DX'n Forum

[smdp1]

This may have been done before, but I am just curious as to how many dxrs there are here and what kind of results that you've had. I don't care if you think dx means 100+miles or 500+ miles I want to hear your stories and longest distances as well as what you used to do it...please do tell all. I do know that there is one here that has records that blow mine out of the water...I sure hope he finds this and posts.

Here is mine:

record for longest vhf contact analog with perfect picture: 271 miles khtv ch 11 Little Rock Ar. received on a vip307 atop a 50 tower Digital: hmm....never even a chance here there are too many local broadcasters using 2-13 its soooo crowded here...but as far as local goes the longest I've gotten on vhf for digital was 102.5 miles for 33.1 (on ch5), but not dependable because of a analog ch 5 cci

record for longest uhf reception: analog:...not really sure...Digital: 297miles wpmi 15.1 with 79% signal for 2 days solid using an xg 91 on top of a 9ft pole on top of a 50ft tower...

other non records include waka 8 analog and digital at 182 miles (this is very common) and a channel 2 & fox 5 from Atlanta at 200 miles and a Kait channel 8 from Jonesboro Ark at 189 miles (also very common)

for those who don't know, my avatar is my antenna rig. My location is appx 34.95648 N 87.53120 W

[smdp1]

hmm...maybe there isn't that many here.....oh well....I was hoping that there would be a few here interesting in sharing tips, comparing longest distances and generally telling what works and what don't....if your out there please do tell...I am really interested in knowing.

[wiregrass]

Best UHF was 95 miles, WSFU, on a home-built 4-bay, 20 foot mast, diplexed with no pre-amp. Only get it every once and awhile when conditions are just right.

Looking to upgrade to XG91 with a CM 0265DSB pre-amp in the near future. Might opt for a tower but noboby in that business in my area (Dothan AL)... at least nobody advertising that they are.

[smdp1]

Originally Posted by wiregrass

Best UHF was 95 miles, WSFU, on a home-built 4-bay, 20 foot mast, diplexed with no pre-amp. Only get it every once and awhile when conditions are just right.

Looking to upgrade to XG91 with a CM 0265DSB pre-amp in the near future. Might opt for a tower but noboby in that business in my area (Dothan AL)... at least nobody advertising that they are.

wow 95 miles on a home-made.....you must have really done a good job to get that kind of range....hhmmm....you live on the opposite side of SA than I used too....you probably could get the channels from mobile with a good vhf antenna combined with that xg91....wear ch 3, wkrg 5, wala 10, and wpmi15....but don't know their digital....its been years since I lived in Jackson Al., but you could look them up and see.....It'll be a reach for you, but hey, I never thought that I would get Montgomery from up here in Greenhill Al. (just north of Florence) ...oh and don't worry if you don't have someone to install the tower...you can order the pieces online and get a tree trimming service to bring by a bucket truck and install it yourself....thats how I got my new antennas on top...lol...if you ever do decide to do it and want/need a little info on what to do just write me a pm or send me a e-mail

[oldcrooner]

In recent times my "DX" reception includes analog and digital stations from all over Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Indiana, western Maryland and southern Michigan. Also analog only reception from western New York and southern Ontario. These were received using a large Winegard yagi-type antenna on a 50' tower and mostly during summer and early fall when "tropo" reception conditions are good. Many years ago when living in a rural part of Ohio, I remember DX reception from places in Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico and even Cuba once. This was what was/is referred to as "E" layer "skip" that allows VHF signals to travel over long distances when conditions are right. I've been a shortwave listener for over 50 years and have also always enjoyed doing a little TV DXing.

