Hello all

[swampman]

Just want to say hi to everyone, as I just found this site. I'm very new to DXing, but what little I've done, I find it fascinating. I'm located in south Louisiana so its basically flat landscape. I have been using a round disk type attick antenna, with a TivoHD(which scans pretty well), and 50" panasonic plasma TV. A couple of weeks ago with a little tropo help I caught KHOU in Houston(194 miles). Well the first thing I knew I needed to do was to get an antenna outside. I've orded a Wingard HD7084P with a CM 7777 preamp which should come in next week. Being I'm just getting into this hobby, I was hoping you guys could chime in with what type equipment you're using to get these distant stations. Any tips or suggestions is appreciated. Thanks.

[Jim Thomas]

Welcome Swampman,

You are in good company. You have some fellow dxers in the Gulf South region, who I am sure will be more than happy to share dxer's tips on the longhaul tropo you can get there in swamp country. There is Randy in the panhandle of Florida, Danny and Jeff right there in Louisiana, and handful of guys in Texas. I'm sure at least one or two of them will chime in and offer a tip or two. Again, greetings and welcome.

BTW, you might want to drop your first name in there at least once, or you're always going to be known as the SWAMPMAN :laughing:

[JeffK-LA]

I moved to TX two years ago Jim, but that's easy to forget, since I lived in LA for 17 years. Oh, I see I need to edit my profile. What city do you live in, Swampman?

[cd637299]

If you live near the Gulf Coast, I suggest that you *quickly* get to DXing for the next 12 hours or so, per this site:

www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_car.html

Note the path to Brownsville TX, and the Mexican coast cities south of it. There's a good path there...."the redder, the better."

Also, get Jim's book "Emisoras de FM" if u are not familiar with FM stations from Mexico & Latin America. If you hear something unusual that you are not familiar with, post it in "FM DX unIDs" column. If you have mp3 capability, put up the clip for us to hear. Humberto in El Salvador (in our club) is fluent in Espanol & may help, if we cannot!

cd

[swampman]

Welcome Swampman,

You are in good company. You have some fellow dxers in the Gulf South region, who I am sure will be more than happy to share dxer's tips on the longhaul tropo you can get there in swamp country. There is Randy in the panhandle of Florida, Danny and Jeff right there in Louisiana, and handful of guys in Texas. I'm sure at least one or two of them will chime in and offer a tip or two. Again, greetings and welcome.

BTW, you might want to drop your first name in there at least once, or you're always going to be known as the SWAMPMAN :laughing:

Thanks for the welcome Jim. And the name is Mike. :D

[swampman]

I moved to TX two years ago Jim, but that's easy to forget, since I lived in LA for 17 years. Oh, I see I need to edit my profile. What city do you live in, Swampman?

A few minutes north of Crowley. What part were you from?

[swampman]

If you live near the Gulf Coast, I suggest that you *quickly* get to DXing for the next 12 hours or so, per this site:

www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_car.html

Note the path to Brownsville TX, and the Mexican coast cities south of it. There's a good path there...."the redder, the better."

Also, get Jim's book "Emisoras de FM" if u are not familiar with FM stations from Mexico & Latin America. If you hear something unusual that you are not familiar with, post it in "FM DX unIDs" column. If you have mp3 capability, put up the clip for us to hear. Humberto in El Salvador (in our club) is fluent in Espanol & may help, if we cannot!

cd

Yeah I found that site and also this one ,which seems to be down at the moment. http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na

Thanks for the tips.

[swampman]

What kind of equipment do you guys use? Antenna, antenna height etc. I think I'll do alot better once I get my outdoor antenna.

[cd637299]

I cannot stress this enough---Sony XDR-F1HD. This receiver I think is used by over 50% of our members, and it's under $100 on Amazon & eBay. Well worth the $$$. Sensitive AND selective, getting adjacent FM frequencies (provided that the local station doesn't have HD, but on a good DX day it can even override the HD adjacent freq).

The Sony also has RDS readouts....some FM stations carry data that tell you which station you are hearing...you don't even have to listen!!!

Get a good outdoor FM antenna. I wish I could have better, but the Antennacraft 6-element does the job. I live in a mobile home , so I cannot be too fancy. But I'm content. Be sure the antenna is directional.

With the Sony + that antenna, even without an amp, I get a 3 kw station in Havana, Cuba (106.9) 230 miles from here, says Jim. Not all the time, mind you, but it pops up faintly each day, sometime!

