[Scan-DC] 1680 KHz AM

Chris Smolinski csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com
Sun Feb 4 09:08:47 EST 2024 

Heard here again overnight last night / this morning. Lots of music, no IDs.

There's a logging thread for this station now, on the HFU MW Pirate forum: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,124930.0.html

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






> On Feb 2, 2024, at 6:40 PM, Andrew Clegg <andrew_w_clegg at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> The disco station is coming in pretty strong here in Arlington at the moment. Looking for my platform shoes…
> 
> Andy
> W4JE
> 
>> On Feb 2, 2024, at 8:04 AM, Chris Smolinski <csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 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
>>>>>>>>>> 
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