Road Trip Stops....Southern Illinois/Baton Rouge

[cyberdad]

No time to post this earlier, but here are a few highlights from a road trip to Texas with a couple of interesting stops (for DX). First Marion, Illinois....about 50 miles from the southern tip of the state. Next night was Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In each case, I got lucky and had a noise-free location (relatively, at least) in my hotel.

First Marion:

540: I had been monitoring this frequency on the way down in the car with a really good radio. When I started at 10am, I had KWMT underneath WAUK. After about 120 miles, they were both mixing equally. Then both disappeared into KTRS splatter.

Now back to Marion itself last Tuesday night (12th)....

540: Mess...neither CBK or XEWA distinguishable
550: KTRS fair
620: 60s oldies with Spanish announcer. XENK? As I discovered the following night, there was a good path to Mexico.
650: WSM fair. This one is audible in southern Illinois daytime so I probably was in the convergence zone
640: Looking for Cuba but getting Oklahoma City
670: WSCR fair with no trace of Cuba
700: WLW good
720: WGN fair, but probably the best Chicago Signal
740: CFZM fair. On top of KRMG
750: WSB fair-weak. A little surprising
760: WJR fair-good
780: WBBM weak. Seems a little weaker than usual wherever I go. Maybe its just me
820: WBAP fair
830: WCCO weak-fair
840: WHAS fair
850: KOA good...but mixing with stuff underneath
860: CJBC fair-good....stronger than CFZM
870: WWL fair
880: WCBS weak Only New Yorker
890: WLS fair-good, but mixing with a Cuban signal nearly as strong
1020: KDKA weak. Another location where KDKA underperforms
1030: Religion on top of WBZ (Memphis?)
1040: WHO good
1070: No KNX here....just slop
1080: KRLD fair but on top
1100: WTAM good
1110: A rather weak KFAB is the answer to the question of what turns up here
1120: KMOX fair (convergence zone)
(Local 1150)
1180: Cuban jammers complete with echo. WHAM mixing
1200: WOAI fair
1500: KSTP weak but alone. Something of a surprise
1510: WLAC fair
1530: WCKY fair
1540: KXEL

On to Baton Rouge Wednesday night...

The main thing here was the path to Mexico. The Spanish on 620 that I'd heard the night before, but I had signals ranging from fair to good (and alone) on 540, 730, 900, 940, 1000, 1050, and 1220. Assume Mexico, but didn't ID any of them. I'm also a little reluctant to take it for granted that these were all Mexico because I thought 940 and/or 1220 might have moved to FM. Bt whatever I did have was...like the others...alone and with a good signal.

Otherwise.....

550: KTRS fair but alone
590: Spanish...but not R. Nacional from Cuba, which is what I would have expected. Music programming. I'm guessing it was the station from Northeast Mexico that's audible in south Texas (forget the calls).
630: KJSL fair-good
640: Cuba fair. No KFI (or for that matter, KTIB)
650: WSM good
670: WSCR fair, but mostly on top of Cuba. A little surprising
690: New Orleans and Cuba fighting it out
710: "Cuban Chorus" weak. KEEL got on top a couple of times.
720: WGN fair-good. best Chicago signal
740: KRMG and KTRH mixing. I'm wondering if KRMG might be a little out of pattern
780: WBBM weak
820: WBAP weak
840: WHAS fair-good
870: WWL fair. Weaker than I expected, but no R. Reloj underneath
890: R. Progreso on top of WLS
1030: Religion. KCTA isn't on at night, so I presume this was Memphis
1040: WHO good
1070: More slop. No KNX. WDIA surfaced a couple of times
1080: KRLD fair-weak
1090: KAAY fair
1110: WTAM weak
1120: KMOX fair-good
1180: Cuba fair-No WHAM
1200: WOAI fair
1510: WLAC weak
1530: WCKY fair

The next nights of my trip were in San Antonio. Steel and concrete hotel with only local signals getting through. Nothing really to report from there. Frankly, it was just as well. Too much to see and do....so it was a good place to turn off the radio and just leave it in my room at my hotel on the Riverwalk! Radio, BTW, was the SRF 37 Walkman.

