{"id":47963,"date":"2021-02-28T11:33:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T15:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=47963"},"modified":"2021-02-28T11:47:37","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T15:47:37","slug":"am-dxing-with-the-sangean-pr-d15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/am-dxing-with-the-sangean-pr-d15\/","title":{"rendered":"AM Dxing with the Sangean PR-D15"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Guest Post by Troy Riedel<\/p>\n

Since the demise of my Sony ICF-SW100<\/a>, I\u2019ve decided to do some AM Dx\u2019ing. A few years ago I purchased a Sangean PR-D15<\/a> as my dedicated \u201cAM Dx Radio<\/strong>\u201d. Despite owning it for a few years, I hadn\u2019t yet really put it through its paces.<\/p>\n

Note: My 1994 Gr\u00fcndig Yacht Boy 400, with its 150mm (5.9″) ferrite rod antenna, performs splendidly on AM and until this purchase, the YB400 was the radio I grabbed for AM Dx.<\/p>\n

At the time of my purchase – if my memory is correct – the other models I had considered were the CC Radio 2 (now discontinued), the CC Radio 2E<\/a> (it was a relatively new release at the time), and the Original CC Radio EP (now discontinued & replaced by the CC Radio EP Pro<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Admittedly, part of my decision was based on cost. At the time, the CC Radio 2 & 2E were\u00a0priced over 2x the cost <\/em>of the PR-D15 and the CC Radio EP was $15-$20 more when shipping was added. Besides the cost, I chose the PR-D15 based on a few things I had read online. But the aspect that really appealed to me is the 200mm (7.9\u201d) Ferrite Rod Antenna and that compared favorably with the C. Crane offerings (yes – ferrite size isn\u2019t everything, <\/em>but it is an important <\/em>consideration). So after having read online comments (reviews, discussion boards, etc.) about the PR-D15, I felt very comfortable with my decision and it wasn’t based on cost alone.<\/p>\n

Frankly, I don\u2019t really care how well my AM radio performs during the day (I hope this isn\u2019t sacrilege). Why? During the day whether I\u2019m in the car, working in the garage – whatever – I\u2019ll typically stream my favorite station (NYC) via radio.com<\/a>\u00a0on my iPhone so I can pause, rewind, or pick-up where I left off. Until my Sangean PR-D15 can do that, I prefer to daytime stream. My \u201chobby\u201d of AM Dxing is in the evening – to relax and have fun (and isn\u2019t that what a hobby is supposed to be?). Keep that in mind as I reveal my results.<\/p>\n

I intended to do my AM Dx Nighttime Test in one night, but I was getting so may stations that I had to extend it over two nights. I started each session around 8PM and they lasted until 11:30PM – 12AM (over 7.5-hours of testing on consecutive nights late this week). I had my PR-D15 on a lazy susan turntable and I had two nearby laptops – one to aid as an AM Station locator and the other I used to stream. Stream? Yes – to count as a recorded station I had to get a positive station ID. However, many radio programs are syndicated. Syndicated radio (and ESPN radio) can go on seemingly forever between station IDs. If I didn\u2019t get a station ID within 15-minutes, I used the second laptop to go to the web site of the station I believed it to be to \u201clisten live\u201d to see if the radio and the stream matched-up (luckily live web streams are slightly behind live terrestrial radio so the IDs were easy). Often by the time I had given-up and gone to my 2nd<\/sup> laptop, I\u2019d finally get an on-air station ID. I just didn\u2019t want to waste too much time on one station and miss other stations.<\/p>\n

Since my test extended for 2 nights, on night two I quickly dialed-through nearly all of the stations I confirmed on night one to make a quick re-confirmation they were still audible on the 2nd night.<\/p>\n

Since I captured so many stations, I was overwhelmed trying to finish and thus I feel this test is still incomplete. My wife typically ends all of my radio playtime (my man cave is a “sitting room” off the side of the master bedroom & there is no wall – no door – so it’s completely open). But my wife and my step-daughter have a weekend out of town in mid to late March. And that means I can stay up all night and do one non-stop test session. Is it bad to say that I cannot wait to be alone?<\/p>\n

My QTH is ~ 35-miles east of RIC (Richmond, VA) Airport. The tables below (broken into three files) are my results. Some frequencies have multiple station IDs – since when turning the radio and nulling signals, sometimes one station disappeared and another jumped onto the dial. If\/when I post an update of my all-nighter, I’ll add another column to the spreadsheet to include the transmitter strength for better context. It should also be noted that I recorded\u00a0straight-line distances & not driving\u00a0<\/em>distances\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>(via an online straight-line\/GPS calculator).<\/p>\n

I was impressed that I successfully captured three Iowa stations. And though I find it almost unfathomable, I truly believe I was on the verge of successfully logging a station in Sandy, UT which is over 2000-miles away (there are only six stations assigned to the 1640 frequency, and given the content I [barely] heard, all indications are that it was KBJA)!<\/p>\n

