DX from Playa del Carmen, Mexico

[elchupacabras]

I was in southern Mexico this past weekend and was able to log a few interesting catches. They include:

WABC 770 NYC 50 KW (Under the mud from Radio Formula)

WHNZ 1250 TAMPA 5900 WATTS NIGHT

WOAI 1200 SAN ANTONIO 50 KW

600 YNA3MD 10 KW LA NUEVA RADIO YA, Managua, Nicaragua

790 Radio Reloj, Cuba

WOAI came in fantastic across the entire Yucatan Peninsula, but as I traveled to Villahermosa, Tobasco, it came in FULL QUIETING!

Radio Ya never identified its call sign, but had a very strong signal.

Radio Progreso was a trip. It was like turning on the radio 40 years ago, with its selection of Leucona boleros, and a news sounder that had a very dated sound.

I was also impressed with the activity on the tropical SW band, which was buzzing with activity.

DXing was fantastic in Playa del Carmen, since the city has not grown so large as to produce copious amounts of RFI. It is a DXer's paradise!

 

[Icangelp]

If you don't mind, what were some of the tropical band stations you heard?

I know the Mexican AM band is still crowded and Cuba has a station on almost every frequency, but were you able to hear any other Caribbean stations and/or South America?

 

[davideduardo]

If you don't mind, what were some of the tropical band stations you heard?

I know the Mexican AM band is still crowded and Cuba has a station on almost every frequency, but were you able to hear any other Caribbean stations and/or South America?

Most of the AMs in SE Mexico (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche) are in the process of or have migrated to FM. In a short time, there will be no AMs left in those states, the first 4 in the SCT's plan to move 90% of AMs to FM.

The source of the much interference will be Honduras and Guatemala, heavily populated with medium power AMs. And you have a clear "below the tropics" path to the very high power Colombians, some with 100 kw or more.

There will be plenty of Cubans from the Western area of Cuba, but remember that eastern Cuba is 800 to 900 miles away. Santiago de Cuba and Barranquilla, Colombia are very close to being the same distance away.

 

[schmave]

I had a cousin who almost got married in PDC back in the summer of 2007 but ended up moving the wedding to Dallas. Getting time for DXing was high on my list; figured a lot of southern U.S. stations would come in down there.

 

[Icangelp]

If you don't mind, what were some of the tropical band stations you heard?

I know the Mexican AM band is still crowded and Cuba has a station on almost every frequency, but were you able to hear any other Caribbean stations and/or South America?

Most of the AMs in SE Mexico (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche) are in the process of or have migrated to FM. In a short time, there will be no AMs left in those states, the first 4 in the SCT's plan to move 90% of AMs to FM.

The source of the much interference will be Honduras and Guatemala, heavily populated with medium power AMs. And you have a clear "below the tropics" path to the very high power Colombians, some with 100 kw or more.

There will be plenty of Cubans from the Western area of Cuba, but remember that eastern Cuba is 800 to 900 miles away. Santiago de Cuba and Barranquilla, Colombia are very close to being the same distance away.

Although I will miss the Mexicans, their vacating the MW band will indeed open up some opportunities for Central and South America. The growing solar activity should also benefit southern DX. Alsthough I consider them as pests, lately Cubans are starting to appear on more frequencies.

We won't be hearing Radio Swan, PJB, ZDK, TIFC or Radio Sutatenza, but it should be fun.

 

[davideduardo]

Although I will miss the Mexicans, their vacating the MW band will indeed open up some opportunities for Central and South America. The growing solar activity should also benefit southern DX. Alsthough I consider them as pests, lately Cubans are starting to appear on more frequencies.

We won't be hearing Radio Swan, PJB, ZDK, TIFC or Radio Sutatenza, but it should be fun.

Central America is likely to have many fewer stations by the time the Mexican regio-by-region plan is finished. Already, half the AMs in El Salvador ar gone, including things like the venerable YSR network... 2/3 of the remaining ones are evangelical Christian stations, and seem to have lower power. Guatemala is losing stations fast, as is Costa Rica and Panamá.

Colombia remains with plenty of AMs, and Sutatenza lives on as CARACOL Bogotá with the full 250 kw. Venezuela has lost many AMs to Chavez-dictated closures, and the Windward Islands are near AM-less. Ecuador is losing them rapidly, too.

What remains may make for some DX openings like we have not seen since the early 60's when CX28 from Uruguay was heard nearly every Monday morning with its 10 kw on 1090 in Ohio and the deep voiced "Elle Erre Tres, Radio Belgrano" could often be heard on 950 at 4 AM EST. When I fired up HCRM1 in '64, we were the only 24/7 station in the country!

 

[gr8oldies]

Hugo must still like my teenhood favorite, Ecos del Torbes, which I heard online a while back. "Lo Que Esta Noche Recuerda" was still there in automated form. Strangest thing was hearing REMAX commercials! "Buy a house now before Chavez nationalizes it?"