Saturday, December 13, 2025

SM Radio Dessau programming on December 14

 


Tune in to SM Radio Dessau from Max Berger and Rolf-Torsten, ready to broadcast to all their listeners on the following schedule:

December 14, 2025 in German

12:00 - 13:00 UTC

6070 kHz via Channel 292, Rohrbach, Germany
6095 kHz via MBR Nauen, Germany (100 kW)
2000-2100 on 1476 kHz (1 kW) 

Send your reception reports (English or German) to maxberger@smradio-dessau.de
Postal address: 
Max Berger
Saalestrasse 44
06846 Dessau, Germany


Printed QSL cards are only available if sufficient funds are provided for a reply:
Germany 0.95 euros, abroad 1.25 euros

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Recent monitoring of Brazil on shortwave

 


BRAZIL   shortwave broadcasts on Saturday, Nov 28 - 29:

 5938,88  (5940) kHz R Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC,      Nov 29 1410 S=5.
 6010,52  (6010) kHz R Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte MG,  Nov 29 1415 S=3.
 6180,02  (6180) kHz R Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF, Nov 28 2053 S=8.
 9665,09  (9665) kHz R Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC,      Nov 29 1420 S=9.
 9818,57  (9820) kHz R Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo SP,       Nov 29 1425 S=9.
11755,12 (11750) kHz R Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC,      Nov 29 1440 S=8.
11780,03 (11780) kHz R Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF, Nov 29 1430 S=8.
15188,04 (15190) kHz R Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte MG,  Nov 29 1435 S=2.

RADIO VOZ MISSIONARIA. In a recent contact with the Engineering Department of Radio Voz Missionaria (Mr. Alvaro, a very nice guy!), I was informed that the equipment (all of it) is undergoing a review process, both the transmitters and their respective antennas, aiming to recover their power
to their full planned capacity, with the completion of this stage scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Even so, in the current state of partial precariousness, it has been reported (accompanied by videos) that the current signals emitted by RVM on 31 and 25m are currently being received by DXers in Japan and China -Macau, at the end of the day (their time), which is equivalent to around 0700 / 0800 UTC. Fantastic!
(Rudolf Grimm, Sao Bernardo-Ibiuna-SP-BRA, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 29)
(WWDXC Top Nx 1638/11 Dec 2025)

Encore classical music from Radio Tumbril

 

Regular Broadcast times of Encore By WRMI and Channel 292 are:
02:00 - 03:00 UTC Friday 5850 kHz WRMI to US
20:00 - 21:00 UTC Friday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada
18:00 - 19:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
03:00 - 04:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada
13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, the east coast of US, and Iceland. (Sometimes RTTY on the lower sideband. Suggest notch out or use USB.)

Some Things to see on The Encore Website:
The Encore website is www.tumbril.co.uk, where you will find:
Important information about the funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.
Up-to-date transmission times and frequencies.
The playlists for the most recent programs.
An email link.
Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL cards, are welcome.

PLEASE MAKE A PAYPAL DONATION AND HELP KEEP ENCORE ON THE AIR - Go to - www.tumbril.co.uk

WRMI and Channel 292 are very generous with their airtime, but Encore still costs around 130 Dollars/Euros a month to broadcast.
If you can - please send a small contribution to help Encore keep going.

THE DONATION BUTTON is on the homepage of the website - www.tumbril.co.uk - which folks can use if they would like to support Encore.

(Please don't be put off by the POWR security wall when using the PAYPAL button - it is a harmless requirement of WIX, the website hosting service.)

THIS FORTNIGHT'S PROGRAM - First broadcast on FRIDAY 12th December by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, and 2000 UTC on 15770 and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY 13th December at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz:
Starts with Os Justi by Anton Bruckner, 'Venus' from the Planets Suite by Holst, and an unusual arrangement of Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins in G Major.
After that, the first movement, allegro con brio, from Beethoven's Op. 11 Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Cello, followed by 'Song of hope' from Howard Goodall.
The programme ends with a movement from the String Quartet No. 2 by Erich Korngold, and part of the Piano Concerto in B-Flat Major by Emilie Mayer.

