1860 AM

No Reception

Earlier the Home Page at WA0RCR gave their 1860 AM broadcast schedule as Saturday 10 am to Sunday 3:30 am, and I started monitoring 1860 kHz at 9:30 am cdt, hearing steady background buzz.

A few hours later the Homepage had changed and now said "ON THE AIR 1 pm Sat. to 2 am Sunday, but under the menu tab "Schedule" the old time schedule was still shown.

I guess the changing was proof that somebody is active behind the scenes, but at 1 pm today being Saturday I heard no trace of a signal, located about 50-miles east of Wentzville, Missouri.

Just after 1 pm this afternoon a storm was taking place in the Wentzville area and moving in this direction, so I closed KDX, but the storm did not reach us.

We will continue monitoring 1860 to see if critical hours or night hours deliver a signal.

They claim to have 350 Watts.

Wait...I thought you could NOT broadcast on the ham bands?  No music, No show to an undefined audience?

So did the FCC suddenly change the laws for Ham Radio?  If so does this mean if I study and get a legal Ham license I could broadcast an Albun Rock station on a portion of the Ham band?  Somehow I don't think I have the entire story I think something is not published here.

Under some particular circumstances, one way transmission by hams is permitted.  I used to do so in the '70s on behalf of our ham organization by "broadcasting" recorded programming made available from a ham related national news group.

I don't recall the specific rules which apply so do some homework if you are interested and please refrain from blanket statements about what you thought about the FCC rules.

Broadcasting on the ham bands is allowed if, and only if, everything being broadcast specifically applies to ham radio news.  There were a couple ham news services that are commonly broadcast on two meter repeaters and other places on a regular basis. One from the ARRL, and one other that escapes me right now, and there are probably others.

The rules are spelled out pretty clearly on this web site:

https://kk6jyt.com/ham-radio-broadcasting-deliver-your-message-legally/

And I can assure you the second you broadcast something that's out of line a mob of hams will have you reported in seconds.

TIB

If you're like to hear what a suitable program sounds like, here's this week's show from the ARRL. This show is broadcast weekly on many FM ham repeaters all over the country. Naturally you'd have to have a suitable ham license to broadcast these programs. usually they are broadcast by clubs via the club's repeater.

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/News/Audio%20News/AAN-2018-10-05.mp3

TIB

24 Hour Tracking

I had a radio set on 1860 kHz for 24-hours and the noise level never changed and I did not hear a trace of WA0RCR.

When I opened this thread I already knew the HAM rules allow transmission of HAM related material. I'm glad that several of you mentioned the legality of the process.

Maybe if album rock songs about HAM radio were produced they could be aired legally on an amateur license?

OK I understand better now.  By the way I have always been interested in Ham Radio and love to listen to 40 meters, 80 meters using my Tecsun PL 380 and a Tantec SSB BFO I set near my Radio and tune with a screw.  My friend said he will make the BFO better for me as originally it was meant to physically connect to the IF out of a 455Khz IF signal.  But the Tecsun PL-380 does NOT have an IF jack and I knew that the carrier was strong enough that I could place it right under the Radio and achieve the effect I wanted to get SSB.

If I get a Ham License I would stay in line with everyone else and have fun having DX conversations.  Plus in emergency situations it is a great way to stay informed.  All previous comments I've made aside  we do owe Ham operators and clubs a lot for they have helped the public in more ways than I can mention.  I like to keep informed on what is new on the bands.

Thanks for the clarification great work.

Per the website: the main transmitter is a McMartin BA-1K, with a locally-built backup transmitter at 350 watts output. The website also indicates they use a 110 foot tower, with a substantial counterpoise system.

There should be skywave coverage, I did not hear it on the east coast either

Cool.

I'll have to try to hear it here in Connecticut.

A fun challenge.

By the way, I also have a Tecsun PL-380. A

wonderful radio.  I use mine almost every day!

Brooce, Hartford

Late in the evening for this frequency. Much better as we head into winter.

Tip for those trying to hear this station on 1860 kHz on the east coast (at night)... if you can't hear KMOX, an omnidirectional, 50kW, 24/7 AM broadcast station on 1120 kHz in St Louis, MO then you're unlikely to hear the 1860 kHz station, either.

Yeah, that's a good point.

We have a class D on 1120

about 10 miles from here.

It's about 100 watts or so...

and directional.  I'll look

it up.  Anyway-- KMOX covers it up sometimes.

The AM BCB is such a mystery to me.  That's

why I keep trying to hear things.  A few times in my

life I have heard European stations.  Many years ago

I heard the BBC Radio 5 on

693 kHz.  It was very strong

for 2 nights.  After that I

never heard that 693

transmitter again.  This

took place on a city lot

in a neighborhood thick

with houses.  I wasn't as

if I was sitting on the

Atlantic ocean with a

beverage antenna.
<p style="text-align: left;">Brooce, Hartford CT</p>

Cousin Brooce Shares

"It wasn’t as if I was sitting on the Atlantic ocean with a beverage antenna."

I know what you mean, Brooce. I have sat with many beverages next to the antenna.

And, here, I think, is the section of the FCC Rules that allows amateur radio licensees to transmit material relative to HAM news and info:

Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service;

97.111 - Authorized Transmissions;

(6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.

OH, TIM ALREADY COVERED THIS GROUND IN AN EARLIER POST!

Here is a description of expected operating conditions band by band. Please note: The description of the 160 and 80 meter bands compliments the earlier post by Rich.

http://hamuniverse.com/hfbands.html