DX Report - 12/15/09

[PoisonIvy]

About 12:45 am, 12/15/09, just southwest of downtown Chicago in my car, I picked up these AM stations:

- 1580, running a commercial for a business in Oshawa (referred to the 401 as a cross-street). I believe this may have been CKDO out of Oshawa, ON. Not sure how close it is to Toronto, but I've picked up Toronto stations from time to time.

- 690, playing the Eagles' "Hotel California" and then some other older pop or rock song (don't remember what it was). By Googling, I found an oldies station in Terrytown, NE, KOAQ-AM, which is 824 miles from my location when I heard it. There don't seem to be any other stations on 690 that would have played pop or rock music. What intrigues me is that the station only runs 65 watts at night. If this is what I heard, would this be considered a good catch, considering its nighttime wattage?

 

[BRNout]

About 12:45 am, 12/15/09, just southwest of downtown Chicago in my car, I picked up these AM stations:

- 1580, running a commercial for a business in Oshawa (referred to the 401 as a cross-street). I believe this may have been CKDO out of Oshawa, ON. Not sure how close it is to Toronto, but I've picked up Toronto stations from time to time.

You're right, it's CKDO from Oshawa, ON. Oshawa is about 35 miles east of Toronto and the signal on 1580 is simulcasted locally on 107.7 FM. This is a fairly common catch around Chicago these days.

- 690, playing the Eagles' "Hotel California" and then some other older pop or rock song (don't remember what it was). By Googling, I found an oldies station in Terrytown, NE, KOAQ-AM, which is 824 miles from my location when I heard it. There don't seem to be any other stations on 690 that would have played pop or rock music. What intrigues me is that the station only runs 65 watts at night. If this is what I heard, would this be considered a good catch, considering its nighttime wattage?

Yeah, that's a tough one. Normally what I get on 690 from my location NNW of Chicago is CINF Montreal....have never received anything playing music on that frequency. Odd because I actually dialed around last night (around 9 or so) and CINF was coming in pretty well at the time. That's not always the case, particularly with the jet engine noise that CBS and WBBM spray all over that portion of the band.

 

[Lawppy]

690 CINF Montreal does play music from time to time. 730 CKAC simulcasts this same music feed if you listen very closely.

 

[stormy01]

Re: DX Report - 12/15/09 (KOAQ)

690 CINF Montreal does play a fair amount of U.S. music I have found out. Recently while DXing I thought I had something other than CINF, because my understanding was that Canadian stations are supposedly required to play a large percentage of Canadian music content, it turned out to be French-speaking and thus, CINF. I wouldn't rule out getting a 65-watt Nebraska station on 690 from the Chicago area, being that the propagation conditions for AM have been a bit unpredictable lately, however, it's directional away from Montreal (and Chicago as well) as it should be. Unfortunately KOAQ doesn't have a webstream nor are they on yes.com

 

[PoisonIvy]

Given that Toronto-area stations are coming in fairly well (740 has been practically booming in), I don't think 690 CINF is that much of a stretch, as it comes from the same general direction although from a greater distance. I expect to be going out Friday night and will try again to see if I can catch something on that frequency -- and, if I do, to try to get a positive station ID. If I hear French-language programming on there, then I'll know. (Now if I could just remember some of the French I learned in college years ago! LOL!)

 

[BRNout]

Yes, I too have had good luck picking up CINF (generally French talk when I tune in). However, before we start making assumptions about propagation, I would like to point out that the Canadian station I've been picking up lately on 940 in Chicagoland is 10 kw [at night] CJGX from Yorkton, Saskatchewan (between Winnipeg and Saskatoon) and not 50 kw CINW Montreal. And, CJGX has come in pretty well - they're the home of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Yorkton Terriers don't ya know.

It would be better to confirm with an ID because there have been some odd propagation patterns now that we're almost to Winter Solstice.

 

[stormy01]

However, before we start making assumptions about propagation, I would like to point out that the Canadian station I've been picking up lately on 940 in Chicagoland is 10 kw [at night] CJGX from Yorkton, Saskatchewan (between Winnipeg and Saskatoon) and not 50 kw CINW Montreal. And, CJGX has come in pretty well - they're the home of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Yorkton Terriers don't ya know.

It would be better to confirm with an ID because there have been some odd propagation patterns now that we're almost to Winter Solstice.

CJGX would be a good catch from my location, only WFAW might give me some problems since it comes in pretty good here. I have CBK (540) and CKCK (620) from SK. I hear the 920 from Manitoba (CFRY - Portage la Prairie) on a regular basis.