This is my last road trip of the year, save for a Wisconsin overnight next month. Next up is three weeks on drt and gar's turf in St. Pete beach in January. I'll be doing well to even come remotely close to some of their catches! Looking forward to it. Great times....and some interesting DX....there this past January.

 

[schmave]

I'll be flying into Houston myself late Thursday for a family wedding. As much as DX down there didn't bring me most stations I was used to hearing up here in the Midwest, I'm looking forward to scanning the dial down there since I haven't visited in almost 3 1/2 years. Going to be warm and humid, even by their standards, Thursday night into Friday. Curious to see what that will do to the dial, especially in comparison to what might make it in after a strong cold front pushes through before the weekend.

 

[cyberdad]

I'll be flying into Houston myself late Thursday for a family wedding. As much as DX down there didn't bring me most stations I was used to hearing up here in the Midwest, I'm looking forward to scanning the dial down there since I haven't visited in almost 3 1/2 years. Going to be warm and humid, even by their standards, Thursday night into Friday. Curious to see what that will do to the dial, especially in comparison to what might make it in after a strong cold front pushes through before the weekend.

I'll be interested to hear what you might come up with on your Houston Visit. Houston is one city where I haven't spent very much time. My last overnight visit was two years ago. Right around that time there was a thread here about XERF and how well it was...or wasn't...getting out. The signal I encountered in Houston that night was very good. First adjacent KGOW was a non issue. But other than that, not much else sticks out in my memory. And XERF....IIRC...is now history.

 

[schmave]

I should have a very good chance to DX late tomorrow night into Friday. IIRC, the hotel where I'm staying - which, incidentally, is known locally as the Clara Harris Hilton for a crime that took place there some years back - is away from a large amount of interference. So I should be able to sit in the car and scan for a bit without a ton of noise.
Friday and Saturday nights, not so sure. Those look to be far busier.

 

[drt]

Thanks for the compliment, but GarFla is the one of the, if not the DX champ; he gets a lot more catches than I do!

Glad you lucked out in Baton Rouge, with my stay there last year, I had to go to the rental car to dx; only the local strong signals came through. With WWL 870, as best I recall the night time reception wasn't any better or maybe not as good as the daytime signal.

As to 590; what I receive day and night on 590 is a Cuban station that plays mostly classical music, sometimes some jazz, but mostly classical; think I might have even heard opera on 590. So if that programming fits what you heard, you may have very well had Cuba.

This past September in Canton, I really lucked out, the reception in the room was great and I didn't have to go out to the car, which was in a parking garage most of the time; so that would not have been reliable.

Even though St. Pete Beach is about 6 miles w.s.w. of me (as the crow flies); I seldom make it to the beach, but I value your opinion on restuarants after having lunch at Benders in Canton, so you know of any restaurant in St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island of that calibre, let me know!

Also, I don't know if you made it to Bradenton or Sarasota last year, while in St. Pete Beach, but if you like to eat hearty, there is an Amish Restuarant on business US 41 (Tamiami Trail or 14th St W) in Bradenton and also a Mennonite restaurant near Sarasota. The names of both escape me at the time.

Thanks for all your reports.

drt.
st. petersburg,fl

 

[gar hi]

Next up is three weeks on drt and gar's turf in St. Pete beach in January. I'll be doing well to even come remotely close to some of their catches!

Thanks for the compliment.

But if you go to Honeymoon Island, you will experience the same catches.

If you are in the area for three weeks, I hope you get the time to go there. The difference in AM daytime between there and other places on the Gulf in Pinellas county I've been to such as Clearwater Beach is quite noticeable.

Honeymoon Island is not only away from all the modern electronic interference but it's also more isolated by the saltwater. You have to check it out.

