--- Begin Message ---
All times and dates strictly UT!
Rx: mostly DX-398 with internal antenna
only or PL-880; NRD-545 with ALA-330S
inside E-W or inside randomwire N-S;
Nissan stock caradio as specified;
IC-R75 with E-W longwire.
These logs are excerpts from my daily
all-band reports, mainly SWBC, also
VHF/UHF, sometimes, utility, ham,
which may be found in several archives
without much delay, such as
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Hauser
And compiled weekly along with
extensive news from many other
individuals and
publications in DX LISTENING DIGEST:
http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html
All my MW DX reports starting August 2011
are archived in this forum with open access:
http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?6543-MW-DX-from-Enid-OK-by-Glenn-Hauser/page77
[over 368,000 views! as of August 11, 2019]
U S A. 730, July 19 at 0558 UT, dominant signal is sports talk in
English, string of ESPN promos, including one for ``ESPN
Charlotte``, and at 0600 UT, ``The Game, Charlotte, 730 AM and 97.5
FM``. No call copied but listed as WZGV, CoL Cramerton NC, U1
10000/165/psra 206 and also W248CO, on 97.5. Cramerton is a west=side
suburb on the way to Gastonia. So it`s dominant with only 165 watts?
Right ---
730 is an intriguing DX frequency, with a couple dozen USA stations
but none legally running more than 1000 watts at night, many less than
100 or even less than 10! In fact the only 1 kW is KQPN West Memphis
AR.
Because 730 was a Canadian/Mexican ``clear``. Canada has two 50/50 kW
stations in Montreal and Vancouver, and in between 10/5 kW in
Manitoba. As for XEX Mexico City, it used to be dominant with 100/100
kW, but suspect it has been downgraded. No sign of it now, at least on
my E/W longwire toward NC. Annoying splash from 740 KRMG Tulsa.
Also just before ToH, heard mention of an area code 412 phone number,
which is Pittsburgh PA --- unless on a network feed, that could
correspond to 730 WPIT, U1 5000/24/psra 225.
OKLAHOMA. 740, KRMG Tulsa was off the air for a while;
unfortunately I missed it, but here`s why: No video yet on website,
but there was on the KFOR noon news August 6. Other OKC and Tulsa TV
stations probably covered this (gh)
WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO DEADLY ATTEMPTED COPPER THEFT AT RADIO
TOWER --- Angie West [portrait = mugshot]
SAND SPRINGS, Okla. – A woman was arrested in connection to a
suspected copper theft at a radio station’s transmitter site in
northeast Oklahoma that left one person dead and another in critical
condition.
Just before 10 a.m. Sunday, authorities with the Tulsa County
Sheriff’s Office were called to the KRMG AM transmitter site in Sand
Springs. According to the Tulsa World, an engineer checked on an
interrupted signal and found one man dead with wire pliers in his hand
and another man severely burned, convulsing on the ground.
KRMG reports the injured man was taken to the hospital in critical
condition. Officials have not yet identified the man who died.
The Tulsa World reports 37-year-old Angie West was arrested in
connection to the incident. She reportedly told deputies she had taken
the men to the area to take copper around midnight. She says she fell
asleep in the car and when she woke up, she left. West was arrested
and booked into the Tulsa County jail on a complaint of first-degree
murder.
CMG Tulsa Market Vice President Cathy Gunther released a statement
following the incident.
“Early this morning two individuals broke into the KRMG AM transmitter
site. It appears they attempted to access a building through a conduit
and were electrocuted. One of the individuals is deceased and one was
transported to the hospital. From the tools and materials found at the
site, it appears that they were attempting to steal copper. The safety
of our community is of utmost importance – please do not enter any
transmitter site, for any reason, as the area is extremely dangerous”
(via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
U S A. Quick MW bandscan at SSS Aug 2 at 0140 UT finds live
anti-Democratic ranting from acting president Drumpf at a rally in
Cincinnati on at least: 840 WHAS Louisville, 890 WLS Chicago, 600
presumed WMT Iowa, and on 760 a station with ``Amen`` interjexions, so
KCCV, a Kansas City Bott rather than WJR Detroit? KCCV is supposed to
cut from 6000 to 200 watts at night, after 0115 UT in August, and
normally we hear only WJR. Loads of major AM stations demean
themselves by spewing far-right hateshows all day, but the above are
worst of the worst. Note, NOT heard on WLW Cincinnati.
