Revised Sensitivity Measurements Table

I've been measuring MW sensitivity on most of the receivers I've owned - and some I've borrowed. The new document is updated with measurements made by friends of mine many years ago. So now, the list comprises 41 receivers. From the super-affordable to the hyper-expensive, from early 1950's to 2017, and from 110 grams to 55 kg. And quite a few with legendary status!

Apart from extending the list of receivers, I have also sorted them by name and made some minor layout changes.

I hope I have the opportunity to extend the list as time goes. And you can have a look here.

QSL: 3RN ABC Radio National, Melbourne VIC, 621

Aussie conditions haven't been quite what we had hoped for this season. A couple of weeks ago, 621 was heard, rather briefly, but with the Majestic Fanfare quite clear under the Chinese. Email confirmation today.

QSL: HLKQ KBS-1 Cheongju, 1062

KBS World responds to reception reports, but it's quite a different story when it comes to their domestic stations.  However, this morning, 10 months after a snail mail report, there was a QSL card and one other image (below) in my email inbox, and obviously the sender had taken some time to make a proper QSL for HLKQ!

QSL: WLIE Islip NY, 540

This one was obviously running on day power one night in mid-February, and apparently heard several places. Including Smøla island. After a while, OJS (thanks!!) found a valid verie signer, and a friendly email arrived this evening.

QSL: WMFN Peotone IL, 640

OJ Sagdahl detected WMFN with a good signal mixing with CBC in January. A brief email response came today. A Smøla island logging.

WDTK Detroit MI, 1400

First time I heard WDTK was in January 2016, but very weak. I didn't even send a report at the time. Two years later though, an excellent signal for a 1-kW station. Email responses from two of the staff this evening, one commenting: "...amazing that it could travel to you, especially when our nighttime signal isn’t even listenable at my home 20 miles from here."

WDTK is a Salem station, which also runs the far more common WLQV 1500.

QSL: WBOW Paris, IL 1440

WBOW was heard last Christmas. The super dominant Saudi station was holding its breath just before the full hour, and a clear "1440 WBOW Paris" was heard, part of a longer full-hour announcement starting with WIBQ Terre Haute IN 1230. WBOW actually changed call letters to WIBU the day after (which was one hour after I heard them!), so this was likely the last WBOW announcement on 1440.

QSLs: 6BE ABC Kimberley, Broome 675, 6DB ABC Kimberley, Derby 873

These two stations from Western Australia, 5 and 2 kW respectively, were heard during a good opening to SA and WA in the end of February. Graham confirmed these today, and says he's been inundated with reports from Europe this winter. Australia # 40 (and 41) on MW. Thanks OJ for notifying.

The Icom IC-7610: Early Impressions

Excellent receiver! But some functionality issues for the broadcast DX-er. Read more here.

Weekend Test: The Icom IC-7610

LA9VFA Olav kindly lent me his new IC-7610 for testing this weekend. I already have one excellent Icom transceiver, the IC-746Pro, modified for optimal MW performance, so I thought it would be a good idea to put them together.

Later on I will measure the 7610's sensitivity and do some comparisons with the 746Pro and my SDRs. However, it took me less than 10 seconds to find out: It has better threshold signal readability than the 746Pro! On MW! I'm looking forward to this...

KongSDR Finances - February

A bit delayed - here's the current status for the KongSDR. Thanks all, this month especially Kai ;-)

QSL: WITK Pittston PA, 1550

WITK was heard at the same time as WSYB 1380 (see below), with a local weather update before the full hour. Friendly response today, for my third Wilkins Radio station. 22 to go! USA # 1100.

QSL: WNRS Herkimer NY, 1420

WNRS was heard at Smøla island late in the morning in mid-February, probably already at their 1000-watt daytime power. A Facebook report to the station was awarded with a short confirmation. WNRS' main market is Utica, which at 60,000 inhabitants is six times the size of Herkimer. They also have a 250-watt FM reflector in Utica.  NY QSL # 60.

QSL: WSYB Rutland VT, 1380

I heard WSYB in a "daytimer opening" at 22 UTC one evening in January with decent full-hour ID, and also with local announcements after network news. Very friendly response yesterday! Reception from Smøla island.

Revised SDRPlay RSP1A Article

I finally got round to do sensitivity measurements (no surprises), and I have also checked a bit on VHF and UHF. Revised article is here, or look at the "DX-related stuff..."-section to the right.