, at 9:23 PM, Comcast <rwfisheriv at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> The disco station was weak in DC tonight but by the time I got to
>>>> Frederick around 2030 it was coming in strong, with occasional
>> interference
>>>> from another music station.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jan 29, 2024, at 06:47, James K4JK <k4jk.james at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I'm able to receive both of these stations (the Soul Station and
>> WTTM)
>>>> down
>>>>>> in Central VA (rural area west of Richmond). They fade in and out on
>>>> top of
>>>>>> each other. I'm about 105 miles SW of Takoma Park. The soul station is
>>>>>> playing "Why you get Funky on Me" by Today at 6:46am EST.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Sat, Jan 27, 2024 at 12:11 PM Rick Hansen <
>>>> rick.hansen at apsglobal.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hi Alan, checked on SDRs around DC and didn’t find it. Will be
>> driving
>>>> on
>>>>>>> 495 later and we’ll see if it can be heard. Good catch
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> BTW Chris has a great antenna farm. Might be useful for some of your
>>>> other
>>>>>>> reporting on the Eastern shore.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Good luck, Rick
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Jan 27, 2024, at 9:36 AM, Chris Smolinski <
>>>>>>> csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Here, 1680 is dominated by Latin format WTTM Lindenwold NJ.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> It could well be a pirate, or even a Part 15 station - legal, or
>>>>>>> possibly what I like to call "almost legal" (following the spirit of
>>>> 100 mW
>>>>>>> / 3 meter antenna, if not the letter of the regs).
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> There's a local AM station on 1620 about 7 miles from me that has
>> been
>>>>>>> on the air for over a decade. It infrequently IDs as WEDG or The
>> Wedge.
>>>>>>> Plays mostly 60s/70s/80s music, although occasionally other stuff
>> like
>>>> 50s
>>>>>>> Sinatra, etc. I know where it's located and have driven past the
>> house,
>>>>>>> it's clearly using a vertical with a top loading hat and base loading
>>>> coil.
>>>>>>> Looks to be your standard Part 15 type antenna. They could well even
>> be
>>>>>>> using just the legal 100 mW. I am in a mostly rural area with lots of
>>>> large
>>>>>>> antennas.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Can you hear it on the car radio? Drive around, you'll probably be
>>>> able
>>>>>>> to find the transmitter if it is a Part 15 station (or almost Part
>> 15).
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Chris Smolinski, W3HFU
>>>>>>>> Black Cat Systems
>>>>>>>> Westminster, MD USA
>>>>>>>> https://www.blackcatsystems.com
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Jan 27, 2024, at 12:26 AM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I've been receiving a scratchy signal on this station for the past
>>>>>>> couple
>>>>>>>>> of nights here in Takoma Park.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> It's continuous soul music.  There is no station identification as
>>>> far
>>>>>>> as I
>>>>>>>>> hear... nothing at the top of the hour, no talk.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Is this a pirate station?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Nothing obvious on wikipedia or on the linked pages (FCC/Radio
>>>>>>> Locator)...
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1680_AM
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>> Alan
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>>>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>>>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>>>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>> 
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> 
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> 
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>>> 
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Scan-DC mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>>> 
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Scan-DC mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> Scan-DC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

More information about the Scan-DC mailing list