Three venues in three weeks

[cyberdad]

As I alluded to in another thread a few weeks back, I'm going back on the road again later this week. Three back to back long weekend stops in conjunction with Mrs. Cyberdad's business......Canton, OH, Gulf Shores, AL, and Kansas City, MO in that order. My last two "big road trips" didn't yield as much DX...or DXing opportunities....as I had hoped. So I don't want to disappoint you guys or raise expectations with this one.

But that said, I'm always open to requests and suggestions, so I'll see what I can do with any ideas you might have. I'll also report anything of note that I come across. I'm not, however, planning to post any bandscans, as I think all three of these locations have been pretty well covered in previous threads. Note also that I'll have intermediate stops in Louisville and Memphis.

One thing that is different about this trip is that we're taking two vehicles. Car and box truck. So since I'll be alone behind the wheel, I won't have to worry about annoying the wife with nonstop DX. Which means I can just "have at it"! Several days will also involve driving in the hours before and after sunrise, so that'll hopefully produce some interesting results.

Sidebar note for Zach... Mrs. Cyberdad's Gulf Shores venue is Shrimpfest. At the urging several friends, she's a vendor there this year, and I'll be helping out as needed. I narrowly missed the chance to meet up with Darth last month in Portland, and also just missed crainbebo, who was also in town the same weekend. Earlier in the year, I missed cd in South Florida. But this time, I'm parked in one place for four days and taking part in a large public event. So, if you're planning on attending, by all means feel free to let me know, and I'll be more than happy to PM you with our booth number and contact info (we're right by the information center). It'd be my pleasure to buy you a beer (or whatever) and swap DX stories if you're so inclined.

 

[crainbebo]

In KC, you should be on the lookout for KFI, KNX and KNBR. I'd also try for WCBS and KYW. Some of the less popular channels may pop up some good catches as well.

And when I was in Portland, I wasn't in town-I was near town. Motel was the Hampton Inn in Gresham, on NE 181st Ave, literally 30 seconds to the freeway entrance.

-crainbebo

 

[cyberdad]

KNBR in Kansas City is tough duty because of semi-local KFEQ (St. Joseph) with 5kw nighttime on 680. It can be nulled, however. KFI and especially KNX are doable, but no shortage of pests on either channel.

 

[cd637299]

At Gulf Shores, I would concentrate on **daytime** AM DX. Would be curious what the southernmost stations are that you will hear in FL (note 1), Cuba, Texas (note 2), and maybe even Mexico (note 3).

Note 1: Not sure if any Miami stations will make it, but 1660 Marco Island might be the farthest south. WKWF 1600 Key West could make it, but beware KLEB. Maybe 1300 & 1500 in the Keys?

Note 2: I did hear KVNS 1700 Brownsville in the day, from Cape San Blas, FL....so don't discount it! Also try for KCTA 1030.

Note 3: Not sure if the massive AM close-down has occurred in these cities, but: XEFW 810 Tampico might eke in, and maybe Merida or Cancun could come in. Try 580, 600, 630, 740, 860, 1050 (although 1050 I think got reduced or demolished by Hurricane Wilma in 2005). DavidEduardo might be getting info further on this.

Most of all, have fun!

cd

PS....try to find out how far west (inland) into TX you might hear. WOAI might be a bust because of 1200 Ft Myers, but worth a try; maybe Dallas or Houston, although the 820 Tampa Bay will likely kill WBAP. OH and check the signal of 620 WDAE and see if it causes I-buzz on 610/630 (I am sure WVTJ isn't too thrilled).

cd

 

[tomservo]

Sidebar note for Zach... Mrs. Cyberdad's Gulf Shores venue is Shrimpfest. At the urging several friends, she's a vendor there this year, and I'll be helping out as needed. I narrowly missed the chance to meet up with Darth last month in Portland, and also just missed crainbebo, who was also in town the same weekend. Earlier in the year, I missed cd in South Florida. But this time, I'm parked in one place for four days and taking part in a large public event. So, if you're planning on attending, by all means feel free to let me know, and I'll be more than happy to PM you with our booth number and contact info (we're right by the information center). It'd be my pleasure to buy you a beer (or whatever) and swap DX stories if you're so inclined.

A car to yourself on a long trip? That sounds great! I can relate to the DX getting on people's nerves. My friends have come to expect it and tolerate it. Family, not so much.

I have tentative plans to attend the Shrimp Festival next week and would love to stop in and say hello. I've never been before and have been itching to see what it's about since I missed it last year.

