Key West

[cyberdad]

KAAY, WSB WSM AM will be strong. FM Cuban & Miami signals can be heard if you are on a second floor building.

I'm hoping I can find a high enough perch somewhere for FM.

WSB and WSM are also strong at the other end of Florida in Pensacola. So is WLW, which Radioman mentioned as being the most reliable mainland US signal in Puerto Rico. KAAY should be interesting. KAAY's signal in Pensacola is so-so, but Key West may line up a little better with their pattern. OTOH, KAAY's nighttime signal in general "ain't what it used to be".

 

[cd637299]

IMO, I would not get headaches trying for KCBS; their pattern is north/south at night, isn't it?

Also, like DE said, you'll get many Latin American stations (and believe me, not only on 740), so many that you may not need Rosetta Stone after a while....

I'd say that your best bet for California would either be KNX (and I think there is a Cuban on 1070 but never got ID) or an X-bander....the 1990s were the last time I heard CA on AM, and that was about three in the X-band, before the TIS's & other X-banders sprung up like weeds.

As far as FM, one bit of good news is that WKWF 91.5 in Marathon is the only FM in all the Keys using HD. And I've heard them during times when HD is missing.

Oh...and I have tried for KVNS 1700 in the day from Big Coppitt Key, and just could not get it, despite decent equipment. KCTA, I don't think so either.

You *can* try for Mexico in the day. Cancun has R Formula 740, & XEYI on 580 (I forget the slogan). It was not long ago you could **easily** hear XEQOO 1050 Cancun in the day in Key West, even on car radio, with 35 kW in the day. I think it was Hurricane Wilma that knocked them either off air for good, or on flea power. I used to get Radio Caribe 860 Cancun and Radio Sensacion 630 near Cancun, from Flamingo in Everglades National Park. But Cubans on those 2 frequencies pretty much killed that. (I think Formula was my most recent Mexican in the day, but maybe 10 years back?)

Until about 3-5 years ago, even Jamaica was possible in the day on AM from Flamingo (and the Keys would be even closer), but there are no longer any AM stations there.

cd

 

[tanner]

I was in Marathon and Key West between Christmas and New Years. David Eduardo is right in DXing that part of the Keys is not very good. Very few stations that are audible from the mainlaind, mostly spanish and junk.

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks, cd...

If I'm on 740, I'm probably trying for CFZM. And KNX is also on my wish list. I also was curious about Mexico in the daytime....and for that matter, also at night. XEB has been the surprising "stud" lately in Pensacola, so I'm wondering if that's also the case in KW.

As for the the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean...my guess is I'll be like a kid in a candy store. And in need of a Rosetta stone!

 

[cd637299]

I can't get XEB outside of its Web feed! There's a Cuban on 1220 too, I believe....

Hey and do *not* at all be surprised if you hear 1620 Pensacola or 1640 Biloxi in the day, even that high up the dial. I have indeed heard them from mile marker 35.

BTW going the other way, WKWF 1600 makes it up to Cape San Blas (south of Tallahassee) in the day. It's a war between WKWF & KLEB in La.

cd

 

[asugeorge1]

I'd really try and get KVNS down there, maybe even during the day if WJCC out of Miami doesn't interfere. The straight salt-water path from Brownsville to Key West would work wonders in trying to snag KVNS.

If you can't get KVNS, also try for XEPE 1700 from just south of San Diego, CA in Tijuana, Mexico. I seem to recall "garfla" stating that he picked it up on the west coast of Florida under KVNS and WJCC. I'd imagine it's possible down in Key West. Also, it's the strongest night-time powered 1700 in North America. It's worth a shot!

Also, I would try for day-time reception of WWL. 50,000 watts on a straight salt-water path from New Orleans might allow it to be picked up during the day down there. Good luck!

 

[cd637299]

I told our OP privately that WWL should be no problem. It's a snap along the west coast of FL, in the day. There are others in Nawlins, but co-channel Cubans would be the fly in the ointment. I have heard 1060 & 690 in other spots in FL in the day, and even 800 (Cedar Key). At a place called Levy Park (Yankeetown), if you have a good radio with good nulling, both 600 & 690 can be a duel between Jax & Nawlins!

But, back to Los Cayos.

cd

 

[schmave]

Is Key West behind WWL's null? Appears it might be judging from Radio Locator. Of course, I have no idea how deep that null is, nor I'm sure do most other people since it falls over the Gulf.

