TV/FM DXing can keep you up late at night and get you up early
in the morning. What is TV/FM DXing? When the FCC created the
bands for tv and fm radio frequencies they created them in the
VHF band so they would not be affected by long range skip and
there would be no interference to other stations, but there is a exception.
Durring the warm weather months, when extended daylight and thunderstorms
hinder AM reception, are prime time for FM and TV DXing. There are two modes of
signal propagation for FM and TV DXing: E-skip and tropospheric ducting.
E-skip can occur any time although late afternoon through sunset provides the
provides the best openings. TV channels 2-3 are most likely to be affected by
E-skip. How ever less stable sporadic E-skip can occur at higher VHF frequencies, typicaly
up to channel 6 and the low end of the FM band. Openings can last any where from
just a few minutes up to a number of hours. And openings will often be from a particular
region at a distance of 600 to 1500 miles.
Troposperic DX is typically associated with weather fronts or temprature changes. Reception
distances are generally withen 1,000 miles. Early morning tropo is common on FM an VHF, as the sun
rises and heats the air, producing regular reception of stations withen 500 miles throughout the year.
Sophisticated equipment is not required to get started. Most TV's will handle DX. FM receivers with
digital frequencie displays work the best so you will be fine tuned to a frequency. A directional outdoor rotor
antenna will improve your chances. Most outdoor TV rotor antennas are also designed to receive the FM radio band.
I have found the most common mode of propagation to tropo ducting. It is almost a daily occurance in the summer. The best times for
this type of propagation are late night and early morning. To see if conditions are right tune to tv channels that are not in use in your
area also remember TV DXing occurs mostly between channels 2-13.
Of course I have not covered every aspect of TV and FM DXing, but it should give you a basic idea of how it works. Visit my links page I included links to
other FM and TV DXing pages.