[smdp1]

Originally Posted by oldcrooner

In recent times my "DX" reception includes analog and digital stations from all over Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Indiana, western Maryland and southern Michigan. Also analog only reception from western New York and southern Ontario. These were received using a large Winegard yagi-type antenna on a 50' tower and mostly during summer and early fall when "tropo" reception conditions are good. Many years ago when living in a rural part of Ohio, I remember DX reception from places in Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico and even Cuba once. This was what was/is referred to as "E" layer "skip" that allows VHF signals to travel over long distances when conditions are right. I've been a shortwave listener for over 50 years and have also always enjoyed doing a little TV DXing.

thats a long way.....I am hoping that when summer gets here I'll be able to log some new records, but so far I haven't been able to hit anywhere near what I've heard others around my area talking about....they say that winter shuts down the true dxing here

[oldcrooner]

Originally Posted by smdp1

thats a long way.....I am hoping that when summer gets here I'll be able to log some new records, but so far I haven't been able to hit anywhere near what I've heard others around my area talking about....they say that winter shuts down the true dxing here

Things will get better as we move into the spring and summer. Also, as I neglected to mention in my earlier posting, long distance reception is also much better in times of sunspot maximums. We have been at the minimum end of the sunspot cycle for the past few years and reportedly are now probably slowly moving upwards again. (The cycles are usually about 11 years in length, so it's a slow process.) I think my best reception (like Cuba, Mexico etc.) were in years of sunspot maximums. The other kind of "DX", tropospheric ducting, is controlled mainly by weather fronts and thus is seen usually in the summer over shorter distances.
I've noticed almost no distant reception since this past fall season, which is typical.

[smdp1]

if you get bored one day put these coordinates into antenna web or tvfool...but antenna web is more interesting with these:
long: 35.76441
lat: 82.26577
trust me, the results are good

[jim5506]

Originally Posted by smdp1

if you get bored one day put these coordinates into antenna web or tvfool...but antenna web is more interesting with these:
long: 35.76441
lat: 82.26577
trust me, the results are good

Mt. Mitchell has a good view of a lot of territory.

[smdp1]

Originally Posted by jim5506

Mt. Mitchell has a good view of a lot of territory.

I lived in Asheville, NC and used to go up there to cool off in the summer and always wondered if you could get good tv reception up there because in my apt. I couldn't get but 3 channels...well I got bored and decided to check antenna web to see what it said.......now I want to try it out, but live to far away now....

[tigerbangs]

Originally Posted by smdp1

if you get bored one day put these coordinates into antenna web or tvfool...but antenna web is more interesting with these:
long: 35.76441
lat: 82.26577
trust me, the results are good

I just ran those numbers: WOW...I wanna live THERE...LOL

[CreedFan818]

So far in the 3 months I've had my antenna up, my record is 250 miles. I was receiving digital WBGU in Bowling Green, OH at about 2:00 in the morning from here in the Milwaukee area. I'm looking forward to summer to see what I can get. My problem is I'm within reach of signals from four cities within 75 miles, so the spectrum is pretty full of both analog and digital signals. That's another reason to look forward to the analog shutoff date.

My FM radio record is about 1,000 miles. I remember being in my car and receiving a station I wasn't familiar with. I heard the call letters on the air, got home and did some research. It turns out it was some station in New England somewhere. That was odd.

[Rick0725]

I wish I could receive distant signals.

I am limited because of the local geography. Have tried since I had my own home in the early 1980's. finally had to just suck it up.

[smdp1]

Originally Posted by CreedFan818

So far in the 3 months I've had my antenna up, my record is 250 miles. I was receiving digital WBGU in Bowling Green, OH at about 2:00 in the morning from here in the Milwaukee area. I'm looking forward to summer to see what I can get. My problem is I'm within reach of signals from four cities within 75 miles, so the spectrum is pretty full of both analog and digital signals. That's another reason to look forward to the analog shutoff date.

My FM radio record is about 1,000 miles. I remember being in my car and receiving a station I wasn't familiar with. I heard the call letters on the air, got home and did some research. It turns out it was some station in New England somewhere. That was odd.

I too am looking forward to the cutoff date....I have 9 cities that I routinely watch tv from and many use the same channels, especially on vhf
I've caught am dx many times, but I've never got a FM dx....that was very odd.....

[smdp1]

Originally Posted by Rick0725

I wish I could receive distant signals.

I am limited because of the local geography. Have tried since I had my own home in the early 1980's. finally had to just suck it up.

sorry, couldn't resist