Northwest Minnesota/Winnipeg

[cyberdad]

Picking up from the "Gatlinburg" thread and Radioman's question...

Tonight I'm in Winnipeg. Long, busy day, but I'll get the radios going after this post.

Preliminary report from last night/early this morning. The question had to do with reception of WIND, WMVP, and WYLL in this part of the world.

Last night I was about 125 miles south of here in Northwest Minnesota. Here's what I came up with late evening and pre-dawn this morning.

560: I think I heard WIND in the mix, but couldn't get a positive ID and it never was on top. I was a little more sure about KLZ, but couldn't positively ID that one either. The "top dog", but not always on top was KWTO. Was able to positively ID that.

1000: Too much noise here to get a handle on anything.

1160: This was the big surprise. WYLL was stronger than any of the "1-As" from Chicago. Solid, steady, and NO trace of KSL. I wasn't expecting this. I thought I was too far west for WYLL, and figured it I heard it at all, it would be under KSL (which I've heard many times in Minnesota).

I'll report on whatever turns up these next two nights here. I can pretty much rule out WMVP because I'm about 12 miles from CBW's 46KW stick on 990. For that matter, there's probably also no chance for WSCR here with CJOB and the best signal in town on 680 (In fact, I'm within walking distance of their studios). I'm on the top floor of a hotel with a relatively low noise level....so conditions should be pretty decent.

Stay tuned and feel free to let me know of any suggestions/requests.

 

[radioman148]

I'm not too surprised about WYLL. I was in Northern Wisconsin a few years ago right after they went to those new night sticks and the signal was easily the strongest of any Chicago station. I was not as far north as you are and quite a bit further east so I wasn't sure it would be that strong where you are, but I figured you'd at least hear it. When 1160 was using the Des Plaines towers at night it was all KSL up that way.
I am surprised that you're not hearing the Duluth station on 560 in the mix.
Look forward to further reports.

 

[crainbebo]

Try for these stations
530 Cuba
550 KFYR Bismarck and maybe KTRS
570 CKSW Swift Current SK
590 KXSP Omaha
600 CJWW Saskatoon/WMT Cedar Rapids
620 WTMJ
630 CFCO
640 KFI
660 Can KTNN come in there, or maybe CFFR?
710 KIRO/KXMR
730 CHMJ
740 CBX
750 CKJH Melfort, SK/KERR Polson, MT (try sunset!)
770 CHQR
790 CFCW
850 KOA
900 CKBI
910 KCJB
930 CJCA Edmonton, AB
960 CFAC
1010 CBR/CFRB
1030 KTWO
1070 KNX
1080 KRLD
1130 CKWX
1160 KSL
1170 KFAQ
1190 KEX
1210 KGYN
1260 CFRN Edmonton, AB
1330 CJYM Rosetown, SK
1510 KGA
1530 KFBK
1590 WAKR maybe?
1630 KRND
1640 KDZR
1660 KXOL
1700 KVNS

Good luck in Winnipeg cyberdad!

-crainbebo

 

[Icangelp]

Thanks, c'dad. I really enjoy your reports from far away places.

You are are the Daniel Boone of modern DX'ing.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Must be cool to be in Winnipeg these days with all the excitement over the return of the Jets!

CBW is about the most distant station I can tune on a regular basis here in Pittsburgh.
I presume that KDKA does not reciprocate?

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks, guys, for inputs and kind words. I'll address some of the individual points a little later (and yes indeed this place IS Jets' nation!) But here are the basics from last night and about an hour before dawn this morning....

560: WIND easily on top with a pretty good signal....which surprised me a little, given that it was pretty much buried the night before 125 miles south of here. I also am somewhat surprised that WEBC (Duluth) has been missing in action. I did hear KLZ in the mix this morning (I think that's what it was), along with KWTO....but WIND was blowing them both out.

1000: No way for WMVP (or KOMO or KTOK, etc.). CBW splatter all over the place.

1160: WYLL on top again more often than not, but KSL giving it a good fight. Again, a little surprising to me. Each signal was strong for the most part.

The "1-A" Chicago stations: I was able to null CJOB (barely) and hear WSCR. The other three had good signals most of the time.

Someone could look it up, but I'm going to guess that Chicago-Winnipeg is probably about a 700-750 mile hop.

More later.

 

[radioman148]

Wow WIND that strong in Winnipeg--that's a surprise. I was just wondering if you'd hear it.
I think the Chicago/Winnipeg distance is about 720 air miles.

 

[cyberdad]

WIND was indeed quite good....very listenable and very little fading  I'll see if it's that good again tonight.  I think KLZ is what was underneath.  I was hearing what sounded like pop music , but I couldn't recognize any of it...so I assume it might have been Christian contemporary, and thus KLZ.  Never hearf an ID.  OTOH, I caught multiple WIND IDs.

