AM and FM DX

Wyn FM 88.9 is off air at the moment in Melbourne allowing for scatter reception of mixx 88.9. Seems surprisingly common with it peaking near rds levels when planes fly over.

4 Likes

With some storms around Mildura today, I had an opportunity for some rare lightning skip on FM. While I did not get anything too exotic, I did make some interesting observations around lightning causing polarisation changes as well as weak tropo forming on the storm fronts. And yes, FM does have lightning crashes, which appear as a large spike of noise and audible if it is strong enough. On a distant stereo broadcast, it can cause the stereo to drop out for a moment and can also cause RDS errors.

Todays catches were mainly the ABCs from Bethungra / SW Slopes - 88.3 Classic and 89.9 ABC Riverina at 4PM in the afternoon. However, over on 92.7, I had both Classic and Fresh927, depending on the polarisation at the time. 88.7 3BPH Bendigo was also heard, also being affected by the lightning.

Also I noted that Triple J on 105.3 finally has fixed the pre-emphasis, it now sounds as good as my local on 101.1

3 Likes

The Hepburn maps currently show a possible path from coast to inland in Victoria. Potential for some rare catches for those based in Melbourne, the map almost looks ideal for Bendigo, Swan Hill and maybe even Mildura.

Up here in Mildura, its the usual fare of tropo related catches, with all Broken Hill FMs including 96.5 Hill FM being receivable, all favouring the vertical 3el over the horizontal wideband this afternoon. As I type this, there is a whiff of weak Mount Dundas and Shepparton commercials at the same intensity on both, with both 95.3 and 96.9 duking it out against Flow FM Speed and Meringur respectively. Rarer catches include 101.3 Mixx FM Horsham, 96.3 5MU and 102.5 Edge FM Deniliquin, all weak to good.

2 Likes

Some decent Tassie tropo in Melbourne tonight, getting some rarer catches such as sea 101.7 and sea 102.9. Launceston is also very strong

These are all the different transmitters ive gotten so far tonight

Getting another rare catch, 88.9 Coast FM Lileah, normally blocked by Wyn FM

5 Likes

Early this morning from Ouyen:

88.3: 3ACBRN (Hopetoun, Victoria)

89.3: 3PNN Horsham

91.7: 3PNN Western Victoria

92.1: Star FM Wangaratta

92.7: 3ABCFM Bendigo

93.9: 3BAY FM Geelong

95.3: Triple M Shepparton

95.7: ABCRN Nhill

95.9: 3PNN Murray Valley

96.9: Hit 96.9 Shepparton

97.7: 3GVR Goulburn Valley

102.5: Edge FM Deniliquin

103.3: 3JJJ Upper Murray

103.7: 3ABCFM Murray Vallay

104.1: 3ABCFM Upper Murray

105.1: 3MMM Melbourne

105.3: 3JJJ Murray Valley

105.7: 2BDR Albury

106.3: 2PNN Central Western Slopes

3 Likes

Wow, that’s a great get at about 750 km without a water path !!

1 Like

Though the Hay Plains act like an inland sea whenever there’s tropo!

2 Likes

Well done getting this, I always end up with 5SBS Adelaide instead (it’s basically in permanently on my old TV aerial setup). You may have also had Triple J on 102.3, providing KIIS wasn’t cutting in as usual

1 Like

Victoria and South Australia FM received in Bunbury 5am this morning. Furthest distance 95.1 Latrobe valley, 2800km. No RDS on 95.1 it seamed but many other RDS stations received.







10 Likes

Wow well done!!! Is this 5am WA time? I checked at around 8am Vic time and didn’t get any WA (although other western stuff was strong)

2 Likes

Yes, 5am WA time. Still dark outside. Same at home, strong Albany and Esperance. Weak Hamilton and SAFM 107.1. I had to head out to my nearby lookout to get these stations.

4 Likes

With a quick trip across to Adelaide, I had another go at AM DX tonight, by far the most widespread, with some WA stations audible as well. The lowest powered catch was 1359 from Mildura, the RSN relay. All are listed with the call signs from the ACMA book.

567 2BH Broken Hill - weak

576 2RN Sydney - fair

585 2WEB Bourke - good

603 2RN Nowra - fair

612 4QR Brisbane - good

621 3RN Melbourne - strong

648 6GF Kalgoorlie - weak, CCI with 2NU Tamworth

657 2BY Byrock - fair

675 2CO Corowa - good

684 2KP Kempsy - fair

693 3AW Melbourne - fair, CCI with 5SY

702 2BL Sydney - fair

711 4QW St George - good

756 3RN Wangaratta - fair

774 3LO Melbourne - strong

792 4RN Brisbane - weak

810 2BA Bega - fair

819 2GL Glen Innes - fair

828 3GI Sale - strong

837 4RK Rockhampton - weak

846 2RN Canberra- fair

855 4QO Eidsvold - fair, CCI with 3CR Melbourne

864 4QR Toowoomba - weak, CCI with 7RPH Hobart

918 4VL Charleville - weak, CCI with 6NA Narrogin

927 3UZ Melbourne - good

936 4PB Brisbane - fair, CCI with 7ZR Hobart

954 2UE Sydney - fair

963 2RG Griffith- fair, splatter with 5PB

999 2NB Broken Hill - good

1017 2KY Sydney - fair

1026 3PB Melbourne - strong

1053 2CA Canberra - fair

1071 3EL Bendigo - strong

1080 6IX Perth - weak, CCI with 2MO Gunnedah

1089 3WM - good, CCI with 2EL Orange

1107 2EA Sydney- good

1116 3AK Melbourne - strong

1125 ??? (Was playing music, not 1RPH as did not match stream) - good

1134 3CS Colac - fair

1143 2HD Newcastle- fair, CCI with 4HI Emerald

1152 2WG Wagga Wagga - fair, splatter from 5PA)

1161 5PA Narracourte - strong

1170 2CH Sydney - fair

1188 2NZ Inverell - fair, splatter from 5RPH

1224 2RPH Sydney - good

1260 3SR Shepparton - good

1269 2SM Sydney - weak, CCI from 6RN Busselton

1278 3EE Melbourne - strong

1296 4RPH Brisbane - weak, CCI from 6RN Wagin

1314 3BT Ballarat - weak, splatter from 5DN

1332 3SH Swan Hill - fair, splatter from 5DN

1341 3GL Geelong - weak

1350 2LF Young - weak, unknown CCI

1359 3UZ Mildura - fair

1377 3MP Melbourne - strong

1404 2PK Parkes - fair

1413 2EA Newcastle - good

1422 3XY Melbourne - strong

1431 2RN Wollongong - weak, strong CCI with unknown

1440 1EA Canberra - weak

1458 2PB Newcastle - weak

1467 3ML Mildura - fair

1494 2AY Albury - good

1503 3KND Melbourne - fair

1512 2RN Newcastle - good

1521 2QN Deniliquin - good

1530 2VM Moree - fair

1548 4QD Emerald - good

1557 KIX Renmark - weak

1593 SenTRACK Melbourne- weak

3 Likes