U S A. 830, August 5 at 0149 UT on E-W longwire, no WCCO, but a
station playing novelty tune, but modulation keeps cutting out, for
variable intervals such as on for 22 seconds, off for 5, on for 24,
off for 8, etc., etc. 0156 UT, ``Happy Trails to You``, barbershop
performance, maybe for a sign-off? No, then ``Fish Heads``, but this
is not Dr. Demento; Of course fades out around hourtop; 0202 UT
another novelty song with cutouts.
On the DX-398 it`s hard to DF, best audible with a slow SAH circa 1 Hz
in WCCO null which is ESE/WNW, but seems to peak a bit CCW from there,
i.e. close to E-W. I don`t see how this could be anything but WUMY
Memphis TN (address in Southaven MS suburb), which last year`s NRC AM
Log shows as: a 3 kW daytimer, but CP for U1 8 kW day, 2 WATTS night,
classic hits format in $tereo; and of course this is way after sunset
which in August is officially 0045 UT. Also FCC AM Query no longer
shows any such CP, just daytimer license to GMF-Christian Media I LLC
[sic]
U S A. [Re my 830 log presumed WUMY:]
NEW TUCSON RADIO VENTURE TARGETS OLDER 'LOST AUDIENCE'
By Cathalena E. Burch Arizona Daily Star Aug 5, 2019 Updated 1 hr
ago
Tucson radio will welcome a new station today that features some
familiar voices.
This morning, 101.7-FM and 830-AM will go live as KDRI The Drive, a
Tucson-focused music and entertainment station targeting listeners
between the ages of 45 to 64.
Owners Fletcher McCusker, Bobby Rich and Jim Arnold say those are the
listeners that have long been neglected not only in Tucson but
nationwide by corporate-owned radio that focuses on the 25-to-40
segment.
“We kind of view them as a lost audience,” said longtime Tucson
business titan and community activist McCusker, the only one among the
trio who doesn’t have an extensive radio or broadcast background.
McCusker’s only foray into radio was a short stint at KWFM — he was
the underground rock station’s first hire — when he was 19 in the late
1960s.
The trio closed last week on the $650,000 purchase of the radio
frequencies that had been home to Christian broadcaster Family Life.
The Drive will play a mix of music from the 1960s through the ’80s and
beyond that they say will appeal to an audience that identifies as
baby boomers, Rich said.
“It’s not classic rock. It’s not golden oldies. But it’s going to be
unique, programmed by Bobby Rich,” McCusker said. “His library right
now is 3,000 songs, so you could literally go weeks without hearing
the same songs.”
When pressed for a clearer definition of the format, Rich would only
say that he planned to “present on The Drive something that
(listeners) will be comfortable with and familiar with and will give
them something that they want, which is information and
entertainment.”
On Thursday, Tucson Radio began playing nonstop novelty songs,
including “Camp Granada” and “Purple People Eater” under the name “The
Worm.” On Monday morning, it switches gears as The Drive with Rich and
Hill Bailey, most recently of KHYT 107.5-FM, in the morning driver’s
seat. . .
https://tucson.com/business/new-tucson-radio-venture-targets-older-lost-audience/article_145d434b-1c14-5789-beb0-90722a014d86.html
(via Radio World NewsBytes, excerpts of much longer story)
Glenn: That will explain what you heard on 830 kHz, via your E/W wire.
(-- via GREG HARDISON, CA, August 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Which I assumed to be WUMY Memphis, ruling out Tucson due to its
religious format, but now replaced.
FCC AM Query already has 830 as KDRI, 50/1 kW, Direxional night only,
ex-KFLT really since 7/31. It had been KFLT more than 33 years.
Monthly Local Sunset Times:
August 7:15 [0215 UT]
September 6:30 [0130 UT]
Sunrise times MST:
August 5:45 [1245 UT]
September 6:00 [1300 UT]
FCC pattern maps are Not Found! But NRC Pattern Book VIII of 2013
shows it tight toward the SSE, no good here.
I try for KDRI again Aug 6 at 0210 UT before LSS, but hear only a
bigsig from a WCCO SBG on 830.
UNIDENTIFIED. 880, Aug 6 at 0613 UT, hymns are being heard underneath
JimBo from KRVN Nebraska. First thought would be KHAC, Tse Bonito NM,
the make-the-Navajos-Christian station next to Window Rock AZ, but the
music is on DSB, not USB only as KHAC transmits. Is KLRG Sheridan AR
active or not? Was REL, could be on 220 W night power. It was silent
as of 5/2018 per NRC AM Log published last August. See another
discussion of this situation in DXLD 19-06. At 0630 I hear a jingle
reminding me of REE Spain?
