BBC preparing to close 198 kHz longwave

[SomeRadioGuy]

Forgot about the tropical bands. Would the FCC license a station in Alaska to transmit on those bands, and if so, wouldn't it need to be targeting the tropics, necessitating a huge null to the north, northeast and northwest from that southeastern location?

The tropical bands are just called that because of the countries that typically use tghem

But no, domestic SW isnt allowed in the US, so the FCC wouldnt grant it.

Wish they would liek australia does. several hobbyist SW outlets there. I'd start one just for fun if i coudl do 100W

 

[Mediafrog+]

Not if you used Tropical / Regional band SW. Where I lived, the heritage local newspaper a 3 kw SW station on 4923 kHz in Quito and it covered essentially all the country 24/7.

Assume you are referring to Radio Quito on 4920 kHz, owned by the El Comercio newspaper. I frequently heard the station in Texas in the 1960s-70s.

Interesting story about Radio Quito from 1949: MARTIANS AND RADIO QUITO, ECUADOR (SHORTWAVE)

 

[CTListener]

That would have been CKZU on 6160 kHz with 500 watts. I could hear it in Houston during the wee hours of the morning.

CKZU left the air in 2016 when it’s early-80s vintage Elcom-Bauer transmitter died and the CBC decided not to replace it.

2017 posting about CKZU: Lonely little shortwave station in Canada closed

On the other side of Canada, 300 watt CKZN in St. John’s, Newfoundland closed in 2018. It also operated on 6160.

Eastern Canada also had CFRX Toronto, CFCX Montreal and CHNX Halifax, relaying CFRB, CFCF and CHNS, respectively. Last time I checked, only CFRX was still active, on 6070.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Eastern Canada also had CFRX Toronto, CFCX Montreal and CHNX Halifax, relaying CFRB, CFCF and CHNS, respectively. Last time I checked, only CFRX was still active, on 6070.

Yup[, and i hear CFRX just about nightly here at some levels.

When CFVP 6030 was still around, simulcasting CKMX 1060, it shouldve made it here, but Cubas jammer jam jammy muhsheen obliterated it

 

[Mediafrog+]

Eastern Canada also had CFRX Toronto, CFCX Montreal and CHNX Halifax, relaying CFRB, CFCF and CHNS, respectively. Last time I checked, only CFRX was still active, on 6070.

Yes, CFRX is now the only remaining SW broadcast station in Canada.

Speaking of CKZU, I recall Vancouver having another, private, SW station decades ago. I would have to dig out one of my vintage World Radio TV Handbooks to remember the call and frequency. I think it ran only 50 (or perhaps 10) watts.

 

[CADXER]

That was CKFX on 6080 with 10 watts of power.

 

[TomásEstefan]

That would have been CKZU on 6160 kHz with 500 watts. I could hear it in Houston during the wee hours of the morning.

CKZU left the air in 2016 when it’s early-80s vintage Elcom-Bauer transmitter died and the CBC decided not to replace it.

2017 posting about CKZU: Lonely little shortwave station in Canada closed

On the other side of Canada, 300 watt CKZN in St. John’s, Newfoundland closed in 2018. It also operated on 6160.

Funny, someone in charge should have just gone to ebay, or maybe a dedicated CBC listener who happened to be a Ham could just have donated a rig that they were no longer using...oh well, c'est la vie...

 

[TomásEstefan]

The tropical bands are just called that because of the countries that typically use tghem

But no, domestic SW isnt allowed in the US, so the FCC wouldnt grant it.

Wish they would liek australia does. several hobbyist SW outlets there. I'd start one just for fun if i coudl do 100W

Actually, I think that limited tropical band broadcasting has been authorized in the US. Although I have not had time to verify this, and I should add that I do not have a working SW radio at this time (my old Sangean died). Years ago I frequently heard a religious SW broadcaster (W...something) in the 90 meter band on I think 3015 kHz which was listed as using 10 kW. In addition I heard a couple of other domestic stations in the 60 meter band just above 5 MHz. These stations I believe should be listed in some old editions of the WRTH, and possibly Passport to World Band Radio. Perhaps someone can recall the call sign.

I think this 90m broadcast was actually a simulcast of a midwest AM station which was co-owned.

 

[DavidEduardo]

I think this 90m broadcast was actually a simulcast of a midwest AM station which was co-owned.

WRNO in New Orleans? Costello tried to do a commercial ad supported rock 40 for Latin America, without realizing that clients like Coke had local agencies in every country in Latin America.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Funny, someone in charge should have just gone to ebay, or maybe a dedicated CBC listener who happened to be a Ham could just have donated a rig that they were no longer using...oh well, c'est la vie...

uh no, would be like wizzing out the window while driving 70mph down the highway.. pointless, only some dxers were listening at the end

Actually, I think that limited tropical band broadcasting has been authorized in the US. Although I have not had time to verify this, and I should add that I do not have a working SW radio at this time (my old Sangean died). Years ago I frequently heard a religious SW broadcaster (W...something) in the 90 meter band on I think 3015 kHz which was listed as using 10 kW. In addition I heard a couple of other domestic stations in the 60 meter band just above 5 MHz. These stations I believe should be listed in some old editions of the WRTH, and possibly Passport to World Band Radio. Perhaps someone can recall the call sign.

I think this 90m broadcast was actually a simulcast of a midwest AM station which was co-owned.