 

[crainbebo]

I've gotten CJGX a few times under KWBY-Mexican.

-crainbebo

 

[Raider57]

Here in New Jersey about a month ago, I received music on the 690 frequency. My guess is that it is CINF Montreal since a Nebraska station would be too far to receive.

 

[BRNout]

CJGX would be a good catch from my location, only WFAW might give me some problems since it comes in pretty good here. I have CBK (540) and CKCK (620) from SK. I hear the 920 from Manitoba (CFRY - Portage la Prairie) on a regular basis.

How are you picking up CKCK with WTMJ's robust signal being so close to the north Chicagoland area? It must be a mere whisper. I am able to null the weaker 540 from Milwaukee to pick up CBK.

Here in New Jersey about a month ago, I received music on the 690 frequency. My guess is that it is CINF Montreal since a Nebraska station would be too far to receive.

Hmmm, I wonder if they play music later at night? That would be news to me. Every time I've tuned in (including last night) all I hear is talk programming. Last I heard, the format was French all-news; though the owner did flip co-owned News 940 to classic hits a while back.

 

[stormy01]

Re: DX Report - 12/15/09 (CKCK)

How are you picking up CKCK with WTMJ's robust signal being so close to the north Chicagoland area? It must be a mere whisper. I am able to null the weaker 540 from Milwaukee to pick up CBK.

At times the CKCK signal is strong enough for the call letters and spoken word like telephone numbers to be clearly understood, but there is no way to enjoy the music, WTMJ is quite audible here even in it's night pattern, but it's not a local grade signal at night like it is in the daytime. I'm at 195° from the WTMJ transmitter/tower site just north of Union Grove, WI and they are sending about 500mv/m my direction at a distance of 30 miles. WAUK 540 causes quite a bit of interference with their mighty 400 watts, but then they are nearly aimed right at my location.

 

[stormy01]

DX Report - 12/18/09 - CKWX 1130

Didn't necessarily want to start a new post just for this one: Last night on 1130, I was hearing WISN better than usual, which is usually buried in the jumble. Then I'm hearing a newscast - OK, I'm thinking, it's WBBR, Bloomberg Radio out of NYC. Then the announcer says: "News 1130, newstime, 1:43" I look at the time, and it's 3:43 a.m. Alright, I'm hearing CKWX from Vancouver! It was a decent signal for a few minutes and then it disappeared. And back to the usual jumble of WISN, KWKH and the Sports Stations...

 

[BRNout]

Re: DX Report - 12/15/09 (CKCK)

How are you picking up CKCK with WTMJ's robust signal being so close to the north Chicagoland area? It must be a mere whisper. I am able to null the weaker 540 from Milwaukee to pick up CBK.

At times the CKCK signal is strong enough for the call letters and spoken word like telephone numbers to be clearly understood, but there is no way to enjoy the music, WTMJ is quite audible here even in it's night pattern, but it's not a local grade signal at night like it is in the daytime. I'm at 195° from the WTMJ transmitter/tower site just north of Union Grove, WI and they are sending about 500mv/m my direction at a distance of 30 miles. WAUK 540 causes quite a bit of interference with their mighty 400 watts, but then they are nearly aimed right at my location.

Interesting. I tried nulling out 620 WTMJ and it worked. However, unlike your experience, I got an identifiable signal from WRJZ Knoxville, TN. No sign of anyone else on the frequency, at least not last night. Now, granted, my schedule is such that any dxing has to be done relatively early (no later than 10).

Didn't necessarily want to start a new post just for this one: Last night on 1130, I was hearing WISN better than usual, which is usually buried in the jumble. Then I'm hearing a newscast - OK, I'm thinking, it's WBBR, Bloomberg Radio out of NYC. Then the announcer says: "News 1130, newstime, 1:43" I look at the time, and it's 3:43 a.m. Alright, I'm hearing CKWX from Vancouver! It was a decent signal for a few minutes and then it disappeared. And back to the usual jumble of WISN, KWKH and the Sports Stations...

Pretty good catch there in 1130! In fact, really good.

That's one of those frequencies where the FCC was negligent and let things get truly out of hand. Not only is it pandemonium at night, but the daytime situation here in the Great Lakes region is ridiculous as well. For example, in Milwaukee there is the 50 kw signal of WISN. This station can be heard as far south as central IL and carries into Indiana and western Michigan as well. However, in their infinite wisdom, the FCC also licensed WDFN Detroit for 50 kw during the day. WDFN's directional daytime signal does not appear to protect WISN, which isn't all that far away. The net effect of this is that by 3 pm during this time of year, I am hearing WDFN start to step all over an otherwise clear and strong WISN from my location just south of the IL-WI border. By 4 pm it is ridiculous - until WDFN switches to their nighttime pattern (which they do around then). At that time, the interference is decreased somewhat, though they are still there under a reinvigorated WISN. Then of course WISN switches to their night pattern at about 4:15 with the over the air result of sounding like they abruptly shut off the transmitter.

