I am in eastern Ohio.
From 2020-2022 I was able to listen to stations like WBBM from 320 miles away at listenable quality along with other very weak stations like on 770 all day.
This year these stations aren't really listenable.
I've checked my connectors and I've seen on 780 some indications that the noise floor may have risen on my radio- a sony xdr-s10hdip- on 780. normally when the loop is pointed north and tuned to 780 no signal bars appear on the radio's screen. This year on some days I've checked one bar appears.
The reception I get sounds like a firm hash-a bit coarse but mostly like atmospheric noise. Those days were days free of thunderstorms for a 100 mile radius.
Using the GE Superradio II outside I couldn't hear much difference from last year. The only electrical buzzing I get most consistently is on 710 but that was there in prior years. And sometimes in September mornings I can hear WOR faintly at 9 a.m.
All signs point to increased atmospheric noise but is there any basis on that? I've read as HF propagation improves MW propagation fails. A lot of hams have been reporting good contacts this year compared to last year.
Based on ear I believe the noise floor has risen 10 db since last summer.
The loop used is PK C-LOOP-HDARAM
Has daytime MW reception deteriorated from last summer?
From 2020-2022 I was able to listen to stations like WBBM from 320 miles away at listenable quality along with other very weak stations like on 770 all day.
This year these stations aren't really listenable.
I've checked my connectors and I've seen on 780 some indications that the noise floor may have risen on my radio- a sony xdr-s10hdip- on 780. normally when the loop is pointed north and tuned to 780 no signal bars appear on the radio's screen. This year on some days I've checked one bar appears.
The reception I get sounds like a firm hash-a bit coarse but mostly like atmospheric noise. Those days were days free of thunderstorms for a 100 mile radius.
Using the GE Superradio II outside I couldn't hear much difference from last year. The only electrical buzzing I get most consistently is on 710 but that was there in prior years. And sometimes in September mornings I can hear WOR faintly at 9 a.m.
All signs point to increased atmospheric noise but is there any basis on that? I've read as HF propagation improves MW propagation fails. A lot of hams have been reporting good contacts this year compared to last year.
Based on ear I believe the noise floor has risen 10 db since last summer.
The loop used is PK C-LOOP-HDARAM
Has daytime MW reception deteriorated from last summer?