U S A. Follow-up to my previous report about Oklahoma`s 1320, KCLI
Clinton, mentioning that 950 KFSA Fort Smith AR was off air following
flooding:
``Formerly silent stations informing the FCC that they are back on the
air: 950 KFSA AR Fort Smith – Silent May 26; on the air June 13.
(AM Switch, NRC DX News July 23, published July 16, via DXLD)``
Never hear KFSA here anyway, direxional awayward; 950 dominated by
KJRG Newton KS when it can slide by local 960 KGWA.
OKLAHOMA. Electronic billboard on the NE corner of Garriott &
Garland in front of the new JiffyTrip about to open in Enid (which
replaced a worm-infested pecan grove; sad!), flashes ``Rush will soon
be on Enid FM Radio``, and the same for ``Sean``, August 9. I can`t
read it all as I am in motion, but this surely refer to the 100.9 CP
translator K265FL [Fully Loony] for KGWA which is already airing their
rubbish on AM 960. No, 100.9 is not on quite yet. I cannot hardly
wait. This will of course also difficultize if not block reception of
100.7 from Ponca City, and 101.1 from Stillwater & Woodward. KGWA`s
original FM sibling, 103.1 KOFM, has been spurring or overloading down
to this Enid area too.
OKLAHOMA [and non]. Via Benn Kobb and Mike Cooper, we had advance
notice of this event:
``U.S. Nationwide Emergency Test Today --- In the United States, the
next Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is scheduled
for today, Aug 7 2019, at 2:20 p.m. ET.
All radio and TV stations must participate. The test will not be
transmitted via Wireless Emergency Alerts (mobile phones). Moreover,
the test will not be distributed via the Internet so stations will
have to get the originating signals directly by radio from assigned
sources.
These tests tend to expose audio impairments and transmission
glitches, which is why the government keeps scheduling them. Some
stations 'forward' (rebroadcast) the tests immediately, some delay it
and some don't do anything at all, though required by law. Stations
must report their readiness and test results via three FCC forms.
The equipment required to create, obtain and forward EAS alerts is
complex and requires periodic, expensive upgrades. Few manufacturers
produce these devices. Among non-profit community stations, there is a
desire to open-source these products, which would require approval of
FCC and FEMA and, apparently, issuance of cryptographic keys to device
makers.
This is only a test and no action is required of the radio and TV
audience. However, the FCC has stated:
"Members of the public and interested stakeholder organizations that
are in a position to observe test results in their communities can
provide useful feedback on the nationwide test, including any problems
observed or any complications in the delivery of the EAS message
during the nationwide test by reporting their observations to the
Public Safety Support Center at
https://www.fcc.gov/general/public-safety-support-center "``
I set an alarum a few minutes prior to 1820 UT, but I had just started
lunch. I do grab the PL-880 for some quick chex, and indeed the EAS
tones start at 1820 on KOSU 91.7, then switching to AM, also on KGWA
960, VVKigriega 930, KTOK 1000; and KOKP 1020 --- only the last one
has noisy background, but announcement is still readable. And it`s all
over by 1822. How can we do any significant evaluation in such a short
time, especially while lunching? O, yeah, record the entire
AM/FM/TV/cable spectrum and sort it out later. Not me; did anyone,
unofficially?
OKLAHOMA [and non]. 1120, July 26 at 0124 UT, Spanish music making
heavy ~5 Hz SAH with sillyballgame in English, i.e. KETU Catoosa vs
KMOX. KETU official sunset in July is 0145 UT (August: 0115), but
supposed to be reduced from 10 to 7 kW during Critical Hours starting
at 2345 UT – that certainly does not help out KMOX here.
KETU pattern has broad major lobe slightly west of south, i.e. right
across Tulsa from the north side, with sharp nulls toward the NW
(Colorado?) and NE (St Louis), but Enid almost to the west is getting
only a fraxion off the shoulder of the lobe. On caradio it`s not
enough to overcome powerline, trafficlight noise except in a few lucky
spots.
Recheck at 1602 UT with no KMOX, ID as ``La Diferente`` and a .9 FM
frequency, presumably the translator listed on 97.9. Later in hour, ad
for Mercado Las Americas, the grocery store which I think is involved
in KETU ownership, licensed to La Zeta 95.7, which is KSEC, 6/6 kW in
Bentonville AR.
U S A [and non]. 1160, August 3 at 0612 UT, KSL Salt Lake City is
unusually weak; normally the dominant night signal, as to be expected
for a 50/50 kW U1 = non-direxional clear channel station at only ~800
miles. Now it`s bothered by SAH and some station with Mexican music.