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk
GMØTLY

Canadian Spy Transmitter

 


Another great article on radio nostalgia...thanks to Ray Robinson, Adrian Peterson, and Jeff White

Jeff: In our opening feature in Wavescan today, Ray Robinson presents the story of the Canadian Spy Transmitter.  This is a true story, but it equals the mystery and suspense of any thrilling spy story you can read in any spy novel today.  So, over to Ray.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  You’ll remember here in Wavescan last week, we presented the story of the 10 kW CBS shortwave transmitter W3XAU / WCAB that was on the air in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from early in 1930 to the very last day of 1941.  Well, after this shortwave station was closed, it was announced at the time that the transmitter would be packed up, shipped to England, and taken over by the BBC in London.

However, that’s not what happened.  We could ask the questions:
Was this a deliberate piece of misinformation during the hectic, and sometimes shady days of World War II?
Or was it simply a change of plans on the part of decision-making personnel?
Or was it just a case of bad memory regarding the events of long ago?

An archived story from 2007 on the radioworld.com website ( https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/wcau-used-shortwave-in-philadelphia ) and other sites that deal specifically with the history of broadcasting in Philadelphia still state quite clearly that the WCAB shortwave transmitter was “packed up and sent over to England for use by the BBC in London.”

However, email communications between our editor-in-chief Dr. Adrian Peterson and colleagues at the BBC in England state that they have no record of the usage of this transmitter in England.  At that stage, they say, the BBC was using transmitters with a rated power of 100 kW, not 10 kW.  They also state that the black propaganda stations in England during World War II were using transmitters rated at 7½ kW, not 10 kW.

Likewise, the noted radio historian in the United States, Jerome Berg of suburban Boston, states that he has no information regarding the subsequent use of the 10 kW shortwave transmitter from Philadelphia.

However, a Philadelphia radio historian and transmitter engineer who used to work on both the medium wave and shortwave transmitters at the WCAU complex, Charles Higgins, came across an article about 15 years ago in QST magazine that provided a solution to the enigma.  The answer?

The shortwave transmitter W3XAU / WCAB in Philadelphia was in reality sent to a secret location near Toronto in Canada where it was installed at Camp X for daily communication with Bletchley Park in England.  Camp X was a secret spy training facility during World War II and it was so secret that even the current experienced radio personnel in the area still don’t know all the answers to this day.

The article in QST magazine, dated in January 2006, states that a radio transmitter, code-named Hydra, was installed at Camp X in Canada for secret communication with Bletchley Park in England on 15 MHz.  In this article, Gil McElroy states that the original transmitter at Camp X was a 2½ kW unit, and that a subsequent 10 kW unit was provided by courtesy of WCAU in Philadelphia for use at this spy camp.

The only 10 kW transmitter on the air with WCAU during that era was certainly the shortwave relay unit.  As confirmation, a photo in the article of the 10 kW shortwave transmitter Hydra at Camp X bears a striking resemblance to the 10 kW shortwave transmitter previously on the air in suburban Philadelphia, as shown on one of their pre-war QSL cards.

Information in the book "The Secret History of British Intelligence in the Americas, 1940-1945" by William Stephenson confirms the use of the Philadelphia shortwave transmitter at Camp X, and he further states that the transmitter was "overhauled" before its installation in Canada.

The spy training facility known as Camp X was opened at Oshawa, 25 miles east of Toronto on December 6, 1941, just one day before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor.  Radio transmission with England in secret codes was chosen, due to the fear that communications by undersea cable might be intercepted.

W3XAU / WCAB / Hydra 10 kW Shortwave Transmitter


Camp X – 1943

A paramilitary and commando training installation in Whitby/Oshawa, Ontario

After the Philadelphia shortwave transmitter was refurbished, it was installed at Camp X in one of the large buildings on the property, a building that had windows placed 7 ft.  above ground level for security reasons.  Transmitter Hydra was inaugurated in late 1942.  Three large rhombic antennas were used for the transmissions to England (and at times to South America), and also for the reception of incoming shortwave signals.  As part of the local cover story in Canada, it was stated that the large rhombic antennas were part of a facility for broadcasting the programming of CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Hydra Building, with high windows


Use of the Hydra shortwave transmitter extended well beyond its original World War II service.  When the war ended, Hydra was taken over by the Royal Canadian Signals as the Oshawa Station, for use during the Cold War.  The transmitter was finally shut down for the last time in 1969; worn out and no longer serviceable.

