{"id":60649,"date":"2024-09-15T05:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=60649"},"modified":"2024-09-13T08:13:43","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T12:13:43","slug":"60649","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/60649\/","title":{"rendered":"Clear Channel Stations: Dan’s gateway into the world of DXing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Dan Greenall<\/a>, one of our dedicated\u00a0Shortwave Radio Audio Archive<\/a> contributors, who shares the following guest post:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Clear channel BCB stations \u2013 My Introduction to the world of DXing<\/b><\/h1>\n

by Dan Greenall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometime in the mid 1960\u2019s, I acquired a Japanese made AM only transistor radio similar to the one pictured.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I was entering my teenage years and living in southern Ontario, Canada in relative proximity to the U.S. border, and was immediately fascinated that I could receive American stations from places such as Buffalo and Rochester NY as well as Detroit MI with amazing clarity.<\/p>\n

Before long, I discovered that signals from much further afield would begin to come through at dusk and throughout the night time hours. Although I was unaware at the time, many of these would be from so-called \u201cclear channel\u201d stations, those operating on frequencies with the highest level of protection from interference from other stations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In addition, many of these stations ran a full 50 kw of power.\u00a0 Signals from the Atlantic seaboard to the Midwest could often be heard at near local strength if I turned my radio to just the right angle.\u00a0 At this point, I was beginning to learn about the directional properties of the built-in ferrite rod antenna.\u00a0 It gave me great pleasure to be able to listen to their local ads, newscasts, or a far away sporting event from the comfort of my home.<\/p>\n

I recall listening regularly to WOWO in Fort Wayne IN on 1190 for their play by play announcements of the Fort Wayne Komets hockey games.\u00a0 Then there was a station identifying as WFAA in Dallas.\u00a0 That was back when they shared 820 kHz with WBAP whose famous cowbell you can hear in one of the audio clips below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>By the end of 1969, a friend of mine had encouraged me to try shortwave, and I \u201cborrowed\u201d my parents Philips kitchen radio for a few months, but that is another story. I wonder how many others got \u201chooked\u201d in this manner?<\/p>\n

A few brief recordings of clear channel stations that I made in the early 1970\u2019s are presented here. Many, but not all, of the stations heard in the last two links are from clear channel stations. Reception for these recordings was made using a Realistic DX150A or a Hallicrafters S-52 receiver hooked up to an outdoor long wire antenna.<\/p>\n

KFI Circa 1971:<\/strong><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/kfi_20220328\/KFI.m4a<\/a><\/audio>\n

WOAI Circa 1973<\/strong><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/woai-circa-1973\/WOAI%20circa%201973.m4a<\/a><\/audio>\n

KSTP Circa 1970s:<\/strong><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/kstp-st-paul-minn-1970s\/kstp%20st%20paul%20minn%201970s.m4a<\/a><\/audio>\n

Vintage AM Radio Airchecks 1973:<\/strong><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/vintage-am-radio-airchecks-1973\/Vintage%20AM%20%20radio%20airchecks%201973.m4a<\/a><\/audio>\n

Vintage AM Radio Airchecks 1973 Part 2:<\/strong><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/vintage-am-radio-airchecks-1973_202209\/Vintage%20AM%20airchecks%201973%20part%202.m4a<\/a><\/audio>\n

As a sidebar, the National Radio Club has put out a number of books showing the daytime\/nighttime directional antenna patterns of AM broadcasting stations in the USA and Canada.<\/p>\n