It's insane that 2 stations with this level of power were shoehorned in so close to one another. It's as if the FCC put their hands over their ears and yelled "lalalala!" at the top of their lungs during physics class.

Later at night, this frequency is a mish-mash of all sorts of things unless KWKH Shreveport leaves their daytime pattern on (a frequent occurrence) in which case they muscle into Chicago with a signal that even Castro would envy. Stormy, a tip of the cap to you for staking 1130 out and pulling in Vancouver through that mush.

 

[stormy01]

Stormy, a tip of the cap to you for staking 1130 out and pulling in Vancouver through that mush.

Thanks, BRNout - I'm enjoying this forum with all of you DXers... I'd like to pick up Seattle or Portland - Ideas, anyone?
p.s. I start getting CKCK after about 8 p.m. CT, so pulling an "all-niter" won't be necessary...

 

[radioman148]

Re: DX Report - 12/15/09 (CKCK)

How are you picking up CKCK with WTMJ's robust signal being so close to the north Chicagoland area? It must be a mere whisper. I am able to null the weaker 540 from Milwaukee to pick up CBK.

At times the CKCK signal is strong enough for the call letters and spoken word like telephone numbers to be clearly understood, but there is no way to enjoy the music, WTMJ is quite audible here even in it's night pattern, but it's not a local grade signal at night like it is in the daytime. I'm at 195° from the WTMJ transmitter/tower site just north of Union Grove, WI and they are sending about 500mv/m my direction at a distance of 30 miles. WAUK 540 causes quite a bit of interference with their mighty 400 watts, but then they are nearly aimed right at my location.

Interesting. I tried nulling out 620 WTMJ and it worked. However, unlike your experience, I got an identifiable signal from WRJZ Knoxville, TN. No sign of anyone else on the frequency, at least not last night. Now, granted, my schedule is such that any dxing has to be done relatively early (no later than 10).

Didn't necessarily want to start a new post just for this one: Last night on 1130, I was hearing WISN better than usual, which is usually buried in the jumble. Then I'm hearing a newscast - OK, I'm thinking, it's WBBR, Bloomberg Radio out of NYC. Then the announcer says: "News 1130, newstime, 1:43" I look at the time, and it's 3:43 a.m. Alright, I'm hearing CKWX from Vancouver! It was a decent signal for a few minutes and then it disappeared. And back to the usual jumble of WISN, KWKH and the Sports Stations...

Pretty good catch there in 1130! In fact, really good.

That's one of those frequencies where the FCC was negligent and let things get truly out of hand. Not only is it pandemonium at night, but the daytime situation here in the Great Lakes region is ridiculous as well. For example, in Milwaukee there is the 50 kw signal of WISN. This station can be heard as far south as central IL and carries into Indiana and western Michigan as well. However, in their infinite wisdom, the FCC also licensed WDFN Detroit for 50 kw during the day. WDFN's directional daytime signal does not appear to protect WISN, which isn't all that far away. The net effect of this is that by 3 pm during this time of year, I am hearing WDFN start to step all over an otherwise clear and strong WISN from my location just south of the IL-WI border. By 4 pm it is ridiculous - until WDFN switches to their nighttime pattern (which they do around then). At that time, the interference is decreased somewhat, though they are still there under a reinvigorated WISN. Then of course WISN switches to their night pattern at about 4:15 with the over the air result of sounding like they abruptly shut off the transmitter.

It's insane that 2 stations with this level of power were shoehorned in so close to one another. It's as if the FCC put their hands over their ears and yelled "lalalala!" at the top of their lungs during physics class.

Later at night, this frequency is a mish-mash of all sorts of things unless KWKH Shreveport leaves their daytime pattern on (a frequent occurrence) in which case they muscle into Chicago with a signal that even Castro would envy. Stormy, a tip of the cap to you for staking 1130 out and pulling in Vancouver through that mush.

Don't forget 1130 in Minneapolis. If you're up in Northern Michigan or south central Canada you really get a mess of all three stations. Incredible that the FCC would squeeze 50KWs in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, & Detroit all together. Still I manage to hear WBBR almost everynight while in their null. Ahh radio signals are so unpredictable.