News Serving DXers since 1933 Volume 84, No. 6 ● December 12, 2016 ●(ISSN 0737‐1639) Inside this issue . 2 … AM Switch 14 … Geomagnetic Indices 25 … College Sports Networks 6 … Domestic DX Digest East 15 … International DX Digest 27 … DX Toolbox 9 … Musings of the Members 21 … From the Archives 29 … “Surfing the AM Dial” 10 … Domestic DX Digest West 22 … Pro Sports Nets (NHL) 31 … DX Quiz Answers From the Publisher: Another full issue, which E‐DXN Volunteer Needed: We need a server is always a good thing to see! admin consultant to help from time to time with Fans of NRC member Scott Fybush’s famous e‐DXN. Someone with linux, php, mysql, Tower Site calendar will be pleased to know that sendmail, etc knowledge and the ability to the 2017 edition is available – see page 28 for more recommend configuration settings, installations, information. fixes, answer questions, recommend actions, etc. If other NRC members have commercial Normal linux server admin items.” If interested, projects that would be of interest to the NRC please contact our webmaster Kraig Krist at membership generally, we’d be pleased to let the [email protected]. members know about it. We don’t take advertising in DX News but are happy to publicize Volume 84 DX News Schedule occasionally what our members are up to. No D’dline Print No D’dline Print 2017 Winter SWL Fest: Our friends at NASWA 7 Dec. 16 Dec. 26 14 Apr. 7 Apr. 17 will be holding their 30th (!) annual Winter SWL 8 Dec. 30 Jan. 9 15 Apr. 28 May 8 Fest on March 2‐4, 2017, at the Doubletree Guest 9 Jan. 13 Jan. 23 16 May 26 June 5 Suites Philadelphia West, Plymouth Meeting, PA. 10 Jan. 27 Feb. 6 17 June 23 July 3 Early registration rates apply through January; 11 Feb. 10 Feb. 20 18 July 21 July 31 you can get more information at 12 Feb. 24 Mar. 6 19 Aug. 18 Aug. 28 http://www.swlfest.com/. MW DXers are always 13 Mar. 17 Mar. 27 20 Sept. 8 Sept. 18 welcome. Any other DX get‐togethers, meetings, or Membership Report conventions that NRC members would be Rejoining Members: Welcome back to Bob interested in learning about? Send Schroeder, Cincinnati, OH; and Mike Shirer, announcements to [email protected] and Green Bay, WI. we’ll get the word out. Renewing Members: Thanks for the ongoing Convention 2017? We still have not yet support of Mike Brooker; John Brosious; Thomas received any bids for the 2017 NRC Convention. C. Calabria; Norbert Cappel; Larry Cook; Jerry For info on how to bid and what to consider if you Elya; Kenneth Goldman; David Green; Thomas are thinking of hosting a convention or a DXers Mahaney; Paul V McDonough; Richard Merkel; gathering in your area, contact Ernie Wesolowski, John R Morales; Edmund H. Smith; and Bruce 13312 Westwood Lane, Omaha NE 68144‐3543, Wickert. [email protected]. Any date, any location. 37th Edition of the National Radio Club’s AM Radio Log The AM Radio Log is a source for information on AM radio stations in the United States and Canada. The 37th edition of the Log contains 300 pages of data and cross references and 12 pages of instructions in 8‐1/2” x 11” size, 3‐hole punched, U.S. looseleaf format. This publication fits nicely into a 1” three‐ring binder. 9,000+ updates since last year’s 36th Edition of the log! New for this year is a cross reference by State/Province in frequency order. This list is ideal for targeting needed areas. Additional reference lists include call letters of FM simulcasts with the AM Stations listing, listings of regional groups of stations in the groups section (separate section of the log book), a cross reference of those stations that are licensed to use IBOC (In Band On Channel) digital audio, and a comprehensive list of FM translators that are now simulcasting with AM broadcasters. Order by snail mail by check or money order in US funds to National Radio Club, P.O. Box 473251, Aurora, CO 80047‐3251 or order using your Pay Pal account at http://www.nrcdxas.org. Prices are: to U.S. addresses by Priority Mail, $26.95 for NRC members, $30.95 for nonmembers; to Canada US$39.25 by Global Priority Mail; outside North America US$49.75 by Global Priority Mail. 2 AM Switch David Yocis, 9412 Ferry Landing Ct., Alexandria VA 22309, [email protected] Canadian info – Compiled by Shawn Axelrod and Dan Sys NRC AM Log updates from Wayne Heinen, [email protected] Official Updates from the FCC and the CRTC CALL CHANGES 980 WPGA GA Perry – Call change to WDDO (Nov. 25). WEGO NC Winston‐Salem – Call change to WTOB (Nov. 22). 1130 WOFC KY Murray – Call change to WBZB (Nov. 23). 1330 WVHI IN Evansville – Call change to WBGW (Nov. 23). 