The Courtesy Program Committee (CPC) of the National Radio Club and International Radio Club of America are proud to announce another “Dual DX Test” this weekend.
Chief Engineer Todd Clark will be doing maintenance testing starting on Saturday, April 8th at 12:01 AM Mountain Daylight Time (0601 UTC) when KJJR, 880 AM, will be testing on daytime power and pattern. 10,000 watts. Programming will consist of sweep tones, Morse Code IDs, 1 kHz “long duration tones,” etc. The test will last two hours, until 02:00 AM Mountain Time.
Part two of the dual test is the next day, Sunday, April 9th, at 12:01 AM Mountain Daylight Time (0601 UTC) when KSEN, 1150 AM, will be testing on daytime power and pattern. 10,000 watts. Programming will consist of sweep tones, Morse Code IDs, 1 kHz “long duration tones,” etc. The test will last two hours, until 02:00 AM Mountain Time.
SSTV (Slow-Scan TV) Tests
Both tests will also feature the transmission of Slow-Scan TV images commonly used by amateur radio operators and increasingly by shortwave broadcasters.
The images are transmitted as audio tones in Scottie 1 format. KDWN recently used this same format in Las Vegas during their signoff DX Tests. SSTV requires computer software to decode. This can be done using an audio connection to your PC or holding a cell phone near your speaker.
SSTV is straightforward and works great. You can get reasonable images by picking up audio with your laptop without wiring.
Download the free MMSSTV app and try it out:
hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php
Another great app for Mac or PC is Fldigi from
http://www.w1hkj.com/.
You can also search the App store on your iPhone or Google Play for Android for “SSTV.” Lots of great apps are available.
Highly recommend you test BEFORE the weekend. The best bet is to tune to 14.233 MHz in USB mode if you have a shortwave receiver. Lots of activity there most of the day.
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++ Note: SSTV is not a weak-signal mode like FT8. If you cannot copy the Morse Code and sweep tones, you will unlikely decode an SSTV image successfully.
It’s a fun mode, not a miracle mode.
QSL INFORMATION
At the station’s request, the Courtesy Program Committee will be responsible for verifying reception reports and issuing QSLs. All reception reports should be emailed to:
dx@highnoonfilm.com
The new QSL rules for CPC-coordinated tests will be in effect for this test. Please read them carefully.
SPECIAL THANKS
A big thank you to Chief Engineer Todd Clark who agreed to include SSTV and allow us to test this mode as an option for future tests. Also to Paul Walker, who arranged for all this.
And to Rob Keeney who encoded the images into SSTV format and provided technical expertise on incorporating them into our files.
NEW QSL RULES FOR THE 2022-2023 SEASON
DX Tests are arranged by the Courtesy Program Committee of the National Radio Club (NRC) and the International Radio Club of America (IRCA.) Both clubs offer low-cost, online-only memberships. It is appropriate that those seeking QSLs should support the clubs financially. Please indicate in your request which club you are a member of. It may improve the response time for your QSL.
QSL requests for DX Tests where the CPC will issue QSLs must be received within 30 days of the test.
A brief recording of at least two (2) minutes must be submitted. .MP3, .wav, or .MP4 video formats accepted. No written reports unless accompanied by a recording.
No remote receivers (Internet-based) will be accepted for QSLs. The exceptions to this rule are as follows:
A.) If you constructed the remote receiver, maintained it, or contributed money towards those purposes, you may use it to submit reception reports. Examples would be DXers who built remote receivers in low-noise locations but operate from home.
B.) Internet-based receivers you don’t own are only acceptable if they are more than 500 miles from the transmitter of the test station. You must fully disclose which receiver was used, including its URL. If the owner is known, please provide their name so they may receive credit. Include the distance of the receiver in miles from the transmitter site.
C.) Only one QSL will be issued per DXer, even if they operate multiple remote receiver sites or use more than one remote receiver at distances of 500 miles to receive the station.
QSLs will be issued only after the conclusion of the 2022-2023 DX Season. Generally, this will occur in April. We will send out group emails when QSLs are issued.
Unpaid volunteers perform all work in verifying reports and sending you a QSL. We all have jobs, spouses, kids, and lives. Be patient. Be nice.
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