Yes, tropical band broadcast has happened in the Us.. WWCR and WRMI, but their target isnt the US. (and WTWW)

 

[TomásEstefan]

WRNO in New Orleans? Costello tried to do a commercial ad supported rock 40 for Latin America, without realizing that clients like Coke had local agencies in every country in Latin America.

It wasn't WRNO...I used to listen to that station frequently. The 90m station I was referring to was a religious broadcaster that operated on many freqs in most of the major SW broadcast bands. BTW, I though That WRNO was a pretty good station!

 

[TomásEstefan]

It wasn't WRNO...I used to listen to that station frequently. The 90m station I was referring to was a religious broadcaster that operated on many freqs in most of the major SW broadcast bands. BTW, I though That WRNO was a pretty good station!

The question was just answered by SomeRadioGuy, it was WWCR !

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

WRNO in New Orleans? Costello tried to do a commercial ad supported rock 40 for Latin America, without realizing that clients like Coke had local agencies in every country in Latin America.

No, WRNO SW was a simulcast of an FM
I think the station @TomásEstefan thinking of being a simulcast of a midwest AM was one in Salt Lake City that was operated by the same guy that owned KDYL 1060 at the time. Sold it to TBN, then it went dark a few years later

 

[KeithE4]

Actually, I think that limited tropical band broadcasting has been authorized in the US. Although I have not had time to verify this, and I should add that I do not have a working SW radio at this time (my old Sangean died). Years ago I frequently heard a religious SW broadcaster (W...something) in the 90 meter band on I think 3015 kHz which was listed as using 10 kW. In addition I heard a couple of other domestic stations in the 60 meter band just above 5 MHz. These stations I believe should be listed in some old editions of the WRTH, and possibly Passport to World Band Radio. Perhaps someone can recall the call sign.

I think this 90m broadcast was actually a simulcast of a midwest AM station which was co-owned.

Per short-wave.info, there are a few US broadcasters in the tropical bands:
120 meters: None

90 meters:
3215 WWCR 100 kW

60 meters:
4840 WWCR 100 kW
5010 WRMI 100 kW
5050 WRMI 100 kW
5085 WTWW 100 kW (I didn't know they returned)
5130 WBCQ 50 kW

 

[TomásEstefan]

Per short-wave.info, there are a few US broadcasters in the tropical bands:
120 meters: None

90 meters:
3215 WWCR 100 kW

60 meters:
4840 WWCR 100 kW
5010 WRMI 100 kW
5050 WRMI 100 kW
5085 WTWW 100 kW (I didn't know they returned)
5130 WBCQ 50 kW

Good info ! I do remember that 90 meter station listed at just 10 kW back in the day as their signal was pretty weak out here on the West Coast. I figured it was OK'd because that being from a Midwestern location it would be just enough power to put a signal in Canada, and Mexico to make it a "legal" SW operation. (Although 90% of their listeners would be in the US !)

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Good info ! I do remember that 90 meter station listed at just 10 kW back in the day as their signal was pretty weak out here on the West Coast. I figured it was OK'd because that being from a Midwestern location it would be just enough power to put a signal in Canada, and Mexico to make it a "legal" SW operation. (Although 90% of their listeners would be in the US !)

The minimum for a SW outlet licensed in the US by the FCC is 50kw.

i can hear a 10kw form brazil up here in alaska, so how weak it is where you are doesnt have much a bearing on where it is.. what matters is what azimuth it beams at

 

[TomásEstefan]

The minimum for a SW outlet licensed in the US by the FCC is 50kw.

i can hear a 10kw form brazil up here in alaska, so how weak it is where you are doesnt have much a bearing on where it is.. what matters is what azimuth it beams at

I was aware of the rule. However since the station in question was listed at only at 10 kw even in "Monitoring Times" mag, I assumed it was an exception to the rule possibly due to the relatively low freq being used...

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I was aware of the rule. However since the station in question was listed at only at 10 kw even in "Monitoring Times" mag, I assumed it was an exception to the rule possibly due to the relatively low freq being used...

Nope, theres no exception to that rule... as far as i know

 

[Mediafrog+]

Thread bump: As is being posted on DX forums, it appears the closure of the BBC’s 198 kHz longwave service has been pushed back to March 2025, as UK power grid operators need more time to replace electric meter equipment that uses the Radio Teleswitch Service.

RTS control signals are transmitted via phase shift keying on the 198 signal; this is an older system that is being replaced by smart meters. The BBC has informed the grid operators that it cannot continue the longwave transmissions beyond the end of 2025 (likely budget related) so a deadline is in place to complete the changeover. Most of the meters have been replaced, but some still remain.

More on the Radio Teleswitch Service and it’s future: https://www.energynetworks.org/industry/engineering-and-technical-programmes/radio-teleswitch

 

[DavidEduardo]

Assume you are referring to Radio Quito on 4920 kHz, owned by the El Comercio newspaper. I frequently heard the station in Texas in the 1960s-70s.

Interesting story about Radio Quito from 1949: MARTIANS AND RADIO QUITO, ECUADOR (SHORTWAVE)

I went to High School with one of the members of the Montilla family, then owners of El Comercio and Ultimas Noticias newspapers in Quito and Radio Quito (1360 and later 760) as well as the consistently off frequency domestic short wave stations. Very nice people.