An answer I probably have heard before but...

[SlcDX]

Forgive me for asking such a... question, but what causes the high pitch whine that changes frequencies on the AM band?

Locally here, on 730 in particular, any time you tune around that frequency, the characteristic whine can be heard and changes frequency when I change the radio's freq. It seems to happen just on certain radios. The Sony (being digital tuning) can't hear it.

Sorry if this makes you :rotfl: but I seem to have had a brain fart as to why this happens. Thanks guys!

Happy DX!

[TexDX]

Hi,

A possible answer is that you are hearing the 'squeal' because one station, in the case of 730 (maybe in your case KSVN in Ogden) is competing with another station. One of the two is off frequency by as much as 1 kHz (729 or 731) competing with another.

If, at night, the other may possibly be XEX from Mexico City. But this time of year the phenomenon in your area is experienced almost all day and night because of the cold temperatures and the Sun being so low on the horizon. I lived in the Boise area for about 10 years, so I'm familiar with this effect in that part of the country.

Or . . . it may be a internal problem with the radio. But, then, if it's heard on all the radios you listed (not likely), it's probably a station off frequency.

I know this isn't any 'help', but it's a possible it answer to your question.

Best of DX,

Bill Hale
Fort Worth, Texas

[SlcDX]

So I could potentially be hearing XEX from Mexico City from Salt Lake? Holy cow!
Yes, KSVN is a relatively local signal here and is the worst offender as far as the squeal. I checked my other radios, one of them a cheap alarm clock made by Sony, and sure enough...squeal. The other radio it is more present on is the much better Grundig S350. Like I said, none of my digital tuners pick it up, just the analogs.

Another question, does this time of the year cause locals to bleed all over the dial? I hear "harmonics" of several locals splattering any daytime DX I do.

[NN2E]

Something to keep in mind...Almost anything that's "plugged in" now-a-days can generate radio frequency energy and cause "birdies" in radio receivers.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[cd637299]

FWIW, my Kaito 1102 puts out a high pitched tone on 1530 kHz. I thought it was a station testing....but it doesn't matter where I am, the thing whistles.

And...I only run it on batteries.

cd

[SlcDX]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks guys. I'm guessing it's the radio, or just KSVN's problem. I don't notice it on the rest of the dial. At night, the squeal disappears.
The Grundig S350 runs on batteries full time, the others are plugged in. I luv that radio.

I wish the Sony was more portable because it is such a good radio. I took it to Green River, WYO over Thxgiving break and the AM section really cooked up new logs, even from a basement full of EMI.