HFU HF Underground
General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: East Troy Don on January 24, 2026, 1523 UTC
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Anyone know of a reliable website that can provide medium wave broadcast coverage maps by frequency? For years I used
https://www.nf8m.com/nf8m/us-medium-wave-pattern-references/
but for the past couple weeks it seems to be totally non-functional with this error message:
"Oops! Something went wrong" when i entered the frequency.
Thanks for any help,
Don
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I use radio-locator but find they under estimate range. Type in a frequency, select station - you can then choose daytime or nighttime map. Good luck. (click on "advanced search" to call up frequency query)
https://radio-locator.com
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Thanks, CY!
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Hey All,
I also use Radio Locator.
I just follow the pattern contours outward beyond the daytime fringe line to see if it's bumped my way or not.
At night I do sort of the same thing , but skywave obviously may not "behave" like it's "supposed to " compared to supposed fringe line on the map.
To run down the list of "possibles", I will just search ie "870 AM radio Wiki" and search the list for the "more likely". ie KRLA CA 3 Kw night probably ain't it to me with so many other closer options to my QTH.
de NQC
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I never used that page, but just clicking the link it looks like it's all 404.
I usually use wiki, and figure out the possibilities that way. And Radio-Locator is a valuable tool as well. Although, as others here have said, the patterns are just a general guide.
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Apparently the MW website
https://www.nf8m.com/nf8m/us-medium-wave-pattern-references/
that i previously used was run by a Ham NF8M. I tried to reach him via https://www.qrz.com/db/NF8M to email him but his web bio says he only responds by email to HAMS ONLY. I'm not a Ham so, once again, no joy.
Bummer.
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Apparently the MW website
https://www.nf8m.com/nf8m/us-medium-wave-pattern-references/
that i previously used was run by a Ham NF8M. I tried to reach him via https://www.qrz.com/db/NF8M to email him but his web bio says he only responds by email to HAMS ONLY. I'm not a Ham so, once again, no joy.
Bummer.
As if only hams would have used a MW DX site.
This reminds me of QRZ, where you have to be a licensed ham to even have any bio info on your page.
If you are a QRZ member, you may try PMing him. I have been able to PM/DM a few hams that way. Some of them do respond, also.
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I might try that. Thanks
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You might have to search the forums by his callsign, and often that can lead you to the PM link.
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His name is Frank Maynard. email is [email protected]
I really miss his maps. I used them a lot and always had a tab pulled up so I could look at patterns to feed my MW DXing addiction.
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Thanks!
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In the alternative, there's RadioLocator's MW station day and night pattern maps, and there's Wiki, which has day and night power listed. Those are the resources I use, along with an old, outdated AM-DX website database of the AM stations in the US and Canada, which I update whenever I see a change in stations in my region. That site was very useful but the webmaster shut it down about 9 years ago.
But Wiki and RadioLocator are pretty good for trying to ID unidentified stations.
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I found (as have others - see above) that Radio Locater's pattern coverage seems to be inaccurate of the weak side.
I emailed NF8M about a week ago - no response.
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I found (as have others - see above) that Radio Locater's pattern coverage seems to be inaccurate of the weak side.
I emailed NF8M about a week ago - no response.
None of the coverage maps are 100% accurate -- they're just additional tools to help one ID an UNID station, or at least narrow the possibilities down. It helps you figure if the station is beaming power in your direction or away from you. That's really about it. But it's a help.
As for NF8M, it may have been an extra expense, and it may be just like the old BCBLogger that had its plug pulled -- the guy running it just lost enthusiasm and the cost wasn't worth it to him anymore. Same with the AM-DX database that was taken down in the mid to late 2010's.
If he's done with it, it's sad for the hobby -- another online resource gone....