 

[cyberdad]

As to 590; what I receive day and night on 590 is a Cuban station that plays mostly classical music, sometimes some jazz, but mostly classical; think I might have even heard opera on 590. So if that programming fits what you heard, you may have very well had Cuba.

This past September in Canton, I really lucked out, the reception in the room was great and I didn't have to go out to the car, which was in a parking garage most of the time; so that would not have been reliable.

Even though St. Pete Beach is about 6 miles w.s.w. of me (as the crow flies); I seldom make it to the beach, but I value your opinion on restuarants after having lunch at Benders in Canton, so you know of any restaurant in St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island of that calibre, let me know!

Also, I don't know if you made it to Bradenton or Sarasota last year, while in St. Pete Beach, but if you like to eat hearty, there is an Amish Restuarant on business US 41 (Tamiami Trail or 14th St W) in Bradenton and also a Mennonite restaurant near Sarasota. The names of both escape me at the time.

Thanks for all your reports.

drt.
st. petersburg,fl

The 590 you're talking about is R. Nacional from Cuba. Not what I was hearing in Baton Rouge. My first thought was XEFD from Mexico, but they're supposed to be 250 watts at night. Also, RL lists them as regional Mexican. I was hearing tropical.

Glad the Canton trip worked out and went well for you. And I'm glad you enjoyed Bender's. We found several places we liked in St. Pete Beach, but we didn't go to anyplace as upscale as Bender's. We liked some of the super-casual local hangouts. Woody's, Sea Hag, Clock Tower (more of a neighborhood pub). The Floridian was a regular stop for some fantastic take-out Cuban sandwiches. Caddy's is probably the most popular place in the neighborhood, but it's more of a late-night dancing and entertainment venue. We went earlier and weren't all that impressed with the food. We liked the Ka-Tiki....a little tiki bar across the street...to stop in for a drink and some people-watching. Not sure if they serve food, however.

Hope these help!

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks for the compliment.

But if you go to Honeymoon Island, you will experience the same catches.

If you are in the area for three weeks, I hope you get the time to go there. The difference in AM daytime between there and other places on the Gulf in Pinellas county I've been to such as Clearwater Beach is quite noticeable.

Honeymoon Island is not only away from all the modern electronic interference but it's also more isolated by the saltwater. You have to check it out.

Honeymoon Island! THAT's the place I was trying to think of. Thanks, gar!

Last year the only "fly in the ointment" in an otherwise wonderful visit was that from time to time I got a little bogged down with a project I was working on. This year, the goal is "less work, more play", so hopefully I can sneak over there!

 

[schmave]

DXing tonight en route from IAH to the hotel was not shabby at all. Thought not much would be getting through with the quite muggy and warm conditions down here, but I was wrong.
WGN was the only Chicagoan I heard, and it was extremely weak.
Otherwise, WLW was fighting with local KSEV but only enough to create interference, not enough to be understood. WSM was there but not spectacular. WHAS was coming in very well, which surprised me. WBAP and KRLD were very good from right up the road in Dallas, as was WWL in the other direction from New Orleans. Almost local-like with Saints postgame.
WSB was solid enough to hear right next to local KTRH.
As far as Spanish-language stations, XEG was its usual blaster self. There was faint music on 800, which I am guessing was XEROK. About as weak as I remember, so maybe 2 on a 1-to-10 scale.
I plan to do a little more DXing later this weekend, but family activities are kicking up tomorrow so it's a 50/50 chance at this point.

 

[nsa1]

...
1030: Religion on top of WBZ (Memphis?)
...
1030: Religion. KCTA isn't on at night, so I presume this was Memphis

What time did you heard them? KCTA has pretty liberal sign-off times for a daytimer, I think they are on an hour or 2 past sunset (supposed to be at reduced power), and they sign on at full power at Boston sunrise (or at least used to). I've heard them in Ohio well past the sunset time in TX under WBZ as well as early mornings before sunrise here.

Memphis is Spanish language (unless they've changed formats recently), and you shouldn't have heard them in IL unless they were on day power.