I also believe I captured at least one Super-Clear Channel station from Mexico, but unfortunately I just couldn’t successfully verify the station ID. I hope to have a future opportunity to add it to my list.<\/p>\n

My ultimate goal is to: (1) compile & maintain a spreadsheet of\u00a0every AM station<\/em> that I am able to successfully ID; and (2) maintain a\u00a0record of the most AM stations I was able to ID in a single one-night, non-stop session<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Despite being somewhat incomplete, I’m impressed by my results.\u00a0I\u2019m interested to see what you think so please post your comments below!<\/p>\n

I should note that my results are strictly off the internal ferrite antenna – no external antenna, no passive loop antenna was used to enhance any signal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To save column space, please click on each table below. A larger & easier to read image will open in a separate window or tab (depending upon your browser setting).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guest Post by Troy Riedel Since the demise of my Sony ICF-SW100, I\u2019ve decided to do some AM Dx\u2019ing. A few years ago I purchased a Sangean PR-D15 as my dedicated \u201cAM Dx Radio\u201d. Despite owning it for a few years, I hadn\u2019t yet really put it through its paces. Note: My 1994 Gr\u00fcndig Yacht […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,5935,3194,2262,433,3196,26],"tags":[4581],"class_list":["post-47963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-dx","category-guest-posts","category-listener-posts","category-mediumwave","category-portable-radio","category-radios","tag-troy-riedel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-ctB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8199,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/mike-gives-the-sangean-pr-d15-high-marks-on-am\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":0},"title":"Mike gives the Sangean PR-D15 high marks on AM","author":"Thomas","date":"December 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader (and my good friend) Mike Kitchen writes of his new Sangean PR-D15: Having had the Sangean PR-D15 radio for about 10 days, I'm developing a respect for it. With what I've learned in its use, there is a simplicity in operation that many should enjoy. The big\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Sangean PR-D15","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/PR-D15-B_01-300x228.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28738,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/troy-compares-the-tecsun-s-8800-with-the-grundig-edition-field-bt\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":1},"title":"Troy compares the Tecsun S-8800 with the Grundig Edition Field BT","author":"Thomas","date":"October 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, for producing this excellent comparison of the Tecsun S-8800 and Grundig Field BT \"lunchbox\" radios: The Lunchbox Showdown by Troy Riedel I have been watching with interest all of the information & reviews of the new Tecsun S-8800. Frankly, I was especially\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun-S8800-and-Grundig-Field-BT-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun-S8800-and-Grundig-Field-BT-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun-S8800-and-Grundig-Field-BT-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29615,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/c-cranes-latest-deal-free-shipping-on-the-cc-pocket-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":2},"title":"C. Crane’s latest deal: Free Shipping on the CC Pocket Radio","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"December 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Though not a shortwave radio (the SWLing Post loves ALL radios!), C. Crane's latest special involves free Priority Mail shipping to U.S. customers for their CC Pocket Radio.\u00a0 Just use the Promo Code: CCPKTSHIP.\u00a0 This special ends at midnight PST on 17 December.\u00a0 The CC Pocket Radio comes standard with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CCPocket-300x273.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":37397,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/people-are-no-longer-dependent-on-radio-really\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":3},"title":"People Are No Longer Dependent On Radio (really?!)","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"May 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Credit: St. Louis Public Radio via RadioINK.com As the regular readers know, this site is not purely and entirely shortwave radio-centric \u2026 we enjoy all radio. I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve mentioned this web site before, but I recently ran across this article on RadioINK: People are no longer dependent on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/The-Gateway.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":30931,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/external-ferrite-antenna-by-playloudfm\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":4},"title":"External Ferrite Antenna by playloudfm","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"February 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Posted by SWLing Post contributor Troy Riedel: I just noticed something on eBay.\u00a0 Seller \"playloudfm\" based in Greece (100% feedback rating), the first to offer the high gain external ferrite antenna for the Tecsun PL-360\/PL-365\/County Comm GP5, has a new offering: From the seller's listing: - Frequency: 530Khz - 1710Khz\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Playloudfm3-1024x451.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Playloudfm3-1024x451.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Playloudfm3-1024x451.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48126,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/radio-on-tv-science-channel-segment\/","url_meta":{"origin":47963,"position":5},"title":"Radio on TV: Science Channel Segment","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"March 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Image Credit: Wiki Logos Public Domain Guest Post by Troy Riedel In keeping with a popular theme here - \"radio in\/on TV & movies\" - I wanted to share the following that I saw on the\u00a0Science Channel (part of the Discovery Network): Show: What on Earth? S5 Ep2 Originally aired\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Science-Channel-Logo-300x215.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47963\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}