WRMI Wavescan 9955

[Zoidberg]

2/4/12, 9955 AM, 0840z: Hearing "Wavescan" program on WRMI.  Haven't tuned in WRMI for awhile and US nighttime propagation between 9-10 MHz has been much weaker than usual so far this year (WWV on 10 MHz is completely inaudible here this week - very unusual), while DX from Australia has been very good in the same band.  Faded to barely audible by 0855z.  At 0900z heard familiar intro them to Hauser's World of Radio, but program was only occasionally audible.

SINPO=33322

Checking three different receivers at home, this was coming in best on a small portable using a Villard-design homebrewed loop (aluminum foil on foamcore backing) in conjunction with the portable's whip.  It's surprisingly effective not only in reducing noise but in directional capability on HF at frequencies where I wouldn't normally expect a small loop to be directional.  In comparison, a barefoot portable with a whip and the Palstar on two different antennas, including a homebrewed coaxial cable shielded magnetic loop, were much noisier and practically unlistenable.