I gave up my copy from 1973 a number of years ago, but you can find this one and others online. I found this very useful.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>For example, it is easy to see why I was more likely to hear WBT Charlotte NC on 1110 kHz from my listening post in southern Ontario, Canada, rather than KFAB Omaha, NE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The links below will take you to the 1973, 1975 and 2018 versions of these books.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.worldradiohistory.com\/Archive-Radio-Logbooks\/NRC_Logs\/NRC-Pattern-Book-First-1973.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.worldradiohistory.com\/Archive-Radio-Logbooks\/NRC_Logs\/NRC-Night-Pattern-Mapbook-2nd-1975.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.worldradiohistory.com\/Archive-Radio-Logbooks\/NRC_Logs\/NRC-Pattern-Book-8th-2018.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Dan Greenall, one of our dedicated\u00a0Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributors, who shares the following guest post: Clear channel BCB stations \u2013 My Introduction to the world of DXing by Dan Greenall Sometime in the mid 1960\u2019s, I acquired a Japanese made AM only transistor radio similar to the one pictured. I was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"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":[373,5935,433,3,305,7566,746,4796],"tags":[625,10271,5820,4055],"class_list":["post-60649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-dx","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radio-memories","category-recordings","category-vintage-radio","tag-am-radio","tag-dan-greenall","tag-mediumwave-dxing","tag-mediumwave-qsls"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/sn3uc-60649","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61611,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/from-ndbs-to-tis-a-dxers-journey-across-1610-1700-khz\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":0},"title":"From NDBs to TIS: A DXer\u2019s Journey Across 1610-1700 kHz","author":"Thomas","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post and asks, \"Wonder who can add to this list?\": A Look Back \u2013 DXing between 1610 and 1700 kHz by Dan Greenall 1. The Caribbean Beacon, Anguilla West Indies 1610 kHz (1985 QSL) 2. NDB stations\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\/2025\/01\/US-Army-test-KTRK-Ft.-Meade-MD-Feb-1996.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/US-Army-test-KTRK-Ft.-Meade-MD-Feb-1996.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/US-Army-test-KTRK-Ft.-Meade-MD-Feb-1996.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/US-Army-test-KTRK-Ft.-Meade-MD-Feb-1996.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/US-Army-test-KTRK-Ft.-Meade-MD-Feb-1996.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61491,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/rediscovering-the-golden-age-of-utility-dxing\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":1},"title":"Rediscovering the Golden Age of Utility DXing","author":"Thomas","date":"December 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas Back in the 1970's, I used to enjoy hunting for \"utility\" radio stations outside the regular SWBC bands. When I came across a copy of the Utility DXer's Handbook from 1971 recently on eBay, I couldn't resist purchasing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/udxh-cover.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/udxh-cover.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/udxh-cover.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/udxh-cover.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63537,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/dan-unearths-radio-memories-a-1990s-treasure-trove-of-broadcast-ephemera\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":2},"title":"Dan Unearths Radio Memories: A 1990s Treasure Trove of Broadcast Ephemera","author":"Thomas","date":"August 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas Before the days of the internet and e-mail, handwritten or typed reception reports mailed out to broadcast stations would often net the lucky DXer other goodies, including station brochures, program schedules, frequency guides, station stickers, blank reception report\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\/2025\/08\/VOFC-booklet-1992-page-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/VOFC-booklet-1992-page-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/VOFC-booklet-1992-page-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/VOFC-booklet-1992-page-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/VOFC-booklet-1992-page-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65683,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/a-mystery-signal-and-a-fast-answer-from-udxf\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":3},"title":"A Mystery Signal and a Fast Answer from UDXF","author":"Thomas","date":"March 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who write:\u00a0 Hi Thomas I still have a tendency to scan the utility frequencies from time to time, much as I did over 50 years ago. Now, though, I can listen in through the various Kiwi SDR receivers scattered around the globe.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/China-military-radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55155,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/video-bbc-global-news-podcast-features-aihkiniemi-dxing-cabin-in-lapland-northern-finland\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":4},"title":"Video: BBC Global News Podcast features Aihkiniemi DXing cabin in Lapland, northern Finland","author":"Thomas","date":"December 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Absolutely brilliant to see Mika M\u00e4kel\u00e4inen giving a tour of the Aihkiniemi DXing cabin in Lapland this morning via the BBC World Service website: (Source: BBC World Service) The radio man listening to the world from the Arctic Mika M\u00e4kel\u00e4inen is a radio enthusiast who listens to stations from around\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mediumwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mediumwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mediumwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63058,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/dan-says-its-just-like-the-good-ol-days-on-60-meters\/","url_meta":{"origin":60649,"position":5},"title":"Dan says it’s, “Just like the good ol’ days on 60 meters.”","author":"Thomas","date":"June 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas: One of the benefits of DXing in 2025 is the ability to tune into a signal far from your listening post, yet still get strong, generally clear reception, all by simply finding a suitable receiver much closer to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tarma-Peru.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tarma-Peru.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tarma-Peru.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tarma-Peru.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60649","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\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60649"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60656,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60649\/revisions\/60656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}