See my & others' posts on "Got FM DX?" Some of us post photos of the Sony's RDS readout. 7 Havana FM stations have it! You'll see in that column.

BTW, was in the FL Keys a few years ago & got 102.9 Crowley on good Tropo (on my car radio IIRC).

cd

[swampman]

I cannot stress this enough---Sony XDR-F1HD. This receiver I think is used by over 50% of our members, and it's under $100 on Amazon & eBay. Well worth the $$$. Sensitive AND selective, getting adjacent FM frequencies (provided that the local station doesn't have HD, but on a good DX day it can even override the HD adjacent freq).

The Sony also has RDS readouts....some FM stations carry data that tell you which station you are hearing...you don't even have to listen!!!

Get a good outdoor FM antenna. I wish I could have better, but the Antennacraft 6-element does the job. I live in a mobile home , so I cannot be too fancy. But I'm content. Be sure the antenna is directional.

With the Sony + that antenna, even without an amp, I get a 3 kw station in Havana, Cuba (106.9) 230 miles from here, says Jim. Not all the time, mind you, but it pops up faintly each day, sometime!

See my & others' posts on "Got FM DX?" Some of us post photos of the Sony's RDS readout. 7 Havana FM stations have it! You'll see in that column.

BTW, was in the FL Keys a few years ago & got 102.9 Crowley on good Tropo (on my car radio IIRC).

cd
Thanks for the info cd, but I'm mainly interested right now in TV DXing. Although I will definately leave the door open to FM, as it looks like that would be interesting also. I dont know a whole lot about either right now, but it's fun learning. :) I dont know if my Tivo OTA scanner is as good as those DTV coupon scanners that I see alot of people use, but it seems like a pretty good one. I'll know more after I get my new antenna. I live in a subdivision so I feel somewhat limited as to how high I can go(dont really care about guy wires). I'm looking at about 20 ft though.

[cd637299]

k, but with TV going digital in the US, things are more limited here. OTOH, this opens the floodgates for foreign analog TV DX, as our members can attest. In your case, from where u are, tonight, the Mexicans in Matamoros & Reynosa on chs 7 & 9 respectively, should be easy Tr catches.

I myself hope to join the DTV TV DX bandwagon soon....I'm behind. Girard in KY caught a DTV signal by Meteor Scatter this week....totally mindblowing.

cd

[swampman]

[QUOTE=cd637299;9374]k, but with TV going digital in the US, things are more limited here. OTOH, this opens the floodgates for foreign analog TV DX, as our members can attest. In your case, from where u are, tonight, the Mexicans in Matamoros & Reynosa on chs 7 & 9 respectively, should be easy Tr catches.

OK excuse my ignorance but when you say tune to channels 7 & 9, I assume that means straight TV connention from antenna? Because I've been scanning through my Tivo which my antenna coax goes straight into. Sorry I'm a bit confused. :confused:

[cd637299]

I do not have TiVo at all....just VCR.....I am nit sure how TiVo works....

You will need to run the co-ax right into the ANT IN on your TV or VCR, I am sure. I am no expert, but I doubt that TiVo works on TV DX.

Of course, you will need a decent TV antenna. Not sure how well, or if at all, those Mexicans will show up. No DTV converter box to be used on this either....

If anybody can correct me on this, feel free.

cd

[swampman]

Well the Tivo works pretty well. It scans both DTV and analog channels. Although most of what I pulled in was DTV stations. But when tropo was fairly active about a week ago it did scan in a local(but VERY weak) analog station. Again, this is with my antenna in the attick. So when I get my new Wingard and place it about 20 ft up I think I will see a difference.

[antennanut]

By the way, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives you a legal right to have an outside TV antenna, with a few caveats. Most neighborhood restrictive covenants are overruled by the Act (at least they were when I read it back in 1998). Generally, it says you can have an antenna 12 feet above your rear roof line, unless you need to go higher to receive an acceptable signal. Of course, the Act is referring to acceptable local signals, not DX, but at least it is something to be able to hang your hat on.

[Danny]

Welcome, Mike (Swampman). I think you'll find plenty of TV and DTV DX at your location. Did you have any tropo this morning?

[JeffK-LA]

I lived in New Orleans suburb for 4 years and Baton Rouge for 13 years.