Camp X no longer exists, and none of the original buildings are left standing today.  It would be presumed that the historic shortwave transmitter, known successively as W3XAU, WCAB, and finally as Hydra, was simply and unceremoniously scrapped.



So the story about this transmitter going to England for use by the BBC:  Was it a case of bad memory, or perhaps a change of plans?  No, it was not.  We would suggest that it was in reality, a cover story, to disguise its real purpose for use in spy communications between North America and Europe.

And if you haven’t heard of Camp X in Ontario before, there was a good documentary film made about it in 2014 ( https://thetvdb.com/movies/camp-x ) which is now available on Amazon Prime.

Further, CBC TV in Canada made a drama series called ‘X Company’ in which a recreation of the camp is featured.  https://thetvdb.com/series/x-company 
There were three seasons comprising 28 episodes, which ran from 2015 to 2017, which I’d highly recommend.  I was fortunate to be able to record it from TV when it first aired, but you may now be able to find it on Blu-ray, and ‘X Company’ is also available for streaming on the Roku Channel and on Apple TV+.


Back to you, Jeff.



From the Isle of Music, December program



December continues with 3955 kHz only, and since it is the season for various holidays in multiple countries, this will be a "surprise package" of musical goodies for those who need a break from regular holiday programming.  
 
From the Isle of Music December 2025 
Friday, December 12, 2025
:3955 kHz, 1800 CET (1700 UTC), repeat 2300 CET (2200 UTC) 

Happy Holidays to all.  
(William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer) 
Tilford Productions, LLC 
Lafayette, IN 47905-1551 

Tuesday, December 09, 2025

New edition for Hans Knot International Radio Report, now available

 


The fifth edition of the Hans Knot International Radio Report for 2025 is now available. Once again, it covers a wide range of topics. 

However, there is also some sad news, as this edition commemorates the passing of Tom Edwards, Colin Nichol, Kees Borrell, Tony Pine, Nigel Roberts, and others. Hans also wrote a fascinating article about Radio Caroline in 1965 and the opening party of Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio in May 1966, and the sequel many years later about a champagne bill that was never paid. 

There is also a nice contribution from Norman Barrington about the “De Kerf mast” in early July 1973 on the Mi Amigo. Martin van der Ven recounts the Erkrath RadioTag 2025 and Paul Krooshof shares his memories and photos from the 1970s with our beautiful offshore radio stations. That and much more. The report can be read and downloaded via the link below.

https://offshoreradio.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/hans-knot-int-radio-report-2025-05.pdf

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

Monday, December 08, 2025

WeeklyPropagation Forecast Bulletins, December 8, 2025

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2025 Dec 08 0210 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 01 - 07 December 2025

Solar activity reached high levels this period. Region 4299 (N21, L=268, class/area=Dai/220 on 07 Dec) produced an X1.9/1n flare at 01/0249 UTC; the strongest flare of the period. Other notable activity included an M8.1/2b flare at 06/2039 UTC, also from Region 4299, which produced an full-halo CME that is expected to arrive between late 08 Dec-midday 09 Dec. A CME, first visible in LASCO C2 imagery beginning at 04/0648 UTC off the SE, arrived at Earth late on 07 Dec. 

The greater than 10 MeV proton flux became elevated above background levels late 06 Dec-late 07 Dec following the M8.1 flare at 06/2039 UTC from AR4299, but did not reach event levels. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 04 Dec, with high levels obserbed throughout the remainder of the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached active levels on 01 Dec in response to positive polarity CH HSS influences. Quiet to unsettled levels were observed on 02 Dec as CH HSS influences subsided. Periods of G1-G3 (Minor-Moderate) geomagnetic storming were observed on 03 Dec, with G1 storm periods observed on 04 Dec, due to CIR and negative polarity CH HSS influences. Quiet and unsettled levels were observed on 05 Dec, with active conditions observed on 06 Dec, as negative polarity CH HSS influences waned. Active levels were observed again on 07 Dec in response to the passage of a CME from 04 Dec. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 December - 03 January 2026

M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) are likely, with a slight chance for X-class flares (R3/Strong or greater), through much of the outlook period. 

