While we are all familiar with the 88 to 108 MHz FM broadcast band today, its origins can be traced back to 1936 with the very first experimental station WA2XMN at Alpine, New Jersey. Experimental FM transmissions began from this location with a 40kW power level in the 42 to 44 MHz band and I have covered this in a previous post HERE.
On the 19th of June 2025 at 12 noon EST (16:00 UTC), there will be a unique broadcast from a WA2XMN on 42.8 MHz. This is usually done once every decade so it may be another 10 years before there's another one.
See update at the bottom of the post.
The organisers write... "Transmissions are in wide-band frequency modulation using the same technical standards as modern FM broadcast stations. So, for optimum reception, you'd want an FM receiver with an IF bandwidth of about 200 KHz.
This is a good time for collectors to wake up their "old band" FM radios. However, narrower receivers will be able to hear the signal. Scanners, military VHF sets (PRC-77 etc.), and the various modern wide-coverage receivers are generally up to the task. Select "FM" and the widest selectivity available.
An improvised antenna such as a "twin-lead" folded dipole should do the trick. The transmitting antenna is vertically polarized, so orient your antenna the same way."
Coverage area... The map above shows the 'local' coverage area out to about 100 miles or 160kms. Anyone using say a SDR receiver with a vertical antenna for a vertical antenna for say 28 MHz or 50 MHz should have a reasonable chance of hearing it.
Considering that it's mid-June then there is also the possibility of some Sporadic-E which may allow reception over a much wider area.
The map above shows the donut like coverage ring in which reception might be possible if there is an opening.
There is also a chance of multi-hop Sporadic-E to say the west coast of the USA or to Europe but this is highly unlikely for just a one off transmission.
More information about this one off broadcast can be found in this Radioworld article.
Update: It would seem as if it was a bit late coming on air, maybe by 30 minutes or so.
Audio clip from the 19th of June 2025 transmission...
Links...
1 comment:
I received the 2005 broadcast on 42.8 MHz, very strong in Budd Lake. Imagine the range that station had with 50,000 watts to the antenna. My mentor (W2MRJ-sk) used to work on the turnstile antennas with the Major. He said "the view from the top of the tower looking east at Long Island was like laying out a map".
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