2XL was one of those rare AM stations that broadcast music. The frequency was 918 and were received with good strength all night.

They have now made the move to FM, using frequencies already assigned to other stations in Sydney, and so the station will never be heard here again.

The number of music stations left on AM can be counted on one hand.

Looks like the wood and parts I have been saving to build a couple of 1920’s style crystal sets in my final years of retirement, and pass on to the grandkids is going to be a waste of time.
JJ

Depressing that's for sure.
There are only a couple left that play music .
2ch in Sydney has a huge following still.
Unfortunately I can no longer tune into it as I'm setting up house in Albury and the stations I get there don't turn me on a great deal.
Sad we are loosing them .
Ian had a chat to me a out the possibility of using a computer to listen to 2ch etc etc and then running a line into my
Kriesler. So I will look Into that when this move is over and I have time , hmm 12th of never at the rate I'm getting things done though.

Pete

Wrong: I can get 2CH.

Marcc yeah?
I'm interested tell me t
Your set up? What are you using for a antenna.
What's the KLM range from your house to Sydney and are you using old radios to pick it up ? Pete

I use the app called radio garden. It's very very good. I fully recommend 2CA here in Canberra. It's great listening. Two half hours marathons of music every hour 24/7

Hi Carl,
Think I might build a copper loop antenna and put it on my roof when I get time

Vintage Pete: You should be able to receive 2CH during the night without difficulty, after all 2AY can be heard in Sydney.

Any valve radio should be able to receive it easily. Not only that, 2CH has the frequency to itself Australia-wide.

But you can use the computer if you want: http://www.2ch.com.au/listen-online/

Long distance reception of most AM stations should still be possible with a decent antenna. Just remember that the AM band isn't big, which is why it's always been crowded, and still is. Many regional towns have both an AM and an FM station owned by the same broadcaster. The AM stations tend to be networked though so the programming choice isn't that great.

For those wanting to leave their radios untouched as far as input auxiliaries are concerned, don't forget there are personal AM transmitters available.

2CH: Variety of radio's used, some old, some newer.

I have the coordinates but they are not currently in the gps. but I think its in the order of 530KM from me: Albury around 470Km

I moved house but the East West 66ft workshop antenna at the previous location did well. The current one is closer to 50m running 160 /340 Magnetic. It, like the rest, is 2.5mm Gal fencing wire on poles using Porcelain electric fence insulators. Tensioners are sash weights (12lb) on a pulley & flexible cable. Connexion to downlead is by eye terminal on an electric fence line tap.

Officially it's an electric fence. You do get a bit of fading in & out at night but I think its relayed on 3AW at night anyway. I get fading on 2AY starting about an hour before sunset.

On Kriesler's I scored one of those 11-7 type cabinets (cracked) with contents & only the second with neither the clear plastic grille or scrollwork name broken.

Marc

Not much music on AM in America anymore, as well. Some do still exist, but only about 5% of Am stations have music in English, rock and roll. There area few in Spanish, but not knowing Spanish, those are not listenable by me...

"50m running 160 /340 Magnetic. It, like the rest, is 2.5mm Gal fencing wire on poles using Porcelain electric fence insulators. Tensioners are sash weights (12lb) on a pulley & flexible cable"

Is this a Beverage antenna? Nice to have the room for one of those.

Single wire Beverage would cover it. There is such a thing as too long. There is one on the 100 year+ old former chaff shed & its 70m.

I will send Brad a photo of the take off end: Smoke would likely make the other end invisible. Its 9:40 & the camera still wants to use flash.

Didn't know 2CH 1170 was clear channel. That gives you a better chance, Pete.
Might up the gain on your Kriesler by replacing the IF 6N8 with a 6EH7, will require a few mods. But a long antenna does the same thing I guess.

Biggest problem is likely to be "monkey chatter" from adjacent strong stations as they fade in and out.

While we were waiting in Launceston for the Bass Strait ferry to Melbourne about 9pm I found I could get all 8 main Sydney AM stations in the car. Needed 702 for the bushfire road closure updates. No fading, no problem. That's 914km, or 568 miles for US readers. Even 2CH, with 5kW out of Homebush Bay, was clear.

My IS250 has a very good DSP radio, it's unusual these days to have such good AM performance.

Next morning in Melbourne, nothing of course.

I can understand why a station like 2XL would get out of AM.
With an old transmitter, the energy costs would be a consideration.
Most AM stations still on air are running Nautels these days. Nautel quote up to 90% efficiency. I've heard they are ultra reliable too.
What has always amazed me is how quickly they recover when the tower is struck by lightning.

Last time I drove through the area 2XL's transmitter sounded a bit sick.
So if 2XL were soldiering on with an old transmitter, the cost of a Nautel would be a consideration too.