19 years later, is 1210 *still* "WCAU" to you?

[landtuna]

Can't get 1210 out here (almost on the Left Coast) but I remember stringing a long wire in the attic at my Richmond, VA place so I could listen to static-filled Flyers games back in the 70's.

[Channel Surf]

I think of 1210 as WPHT!! but I wish it was oldies 1210 WOGL

I am out of the market, but I really enjoyed Oldies 1210 WOGL...up here in Albany. The signal always blasted in like a local after sunset...1190-WOWO had a similar format at the time as well. Both of those stations made night time AM radio fun to listen too...That is certainly NOT the case anymore...

[DanStrassberg]

I am out of the market, but I really enjoyed Oldies 1210 WOGL...up here in Albany. The signal always blasted in like a local after sunset...1190-WOWO had a similar format at the time as well. Both of those stations made night time AM radio fun to listen too...That is certainly NOT the case anymore...

Fifty-some years ago (on a tube radio--it was before transistor radios were widely available), I sometimes received WCAU loud and clear at high noon in mid-winter in Troy (in my dorm room at RPI). The signal didn't fade much, although tube radios of that era--even inexpensive ones--generally had better AGC than solid-state radios do, even now. I don't know if there were any 1220s within 150 miles (maybe Keene NH and, of course, Canada; I'm pretty sure that Hamden CT didn't exist yet). And 1200 was totally clear in the Northeast and Canada. There were 1230s everywhere. I believe the nearest one was in N Adams MA.

[Sam Lit]

Fifty-some years ago (on a tube radio--it was before transistor radios were widely available), I sometimes received WCAU loud and clear at high noon in mid-winter in Troy (in my dorm room at RPI).

You must have had a really looong wire (like 200 miles) or an acute inability to accurately decipher day from night.

[DanStrassberg]

You must have had a really looong wire (like 200 miles) or an acute inability to accurately decipher day from night.

As I'm sure you know, Sam, skywave reception at midday in mid-winter, though uncommon, is not all that rare. At that time of year, you will often see reports similar to mine on MW DX lists and forums. Back in that day, all three of New York City's (then) Class IA AMs plus Class IB WNEW (AM) and Class II WHN were listenable at the south end of Troy all day every day. (OK, at night, WHN often took it on the chops from CHUM.) During daylight hours, those stations were coming in 150+ miles away via groundwave, although, every now and then, there would be brief fades when the daytime skywave would duke it out with the groundwave. Same for CBF and CBM, which were even further away (and CBM was (slightly) directional--AWAY from the US). Despite the great conductivity in much of Jersey and the very good conductivity in most of the Hudson Valley, WCAU's groundwave did not make it the extra hundred miles to Troy (relative to the New York stations). My midday reception of WCAU was, indeed, daytime skywave. I was not dreaming then and, even after all the years between then and now, my recollection is accurate.

[Sam Lit]

You must have had a really looong wire (like 200 miles) or an acute inability to accurately decipher day from night.

As I'm sure you know, Sam, skywave reception at midday in mid-winter, though uncommon, is not all that rare. At that time of year, you will often see reports similar to mine on MW DX lists and forums. Back in that day, all three of New York City's (then) Class IA AMs plus Class IB WNEW (AM) and Class II WHN were listenable at the south end of Troy all day every day. (OK, at night, WHN often took it on the chops from CHUM.) During daylight hours, those stations were coming in 150+ miles away via groundwave, although, every now and then, there would be brief fades when the daytime skywave would duke it out with the groundwave. Same for CBF and CBM, which were even further away (and CBM was (slightly) directional--AWAY from the US). Despite the great conductivity in much of Jersey and the very good conductivity in most of the Hudson Valley, WCAU's groundwave did not make it the extra hundred miles to Troy (relative to the New York stations). My midday reception of WCAU was, indeed, daytime skywave. I was not dreaming then and, even after all the years between then and now, my recollection is accurate.

WCAU Ground conductivity? What are you talking about? The tower is located on a sand pit. WCAU has the worst ground conductivity of practically any 50kW station I can think of. The only commercial assignment (sunspots not withstanding) that skips like that in the winter is on the 42-48 MHz band and they turned that off eons ago, except for W2XMN which I think is back on under an experimental authorization. I am not suggesting you are dreaming, I am suggesting that you may have had an all so colorful lysergic type departure..

[Channel Surf]

You must have had a really looong wire (like 200 miles) or an acute inability to accurately decipher day from night.

As I'm sure you know, Sam, skywave reception at midday in mid-winter, though uncommon, is not all that rare. At that time of year, you will often see reports similar to mine on MW DX lists and forums. Back in that day, all three of New York City's (then) Class IA AMs plus Class IB WNEW (AM) and Class II WHN were listenable at the south end of Troy all day every day. (OK, at night, WHN often took it on the chops from CHUM.) During daylight hours, those stations were coming in 150+ miles away via groundwave, although, every now and then, there would be brief fades when the daytime skywave would duke it out with the groundwave. Same for CBF and CBM, which were even further away (and CBM was (slightly) directional--AWAY from the US). Despite the great conductivity in much of Jersey and the very good conductivity in most of the Hudson Valley, WCAU's groundwave did not make it the extra hundred miles to Troy (relative to the New York stations). My midday reception of WCAU was, indeed, daytime skywave. I was not dreaming then and, even after all the years between then and now, my recollection is accurate.

WCAU Ground conductivity? What are you talking about? The tower is located on a sand pit. WCAU has the worst ground conductivity of practically any 50kW station I can think of. The only commercial assignment (sunspots not withstanding) that skips like that in the winter is on the 42-48 MHz band and they turned that off eons ago, except for W2XMN which I think is back on under an experimental authorization. I am not suggesting you are dreaming, I am suggesting that you may have had an all so colorful lysergic type departure..

Having spent too much time in that area over the years, I can assure you that what Dan is saying is very accurate...and I would never DX AM radio during a lyseric type adventure...especially now....imagine....tripping to talk radio.....