If Unitedstatesian, besides two weak Floridians, per year-old NRC AM
Log (new one soon to be published), that could only be KCTO Cleveland
MO, 230 watts at night direxional. WRTH shows only a single possible
Mexican, 10 kW XEQIN, San Quintín BCN. IRCA Mexican Log says night
power unknown, and four other 1160s have evidently defected to FM.
Getting back to KSL, suspect it is ailing, running low power. Another
check Aug 4 at 0520 UT, music unlikely KSL, but a SAH at 168/minute =
2.8 Hz probably caused by KSL against the otherstation. KSL is
somewhat northerly; attenuated aurorally? Possibly, but similar
latitude altho closer 850 KOA Denver seems normal.
U S A. 1160, Aug 9 at 0241 UT, further chex of KSL SLC, which has
been unusually weak lately: now it`s sufficient, but a SAH of
156/minute = 2.6 Hz, on the R75; rather different on the DX-398,
easily nulling KSL increasing QRM from music, Spanish. At 0317 the QRM
is worse, Spanish music overcoming at times. Nothing from UT to
compare it with, but 850 KOA Denver is also poor, when it could/should
be good. I hear from people at KSL that things seem OK there, running
full 50 kW from the Nautel, but they are looking into it.
Mr Farnham, As you may have heard, my reception of KSL here in
Oklahoma, some 800 miles away has deteriorated lately. It`s hard to be
sure why, but I wonder if it could be due to your using MDCL?
[Modulation Dependent Carrrier Level]. I assume it makes sense for
local coverage and cost saving, but ---? Can you confirm or comment on
this change, and when did it start? Regards, (Glenn Hauser, World of
Radio, to KSL CE)
Yes, we are using mdcl and have been for over 3 months now. When did
your issues begin? (Aaron Farnham, Director of Engineering, Bonneville
SLC, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Only noticed the past week in random bandscanning, but I can`t say I
had been deliberately trying to hear KSL much before that (gh)
U S A. 1190, August 3 at 0611 UT, Catholic talk is dominating with
some fades, as usual at night. KDMR Kansas City with EWTN is supposed
to be 500 watts direxional at night, but I suspect may be on 5000 watt
day power, and/or: KDMR night pattern has a notch at 205 degrees, but
we are somewhat beyond that, close to due SW = 225; FCC pattern map
shows major broad lobe centered about 260 degrees
https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/1641134-124452.pdf
WWJD? Keep Doting on Maria Regina!
U S A. 1210, July 17 at 0559 UT, WJNL Kingsley MI among
multi-station ID of the group, so fast I have never been able to copy
details, and 0600 ``news now``; top among CCI with more than one SAH,
but primarily timed at 152/minute = 2.53 Hz. The 50 kW daytimer
continues cheating all night. Now another report of this at the very
same time July 17 from Steve Zimmerman, Milwaukee WI, to the WOR io
group:
``Hi All, Per Glenn Hauser's tip, I am hearing WJNL with city-grade
sigs on peaks, but some deep fades as well. Tune-in at 0550 with a
blizzard of commercials, followed by a show engaging conspiracy
theories, then multiple IDs for MI stations on AM and FM. ToH news at
0600.
In spite of the fact that they run 50 kW ND, they are very difficult
to hear here on daytime groundwave, even though the path is mostly
over Lake Michigan. Ground conductivity in that part of MI is poor at
best, so maybe that has something to do with it. Rx: ICF-5900W and
built-in antenna. 73, Steve Zimmerman, Milwaukee, WI``
U S A. 1210, July 18 at 0559 UT, WJNL Kingsley MI 50 kW daytimer
continues cheating all night, wrapping up talkshow
something-Reality-Radio --- is it Beyond? Not on their station list
http://beyondrealityradio.com/stations-list/
but time fits as Mon-Thu 12-2 am ET [04-06 UT]. I`m sure this is WJNL
yet again, altho at ID time, KGYN is atop. Now the SAH is 156/minute =
2.6 Hz.
Or is it Public Reality Radio? Originating with WPRR 1680 Ada (Grand
Rapids)?
http://www.publicrealityradio.org/
Nothing there about being on the WJNL group too, but I see some
erstwhile left-wing hosts are to be heard: Stephanie Miller, Thom
Hartmann!
U S A. 1210, August 3 at 0355 UT, heavy SAH typical of KGYN vs WJNL
as previously measured, this time about 168/minute, or 2.8 Hz;
national commercial, but then ``94.5 WJNL`` ID and back to Jim
Bohannon show live. So 50 kW daytimer in Kingsley MI, Traverse City
market is still cheating as first noted here a sesquimonth ago. 94.5
would be their FM affiliate in Mackinaw City.
