[BC] AM Station DX Tests

[Les Rayburn]

Gentlemen,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Les Rayburn,
a amateur radio operator (N1LF) and a radio hobbyist. I'm also
the broadcast test coordinator for the National Radio Club, and
the IRCA. 

My duties include trying to arrange for stations to conduct 
special tests for distant listeners when they are conducting
transmitter maintenance. 

I've been following the discussion here with great interest, and
want to insure the group that our clubs would never ask any
station to run full power operations at night unless they also
had a need to conduct maintenance. 

Recently, we have adopted a new type of test that I hope some
of you might be interested in experimenting with. We call it
the "Inventory Insert" test. Basically, we provide you with a sixty
second long recording that contains a voice ID, Morse Code ID,
and some sweep tones. 

We ask stations to insert this into their local overnight inventory
in place of PSA's, etc. and run it as many times as possible
for a week or so. 

Since the test is done at night power/pattern, it is 100% acceptable
to the FCC, causes minimal disruption to programming, and best
of all, doesn't require the engineer to be up late! 

We can also handle answering requests for QSL cards, so the station
has to do very little except drop the spot into the inventory. At the
end of the test, we provide the engineers with a complete report
on where the test was received, and if they like even recordings
from those DX'ers. 

If you're interested in this kind of DX test, please contact me directly at:
les at highnoonfilm.com or on my cell phone (205) 253-4867

We're also interested in knowing if you're going to take your AM transmitter
off the air at night for any reason. This is an opportunity for DX'ers in your
area to log new stations on your frequency. Feel free to call my cell phone
with even short notice of such events. 

If I can help any of you in your relations with radio hobbyists, please let me know.
We're all aware of the pressures that engineers are currently facing, and
very supportive of your efforts. Thanks!

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator
Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter
will be off the air for maintenance. 
(205) 253-4867