Broadcast AM DX Help

[W6OJ]

I'm exploring the world of AM Radio DX listening and don't have a clue as to where to go on the net for Elmering re antennas and receivers. I've searched Google and have found a few helpful sites, but am still wallowing!

Does anyone know anybody, any net sites or any other source of help getting started with AM DX??

[KC8AXJ]

You may have seen this ??  :

http://www.amfmdx.net/amdx/

73
Steve

[KC8AXJ]

More:
http://www.mindspring.com/~brucec/dx.htm

[WB2WIK]

I don't do any AM BCB DXing myself (anymore -- I used to do a lot, as a kid), but having had a *lot* of gear on my test bench over the years, I can offer one piece of advice:

Older, all-analog (not frequency-synthesized) receivers are often much better for this than more modern VCO/PLL synthesized receivers are.  Reason is, close channel spacing on the AM band (10 kHz) and the difference in adjacent channel rejection when using analog vs. synthesized receivers having excessive phase noise.

I've also found that "cost" (or "price") vs. real performance, when it comes to "shortwave" receivers, is a meaningless indicator.  A 50 year-old HRO found at a garage sale for $35 can often run circles around a brand-new Grundig do-everything selling for $500.  Actually, in my experience, Sony, Grundig and many other providers of "modern" SW radios are turning out junk that I wouldn't buy for five bucks, let alone hundreds....

WB2WIK/6

[K0RFD]

Get a GE Superradio.
Live with the analog dial.

It'll be the best AM DX radio you'll ever own.

[KB6NU]

Many moons ago, before I got my ham license, I did some AM BCB DXing. I even went so far as to build a loop antenna. Even though it was very crudely built, it worked pretty well.

Here are a couple of links to plans for building similar loop antennas:

http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_antenna/  (VERY GOOD!)
http://www.schmarder.com/radios/misc-stuff/loops2.htm
http://www.carcanada.net/dx/donloop.html
http://user.netonecom.net/~swordman/Radio/shloopant.htm

I just clicked on some of the links on the AM DX Resource Page (http://www.amfmdx.net/amdx/) mentioned above, and that does look like a great resource. I used to belong to the National Radio Club, and they have lots of good info on their site.

Good DX!

Dan KB6NU