[swampman]

Welcome, Mike (Swampman). I think you'll find plenty of TV and DTV DX at your location. Did you have any tropo this morning?

Actually I did. Logged in about 20 stations total. Almost all in Texas. Victoria, Houston, Austin, Beaumont and the farthest two in San Antonio. (KENS 5 and WOAI 4 359 miles). It was awesome! :) Thought I might pull in something from Mexico...but no dice. I thought it was pretty amazing considering my antenna is in my attick. My new outdoor antenna in on its way. My attick antenna is about 10' AGL. My new antenna will be outside and at about 20' AGL. I should see a big difference... I hope. :D The following night KENS in San Antonio (5.1) was blowing the doors off here. I think it was affecting my local 5.1 because it's signal which is usually at 95%, was down to about 40%. Barely viewable.

As a side note: I also pulled in KXTS-LP in Victoria, TX. Wikipedia shows it as having an analog signal, but is carried along with 2 sister stations as a digital subchannel. A low powered analog channel 303 miles away. Unusual?

[swampman]

I lived in New Orleans suburb for 4 years and Baton Rouge for 13 years.

13 years in BR I'd say you have some cajun blood in you. :D

[cd637299]

My wife & I just ate Popeye's Chicken. Does that count?

cd

[pjdyer]

KENS-DT-39 and WOAI-DT-48 have just recently gotten their 1MW ERP systems going. Some of our lower-ERP DT were being inhibited by CCI from decoding at azimuths they can normally be watched. The best Mexican DT shots from here have been XHBR-DT-25, XHLAT-DT-50, and XHLNA-DT-51 (all Nuevo Laredo) and XERV-DT-19 Reynosa.

KAVU-DT-15 Victoria carries 4 subchannels and KVCT-DT-11 there 2. Seeing KMOL-LP on KAVU-DT-15.2 a bit of a startle as our local Ch 4 (NBC) used that call 1974-2002+.
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kavudt15-2.jpg

73, Pat - WA5IYX

[swampman]

My wife & I just ate Popeye's Chicken. Does that count?

cd

Depends on wether or not you had the red beans and rice. ;)

[swampman]

[QUOTE]KENS-DT-39 and WOAI-DT-48 have just recently gotten their 1MW ERP systems going. Some of our lower-ERP DT were being inhibited by CCI from decoding at azimuths they can normally be watched. The best Mexican DT shots from here have been XHBR-DT-25, XHLAT-DT-50, and XHLNA-DT-51 (all Nuevo Laredo) and XERV-DT-19 Reynosa.

CCI?

Yeah I talk to people from the Beaumont area that get the one in Reynosa. Hopefully I can pull that one in as well as XHOR-DT in Matamoros.

[cd637299]

CCI - co-channel interference. With DTV, you won't get that. When I was in the Keys 2.5 weeks ago, I saw CCI on two Cuban ch 4's & two Cuban ch 17's, maybe others. It was a common thing in analog days.

Maybe I have CCI on my videotapes, and I'll send u an image or two here, once I sort all this out.

BTW, I was at Port Fourchon LA in Sep 2004, also visited Grand Isle. I went to Fourchon to check *daytime* AM DX, as I tend to do on the rare occasion. Using two GE Superadios and Select-a-Tenna, was able to get AM 810 Tampico & 1700 Brownsville (easier catch there than I figured it'd be) to the west, all the way to 1660 Marco Island FL (even that high up the dial) to the east, and a Cuban or two to the south. Nice spot that was....too bad about Katrina.

cd

[pjdyer]

I tend to use the DXing jargon after all these decades, even on sites like here that don't really need the brevity vs. http://dxworld.com/tvfmlog.html which helps for very quick posting/reading there. Due to some complaints, even there, I devised this (unorderly) list http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/fmtvabre.txt, which is updated every so often.

73, Pat - WA5IYX

[KW4RZ]

It helps if one is fluent in Typonese. Especially when communicating with me during DXing :rolleyes:

[swampman]

CCI -
[QUOTE]BTW, I was at Port Fourchon LA in Sep 2004, also visited Grand Isle. I went to Fourchon to check *daytime* AM DX, as I tend to do on the rare occasion. Using two GE Superadios and Select-a-Tenna, was able to get AM 810 Tampico & 1700 Brownsville (easier catch there than I figured it'd be) to the west, all the way to 1660 Marco Island FL (even that high up the dial) to the east, and a Cuban or two to the south. Nice spot that was....too bad about Katrina.

