The Official Publication of the Worldwide TV-FM DX Association SEPTEMBER 2004 The magazine for TV and FM DXers Convention 2004! SPECIAL REPORT 64 Pages of TV, FM and DX News and Logs CONVENTION WRAP UP IN THIS ISSUE TV and FM DXing was never so much fun! THE WORLDWIDE TV-FM DX ASSOCIATION Serving the UHF-VHF Enthusiast THE VHF-UHF DIGEST IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLDWIDE TV-FM DX ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO THE OBSERVATION AND STUDY OF THE PROPAGATION OF LONG DISTANCE TELEVISION AND FM BROADCASTING SIGNALS AT VHF AND UHF. WTFDA IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS: DOUG SMITH, GREG CONIGLIO, BRUCE HALL, DAVE JANOWIAK AND MIKE BUGAJ. Editor and publisher: Mike Bugaj Treasurer: Dave Janowiak Webmaster: Tim McVey Editorial Staff:, Victor Frank, George W. Jensen, Jeff Kruszka Keith McGinnis, Fred Nordquist, Matt Sittel, Doug Smith, Adam Rivers, Jason Koralja and John Zondlo, Our website: www.anarc.org/wtfda ANARC Rep: Jim Thomas, Back Issues: Dave Nieman, SEPTEMBER 2004 _______________________________________________________________________________________ CONTENTS Page Two 2 Mailbox 3 TV News…Doug Smith 5 FM News…Adam Rivers 13 Eastern TV DX…Matt Sittel 19 Western TV DX…Victor Frank 21 Southern FM DX…John Zondlo 26 Northern FM DX…Keith McGinnis 32 Photo News…Jeff Kruszka 56 Convention Report 2004 58 Satellite News…George Jensen 62 Sign Up/Renewal Form 63 First, the bad news: Adam Rivers’ laptop died again. Now the good news: We do have FM News for you this month. And we have lots of convention coverage and we’re not talking politics. We also hit our limit of 64 pages for the first time in a long time. We’re a tad late this month, but, like so many other good things, the VUD is worth the wait. Due to some upcoming editorial changes ATTENTION EVUD READERS we will need a new Eastern TV DX editor. If you have a computer and email, we need you. Who are these people? See Mailbox for details. Think about it! Have a great September. LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU’RE A PROUD WTFDA MEMBER! This removable plastic cling sticks to glass but can be easily removed. It features the WTFDA emblem and our WTFDA website address. Get one for just $2 each! Send cash, check or money order payable to Dave Janowiak. Send your order to WTFDA, P.O. Box 501, Somersville, CT 06072. Specify red or yellow. Great for your car! PERMANENT DECALS ALSO AVAILABLE UPON Just $2.00 Each REQUEST. 2 P.O. Box 501, Somersville, CT USA 06072 MIKE BUGAJ [email protected] If your VUD appears to be a bit late in the weeks ago I offered free August VUDs to the mail this month, don’t worry because we non WTFDA members on the WTFDA list and planned it that way. The way the month of had a couple of takers. Saul Chernos posted August turned out, we were faced with either my offer on the amfmtvdx and ODXC lists and an early VUD or one just a little bit late. We somehow the offer found its way over to the went with the latter this time around. As it is, IRCA list. The result was about 20 sample the later choice turned out to be the better VUDs were sent out. Whether that offer will choice as a couple of our editors were on translate to any new members is anyone’s vacation the third week of August anyway. guess, but at least the others know what we August featured some Es early in the offer. Time will tell. month and some tropo toward the end of the So far we’ve had 19 people send in for our month. Traffic on the WTFDA list was 80s VUDs on CD offer. The latest two are downright slow some days. David Williams Ken Bedley (and yes, the VUD does rule, did have some tropo in excess of 300 miles at Ken) and Bob Seaman, who says “You are his home in Redmond, OR. I never doing a great job on the current issues of the associated Oregon with tropo until I read VUD”. Thanks, Bob. My bill is in the mail. David’s dx reports. Matt Sittel and Mike Hawk Randy Miltier has moved to Phoenix. At also saw some long haul tropo around the first I though he was sick of Oregon winters 20th of the month from their homes in NE. and heading for AZ, but then I noticed it was A big thanks to Matt and Mike for hosting Phoenix, OR! Randy adds “Moving into the convention this year! All indications were another house so will be set up for next year. that the whole thing ran