FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 11,
2020
New Web site devoted to AM/FM
DX has launched
Longtime DXer and Monitoring Times
writer, Loyd Van Horn, launches DX Central
With FM DX season now upon
us, longtime DXer and Monitoring Times writer, Loyd Van Horn (W4LVH),
announces the launch of his new Web site, DX Central www.dxcentralonline.com. The
site, which specializes in AM and FM DX, launched Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 0000 UTC (8:00 pm
Eastern Daylight Time)
“DX Central is the
culmination of both what I have learned as a DXer through the past 30 years, as
well as helping me to flush out all of the things I still want to learn,” says
Van Horn. “There are many sites out there for AM and FM DXers, but I have
always wished there was a site that taught the art of DX and helped cultivate
that skill, as well as provided information on equipment from the perspective
of the DXer, airchecks of station IDs and other things that would help flatten
the learning curve a bit.”
One of the main components of
DX Central is the DX 101 section which provides a primer for
getting started in DXing, a glossary of DX-related terms, an FAQ and commonly
used abbreviations. It also includes
breakout sections specific to AM and FM DXing.
“I wanted this to be a site
where someone that didn’t even know what DX meant could be provided enough
information to get them started. At the
same time, I wanted to make sure there was enough information there for
experienced DXers to still find the site useful.”
There is also a blog with DX
tips and tricks, up-to-date news and information and logs from Van Horn’s own
DX pursuits from his home in Charleston, South Carolina as well as his travels.
“I try to bring an SDR with a
small loop antenna with me when I travel.
My goal is to get as many pristine airchecks as I can from various
cities so that other DXers can use that to compare with what they are hearing
through their own radios.”
There are plans to expand the
site with what Van Horn calls “phase II” in the coming months.
“There are some additional
sections I am working through that just will not be ready in time for our
launch date and the heart of FM DX season.
Those are all being worked up for phase II.”
Van Horn began as a DXer at
an early age after growing up in a radio family. His father, Larry Van Horn
(N5FPW) and mother, Gayle Van Horn (W4GVH) are both widely known in the DX
community for their work with Monitoring Times and later, their
self-published Kindle books under the banner of their publishing company, Teak
Publishing.
After graduating from
college, Van Horn spent nearly a decade in the media industry as an on-air
personality, news director, assistant program director, public service
coordinator, talk show host, sportscaster and advertising executive.
Van Horn later wrote for Monitoring
Times as well, penning the monthly GlobalNet column devoted to
online streaming of radio and television.
Van Horn used his broadcast experience to bring an insiders’ look into
the trends and strategies of station’s online presence.
After Monitoring Times
ceased production, Van Horn took some time out of the spotlight to get back to
spending time in front of a radio, catching up on recent advancements in AM and
FM DX technology and techniques.
He resides in Charleston,
South Carolina with his wife, Megan and their dog, Ace. He is an extra class amateur radio operator,
trained Skywarn storm spotter, ARRL VEC examiner, and member of the National
Radio Club, International Radio Club of America and Worldwide
TV-FM DX Association. When not
DXing, he is also a musician with three albums released to-date and performs a
solo acoustic show around the Charleston area (additional information is
available on his music site: www.loydvanhorn.com)
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