Famous maritime station may be back on the air

[ka3jjz]

Per reports in the UDXF, it appears someone has reactivated old station WLO Mobile Alabama on 8788.0 USB with weather and propagation test messages. One report had them around 1300 UT. TDoA shows Mobile Bay (where the old antenna site was) as the location, but after all this time, just how much of that antenna farm is still there? Reports suggest a much lower power too - not the flamethrower you could hear on a piece of string anymore. Bears watching to see if there's a schedule and whether they restart their old digital network as well]

Mike

 

[sprman1955]

Have to give a listen ,i remember many of thoses stations back in the day!

 

[spongella]

Thanks for the tip. I logged KPH a few days ago, I mistakenly thought they left the air but glad I was wrong hi hi.

 

[kg4ehv]

I tuned in this A.M., about 18 past the hour got tones and what maybe a beacon.

 

[Engine104]

I heard KPH too yesterday in CW

 

[sprman1955]

Heard it @0115 utc with test tape on 8.788 USB female voive test tones ect,was S-9 noise was S-7 was able to make everything out!Anyone have the QSL info??????

 

[parnass]

Heard it @0115 utc with test tape on 8.788 USB female voive ......

I heard the same tonight, but there was too much static to understand the entire transmission.

 

[majoco]

I heard her too! 8788kHz 0400z, 1700local, just on dusk, too much noise to be intelligable, finished at 0405z. A couple of tones to start then a female voice although it had that steady speed of a computer-generated tape. I'll listen again later.

 

[W5ATX]

Captain Dave? KI4THY - Yowza! he would get drunk on his boat and talk crap on ham radio.

 

[majoco]

0719z - three rising tones followed by three falling tones!?
0730z - unintelligible female voice for maybe 20 seconds.
0739z - three stepped rising tones, same voice but different message - still unreadable

 

[Linn]

A female voice just completed a weather report at 2105 UTC and identified as WLO. It was noisy at my location in Fort Worth.

 

[techsender]

Just heard on (2005 Local) 8788 USB automated female voice with weather. Heard at end of broadcast "WLO standing by." Signal was S9 here in Minnesota Nested marconi antenna (G7FEK) to an FT857D radio.

 

[MikeTheListener]

On 29.03. and on 30.03. I was able to receive a weather report on the 8788 kHz (here in Germany), more badly than right. However, the signal (between 06:15 and 06:30 UTC) was so weak that unfortunately I could only hear fragments (temperatures, air pressure and wind directions) of the transmission. At the end (06:30 UTC) followed a short melody and a station identifier, which unfortunately was also incomprehensible. Unfortunately, I can't say whether it was actually WLO.

 

[MikeTheListener]

Today there was traffic on the 8788 kHz again. In addition some recordings, unfortunately in poor quality. Signal with me in Germany so S3-4. Maybe one of you can hear something and confirm that it is actually WLO radio (or not). Recording 2 and 3 could possibly help there.

 

[Linn]

Today there was traffic on the 8788 kHz again. In addition some recordings, unfortunately in poor quality. Signal with me in Germany so S3-4. Maybe one of you can hear something and confirm that it is actually WLO radio (or not). Recording 2 and 3 could possibly help there.

That is what I hear in Texas, although the signal is better and it is WLO.

 

[ka3jjz]

Remember that even if you are hearing it weakly where you are, there are any number of online web radios you can use that may well have a better signal...links to them can be found here...

Live Tunable Receivers - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[sprman1955]

Heard last night here in TN very weak but able to tell it was WLO!

 

[brandon]

Logged the WLO broadcast this evening on 8788 USB at 0208Z. Fair signal here in California w/ info about volcanic eruption. At the end … "WLO standing by..." followed by some type of chime that reminds me of being at the airport

Audio Clip: Rec-8.788MHz_23-04-11_02'07'55.mp3

 

[sunwave]

Shipcom LLC WLO renewed their license. Effective 4/14/2023. Expires 10/21/31. Testing probably was part of the licensing process.

ULS License - Coastal Group License - WLO - Shipcom LLC

wireless2.fcc.gov

Note: I have seen power output allowed range from 800 watts to 40kw!

 

[reconrider8]

Shipcom LLC WLO renewed their license. Effective 4/14/2023. Expires 10/21/31. Testing probably was part of the licensing process.

ULS License - Coastal Group License - WLO - Shipcom LLC

wireless2.fcc.gov

Note: I have seen power output allowed range from 800 watts to 40kw!

yea i saw that also when i looked it up before and i didnt know businesses could actually license in the hf bands either