A place known for excellent fishing. Hope you brought your fishing rod. ;) But wait, I guess you were looking for a different catch. Nice Am DXing!

[Danny]

As a side note: I also pulled in KXTS-LP in Victoria, TX. Wikipedia shows it as having an analog signal, but is carried along with 2 sister stations as a digital subchannel. A low powered analog channel 303 miles away. Unusual?


Which channel was KXTS-LP on? Doug has two channels listed.

[Danny]

My wife & I just ate Popeye's Chicken. Does that count?

cd

Did y'all have the mild or spicy?

[cd637299]

She had the mild, I had the spicy. After 11 hours, I still feel it a bit.....

This thread might be moved to the Chat Room soon...... :)

cd

[swampman]

Which channel was KXTS-LP on? Doug has two channels listed.

channel 15, virtual 25.3

[pjdyer]

FWIW, KXTS-LP appears on KAVU-DT-15.3 (or 25.3 if you're into that "virtual thing").
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/kavudt15-3.jpg

73, Pat - WA5IYX

[Danny]

As a side note: I also pulled in KXTS-LP in Victoria, TX. Wikipedia shows it as having an analog signal, but is carried along with 2 sister stations as a digital subchannel. A low powered analog channel 303 miles away. Unusual?

Mike, did you receive KXTS-LP on an *analog* RF channel or as a subchannel on KAVU-DT15?

When you report DX to WTFDA always indicate the *RF* channel of the main station and use the suffixes DT or LDTV for digital. Pat and I are not the only ones who don't keep up with virtual channel numbers.

Also, a DT only counts as one station, regardless of how many subchannels they have.

Looks like you are doing well with the attic antenna. You will likely do even better with the new antenna.

Keep sending in the reports.

[swampman]

Mike, did you receive KXTS-LP on an *analog* RF channel or as a subchannel on KAVU-DT15?

When you report DX to WTFDA always indicate the *RF* channel of the main station and use the suffixes DT or LDTV for digital. Pat and I are not the only ones who don't keep up with virtual channel numbers.

Also, a DT only counts as one station, regardless of how many subchannels they have.

Looks like you are doing well with the attic antenna. You will likely do even better with the new antenna.

Keep sending in the reports.

OK thanks for the tips Danny. It's actually a subchannel of KAVU. (It has the same RF channel 15). I guess what I was going by was an article on Wikipedia as folows:

"KXTS-LP is a low-power television station in Victoria, Texas, broadcasting locally on channel 41 as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. KXTS does not have a digital signal, but is carried along with two sister stations as a digital subchannel of KAVU-TV."

It's a bit confusing to a noob, but my understanding was, if it's not digital...it must be analog. :confused:

[pjdyer]

Life was much simpler when it was just KAVU-25 ...
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/841012.jpg (Apr 12, 1984)
KAVU-DT-15.1 HD (ABC)
KAVU-DT-15.2 KMOL-SD (NBC)
KAVU-DT-15.3 KXTS-SD (My)
KAVU-DT-15.4 WEATHER

Victoria didn't get its "own" TV until c. 1973 - KXIX-19 (which esentially simulcast KIII-3 from Corpus). Before then they were considered to be in the fringe coverage of San Antonio stations. That was made very clear in Sep 1961 when (then) KONO-12 ran a Hurricane preparedness program as H. Carla approached "for our viewers in the coastal area"!

73, Pat - WA5IYX

[Danny]

KAVU-25 was a regular tropo catch here before local KLTS-24 put their digital signal on 25. Before KTXH-DT19 came on, KVCT-19 Victoria made its way to my TV sometimes. Now KLTS-DT is on 24 and KAVU-25 is gone...

[davenlr]

KAVU-25 was a regular tropo catch here before local KLTS-24 put their digital signal on 25..

See you are in Shreveport. KTAL 15 comes in here about as regular as clockwork. Also logged most of the other Shreveport stations as well. You get any of the Little Rock digitals down there? Im curious which one is the dominant transmitter. Im gonna take a guess it is ch 22 (7-1) ABC.

[NN2E]

Hi Dave, and welcome to the forum.
KTAL is pretty regular here, too.
During this last openings (November 6 - 9 and 11 - 13) KTVE was watchable for several days in a row.
KLRT and KARZ make good propagation benchmarks for me.
I'm in the west end of Kentucky.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds