This is WTFDA.org

The Home of The Worldwide TV-FM DX Association
Serving TV & FM DXers since 1968

  • Home
  • WTFDA Forums
  • FM Database
  • Statistics
  • Tech Library
  • Prop Logger
  • LINKS

WHAT IS DXING?

Some people say it's a strange hobby.

DXing Criteria

What Counts and What Doesn't.

WTFDA Searchable Online Directory of North American FM Radio Stations

The WTFDA FM Station Database is a complete listing of FM radio stations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and sections of the Caribbean. It is user searchable and sortable. Keep it open on your computer or smartphone during skip events to quickly and easily log your catches by callsigns,slogan or format or even by RDS PI codes. This site is a must for every FM Dxer in North America.

ENTER DATABASE.

Member Websites

  • KJ4BUG - FRED NORDQUIST
  • NN2E - ED PHELPS
  • MIKE B. - The original Mike's TV and FM DX Page is now located here.
  • PAT DYER (WA5IYX)
  • K1MOD...A tribute to Jeff Kadet

VUD ARCHIVE

This is a collection of VHF-UHF Digest issues from 1968 through the present. All are pdfs. Many issues from 1968-1975 have been added and those prior to May 1972 are the old memeographed issues. We still have a few missing issues. If you have them, let us know.
Additional scanned items can also be found in the 60s & 1970s section.

  • 60s & 1970S
    -----
  • 1980S
    -----
  • 1990s
    -----
  • 2000S
    -----
  • 2010S
    -----
  • 2020S
    -----

Random Reading

WTFDA presents a randomly selected group of articles for your reading pleasure. These may change from time to time so if you find something you enjoy, be sure to grab it.

  • Tim McVeys XDR-F1HD Review
  • The Grundig G8!
  • The Hoverman Antenna (from an old VUD)
  • Mid Latitude Sporadic E -A Review -M. Hawk
  • How Well Does Hi-VHF Work for DTV?
  • How to Improve your UHF Reception
  • The Icom IC-PCR1000 review
  • How to Properly Attach Coax Connectors
  • Stacking Chromstar FM Antennas
  • Vertically Stacking Chromstar TV Antennas
  • The Basics of TV and FM reception
  • All About Noise and Noise Figures
  • E-Skip in Depth - Mel Wilson
  • Quad Loop Indoor TV or FM Antenna - Bill Smith

The WTFDA Group on Googlegroups!

The WTFDA's email discussion dx list for frequencies above 28mhz through UHF. Discussion, DX, logs, tips, info, Es, tropo, alerts, FM radio and TV news is now located at Google Groups. This group is a public group. To join, send an email to:

WTFDA+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Contact WTFDA

We solicit your questions, comments and general input about our website. Please contact us regarding any club business using the link below.

For technical problems relating to this site, please contact our webmaster.

Keep Your Email Address Up To Date

If you are a WTFDA member, we send you the VHF-UHF digest every month, but we can't send it to you if we don't have your correct email address. If you change your email address, please mail or email us with the updated info so we can continue to send you the VUD every month.


WTFDA Facebook Group for TV-FM Dxers

SAMPLE V.U.D.

Download a recent VUD. If you like what you see, consider becoming a WTFDA member for just $10 a year.

paypal

Click this image to use Paypal to join the WTFDA or renew your membership. Send your dues ($10USD) to sales@wtfda.org

If you use a check or money order, Click Here.

Worldwide TV-FM DX Association, PO Box 501 Somersville, CT 06072 USA

THE VHF-UHF DIGEST IS DELIVERED AS AN EMAIL ATTACHMENT MONTHLY. We must have a valid email address for delivery.

This page last updated December 22, 2020

ATSC 3.0 Is Here!

Posted by Admin | December 21,2020

You've been hearing quite a bit about ATSC 3.0, otherwise known as next generation television. Manufacturers are gearing up for the upgrade and some stations are beginning to broadcast in 3.0.

On the equipment side, SiliconDust was the first to offer a converter box for sale. The HDHR5 is now available and in the hands of several TV DXers. We can't tell you much about its performance on ATSC 3.0 channels because no one has logged one yet. But we can tell you that there are reports that the 1.0 performance is not quite up to par with earlier HDHR tuners. As time goes on we will know more. Read more about this tuner HERE

The newest ATSC 3.0 converter box has arrived on the scene. It's the Zapperbox M1 and it will retail for $249.00. The manufacturer is taking orders for the box with availability around February 2021. Go HERE

For a current list of ATSC 3.0 stations, go HERE
In Market #92, WFXQ-CD Springfield, MA is broadcasting 3.0.


A Different Way of TV DXing ATSC 1.0

When you think about it, the way that TV DXers check the TV bands for DX hasn't changed much since the 50s. Today we still put an antenna on the roof, hook that up to a television and  tune VHF and UHF looking for distant signals. What that means is that many times when we're not there to DX , we miss some DX.

What some TV Dxers are doing now is automating their DXing. They replace their TV or set top box with HDHomeRun tuners. Then, by using an internet connection, they use software that continuously scans the TV bands and sends the results to the rabbitears.info website, where the information is displayed on a map for anyone to see at their own locations. Oftentimes the system will log stations that the DXer didn't even know were there!

Here is one of the maps from the rabbitears website showing new and recent TV DX logged by TV DXer Roy Barstow in Massachusetts.

automated dx map

For more information on how to set up a DXing system like this, please visit the WTFDA Forum website in the DX Equipment forum. Also see rabbitears.info for more information.


What's the Best DTV/Set Top Box for DTV DXing ATSC 1.0

The best DTV or Set Top Box is one that tunes channels manually, like we all did back in the analog days. Unfortunately there are just a few of them. Most LG DTVs have a manual tuning feature that you can access through the menus. But as far as boxes, the best are the oldest. There are two; the Zenith DTT901 and the Insignia NS-DXA1, which in reality are one and the same box, but with different labels. LG made the tuners for these. These are even more preferable to LG televisions because their tuners let you see traces of stations too weak to decode. LG televisions won't show these.

Most DTVs on the market today will only allow you to do channel scans. Channel scans take too much time, especially when there's an Es or Tropo opening going on. DX stations may show on one scan, but not on the next. A station that shows on the beginning of one scan may not even be there at the end of that same scan. Chances are very good that you'll miss some very good DX by wasting time performing channel scans while looking for DX.

The Zenith/Insignia DTV boxes and LG TVs are a favorite with DTV DXers.


About WTFDA

firefox WTFDA is the only Radio hobby club in North America that caters to the TV and FM DXer, as well as those who DX 30-50mhz utilities and Weather Radio. The term "DX" means "distant reception", and those who "DX" look for weak, distant radio and television signals, with an eye to logging as many of these distant signals as possible or obtaining the most distant reception of a given station. TV and FM signals normally only travel 50 to 100 miles out from their transmitters. DXers love to push the reception boundaries of stations by hundreds or thousands of miles by using their skills, better antennas and equipment, and knowing when conditions are ripe for it.

Learn more...

© 2020 Worldwide TV-FM DX Association
Design by styleshout


While we try to keep information up to date and correct, WTFDA makes no representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of any item/product appearing on our website, or any information, products, services or related graphics contained on our website for any purpose. Any reliance placed by you on such material is strictly at your own risk.
*
WTFDA does not endorse any product appearing on our website. Those items/products appear here for informational purposes only. We receive no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor of those products.
*
Reviews and opinions reflect those of the reviewer and those of the writer(s) and not necessarily those of the WTFDA. Use at your own risk, YMMV.