TopBand: SUMMARY: Signals Below 1.800 MHz
Jeffrey Maass
jmaass@freenet.columbus.oh.us
Wed, 1 Oct 1997 11:27:43 -0400 (EDT)
A few days ago, I asked for information about the many signals heard
between the top of the traditional AM broadcast band and the bottom of
the 160 Meter Amateur band. I've been inattentive to matters Radio for
several years, and needed some catching-up!
Below is my request, and the responses received. The MF DXing web
sites referenced make some interesting reading for the Topband-inclined!
Thanks to: W5UN, W0MHS, N0BIW, N5NUG, W8AV, K3BU, K4WJ, KB4LCI, W1JCC,
W2CYA, and W9RAN.
********************
My Questions:
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 21:53:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jeffrey Maass <jmaass@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
To: topband mailing list <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: TopBand: Signals on 1.640 MHz: DFW?
I was tuning around below 160M for signals with which to test my
Beverages, and at around 0130Z found a signal at 1.640 MHz that gave departure
gates for flights to many cities around the US. I believe I heard them
identify themselves as being for Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) airport, and it
definately was strongest on my Southwest Beverage. Can someone confirm this?
I heard a similar station on 1.680 MHz.
Does anyone know a source for information on stations above 1.600 MHz?
There seem to be a number of AM stations (including broadcast stations?)
in this range, judging by the signals heard tonight. I have the National Radio
Club's AM Station Map Book for stations below 1.600 MHz, but nothing for
stations above.
Something on the Web would be wonderful!
73,
Jeff Maass (jmaass@freenet.columbus.oh.us) Amateur Radio K8ND
********************
These are micro powered airport information stations, which are meant to be
picked up near airports by those approaching in their automobiles and
desiring airline gate and related information.
**********
Jeff ... the expansion of the AM BCB has been played with for some time
and a large number of "roadside radio" stations have been put on the
air. I can speak to the DFW issue for I used to fly from ATL to DFW
and then drive to Brownwood, TX (150 miles or so West) and DFW's general
info station on 530 could be heard/detected all the way to Cisco, TX on
a car radio. Obviously they were a bit "hot"
**********
I know that the local int'l airport has an info broadcast on 1610 as does
I-35 thru Kansas City during rush hour....they are supposed to be low powered
xmtrs with just a few miles at the most radiation pattern. Hopes this helps
**********
You are correct. The flight schedules are broadcast for the airport. The
FCCopened this portion of the AM spectrum up last year for broadcasters
to start using it. There are over 3,000 license applications yet to be
approved for stations to begin operations between 1.600 and 1.799 Mhz. I
don't know of a URL on the internet, but you could go the the FCC's site
to see what is going on.
**********
This is what is known as a TIS (Traveler's Information Service) transmitter.
They are authorized either on the low end of the AM band (530 kHz), or on
the high end of the AM band (above 1600 kHz). They are low power usually
about 10 watts or so and are authorized on a temporary basis. All of the TIS
transmitters will be displaced between 1610 and 1700 kHz once the AM
stations that are migrating to the expanded AM band (1605 - 1700 kHz) come
on the air in a year or two.
Normally you will find the TIS stations near airports or near highway
construction.
**********
Those are low power transmitters used around the AM band band edges used by
Airports, traffic road work, etc. There is also Walt Disney station on 1660
around NY.NJ area. I believe the band above 1600 was also open to some new
broadcast freq.
**********
Have you ever used this site to search for stations in the AM band? You
have to do it by FQ and it may take some time searching from 1.600 MHz to
the top of the band.
The site is: http://www.airwaves.com/fccdb.html
**********
1610-1710 is now open to broadcaters in the US. Our closest staion is a
kid's channel in NYC. Radio Oz if I remember right....plays
"tenny-bopper"music ad nauseum!
Dont know of any books with this info as of no. Mebbe 1998 edition of WRTV
or one of the AM swl clubs.....
**********
I think you already have a response as to the TIS status of
that part of band.
As for broadcast - it is 10KW days non-D and 1 KW night
non-d.
On 1630 khz there is JFK and also at 1700 khz there is JFK
in the NYC area. There are many others all over the place.
**********
You're correct Jeff - these are TIS (Traveler's Information Stations)
at DFW Airport and made quite a splash in the BCB DXing community
last spring. The 1640 and 1680 Khz stations run somewhat more power
(60w) and antenna (50 ft. vertical) than most TIS stations, and have
been logged all over the country.
The Medium Wave DX page has some interesting tidbits at:
http://members.aol.com/rkdx/bcb.html
************
Thanks to all who responded!
73,
Jeff Maass (jmaass@freenet.columbus.oh.us) Amateur Radio K8ND
USPSA/IPSC # L-1192 NROI/CRO NW of Columbus Ohio
25000 Members in 2000!
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