There is a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach 10 pfu (S1-Minor) through much of the outlook period.  The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 08-09, 12-13, 16-17, 25-29 Dec, and 01-03 Jan. Normal to moderate levels are expected to prevail throughout the remainder of the outlook period. 

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 08 and 10 Dec, with G2-G3 (Moderate-Strong) storming likely on 09 Dec, due to the anticipated arrival and passage of a CME that left the Sun on 06 Dec. Periods of G1 storming are likely on 21-23 Dec in response to negative polarity CH HSS influences, and again on 24-26 Dec under positive polarity CH HSS influences. Period of G2 (Moderate) storms are likely on 30 Dec, with G1 storming likely on 31 Dec, when negative polarity CH HSS influences are anticipated. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2025 Dec 08 0210 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC webcontact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2025-12-08
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2025 Dec 08     190          18          5
2025 Dec 09     190          70          7
2025 Dec 10     185          33          5
2025 Dec 11     175          10          3
2025 Dec 12     155           5          2
2025 Dec 13     140          12          4
2025 Dec 14     130          12          4
2025 Dec 15     130           8          3
2025 Dec 16     135           5          2
2025 Dec 17     135           8          3
2025 Dec 18     140          10          3
2025 Dec 19     140           8          3
2025 Dec 20     140           8          3
2025 Dec 21     140          15          5
2025 Dec 22     140          20          5
2025 Dec 23     145          20          5
2025 Dec 24     160          25          5
2025 Dec 25     170          20          5
2025 Dec 26     180          20          5
2025 Dec 27     180          15          4
2025 Dec 28     180          10          3
2025 Dec 29     175           8          3
2025 Dec 30     180          30          6
2025 Dec 31     180          25          5
2026 Jan 01     175          10          3
2026 Jan 02     170          10          3
2026 Jan 03     170           8          3
(NOAA)

Jen's Eclectic Views & Real Deal audio available for December 7

 


No worries if you missed it ... the audio for Jen's Eclectic View & Real Deal program for December 7, is now available for downloading and listening at: 



Saturday, December 06, 2025

Texas Radio Shortwave schedules for December 7 broadcasts

 
Featured QSL for Dec 7th broadcast

The December 7, 2025, broadcast from TRSW features The Music of Texas # 2 relayed from Germany, as indicated

All times UTC

1300 9670 to Europe- Channel 292
1500 3975/6160 to Europe  - ShortwaveRadio 
1900 3975 to Europe - ShortwaveRadio
2300 9670 to North America - Channel 292

This schedule is subject to change based on propagation conditions, listener requests for specific Texas artists or music genres, and things beyond our control.

Texas Radio Shortwave is an independent producer of musical and topical shows, primarily focusing on Texas. Unless otherwise shown, programs are one hour long.

Programs for Europe and beyond on 3975 and 6160 kHz over Shortwave Radio in Winsen, Germany, are transmitted with 1 kW into crossed dipole antennas.

Programs for Europe and beyond on 9670 kHz over Channel 292 in Rohrbach, Germany, are transmitted with 10 kW into a vertical antenna.

Programs for North America and beyond on 9670 kHz over Channel 292 are transmitted with 10 kW into a 10.5 dB gain beam antenna.

Texas Radio Shortwave uses a version of The Yellow Rose of Texas as its Interval Signal/Signature Song.

Texas Radio Shortwave verifies correct, detailed reception reports by electronic QSL. This includes reports from listeners using remote receivers (SDRs). Texas Radio Shortwave's email is texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com.
Many TRSW programs are archived at www.mixcloud.com/texasradiosw.
Texas Radio Shortwave's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/texasradiosw.
Texas Radio Shortwave's Listeners' Group Facebook page is www.facebook.com/groups/580199276066655/.
(TRSW)

Friday, December 05, 2025

Music Programs on Shortwave

 


                                         A Selection of Music Programs for the Winter Season

Available at: https://app.box.com/s/kbdxb4c5lwpju0kpoi27aiwc35br2g2a/file/2065421409330


Alan Roe's special Holiday Programming will be available soon and will be posted on this blog

U.K. Propagation Update

 

RSGB
RadCom Assistant Editor
December 5, 2025

The prediction made for last week was for the solar flux index to increase, possibly reaching 155 by 1 December and 175 by 6 December.

