Although rarely used as much in Medium-Wave DXing as it is in Short-Wave DXing, I thought the following explanation of SINPO would be a useful introduction to new DXers.
The SINPO code is a way of quantifying reception conditions in a five-digit code, especially for use in reception reports to broadcasters. The code covers Signal strength, Interference (from other stations), Noise (from atmospheric conditions), Propagation disturbance (or Fading, in the SINFO code), andOverall. The code is as follows:
(S)ignal (I)nterference (N)oise (P)ropagation (O)verall 5 excellent 5 none 5 none 5 none 5 excellent 4 good 4 slight 4 slight 4 slight 4 good 3 fair 3 moderate 3 moderate 3 moderate 3 fair 2 poor 2 severe 2 severe 2 severe 2 poor 1 barely audible 1 extreme 1 extreme 1extreme 1 unusable In recent years, many broadcasters have tried to steer listeners away from the SINPO code and toward the simpler SIO code. SIO deletes the extremes (1 and 5) and the noise and propagation categories, which were confusing to too many people to be useful.
In sending reports to stations other than large international broadcasters who are likely to understand the codes, it is better to simply describe reception conditions in words.
All the information contained in this web site is copyright © Chris Ridley 1997-1999