Below are short MP3 audio clips of stations received at my QTH in West Michigan, mostly MW DX when I entered back into the hobby in 2009. Since posting these, and improving my setup, more recent and more exciting DX captures are now posted to YouTube at this link for anyone wishing to follow along.
Domestic:
KFI Los Angeles, CA. – 640 Khz – October 3rd, 2010 – 1132 UTC – Distance: 1823 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
A nice catch here in Michigan made nearly impossible in modern times with semi-local WMFN also sharing this frequency now. KFI heard here with three IDs mixing with WWLC and WMFN. This was heard at my local sunrise and only lasted briefly.
KTNN Window Rock, AZ. – 660 khz – November 13th, 2010 – 0600 UTC – Distance: 1318 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W phased BOGs
The Navaho Nation making a rare appearance here under phased WFAN.
KBNN Lebanon, MO. – 750 Khz – November 22nd, 2009 – 2259 UTC – Distance: 511 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
A nice sign-off is heard in clip from a strong KBNN. Anything other than Atlanta is a bonus for me on this frequency!
CFAC Calgary, Alberta – 960 Khz – November 8th, 2009 – 0138 UTC – Distance: 1,400 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
Nice clear reception of distant CFAC.
KNX Los Angeles, CA – 1070 Khz – December 27th, 2009 – 0445 UTC – Distance: 1,840 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
First logging of California since hearing KFI once back in the 1980s. The unique KNX traffic sounder is easily heard in this clip during a local traffic report. KNX returned on October 21st, 2010, battling with WDIA in this clip.
KSL Salt Lake City, UT. – 1160 Khz – November 9th, 2009 – 0120 UTC – Distance: 1,330 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
Poor under WYLL, but call letters still clearly audible.
WEBY Milton, FL. – 1330 Khz – April 8th, 2010 – 0000 UTC – Distance: 869 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
ID heard in this clip at second 4 during auroral conditions, first Florida logging.
WQBR256 – Lindenhurst, IL. (or nearby) – April 10th, 2010 – 1100 UTC – Distance – Approx. 104 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
This the first TIS/HAR station that I’ve ever heard from my QTH and I was a bit surprised by the clear reception noted in this clip.
KXTR Kansas City, KS. – 1660 Khz – January 15, 2010 – 0332 UTC – Distance: 524 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
The classical music station heard here with ID.
WWRU Jersey City, NJ. – 1660 Khz – January 16, 2010 – 2223 UTC – Distance: 640 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E- W BOG
Ethnic Korean programming coming through with a nice signal.
KRJO Monroe, LA. – 1680 Khz – January 10th, 2010 – 1229 UTC – Distance: 806 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
“The all new Old School” slogan heard at the beginning of the clip from KRJO.
KVNS Brownsville, TX. – 1700 Khz – January 13th, 2010 – 0317 UTC – Distance: 1,300 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
The classic rock x-bander heard here with the slogan “Classic Hits, 1700, K-V-N-S”. Heard fairly regulary this winter competing with KBGG Iowa.
Africa:
Algeria – Radio Algerie Chaîne 3 – 252 Khz – December 16th, 2009 – 0100 UTC – Distance: 4,500 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
This has been the most reliable LW broadcaster noted here during the winter 2009 DX season. Heard here with time pips & interval signal at TOH.
Algeria – Radio Algerie Chaîne 1 – 531 khz – October 9th, 2010 – 0213 UTC – Distance: 4,743 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
This has been the most reliable TA signal here this season.
Benin – Trans World Radio – 1566 Khz – December 8th, 2009 – 0329 UTC – Distance: 5,700 miles – Radio: DX-440 & & unterminated E-W BOG
Instrumental music followed by English ID @ 0:22 “This is TWR, Parakou”. YL at the end of clip heard saying the frequency “AM 1566”.
Europe:
Croatia – Hrvatski Radio – 1134 Khz – September 19th, 2009 – 0000 UTC – Distance: 4,700 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
This was my first Trans-Atlantic station heard and it’s usually the strongest and most reliable here for the 2009 DX season (typically better than what this file offers).
Denmark – Danmarks Radio P5 – 1062 Khz – October 9th, 2009 – 0340 UTC – Distance: 4,085 – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
This station has a very distinct interval signal at sign-on causing it to standout, even in the midst of severe splatter from the domestic stations on nearby channels. The interval signal is clearly heard in this clip.
Ireland – RTE Radio 1 – 252 Khz – December 14th, 2009 – 0355 UTC – Distance: 3,523 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
RTE Radio 1 is heard in this clip with strong competition coming from Algeria underneath.
Germany – Europe 1 – 183 Khz – January 16th, 2010 – 0359 UTC – Distance: 4,200 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
Scarce good reception of Europe 1, not heard since.
Netherlands – Radio 5 – 747 Khz – December 27th, 2009 – 0554 UTC – Distance: 4,020 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
No ID heard here, but a strong signal provided an easy means of confirming this unusual song against the station’s web stream.