 

[cd637299]

^ I will admit, getting WWL from Key West, compared to from Naples, will be much more difficult. About 20 years ago, there was a TIS in Key West right on AM 870. It's gone now.....I think that our OP can nail it.

cd

 

[jd]

Is Key West behind WWL's null? Appears it might be judging from Radio Locator. Of course, I have no idea how deep that null is, nor I'm sure do most other people since it falls over the Gulf.

Take this for what it's worth, but here are a couple of coverage maps for WWL (Daytime coverage is shown on the upper one, but of course they employ the same pattern day and night): www.thetalkofneworleans.com/coveragemap.html

Since no documentation is shown and no values are given for the contours, it's open to interpretation. What can be said with some degree of certainty, however, is that two distinct nulls (around 150 and 210 degrees) appear to be depicted fairly accurately. Key West lies in an east-southeast direction (125 degrees, give or take), so it wouldn't appear to be squarely "in a null."

 

[gar hi]

IMO, I would not get headaches trying for KCBS; their pattern is north/south at night, isn't it?

Their lobe at night goes SE. That's why I figured the chances were better hearing it in Key West than up here where I am, as there should be more signal being sent the more south you go.

But there's probably a better chance of hearing KTRH midday than KCBS at night.

Cyberdad, I'd be real interested to hear if you get KTRH in the daytime, as it's a regular midday even in summer up along the central Florida coast and you won't have WYGM there either.

How about other possible daytime catches like WWL.

Also, I'd be curious to hear what 1700 sounds like there midday. I'm sure you'll hear WJCC but I wonder if you would possibly hear any signal flutter in the background that could mean a possible trace of KVNS.

This is what is heard on 1700 midday on the beach up here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjDPHQl6owY

And also I wonder if you can hear any Tampa/St. Pete stations daytime. WWMI 1380 Radio Disney might be the best shot because not only is it non directional, their transmitter is near the bay in St. Pete too.

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks again guys....

It's getting to the point where I think all I'll have time for is eat, sleep, and DX.  ....And there may not be enough time for the first two.  I love it!  ;D

Seriously, ALL of what's being posted sounds interesting.  Some of it I had already thought of myself.  Hopefully I'll be in a location that's noise-free enough to where I can tackle everything.  A few thoughts...

KCBS:  I'm not sure if the hardware I'll have with me is going to be sufficient to pull it off.  As alluded to previously, I'll try, but I'm not optimistic. I agree that KTRH in the daytime might be more doable on 740.

1700:  KVNS is definitely on my "to do" list day/night.

1380:  The ex-WLCY puts a pretty decent daytime signal into Perdido Key (Pensacola).  Second only to WDAE and WFLA in that order.  I'll take a shot at all three.

WWL:  I think I'll be in pretty good shape for snagging this one, although I'm wondering to what extent R. Reloj might be a pest. They were actually on top a couple of times when I was in Indiana a couple of weeks ago.  I'll also see what else comes up from N'Awlins.  690 might be a little tough if they're still on STA. As WTIX, they had a great signal....in addition to being a great listen!).  1060 might be a little easier, although their signal has degraded in recent years.  I'm also wondering about 1280 and 1350.

Pensacola 1620:  I'm curious about this one also....whether the daytime signal in Key West might be better than the lousy signal I get on the beach at Perdido Key, 20 miles from their stick (but via a "sandbar" path).

 

[cd637299]

Actually the easiest Tampa AM to hear there in the day is WFLA 970. Not even an issue....I heard it in Key West prior to their raising power. if not for the Cuban co-channels, 820/620/570/760/860/1380/you-name-it would be audible.

I was at Boca Chica Beach, not far away from KW, when the Cuban COCO-CMCK 980 was accidentally off; bagged WRNE Gulf Breeze in the day!

Note to cyberdad: Check out Boca Chica Beach if you have time. It's County Road 941, and it's off of US 1 around mile marker 10.7. You have to take it practically to the end, about 3.5 miles.

cd

 

[davideduardo]

Thanks, cd...

If I'm on 740, I'm probably trying for CFZM. And KNX is also on my wish list. I also was curious about Mexico in the daytime....and for that matter, also at night. XEB has been the surprising "stud" lately in Pensacola, so I'm wondering if that's also the case in KW.

