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MW Loggings / Re: ZNS-1 (Nassau, The Bahamas) 1540 AM 2359 UTC 2 MAR 2023
« on: March 22, 2024, 1953 UTC »
Hey Pinto,
Interesting note re ZIZ, It wouldn't surprise me at all if St. Kitts is off AM now.
I am kind of amazed that ANY Caribbeans are still active on AM (!). If I recall correctly, more than one AM antenna system has been trashed by hurricanes.
I am also curious as to what coverage range these island stations are really looking for. "Generally", I believe that any serious Dx coverage may be viewed by management ( and maybe even the engineers) as kind of a "waste".
As much as I LOVED Dxing the Caribbean AM'ers, I never really understood why they couldn't just use a 200 Ft multi bay FM tower , which would mostly be operating over a generally flat environment.
A beefy 200 ft tower would seem to be "harder " take down compared to a similarly heavily guyed 300 to 400 ft one .
I am not sure re making a comparison of a tall AM vs a shorter FM and their expected field strengths with respect to any mountainous area coverage.
Perhaps ( way back when) , some of the leadership of the island wanted a local station that also had an element of an "external" service or presence, so that the island would be able to "make itself known " outside the local area ("prestige "? ).
Since SO few folks now listen to AM, such a concept today wouldn't seem to be worth the trouble on AM re big electricity bills,tall tower "vulnerability" and low listenership.
Frankly I can't even see how most of the tin can AM'ers here in the US manage to stay on the air (re making a profit), even without as much of severe weather threat to the towers.10 or 15% of the AMer's here make 90% of the money.
I may be full of beans, but just spitballing.
NQC
Interesting note re ZIZ, It wouldn't surprise me at all if St. Kitts is off AM now.
I am kind of amazed that ANY Caribbeans are still active on AM (!). If I recall correctly, more than one AM antenna system has been trashed by hurricanes.
I am also curious as to what coverage range these island stations are really looking for. "Generally", I believe that any serious Dx coverage may be viewed by management ( and maybe even the engineers) as kind of a "waste".
As much as I LOVED Dxing the Caribbean AM'ers, I never really understood why they couldn't just use a 200 Ft multi bay FM tower , which would mostly be operating over a generally flat environment.
A beefy 200 ft tower would seem to be "harder " take down compared to a similarly heavily guyed 300 to 400 ft one .
I am not sure re making a comparison of a tall AM vs a shorter FM and their expected field strengths with respect to any mountainous area coverage.
Perhaps ( way back when) , some of the leadership of the island wanted a local station that also had an element of an "external" service or presence, so that the island would be able to "make itself known " outside the local area ("prestige "? ).
Since SO few folks now listen to AM, such a concept today wouldn't seem to be worth the trouble on AM re big electricity bills,tall tower "vulnerability" and low listenership.
Frankly I can't even see how most of the tin can AM'ers here in the US manage to stay on the air (re making a profit), even without as much of severe weather threat to the towers.10 or 15% of the AMer's here make 90% of the money.
I may be full of beans, but just spitballing.
NQC
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