{"id":62590,"date":"2025-04-16T11:32:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=62590"},"modified":"2025-04-16T10:33:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T14:33:39","slug":"the-great-ats-radio-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/the-great-ats-radio-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great ATS Radio Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-62591\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"625\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ATS-challenge-001-001-624x468.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here is an idea thought up by a radio pal of mine, Andy, W2SRA.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an exercise to get us operating our portable mutliband radios from manufacturers such as Grundig, Sony, XHDATA, Tecsun, Sangean, and so on. If you own a digital multiband radio that has an \u2018ATS\u2019 search function, that being a function where the radio will scan the selected band and store stations to memory automatically, this challenge is designed to see what your radio can hear from your location.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s your task:<\/strong> During daylight hours (preferably around midday or as close it to as possible) we would like you to scan the AM broadcast band, the FM broadcast band, and the shortwave band, and record how many stations your radio finds and stores to memory for each band.<\/p>\n<p>Rules:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>No external antennas! No loops. No anything.<\/li>\n<li>For FM &amp; SW, the whip antenna will be fully extended, and fixed vertically.<\/li>\n<li>For AM \u2013you will use the internal ferrite rod antenna, and do <strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">two <\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">scans. One with the radio facing\u00a0 East-West, and one facing North-South. Duplicated stations between the two scans will count as one station. (i.e. 660 is received in both directions, that will count as one station reception. 770 is received in one direction but not the other, that is one station reception.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Radios that use the telescopic whip antenna for AM reception will follow the same rule for FM &amp; SW, fully extended vertically.<\/li>\n<li>You must do this challenge from your residence! Indoors or outdoors is your preference, but it must be with 100 feet of your residence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is not a contest, no prizes will be awarded. This is an experiment to see how many strong signals are received in different locations around the region. You may use any radio of your choice so long as it meets the above criteria.<\/p>\n<p>For even more fun, try it at roughly the same time in the same location with two or more different radios that have ATS capability. Do not, however, combine the scores from the different radios.<\/p>\n<p>Report your results in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Here is an idea thought up by a radio pal of mine, Andy, W2SRA. It\u2019s an exercise to get us operating our portable mutliband radios from manufacturers such as Grundig, Sony, XHDATA, Tecsun, Sangean, and so on. If you own a digital multiband radio that has an \u2018ATS\u2019 search function, that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"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":[373,3781,3,43],"tags":[9390,9323],"class_list":["post-62590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-ats","tag-jock-elliott-kb2gom"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-ghw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49872,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/jock-discovers-the-joys-of-ats-tuning-with-the-c-crane-cc-skywave-ssb\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":0},"title":"Jock discovers the joys of ATS tuning with the C.Crane CC Skywave SSB","author":"Thomas","date":"August 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott (KB2GOM), who shares the following guest post: Really cool trick the CCrane Skywave SSB will do -- the \"radio butler\"? To paraphrase Ratty from Wind in the Willows: \" \u201cBelieve me, my young friend, there is nothing\u2013absolutely nothing\u2013half so much worth doing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","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\/2018\/10\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Field-e1540119640212.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Field-e1540119640212.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Field-e1540119640212.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Field-e1540119640212.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49966,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/c-crane-cc-skywave-ssb-jock-adds-a-correction-addendum-to-his-guest-post-about-ats-tuning\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":1},"title":"C.Crane CC Skywave SSB: Jock adds a correction\/addendum to his guest post about ATS tuning","author":"Thomas","date":"August 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott (KB2GOM), who shares the following guest post: I made a mistake, but it\u2019s good news for CCrane Skywave SSB owners. Recently, I published a guest post for the SWLing Post in which I wrote enthusiastically about the ATS feature on the CCrane\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","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\/2019\/11\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-travel-radio-dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-travel-radio-dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-travel-radio-dial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-travel-radio-dial.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50504,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/guest-post-jock-explores-the-tecsun-pl-880s-ats-system\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":2},"title":"Guest Post: Jock explores the Tecsun PL-880&#8217;s ATS system","author":"Thomas","date":"October 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Oh, no, it\u2019s broken \u2013 NOT! And other observations on the PL-880 by Jock Elliott, KB2GOM \u00a0 Okay, okay, I\u2019ll admit it: I\u2019m an oldster, currently enjoying well over 70 trips around that Big Orange Ball in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antennas&quot;","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\/2021\/10\/G12-radio-and-reels-003-001.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/G12-radio-and-reels-003-001.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/G12-radio-and-reels-003-001.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/G12-radio-and-reels-003-001.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/G12-radio-and-reels-003-001.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57812,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/ccranes-new-c-crane-cc-skywave-2-and-the-ooda-loop\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":3},"title":"CCrane\u2019s new C. Crane CC Skywave 2 . . . and the OODA loop","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"September 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM A software glitch at a power station, a tree branch rubbing against a transformer, a geophysical incident, a weather event, even a civil society misadventure . . . It doesn\u2019t take much for things to rapidly go to blazes. So what do you need when Really\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","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\/2023\/09\/01_-_Hero__76717-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01_-_Hero__76717-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01_-_Hero__76717-1024x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58219,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/uncle-jocks-pro-tip-for-using-the-scan-function\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":4},"title":"&#8220;Uncle&#8221; Jock&#8217;s Pro Tip for using the scan function","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"November 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The postman delivers a new radio for test. So I unbox it, punch the ON button, start SCAN on AM MW band. Scan works (yea!) but passes by really strong local stations. Sacred poop, I think, this thing is deaf as the proverbial post. Is there some sort of space\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","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\/2023\/11\/pc7rLGMKi-3420337868-939x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/pc7rLGMKi-3420337868-939x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/pc7rLGMKi-3420337868-939x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52415,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/guest-post-everyone-should-have-a-crisis-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":62590,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post: Everyone should have a &#8220;Crisis Radio&#8221;","author":"Thomas","date":"April 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: The Crisis Radio By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Sooner or later, it will happen to you. What\u2019s \u2018it\u2019? Short answer: a crisis. It could be as simple as you wake in the morning to find the power is out;\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","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\/2018\/06\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Midwinter-Antarctica-Broadcast.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Midwinter-Antarctica-Broadcast.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Midwinter-Antarctica-Broadcast.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/CC-Skywave-SSB-Midwinter-Antarctica-Broadcast.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62590","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\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62590"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62595,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62590\/revisions\/62595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}