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Have MW Radio Stations From The USA Been Received In Ireland?

  • 03-11-2024 03:01PM
    #1
    Jonathan1990
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭


    Across Europe most stations now have switched off on AM radio as it's become obsolete. They continue using the MW band for talk and sports stations in USA though. I'm wondering if any have been received ever on the West Coast although I don't know where Ireland's most westerly point is.



Comments

  • #2
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,295 ✭✭✭cml387


    Unless there are particularly favourable atmospheric conditions, no chance. US AM stations are usually low power, and AM MF frequencies (500kHz-1Mhzapprox) do not get the "skip" in the atmosphere that HF frequencies do.

    Additionally the ground can help carry radio extra distances, water does not.



  • #3
    TheBMG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 964 ✭✭✭TheBMG


    MW reception across the Atlantic is a very regular occurrence, especially with the so called ‘clear channel’ US stations who run 50kw.

    FM reception from North America to Ireland has happened on a number of occasions too but that’s extremely rare and you’d want a fairly decent set up and the devils luck to achieve it!



  • #4
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,509 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    When conditions are good, reception of North America is possible even on a portable radio. Conditions vary just like other frequencies, and are seasonal. Best results would be obtained by taking the radio to a rural place, away from urban electrical noise.

    But there are serious hobbyists who get hundreds of stations every Winter, with more specialised equipment. Download a sample copy of Medium Wave News here to see what they were hearing in 2019. Not just America, but lots of other places.

    https://mwcircle.org/

    The receiver at Malin is the best one in Ireland to try. In December the signals will still be coming in up to noon, but will not be heard outside of darkness generally. Frequencies start at 530 kHz and go up to 1710 kHZ in 10 kHz channels. In Europe it is 531 to 1611, in 9 kHz channels. So there are some which coincide such as 630,720 and all the ones ending in zero which are divisible by 9. Good frequencies to try first are 590, 750, 1010, 1130 and 1400, mostly Canadians.

    http://malinheadkiwi.hopto.org:8073/

    VOCM on 590 on a portable in England.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9aezN8r_vM


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