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Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

The technical side of broadcasting. Think IBOC is a sham? Talk about it here! How about HDTV? Post DX reports here as well.
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CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

Since translators, IBOC, and other interference, it is becoming more difficult to DX the FM Band.

We recently put my late relative's Scanner back into service. The provided antenna was limited, as it is difficult to change polarization and azimuth orientation. I just got a telescoping 115 cm antenna with a BNC connector which can be universally adjusted. Tonight, from my RL, I got WNG552 on 162.525, 225 miles away, near New London, WI. I can't find the coordinates, but it may becoming from near Ogdensburg, WI, so there is less service overlap with the Green Bay NOAA WX station. So far this is my longest WX Band DX reception. Years ago, on a Weather Station/Weather Radio, I had another one from Milwaukee, which was close to this distance. There seems to be a late Summer Tropospheric opening developing. When the crickets come into the garage when it starts to get a little cooler, that's the time to start trying.

I'm thinking of building a custom 138-174 MHz Custom Yagi that can be mounted vertically to extend the distances and cochannel offerings. It's like the old days of FM BC DX.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

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CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

I heard the Continuous Marine Broadcast VBE-3 on 161.775 MHz, presumably from Kincardine, ON, but possibly VBE-2 from Leamington, ON. The information online says they don't give individual IDs on each facility. Looking at some other weather related facilities, many use a 1 kW transmitter into a vertically polarized 4 Bay antenna with a 6 dB gain. With line loss of 1 dB, the ERP would be about 3.2 kW. NOAA is apparently very secretive about their facilities, and Michigan is one of the only places where all or almost all information is available, but through michiguide.com. The missing information is the transmitting antenna used, and whether the 1000 watts or 300 watts specified is the TPO or the ERP.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

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Deleted User 15342

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by Deleted User 15342 »

I heard that Leamington will have a station at 162.525 in the near future.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

I've already heard two duplicated frequencies, one from Marquette and one from Newberry, as I recall. The cochannel ones were in Wisconsin. This is all from the telecoping antenna connected with a BNC connector and on a universal joint, to the back of the scanner. No fancy DAs so far.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

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Turkeytop
Posts: 9303
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by Turkeytop »

London ON today, I had a strong, steady signal from KHB 59 162.550 MHZ, Cleveland OH. that's about 105 miles south of here.

I don't know if that's unusual. It was the first time I ever tried.

https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=KHB59
CK-722
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Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

I'd say that's DX. Often happens across the Great Lakes this time of year.

Does your WX Receiver get the Marine Weather frequencies?
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

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Turkeytop
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Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by Turkeytop »

CK-722 wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:22 pm I'd say that's DX. Often happens across the Great Lakes this time of year.

Does your WX Receiver get the Marine Weather frequencies?
Yes. It's a Uniden hand held scanner.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

Turkeytop wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2020 9:44 pm
CK-722 wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:22 pm I'd say that's DX. Often happens across the Great Lakes this time of year.

Does your WX Receiver get the Marine Weather frequencies?
Yes. It's a Uniden hand held scanner.
Have you ever changed the rechargeable battery in that? I have a Uniden. I tried to get the battery out to replace it, so I wouldn't have to pay a $100 service fee to somebody plus the battery.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
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Turkeytop
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Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by Turkeytop »

CK-722 wrote: Mon Aug 24, 2020 11:33 am
Have you ever changed the rechargeable battery in that? I have a Uniden. I tried to get the battery out to replace it, so I wouldn't have to pay a $100 service fee to somebody plus the battery.


Mine just uses a pair of AAs. They can be alkaline or rechargeable NMH. Rechargeables can be charged while in the unit.


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CK-722
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Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

The rechargeable in mine no longer charges, nor can I figure out how to remove it without breaking it.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

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k8jd
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Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:35 pm
Location: Commerce, MI

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by k8jd »

I have heard some distant NOAA WX Channels on my scanners. I have used discone antennas on the roof of my house. for the best VHF/UHF reception here. A simple GroundPlalne vertical antenna will be easy to fabricate. Getting the antenna up, at least, on the roof will make a big difference in what you hear. A Yagi antenna is great BUT you need to get a rotor to turn it to get signals from different directions, since a Yagi will have little or no reception off dides and back. That more than doubles the price invested.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by CK-722 »

I was going to use an Armstrong Rotator where it was easily accessible, if I built a DA. Professional antennas range from hundreds of dollars.

Last Night I was getting both the Newberry and the Grand Rapids NOAA stations (not cochannel) at the same time on the universal joint telescoping antenna. This may be because of typical Late Summer Tropo and or the smoke and mist enhancement.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

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SolarMax
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Location: 313

Re: Late Summer NOAA WX Station DX

Unread post by SolarMax »

A few days ago, I was copying transmissions on each of the weather band channels, south and south central MI and northern Ohio and Indiana, and two from Environment Canada. The Tropo map was showing only minimal tropo conditions over this area but was enough to stop the scanner on each channel for a short while.
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