In fact, it hit 196 on 1 December and 200 on 2 December. This was no doubt aided by three large sunspot groups in the Sun’s southern hemisphere.

We also said that the Kp index could hit 5 on 3 December and it actually hit 6.67. So well done to the Space Weather Prediction Centre for its forecast.

On Thursday, 4 December, the solar wind speed gradually increased from around 360 kilometres per second to 475 kilometres per second, thanks to the onset of an enhanced solar wind from a very large coronal hole.

The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field has also been pointing sharply south at times, which means it more easily couples with the Earth and the Kp index goes up as solar plasma floods in.

Maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, have been affected, but not too much. The MUF over a 3,000km path was still above 28MHz on 3 December, at least until sunset. Night-time MUFs are now characteristically below 14MHz, leaving only 10MHz and below open to DX.

As reported by CDXC’s Slack group this week, recent DX included the YJ0GC DXpedition to Vanuatu and OX7AM in Greenland on the 10m band using CW. 5R8IC in Madagascar was noted on the 15m band using FT4. And SU8YOTA in Egypt was worked on the 20m band using SSB.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the 180 to 190 range and the good news is that the Kp index is predicted to remain low, at least until Saturday, 13 December, when it is forecast to rise once again to 5.

So, get your HF DXing in during the daytime over this coming week.

VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO:

The weather charts for the coming week or more show a very unsettled pattern with some deep areas of low pressure, strong winds and heavy rain at times.

Tropo is unlikely in the traditional high-pressure sense, but sometimes a strong maritime south-westerly wind can bring a brief slight improvement for parts of southeast Britain in the windy warm sector of the depression. Watch out for this on Tuesday, 9 December.

Rain scatter remains a good option since there will be numerous bands of rain and showers available as scatter elements. The Margate 24GHz WebSDR has seen the Flanders beacon ON0HVL for a number of days due to rain over the southern North Sea, but the lack of active 24GHz stations on the east coast made this a frustrating watch on a WebSDR.

Aurora is a possibility during the coming week. Look for a Kp index above 5 to generate a good radio response. The evening of 3 December saw classic fluttery HF signals on the 80m and 40m bands, supported by a Kp index of 6.67 and reported auroral QSOs on 70, 144 and 50MHz.

Lastly, a consideration of the meteor scatter prospects is more promising as we are now in the broader period for the Geminids, which is due to peak on Sunday, 14 December. This shower has a maximum hourly rate of 120, so ranks as a joint second after the August Perseids.

For EME operators, Moon declination reached a maximum yesterday, 6 December, meaning long Moon windows and high peak elevation. Path losses are at their lowest but increasing during the week. 144MHz sky noise is low for the coming week.

Mike Terry, UK/BDXC)

Thursday, December 04, 2025

CBS Shortwave Radio in Philadelphia

 



Thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for their recent nostalgic program of a lesser-known shortwave station

This week, Ray Robinson takes a nostalgic look at a bygone radio era – that of shortwave usage by commercial stations in the United States before World War II, and one station in particular, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  When I first started listening to shortwave radio at my parents’ home near London, England around 1970, I loved tuning in to WNYW, Radio New York Worldwide, for a taste of real American radio.  The station used to relay the CBS Evening News from the CBS network every evening at 6pm Eastern, which was 11pm for me in England, and I listened to that and other programming on the station most nights.

But that station was just the vestige of a number of shortwave stations that had previously been operated by CBS, especially during the pre-War years.  In the late 20’s and 30’s there was quite a movement in the United States to establish shortwave stations to relay programming from local medium wave stations to wider audiences.  The standard medium wave broadcast band was not overcrowded at the time – there were only nine medium wave stations in Philadelphia in 1938 – but medium wave signals generally gave only local coverage, particularly during daylight hours.  Some stations such as WLW in Cincinnati experimented with very high power to try to increase coverage, but it was also understood that shortwave transmissions could give wide area coverage both within the country, and even internationally.

So, many medium wave stations in the United States established shortwave relay transmitters to carry their programming to distant listeners.  In fact, documents from that era indicate there were several hundred of these shortwave relay stations on the air in the United States by the late 1930’s.  Some of the shortwave stations were quite large, although most were small and temporary.