smoothly and was VUD looks good (TankU – mike). Work nights enjoyed by all. See our convention wrap-up so don’t get on chat.” Yes, it’s been a couple appearing in this VUD. More about this later. of years now, Randy. BTW…where’s Al Tobia? Fire up mIRC sometime, Al! MEMBERS AND MORE A short note from Dennis Smith which says “A couple of comments (complaints?) Once again we welcome two new (Uh oh! -Mike). Some regional DX columns members to the WTFDA and for all I know, accept scan reports (except summer season they might even know each other. First we – understandable) and some do not. And welcome Vincent Perlingi of West Chester, some columns take reports only by Email PA to the club. Next we also welcome Gilbert which I do not have (or am I the only one).” Erhart of Cranberry Twp, PA. Glad to have No, you are not the only one, but I did a both of you with us and thanks for using quick check of the membership list and I have Paypal to join, without a doubt the quickest email addresses for 194 of 266 members, or and easiest way to join or renew your dues. 73% of the memberhip. That percentage will As of the 18th of August I have renewals only continue to climb. from Calvin Glover(MD), Frank Aden(ID), It doesn’t matter to me if some editors Guy Falsetti(NY), Rich Wertman(NY) (you allow bandscans in the off-season as long as had me worried, Rich), Curtis Sadowski(IL), they don’t mind the typing. But I wouldn’t Jeff Lehmann(MA), FJ Issard(ON), Rick require everybody to do that. Each editor Lewis(AZ), Robert Williams(ID), Wolfgang knows how much time they have available to Schneiter(CA), John Tudenham(MO), spend on their column, so what they allow is Glenn Boche(MN), Chip Kelley(TX), John up to them. Hourigan(OH), Ken Bedley(ON), Fred If you or someone else without email McCormack(MN), Keith McGinnis(MA), wants to send a report to Weather DX, mail it Ron Wing(KS), Randy Miltier(OR), Nick to me and I will get it to Jason. Ken Lombardi(GA), William Eckberg(IL), John Onyschuk has done that once already and Vervoort(NY), Dennis Park Smith(CA), that is no trouble at all. Howard Fountain(GA), Roosevelt Crawford Here’s part of an email from Glen (KS) and Bob Seaman(PA). Thank you all Boche(MN) “TV dxing, last summer I thought for staying with the WTFDA for another year. that due to the lousy E season, was the Currently (as of the 22nd of August) we have answer as to why I didn't see any opening 266 members in the WTFDA. A couple of and one or two tropo days. Recently, a 3 translator station across the MN/WI border added Program Director to my jobs there. changed channels and I noticed it was very Enjoyed that too. But after 15 years, time to snowy. As I recall it was that way on the other move back east here. channel. I went out and purchase a CM 4248 Been here in SW Harbor, Maine (Mount yagi and placed it on a temporary ground Desert Island/Acadia National park area) for 5 mounted pipe about 15 feet in the air and it years now. Not working in broadcast radio now came in almost snow free. I then took the anymore, and really have no desire to get CM 4251 dish which was standing basically back into it. It is so de-personalized, on the ground and tried that. The station is automated and computerized, there's no fun now snow free and I am getting ch 18 from left in it anymore. Instead I work for 2 local Eau Claire, WI which is 80 miles away at 30 police departments as dispatcher. So I am percent picture and 60 percent snow with the still in radio, sorta....On the Public Service antenna on the ground. Could it be there was Bands. Sometimes I think more people listen something wrong with the CM 1160 vhf/uhf to Police Scanners than commercial radios for yagi that is 40 feet in the air? I checked the entertainment around here! resistance of 70 feet of RG6 with a new CM Haven't been taking as much advantage balun that is identical to the one up on top. It of the DX as I should. I need to get a new read 3.1 ohms. I then checked the 45 ft run of tuner with some real DX possibility. My RG11 that has the same balun on it and it Cassette/CD Stereo just isn't up to it, read 25.7 ohms. I don't think the fittings although I often do get the Southern New between the RG11 and the RG59 at the top England FMs up here during trops wiping out has a crusty connection since it is the same the Bangor/Ellsworth locals.