WWV’s transmitter building in Fort Collins, Colorado (2014)
(Source: WWV)
Current 25 MHz Broadcast Specifications
As of 2042 UTC 7 July 2017 the 25 MHz broadcast is now on a turnstile antenna with circular polarization and will remain in this configuration until after the solar eclipse on 21 Aug 2017. Signal reports are requested.
Schedule: typically continuous. As an experimental broadcast, the 25 MHz signal may be interrupted or suspended without notice.
Radiated Power: 2.0 kW
Antenna: Experimental Turnstile
Listener comments and reception reports may be emailed to: [email protected] (link sends e-mail), or sent via postal mail to:
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Radio Station WWV
2000 E. County Rd. 58
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Note that the 25 MHz signal has traditionally used a vertically-polarized antenna and for about one year (between 2014-2015) with a discone antenna.
Please share your report with WWV–contact info above!
WWV on 25 MHz was a stonking signal into Melbourne today (20230315 2205-2320 UT).
Subjectively SIO = 554
rx was an elderly Sangean 909 running on batteries with 3 m wire taped to a vertical squid pole for an aerial. The location is dreadful for HF reception below 20 MHz (incidently neither WWV or WWVH were audible on 20 MHz while 25 MHz was crushing bricks)
I sent off a report. I asked if WWV was using the same system (2 kW/low turnstile) as in 2017.
Receiving 25 MHz CW at Lake Arrowhead, CA. 92317.
10/6/2017 @ 22:26 UTC.
Yaesu 897d radio, 40M center fed doublet antenna.
S1 to S6
Funny you post this, I happened to hear WWV on 25 MHz for the first time yesterday since they went to the new antenna configuration. Previously it was at least a weekly catch here in Alabama, if not daily at one point. The circular antenna definitely killed reception of 25 MHz for me.
Can count on one hand the number of times WWV was heard here (NJ) on 25 megs, but will spin the VFO up that way due to this post (thanks!) Might hear it when the CB band is open too.
If my own personal experience is any indication, the circular polarization has really hurt their coverage. I’m in the southeast near the Gulf of Mexico and I went from hearing WWV’s 25 MHz broadcast at least once a week (usually 2-3 times a week) to zero at the start of July. And it seems it’s coincidental with the antenna switch.
I don’t think it’s totally propagation-related, either, as I’ve been hearing a lot of activity on the CB band and 10 meters that I hadn’t heard all winter. Back in June I was hearing WWV on 25 even when 20 was inaudible, and sometimes even when 15 was weak. It was never really super strong but it was there reliably.
When I got back into the shortwave listening hobby a few years ago, my first QSL card came from WWV for the 25 MHz broadcast in October 2015. It wasn’t on the card but I bet it was with the discone antenna. After they went back to the vertical, I think reception in my area improved greatly.
Wait. What? They have an output on 25MHz?
I knew that it was advertised as being there but I’ve never heard it. I’ll try and keep an ear out for it.
@Mark, I keep it in my scanners so I know when there is some type of propagation approaching VHF. When I start to hear it using a scanner and a whip antenna I know that it is time to check 10 meters and up!
73
I was so glad to see this 25MHz side come back to WWV. Not only is it a great propagational beacon for F2 and Sporadic E, but I have, and will still, use it to retune radios’ master oscillators too. My Kenwood TS-2000X was a rig that came out of the factory with a slightly mistuned master oscillator. (Enough so that you would notice it on 2M SSB, 432MHz SSB, and especially 1296MHz.) By zero beating the 25MHz in CW, then testing in LSB and USB, I was way more on FREQ with that rig. Tested that against an Icom IC-745, where the manual actually tells about the WVV / master oscillator tune-up procedure. Next, I plan to retune a Kenwood TS-50S rig that I know is about -50Hz off FREQ. It’s enough so that I notice that on 10M SSB. Like I said, a very useful, rock solid, 25MHz signal source, just too bad that I can’t RX it every day.