The Mexicans that are closest are the Yucatan peninsula stations, and nearly all of those are relocating to FM. Some have reached the drop dead point, and have turned off the AM entirely, others are still in the simulcast period of relocation.

The first ones to die are Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche and Tabasco. Veracruz is in the next set, and is already transitioning. 75% of the AMs will disappear... so check Fred Cantú's very useful www.mexicoradiotv.com for those. Except for Cuba and Puerto Rico, AM is declining in most of the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, many are silent and others on lower power. Aruba and Curacao have moved mostly to FM, same Jamaica and nearly all the Windward and Leeward Islands. But the coastal Colombians and Venezuelans are certainly there and some should make it through the Cubans.

 

[chrish]

Last time I was on the Yucatan Pennisula I brought a GE superadio along and with 10 days of almost solid rain I had plenty of time to DX and found not a thing in English. Needless to say I was very dissappointed, must have been all from Mexico, South and Central America. At the time the only TV in English at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza was HBO, I saw Dirty Dancing at least 30 times and can recite every line in the movie rote till this day. "No one puts Baby in a corner" "Moe Perssmans wallet was stolen while he was playing Pinochle last night Vivian remembers that dance kid Johnny around at the time" see what I mean. Things have improved since the late 90's my brother informed my that in the past few years NY and LA and all the cable channels are everywhere.

 

[richllewis]

I do not know if you can pick it up but there is a sports station in Biloxi, MS on 1640, WTNI, that you might try for at night. It is a regular in Central Mississippi at night but I do not know how it will do over the ocean.

 

[cd637299]

@chrish:

I cannot recall where I read it, maybe a DX newsletter----but I believe that somebody was on a cruise ship at Cancun, and WKWF 1600 Key West was audible. WKWF's 500 watt non directional signal really puts out. You may have had a shot at them from Yucatan in the day or night, but rain certainly puts a monkey wrench in any DXing.

cd

 

[gar hi]

I don't know how rain could affect MW DXing as it does FM.

There should be plenty of American stations heard on the Yucatan day and night assuming you are right near the water and not inside a hotel.

DXing conditions inside hotels are awful especially with the increase in use of fluorescent lights.

Looking at the map of the Yucatan, I bet you could even hear stations like KVNS and KCTA midday on a good receiver if you were right on the beach on the northern part of the penninsula.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

The first thing I thought of, though a long shot, is to listen for KCBS?

That far south not only are you far from WYGM but KCBS should send more signal power in that direction too.

You are also getting closer and closer to stations like Valledupar's Radio Guatapurí and entering the pure tropic zone where conditions favor in-zone DX. Latin America is full of big signals on 740, all of which will be stronger than KCBS.

I heard 740 from Toronto about 200 miles north of Key West...that's my best DX catch while anywhere in FL so far. Was in Key West in January...WLW on the portable radio in the hotel was the best that trip. Key West has great weather, 'interesting' people watching...and don't forget the Sunset Celebration nightly at Mallory Square at the west end of Duval Street...that's better than DX!

 

[asugeorge1]

I don't know how rain could affect MW DXing as it does FM.

There should be plenty of American stations heard on the Yucatan day and night assuming you are right near the water and not inside a hotel.

DXing conditions inside hotels are awful especially with the increase in use of fluorescent lights.

Looking at the map of the Yucatan, I bet you could even hear stations like KVNS and KCTA midday on a good receiver if you were right on the beach on the northern part of the peninsula.

I agree. I bet if you were in Cancun or the northern beaches of the Yucatan peninsula, you would have a good shot at picking up WWL during the day with that straight salt-water path going directly south from New Orleans. I also suspect you might have a shot at snagging the Tampa Bay blowtorches during the day or the Key West stations. KVNS might even be possible, especially near Campeche.

Also, I bet AM conditions are better now in the Yucatan since there are no more AM stations on the peninsula. I bet if you go now, it's probably a great DX spot for US mainland stations both day and night. You just have to watch out for those pesky Cuban stations nearby! ;D

Back to the original topic, what are the chances of picking up Cubans on the FM side of the dial in Key West? Since Key West is only 90 something miles away from Cuba and 106 miles from Havana, I bet some of those Havana stations can come in pretty good under the right conditions. I know some stations like WEOW, 92.7 FM claim they can be heard in Havana so I'd imagine it works the other way around. Anyone experienced Cubans on FM in Key West?