1520 WBYM PR San Juan‐ Call change to WRSJ (Nov. 21); was WVOZ until Nov. 11. 1560 WRSJ PR Bayamon – Call change to WBYM (Nov. 21). In addition, the buyers of silent WNZZ‐950 Montgomery AL have reserved callsign WZKD. NEW STATION WATCH 600 New BC Vancouver – CP granted for new station, U4? 10000/10000; will have ethnic programming currently on KRPI‐1550. STATIONS GOING DARK 740 CBNZ NL Nain – LPRT deleted; has moved to 95.1 MHz FM (via Andy Reid, WRTH). 1470 WLQR OH Toledo – License surrendered by licensee Sept. 30; station deleted. CONSTRUCTION PERMITS (CPS) FOR EXISTING STATIONS CPs fully licensed and on the air: 820 WCPT IL Willow Springs – CP for auxiliary facilities of D3 2500 is now fully licensed. 1580 KGAF TX Gainesville –CP for U1 1200/275, correcting coordinates to 33‐37‐43/97‐06‐26, is on the air. CPs built, awaiting final licensing: 970 KTTO WA Spokane – Applies for license to cover CP to U2 5300/750; adjusteding coordinates to 47‐36‐57/117‐21‐55. 1050 KORE OR Springfield‐Eugene – Applies for license to cover CP to U1 5000/105; moving to new site 44‐04‐54/123‐06‐34. 1310 KAHL TX San Antonio – Applies for license to cover CP to U4 5000/236 as well as for program test authority. 1500 KCLF LA New Roads – Application for license to cover CP for U1 850/18 from new site dismissed; presumably will try again soon. CPs granted: 870 KPRM MN Park Rapids – Granted CP for U2 50000/2500. 1210 KMIA WA Auburn‐Federal Way – Granted CP for U4 27500/220 from current day site. 1470 KYYW TX Abilene – Granted CP for U1 5000/110. Applications for CP filed: 1190 WCRW VA Leesburg – Applies for U4 50000/1200, all from current site (no more separate night site as in past CPs). 1380 KKOO OR Ontario – Applies for CP for U1 5000/250, adjust coordinates to 44‐02‐35/116‐ 58‐19. Also, Wayne points out a typo last issue – KGYN CP app is for U7 50000/10000 (ch 39000). SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY (STA) STA applications received: 1070 WMIA PR Arecibo – Granted STA with U1 500/500 from an emergency 208’ longwire antenna at the licensed transmitter site; tower collapsed Nov. 28. 1320 WOBL OH Oberlin – Granted STA with parameters at variance; addition of diplexed translator (W299CJ‐107.7) has affected night pattern. 3 Extensions of STAs granted: 620 WDAE FL St. Petersburg – Granted STA extension, U2 11200/11000, Cuban QRM. 920 KARN AR Little Rock – Granted STA extension, U1 5000/1250. 940 WINZ FL Miami – Granted STA extension, U4 50000/25000, Cuban QRM. 970 WFUN OH Ashtabula – Granted STA extens., U5 5000/250 or night parameters at variance. 980 KTCR WA Selah – Granted STA extension, U1 1000/125 from KRSE‐105.7 tower. 1080 KWAI HI Honolulu – Granted STA extension, minor parameters at variance. 1130 WBBR NY New York – Granted STA extension, nearby power line affecting pattern. 1230 KTRF MN Thief River Falls – Granted STA extension, reduced power from new tower. 1350 WFNS GA Blackshear – Granted STA extension, D1 500, temporary longwire antenna. 1390 WROA MS Gulfport – Granted STA extension, auxiliary transmitter (reduced power?). 1420 KRIZ WA Renton – Granted STA extension, U1 250/125 from KYIZ‐1620 tower. 1520 WINW OH Canton – Granted STA extension, D1 250 from temporary longwire antenna. 1590 WKTP TN Jonesborough – Granted STA extension, U1 1250/1250. Applications to extend STAs received: 540 WLIE NY Islip – Applies to extend STA, parameters at variance. 720 WHYF PA Shiremanstown – Applies to extend STA, D1 2000 from temporary antenna. 1080 WHIM FL Coral Gables – Applies to extend STA, U4 50000/20000, Cuban QRM. 1200 KFNW ND West Fargo – Applies to extend STA, day parameters at variance, nearby power line affecting pattern. 1470 KYYW TX Abilene – Applies to extend STA, U1 5000/250. 1520 KOKC OK Oklahoma City – Applies to extend STA, U1 10000/10000, temporary tower. 1530 WCKY OH Cincinnati – Applies to extend STA, U1 50000/12500 or parameters at variance. 1580 WVZN PA Columbia – Applies to extend STA, temporary longwire antenna. SILENT STATIONS Formerly silent stations informing the FCC that they are back on the air: 930 WSFZ MS Jackson – Silent June 15; on the air Sept. 22. 1450 KTRP ID Notus – Silent Apr. 20; on the air Nov. 19. Stations informing the FCC that they are silent: 1230 KBNH OR Burns – Silent (again) Nov. 15; transmitter failure. 1260 KWEI ID Weiser – Silent Sept. 1; taken silent by new owner considering next steps. 1450 KSKE CO Buena Vista – Silent Nov. 30; transmitter needs to be replaced. 1540 WONA VA Richmond – Silent (again) Nov. 21; has lost transmitter site.