Switzerland – RSR Option Musique – February 10th, 2010 – 0221 UTC – Distance: 4,268 miles – Radio: DX-440 & unterminated E-W BOG
Fair audio with music heard here cutting through strong adjacent splatter. Audio was confirmed against RSR’s webstream at the time of reception.
Middle East:
Saudi Arabia – BSKSA (TENT.?) – 549 Khz – February 27th, 2010 – 0326 UTC – Distance: 6,163 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
Presumed this with Middle Eastern music (chanting?) with a decent signal at times. This actually may be Algeria per comments below.
Latin America / Caribbean:
Cuba – Radio Rebelde – 670 Khz – November 9th, 2009 – 0200 UTC – Distance: 1,406 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
Very distinct “Noticia!” sounder clearer heard here and into Spanish talk at the top of the hour.
Puerto Rico – WAPA – 690 Khz – April 8th, 2010 – 0100 UTC – Distance: 2,077 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W BOG
Auroral conditions during the early part of April, 2010 filled the band with Southern stations including this reception. “San Juan” & “Cadena Wapa Radio” clearly heard in this clip at 1:12.
Cuba – Radio Rebelde – 710 Khz – November 10th, 2009 – 0100 UTC – Distance: 1,643 miles – Radio: DX-440 & Quantum QX Loop v2
More Rebelde making the trip to Michigan heard here with signature music at TOH.
Mexico – XEES – 760 khz – November 15th, 2010 – 0400 UTC – Distance: 1,490 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W phased BOGs
Chihuahua, Mexico coming through strong under phased-nulled WJR.
Mexico – XETGO “RADIO CAÑÓN” – 1100 khz – November 13th, 2010 – 0300 UTC – Distance: 1,779 miles – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W phased BOGs
Heard well here under phase-nulled WTAM, “RADIO CAÑÓN” slogans heard at 3:13 in this clip. Another XETGO clip can be heard here from October 20th, 2010.
Mexico (Presumed) – UNID – 1140 khz – October 30th, 2010 – 0200 UTC – Distance: Unknown – Radio: Perseus SDR & unterminated E-W phased BOGs
“Monterrey en Mexico” heard at 3:30 in this clip – perhaps XEMR? Here’s another nice audio clip of the same station from the next morning on October 30th, 2010 @ 1103 UTC.
A few local FM stations, from the old days:
WHTC FM Holland, MI. – circa 1980
WJFM FM Grand Rapids, MI. – circa 1980s
WMUS FM Muskegon, MI. – circa 1980s
WKLQ FM Grand Rapids, MI. – circa 1992
A clip of the Q-Morning Zoo with Rick Beckitt & Darla Jaye
Hi Tim,
I just came across your website and your reception of Saudi Arabia on 549 kept my attention. I downloaded and listened carefully to your clip. Some months ago, The Algerian Radio renewed their 531 & 549 KHz transmitters (both parallel). I can say since then that the 549 frequency especially is literally owned by the Algerian Radio. It has been a steady one here for months. I would also add that to my ears, the music in your clip sounds more to be Arabic from West Africa than from Saudi Arabia. I really think that you’ve heard Algeria.
Congrats for your website. At my first look, I found your layout very clean. I still have to discover though.
Sylvain Naud
Portneuf, QC
CAN
Hi Sylvain,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for your observations regarding my 549 reception. You might be correct about Algeria. They have been very strong here on 531 this season, but less so (for me) on 549. During the time of the live reception, I thought I had ruled out Algeria by verifying against Algeria’s web stream, but I wasn’t taking notes at the time and now cannot be sure of myself, so you could indeed be correct. I’m a frequent visitor to your site and find your audio clips to be a great resource – especially the Latin American DX. Regards, -Tim
Hi Tim,
Thank you for posting the WJFM clip. I’d been searching for years for just such a clip with an early-’80s WJFM jingle, so this was perfect.
WJFM had a rotation of jingles that were in use during the same time frame, and I remember this one well. There were two alternate versions of this same jingle. One was instrumental except for the call letters “WJFM” that were sung at the end. The other version was just the final 5 seconds or so, consisting of just the flute/synthesizer flourish and the sung “WJFM”. The 5-second version was used during morning and afternoon drive.
Do you know whether you might have any other WJFM airchecks from this era? If so, I’d offer you some consideration if you could share them. I was a regular listener in those days from my home on the Indiana/Michigan state line – and tried as often as I could to pick up signals from WZZR, WLAV, WGRD and WOOD.
Thanks again!
Matt Mullen
Indianapolis, IN
Hi Matt, I’m glad that you enjoyed the clip! I wish I had recorded more at the time, but I was just a little kid at the time I recorded the WJFM clip and it’s amazing that I’ve kept it all these years.
Thanks Tim! I’m glad that you posted this one. I was probably about 13 then and wish that I’d had the foresight to record these then.