New FM Transmitter

This is not about a new local radio station. My wife and I had an early Christmas with her family and I got the one thing I was really hoping for. A FM transmitter to send signals to radios around the house so I can here my mp3 player, computer or cd player to all parts of the house. There are some reception issues because it is a low power FM transmitter but it does cover the house. That fits the instructions and my experience with the FRS radios I have used. I should be able to n play with the frequencies and set ups to fine tune how I want to use the transmitter. I think I need to play with my desktop SW since it is having some reception problems. It has been over due for some antennae maintenance/upgrade. The weather is getting colder, and there are some dx projects to do. What more can a radio geek want while stuck inside.

Internet Radio

I love listening to radio. I enjoy the programming and like the magic of getting some distant rf signal. It sometimes seams heretical to the rf hobby to listen by internet. Here I am woking on this blog and listening to a home local station while visiting out of state. The advantage is that I can get it by internet while the signal would not reach. The disadvantage is that you don't always get a good data stream or are doing one too many things. The result is that you get a chopping feed. I guess I will always be looking for different ways to get reception in one way or another and it does not always work. When it does, it is so sweet. Here's to good listening.

Dxing from the Car

Last night's dxing was a little different for me. I usually do it inside and stationary. Last night was dxing in a moving car using the car radio. I wanted to work at getting the special QSL for 740 AM out of Toronto and still go the Komets game. That was going to make for some interesting logistics. I had to listen yesterday and the hockey game was going to use up most or all of mu listening time. So I tried listening while going from Garrett to Fort Wayne. It worked really well or at least better than I thought. It was interesting to see how the signal was interfered with and fluctuated while on the move. It was a far different listen than the more consistent in one spot listen. Mobile dxing might be needing further investigation from me.

General Reception Report

I have been noticing that my overall reception for mw and sw frequencies have been less than stellar for the last week. The atmosphere has been cooling down and generally unstable. i have not checked the sun spots and solar wind to see if that has been a factor. I should get a link for and put it on the blog. Got a lot of great ideas and do not always have the follow through for completion. I am sure it will eventually get done but not today.

Hearts Of Space

Hearts of Space is heard at least for me locally on the local NPR on 94.1 out of Roanoak, Indiana. I hear it on Sunday night at nine pm although it mights be different on your local npr. It plays ambient new age style music. Definitely a different flavor. It covers a great range of styles of music and I often find myself either really loving the music or not impressed at all with the night's selections. The music is all done well but the range in styles is so great as to be bigger than what I like. Even though it means some nights, I don't like the show, it does mean I get to hear something new which I do enjoy doing. Look it up and give it a shot.

QSL's for CHWO

I got the following from this from Brian Smith, the QSL manager for CHWO and member ODXA. (I hope I got your position right, Brian. Thanks for the update.)

Hello all.

CHWO-AM 740 Toronto, which has been family run since 1956, has been sold (pending CRTC approval) and no doubt some changes will be coming. We have heard that the general format will not change for now but that's about it. The new owner may not want to continue having someone issuing QSL cards on their behalf. I will certainly do my best to convince them in hopes this will continue.

Last year they celebrated their 50th birthday since the station first
started up on November 17th, 1956 on 1250 kHz and the 6th anniversary since
moving onto 740 kHz back on January 8th, 2001. It has been in the same
family all this time and NEVER changed format.

So............I think its time to celebrate both achievements with a special QSL card AND certificate that is open to everyone. This card and certificate will capture both the old and new of CHWO in pictures and information.

But there is a catch. You have to send in two reports.

Here is the criteria:

1/ You must send in two separate, correct reports: November 17th, 2007 and January 8th, 2008

2/ You must hear the station between 0000 & 2359 (EST) on those dates. (+5 Hours UTC)

3/ The usually information will be required for the report:

(a)Program material (at least 10 minutes of specific program material heard: e.g., name of announcer, commercials heard, news items, song title and artist, etc. You can also make a short recording of the station and send it as an MP3 provided it contains some of the specific program material noted earlier);

(b)Signal/sound report (a general overview of how well you heard the signal at your location and the sound quality of the program.);

(c)Mention of the type of equipment and antenna you were using to hear the signal is helpful information as well.

4/ You can send the reports in after each date or together after January 8,
but I must have both for the special QSL.

5/ If you plan to go after the special QSL, mark your reports as 'Special QSL.' A report for November 17th but not followed up by one on January 8th will receive a regular QSL only (unless you already have received one in the past.) I will post repeat announcements prior to each date.

Thank you all for your support in this endeavour and the future of QSL from
CHWO, AM 740, Toronto.

Feel free to pass this notice along and good luck to all.

Brian Smith - am740@rogers.com
AM 740 - www.am740.ca
Reception Reports - http://www.odxa.on.ca/chwo.html
Yahoo Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AM740/