I was wondering, what are you using for an antenna on longwave?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin McCormick" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 7:04 AM
Subject: Re: Really Big Transmitters


> Here in the Central US, we don't get too much DX on the
> AM broadcast band due to lots of strong signals from all directions.
> 
> I have finally heard some long-wave broadcasters between
> 160 and 200 KHZ. There is sometimes a faint signal on 171 KHZ
> with a Mid East-sounding language, rock and roll music in that
> language, and a good deal of announcer chatter in whatever
> language it is. Someone told me they thought it might be Tangier.
> I have also heard BBC2 but one could barely understand a word or
> two it was so weak. I actually cheated and listened to Radio2 on
> the Internet to confirm what I was hearing. Needless to say, the
> best time to hear those are a couple of hours after dark this
> time of year up until what would be local Sunrise in England or
> the Mid east.
> 
> The signals are usually steady but very weak with long
> deep fades that cause it to go completely away and then slowly
> return a couple of minutes later.
> 
> There is lots of lightning static and local QRM from
> light dimmers, switching power supplies and Heaven only knows
> what else.
> 
> I think many of those long-wave transmitters are well
> over 50 KW.
> 
> There are many more long-wave frequencies above 200 KHZ,
> but that is where all the aviation beacons start. Between the
> beacons and the navtex transmitters, those weak long-wave
> signals have no chance at all.
> 
> I have heard two or three other long-wave stations but
> could never get them clearly enough to identify them.
> 
> I guess if you live in those parts of the world with
> long-wave, it is just like an extension of the AM band, all the
> static you can stand.