From DXLD 7-085: There are two locations: Chilocco, Oklahoma, which is right at
the Kansas border north of Ponca City, on an abandoned water tower at an Indian
school; and Flying H [sounds like the name of a ranch/brand; is it?], New
Mexico, which is in the back country SW of Roswell. Both mobile (suspect
aeronautical) and fixed are authorized. The same callsign applies to both
locations, WE2XFZ.
Like last year`s tone tests from Virginia on 1610, 1020 and 590 kHz, each of
these has three frequencies at the bottom, middle and top of the band, and
ditto FM:
Chilocco, OK: 540, 830, 1680 kHz, 92.3, 99.1, 107.5 MHz
Flying H, NM: 530, 950, 1680 kHz, 88.3, 97.7, 107.3 MHz
They are using a 2.5 and a 10 kW AM transmitter and 1 kW on FM, 5 kW ERP. They
also mistakenly give ERPs for the MW frequencies. Tests will consist of 1 kHz
tones or audio for 5-10 minutes. The equipment is capable of transmitting the
callsign.
NOTE: THERE COULD BE SHORTWAVE TESTS TOO --- PATROL THESE FREQUENCIES
A later filing is for shortwave frequencies too, with 1 kW on USB, LSB, AME,
also from the same two locations, but different callsign, WE2XEV, on
4015, 4085, 12115, 12185, 22015, 22085, 26115, 26185.
NTIA has accepted these, but two more frequencies have not yet been accepted,
12415 and 12485 (DXLD 7-085 via DXLD 8-071)
I too picked up the tone as reported by Glenn Hauser on June 16 on 540 kHz at
0853 UT on June 17, 2008 and it's still on at 0950 but I noticed that it
fluctuates in pitch pretty close to every nine seconds. It seems to extend
about one kHz on each side of 540 kHz. the signal shows five bars on my bar
graph as I'm using a Grundig S350 for medium wave reception and it has no
S-meter. I'll report any further reception (Rich Brock, Bridgewater,
Pennsylvania, (Near Pittsburgh), Grundig S350, SW/NE long wire antenna, mwdx yg
via DXLD)
Glenn: The station is sending a tone on 1680 kHz at this moment (17.6.08 at
1340 CDT [1840 UT]) with S9+20DB strength. Using my Sony SRF-T615 receiver I
was able to null the signal roughly on a 120/300° axis. This pretty much pin
points the signal as probably coming from Chilocco.
WE2XFZ shut down on 1680 kHz just before 1530 CDT [2030 UT]. It's now on 830
with S7 signal strength. No tone - yet. The 830 transmission ended at 1606 CDT
[2106 UT] June 17 (Richard Allen, S of Billings OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Glenn, Richard and Kirk: Thanks for the tip on this. It probably explains what
I heard today, June 17, 2008, on my 2004 Pontiac car radio with RDS for FM. At
5:14-5:23 P.M. Central Time or 2214-2223 UT, I heard a very loud tone on 107.5
MHz. It was easily s9+ from the sound of it. Since this is one of the
frequencies mentioned for the test from Chilocco, it is probably what I was
hearing. It was still there when I had to tune out to return to work. I will
check the other frequencies that you mentioned. Interesting! I wonder what they
are up to? :) (Carl DeWhitt, June 18, mwdx yg via DXLD) I think he is in Ponca
City (gh)
Hello Carl, Yes, that’s probably what you heard on your Pontiac radio.
I checked 540 kHz at 2:00 AM Eastern time this morning, 6-18-08, and the
fluctuating tone that I described is still loud and clear. Check out the links
that Glenn included in his e-mail. It’s confusing but from what I can gather
the military, including the Navy and Homeland Security are or will be testing
experimental sensors that detect biological threats and others. They also want
to find out if and how bad these broadcasts interfere with other radio
stations. I haven’t checked the FM frequencies. I’m sure that there are other
reasons for these tests also (Rich Brock, Pittsburgh PA area, June 18, mwdx yg
via DXLD)
WE2XFZ is testing on 1680 kHz at this moment (0921 CDT June 18 [1421 UT]).
(Richard Allen, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Good Morning Glenn and Richard, In regard to Richard`s email I just received: I
just now checked both 540 and 1680 kHz at (0955 CDT), and I heard very weak 1
kHz tones on both the frequencies. Not even close to the strength of the signal
I heard on 540 kHz Monday (Kirk Allen, Ponca City, ibid.)
I think they could have picked a better FM frequency than 99.1 for
their tests. If they plan to use that, it might interfere with KLOR
99.3 in Ponca City. There is also a Ark City, KS station on 107.9
that`s a bit close also. I heard 540 kHz this morning at 11:35 a.m. It
was still there at 11:46 a.m. recheck [1635, 1646 UT June 18] (Carl DeWhitt,
ibid.)
I have been away at OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville for two days. Did not
ever hear the AM or FM frequencies while there, or on the way over Tuesday
morning, but couldn`t check very often.
I did however, hear 1680 for the first time, in Enid, June 18 from 1257 tune-in
until 1322*. The frequency was slightly off compared to BFO hets stepping to
nearby broadcast frequencies on the ATS-909.
Altho the documentation from FCC said the transmitters were capable of