Again...more later.

 

[crainbebo]

KLZ is talk now-not Christian. Your pop station might have been CFOS Owen Sound, ON...

-crainbebo

 

[cyberdad]

Okay, to tie up the loose ends...

I'll start with Crainbebo's list. But before that, CFOS. I've been expecting to hear them, and maybe you've just pointed out that indeed I have. The only part of the puzzle that so far doesn't add up is that I normally associate them with oldies (along with sports and talk). What I was hearing these last two mornings was unfamiliar.

No for the list... I know I won't have time to get through it. Wish I could. But a few observations....

550: It's been a mess at night. 30I think KTRS might be in there...perhaps also WSAU. KFYR daytime.
600: Jamestown, North Dakota owns this...especially daytime.
620: CKRM 24/7
730: CKDM 24/7...but not very well
740: Didn't hang out here, but pretty sure what I heard was CBX
850: KOA, absolutely
960: CFAC. Killer signal....even with semi-local CFAM in the neighborhood.
1010: CBR Good signal
1030: WBZ not KWTO
1070: I was hoping for KNX...but I was getting WTSO with a very good signal
1130: CKWX was one of the strongest skywave signals. So with WBZ (and, for that matter, WABC), I had both coasts.
1160: KSL was there, but WYLL was usually on top.

I'll see what else I might be able to do with your list and report on anything I find out.

Icangelp: Thanks. One of the fringe benefits of traveling in the work I do is being able to DX in a wide variety of locations. Tomorrow night I'm in Minneapolis. I also have three other road trips coming up before the end of the year. A short one to Indy and Louisville in a couple of weeks....then longer ones to Texas and South Carolina in November and December respectively. As always, I'll report whatever I come across.

Freddy: No KDKA last night. There's noise on 1020, so I'm not particularly optimistic, but I'll try again tonight.

And yes, not only have the Jets taken over Winnipeg, but there's Blue Bomber fever here as well. They're having a great year in the CFL and will probably be the favorite when the Grey Cup playoffs start in a week or two.

 

[radioman148]

Thanks for the detailed reports Cyberdad.
Not surprised with WTSO as they send a good amount of signal that way.
Your traveling DX reports are very much appreciated.

 

[Bongwater]

KLZ is talk now-not Christian. Your pop station might have been CFOS Owen Sound, ON...

-crainbebo

I once caught KLZ in their Z-Rock incarnation.....

I also picked up CITI-FM Winnipeg in Lynnwood, WA during an e-skip just before CBU-FM1 signed on in 1989. Came in loud and rock solid for 20 minutes......Aren't they 360,000 watts?

 

[crainbebo]

Bongwater, I caught CITI 92.1 as well! But I was a few miles from Lynnwood and 21 years apart LOL. Also got CBWT TV6 and CHMX 92.1 Regina, SK in that opening.

-crainbebo

 

[cyberdad]

Different Circumstances last night/this morning (Friday)

Things were generally nowhere near as good as the night before.  All the Chicago stations were weaker....but still present.  Exception was WSCR, which I couldn't pull out from under CJOB.  WIND was in...but no longer dominating 560. WYLL was the strongest once again...although that may be because KSL was weaker.

I was still able to do the "bi-coastal" thing.  CKWX was weaker, but still pretty good.  WBZ was also there...but barely.  No WABC.

The notable exception to the generally worse conditions was the path to southern Ontario.  CFCO was putting in a fine signal on 630 (surprising since they're supposed to be protecting Winnipeg's now-defunct CKRC).  Meanwhile CKOC was roaring in...and all alone...on 1150.

Biggest surprise of all came this morning around sunrise (7:45 CDT).  I was in the car trying 560 to see what was going on.  What I discovered was KMON all alone with a good signal.

Couple of other notes....

Freddy...  I tried KDKA again.  No luck.  Noise and "residual" splatter from CBW and CKSB was all I got.

Crainbebo...  Didn't get to much of your list. Apologies.  Did, however, try 660 and got a good signal from CFFR all alone.  I also tried 1700 and wound up with Des Moines...not Texas.  As for CITI, I think they're 100kw.  Like most Winnipeg FMs, they make it to the border in decent shape....then are gone within about a half hour.  The two big Winnipeg AM signals....CJOB and CBW are good for about 150 miles into the U.S. (As is CBK).

Tonight I'm in Minneapolis.  Big old steel/concrete hotel.  Not a venue for DX.  Speaking of Minneapolis...  Radioman mentioned WTSO throwing most of its nighttime signal this way. Yes, and in my years of coming up here, it's a nighttime regular.  It also was quite good...and all alone...this morning in Winnipeg.

 

[radioman148]

Cyber,

As always I enjoy your detailed DX reports.

Thanks!