One of the shortwave relay stations that was held in high regard during those pre-War years was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The station was launched on behalf of the co-located medium wave station WCAU, under the experimental shortwave callsign W3XAU.  But even though that callsign might seem to indicate it was an amateur station, that was not the case.  The X in a pre-War shortwave callsign indicated an experimental station, either amateur or professional, and in this case, it was indeed quite professional, relaying programming from medium wave WCAU.

WCAU had been launched in 1922 as a very small operation located in the back room of a radio shop in Philadelphia.  Ten years later, following a couple of intermediate migrations, WCAU was established in a professionally built studio complex, the first building in the United States that was constructed specifically as a radio station.  This facility was located at 1622 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.

About the same time, WCAU upgraded to a new 50 kW medium wave transmitter, which had been installed in a new transmitter building at Newtown Square.  The initial broadcast from this grand new and powerful WCAU was on September 19, 1932.

But in 1930, WCAU had got its feet wet in the shortwave world by building and installing a small 1 kW transmitter which was given that callsign, W3XAU.  It’s claimed that this was the first license issued by the FCC for an international shortwave broadcast station as a commercial operation.

Then, two years after the Newtown Square facility was inaugurated, so in 1934, a rebuilt version of the same 1 kW shortwave transmitter was installed alongside the huge 50 kW medium wave unit.  Four years later again, the W3XAU transmitter was rebuilt to a 10 kW capacity, and two V-type antennas were erected to provide coverage beyond just the eastern USA, into Europe and Latin America.

Encouraged by the responses received, WCAU became even more ambitious for a truly international outreach and in early 1939 they erected two large curtain antennas, again for coverage into Europe and Latin America.  Programming on W3XAU became more than just a full-time relay of WCAU, and extra content was carried specifically for listeners in Europe and Latin America.  Programming in foreign languages was relayed from the sister CBS shortwave station W2XE in Wayne, New Jersey, and programming in English was often taken live from the CBS national network when WCAU was broadcasting content that was only of local interest.  

On several occasions in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, CBS applied to the FCC for a further power increase for W3XAU to 50 kW, but on each occasion the request was denied.

With war clouds looming over Europe in 1939, the FCC took a hard look at the international shortwave scene in the United States and issued a set of three new rules.  This edict, issued on May 23, 1939, required that:
1. All shortwave callsigns should be regularized (meaning no more experimental callsigns),
2. The power output of each shortwave transmitter should be increased to a minimum of 50 kW, and
3. Directional antenna systems should be installed.

As far as the callsigns were concerned, the FCC gave some time for consideration and negotiation regarding desired call letters, and new callsigns were to come into effect on September 1, 1939.  W3XAU became WCAB, which was probably just a vacant call in the WCA series, to show that the shortwave transmitter was associated with WCAU medium wave.  The change from W3XAU to WCAB was actually implemented on August 26, one week before the official date.  Although WCAB mostly carried a relay of WCAU medium wave, separate top-of-the-hour ID’s were used on the shortwave transmitter.

As for the directional antennas, well they were already in place.

So then there was the issue of the power increase to 50 kW.  At the time, CBS operated two 10 kW shortwave stations on the east coast – W3XAU in Philadelphia and W2XE in Wayne, New Jersey.  But they also operated a high-power shortwave station at Delano in California, and another was already under construction at Brentwood on Long Island.  I guess the FCC figured two high-power stations was enough.

Initially, CBS’ intention was for WCAB Philadelphia to supplement the new Brentwood facility.  However, in view of the power restriction imposed by the FCC on the Philadelphia transmitter, CBS finally considered it best to close the Pennsylvania station in favor of the new high-power facility being built on Long Island, New York.

In spite of the power limitation to 10 kW, W3XAU / WCAB was frequently heard throughout the Americas, in Europe, and also in the South Pacific.

The new transmitter at the CBS shortwave station at Brentwood, WCRC, was inaugurated on January 1, 1941, and just one year later, the 10 kW unit in Pennsylvania was finally switched off.  That nostalgic event took place at midnight on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1941.

However, that’s not the end of the story.  You’ll hear the sequel here in Wavescan next week – which surprisingly is quite a ‘cloak and dagger’ real-life spy story.

Back to you, Jeff.
(Ray Robinson/Wavescan)