THE WOBBLER

A Mystery Radio Signal


Investigations

This page last updated January 21, 2006

WOOWOO - A Possibly Related Phenomenon

The question was raised during on-line discussions of the origins and causes of the Wobbler, if the stations suspected of originating Wobblers were located in close proximity.  When I found there might be two or three located together -- according to the WRTH and other sources -- I began checking other frequencies supposedly broadcasting from that location.  As a result of those checks I found something different on 960.

This item is about that new phenomenon discovered located only on 960 kHz.  This signal -- dubbed the Woowoo -- does not sound the same as the Wobbler because it is slower and usually only completes a single cycle or less, but seems likely to be related.  This is especially true if it is eventually determined the cause of the Wobbler is power fluctuations causing transmitter instability, as several DXers have suggested. 

The Woowoo has been heard regularly at night when the station(s) involved are received at my location.  It is a slowly varying heterodyne produced when the tuning techniques described on the Procedures page are followed.  The signal is easily heard here, but has not been reported as heard by others.  It is possible the ability of the Wobbler to propogate widely is not possessed by the Woowoo.  Mention has only been made in passing, and possibly with wider discussion new reports will eventually provide some added information on the scope of the Woowoo's coverage.

A column has been added to the Observations table to record the activity of this phenomenon.

An MP3 file recording of the Woowoo is included for comparative purposes and to help identify the signal.
Woowoo sample MP3 file (38K)

Update: For the last few months the Woowoo has disappeared.  As with everything Wobbler related, the reason for this is unknown.  Regular monitoring of 960kHz continues should the signal return.

Investigations into this phenomenon continues.  New results will be posted here as they are obtained.
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