{Have not been able to confirm WJNL since then to August 11, more due
to high local line noise level peaking this part of MW band!}
UNIDENTIFIED. 1210, July 22 at 0600 UT, ``this is the Ben Miller
show``, atop CCI including something in Spanish. Of course I am
checking for WJNL Michigan cheater. Searching is sparse on that name;
there were some citations 12 years ago but can`t find anything
current.
OKLAHOMA. 1230, July 15 at 0038 UT, Oh2, WBBZ Ponca City must
be off again, no strong signal this long before sunset; or is that its
carrier now with growing graveyard skywave? Yes, it is! Legal ID at
ToH 0100 then back to dead air.
Meanwhile I have been walking around the block with the PL-880 on this
frequency trying to track source of high line noise level. It`s
slightly CCW from N/S with a sharp null (which should be occupied by
WBBZ), and little change from different sides, signifying it`s
radiating from some distance away.
1230, WBBZ is back in business, S9+20 by 2225 check July 15 with rock
music, ``Sunny 1230`` slogan. At least not ``Sunny 104.7`` this time.
U S A. 1480, Aug 9 at 1306 UT, ``Good Morning Sunshine`` song is
finishing, English named in outro, then W&M light-hearted Vietnamese
chat, from KNGO Dallas, ex-KBXD, but I`ve yet to hear the new ID since
it changed a few months ago. Initially atop KQAM Wichita, but skywave
is dying down less than a sesquihour after sunrise, and soon losing to
KQAM English talker by groundwave.
OKLAHOMA [and non?]. 1600, July 17 at 1321, KUSH Cushing local
talkshow with ripple --- either CCI from an unstable transmitter or
its own? Vietnamese from KRVA The Metroplex seems in background and
would be the obvious spoiler, via high-end residual skywave almost a
bihour after LSR; but never noticed any such problem from them before;
recheck at 1354, now KUSH is clear. Other close 1600s are in AR, MO,
KS and NE
CANADA. 1610, Aug 2 at 0133, YL mixing English with S Asian
language, no doubt CHHA, Toronto, Voces Latinas, in two languages
which are anything but Latin. Four-year-old program grid still comes
up on website
http://chha1610am.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PostCard-CHHA-1610AM-2016.jpg
claiming Portuguese occupies the M-F 9-10 pm ET hour, but I`ll bet
it`s Punjabi shifted from the 10-11 pm EDT hour.
OKLAHOMA. 1640, July 29 at 1320 UT and still at 1649, dead air
except for some hum from local KZLS Enid. Is no one paying attention
at Chisholm Trail Broadcasting? No storms around here to blame.
OKLAHOMA [and non]. 1650, Aug 2 at 0131 UT, 479-area code ad, and
non-ID as ``Life 98-7``, i.e. the puny translator in Fort Smith AR, of
KFSW which is really in Sallisaw OK.
In QRM also a mention of ``The River Valley``, which seems extremely
generic applicable to anywhere, but is a known monicker for eastern
Iowa, i.e. KCNZ Cedar Falls (BTW, what a coincidence that WCNZ is on
the next frequency 1660, in Marco Island FL, presumably unrelated with
widely divergent formats)
UNIDENTIFIED. 1670, July 19 at 0621 UT, very poor signal mentions
``1530 AM``. Usual 1670 here of the only four Unitedstatesians is WOZN
Madison WI. I can`t find any group relation to a 1530 station, nor for
the other three 1670s, one of which is Spanish anyway.
WORLD OF RADIO confirmed UT Sunday July 21 at 0359 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM,
MO, at the item about YHWH best heard via Prescott and Denver remotes,
i.e. 16 minutes into, so must have started quite late around 0343. My
previous check was at 0339 when ham news by YL was still running.
Barely readable vs high summer storm noise level.
Also confirmed UT Sunday Aug 11 at 0329 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, Wentzville
MO, amid quoting Bob Biermann, interrupted for ham ID as required
every dekaminute, about 20 minutes into so started early circa 0309;
S9+20 readable over storm noise level.
U S A. 2097.3, August 2 at 0620 UT, CW beacon A every ten seconds,
audible despite storm noise level worse than line noise at this
frequency; from anywhere *but* Quartzsite AZ. Again audible same
August 3 at 0353 check. Have not been able to hear the W weather
beacon around 4102+ kHz, however.
UNIDENTIFIED. 2750, July 19 at 1216 UT, weak carrier fading; not even
2850 North Korea is audible. Not a spot for local mixtures. If a MW
harmonic, it could only be 5 x 550, where KFRM KS dominates daytimes
here (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Until the next, Best of DX and 73 de Glenn Hauser
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