As for DX, if you happen to go through Mississippi on your Memphis trip, WABG 960 in Greenwood has finally gotten their transmitter fixed up and it sounds like a real station now. I think it's the last outlet for blues in that part of the state. It's only 1 kW days but the signal is pretty good now that it's audible again. Maybe you could snag it from Memphis? That'd be a good catch. One thing I used to always do that wasn't really DX so much but was still fun to me was to see how far I could carry WCRV 640 out of Memphis. Their 50 kW day signal is massive. On a sufficiently narrow car radio it'll stop the scan in Jackson, over 200 miles to the south. Going north I think it reaches to about Ste. Genevieve on I-55. It could probably go further but there's adjacent channel problems in Saint Louis.

 

[Icangelp]

Sidebar note for Zach... Mrs. Cyberdad's Gulf Shores venue is Shrimpfest. At the urging several friends, she's a vendor there this year, and I'll be helping out as needed. I narrowly missed the chance to meet up with Darth last month in Portland, and also just missed crainbebo, who was also in town the same weekend. Earlier in the year, I missed cd in South Florida. But this time, I'm parked in one place for four days and taking part in a large public event. So, if you're planning on attending, by all means feel free to let me know, and I'll be more than happy to PM you with our booth number and contact info (we're right by the information center). It'd be my pleasure to buy you a beer (or whatever) and swap DX stories if you're so inclined.

A car to yourself on a long trip? That sounds great! I can relate to the DX getting on people's nerves. My friends have come to expect it and tolerate it. Family, not so much.

I have tentative plans to attend the Shrimp Festival next week and would love to stop in and say hello. I've never been before and have been itching to see what it's about since I missed it last year.

As for DX, if you happen to go through Mississippi on your Memphis trip, WABG 960 in Greenwood has finally gotten their transmitter fixed up and it sounds like a real station now. I think it's the last outlet for blues in that part of the state. It's only 1 kW days but the signal is pretty good now that it's audible again. Maybe you could snag it from Memphis? That'd be a good catch. One thing I used to always do that wasn't really DX so much but was still fun to me was to see how far I could carry WCRV 640 out of Memphis. Their 50 kW day signal is massive. On a sufficiently narrow car radio it'll stop the scan in Jackson, over 200 miles to the south. Going north I think it reaches to about Ste. Genevieve on I-55. It could probably go further but there's adjacent channel problems in Saint Louis.

I'll vouch for WCRV's massive signal. Not as strong east, in part to due WSM, but driving south is lasts a very long time.

The station on 1180 in Jackson also has a very good signal.

 

[Icangelp]

As I alluded to in another thread a few weeks back, I'm going back on the road again later this week. Three back to back long weekend stops in conjunction with Mrs. Cyberdad's business......Canton, OH, Gulf Shores, AL, and Kansas City, MO in that order. My last two "big road trips" didn't yield as much DX...or DXing opportunities....as I had hoped. So I don't want to disappoint you guys or raise expectations with this one.

But that said, I'm always open to requests and suggestions, so I'll see what I can do with any ideas you might have. I'll also report anything of note that I come across. I'm not, however, planning to post any bandscans, as I think all three of these locations have been pretty well covered in previous threads. Note also that I'll have intermediate stops in Louisville and Memphis.

One thing that is different about this trip is that we're taking two vehicles. Car and box truck. So since I'll be alone behind the wheel, I won't have to worry about annoying the wife with nonstop DX. Which means I can just "have at it"! Several days will also involve driving in the hours before and after sunrise, so that'll hopefully produce some interesting results.

Sidebar note for Zach... Mrs. Cyberdad's Gulf Shores venue is Shrimpfest. At the urging several friends, she's a vendor there this year, and I'll be helping out as needed. I narrowly missed the chance to meet up with Darth last month in Portland, and also just missed crainbebo, who was also in town the same weekend. Earlier in the year, I missed cd in South Florida. But this time, I'm parked in one place for four days and taking part in a large public event. So, if you're planning on attending, by all means feel free to let me know, and I'll be more than happy to PM you with our booth number and contact info (we're right by the information center). It'd be my pleasure to buy you a beer (or whatever) and swap DX stories if you're so inclined.

My neighbor tells me the Shrimp Festival can get very crowded...good for business. The entertainment lineup is enough to make me want to come down. I'm sure you'll both enjoy it!

 

[tanner]

In Gulf Shores try 540 WFLF Orlando during the day.

 

[cyberdad]

At Gulf Shores, I would concentrate on **daytime** AM DX. Would be curious what the southernmost stations are that you will hear in FL (note 1), Cuba, Texas (note 2), and maybe even Mexico (note 3).

We won't be staying at our usual location on the AL-FL state line. That was our original thought, but we thought it would be kind of a waste because we'll be spending the bulk of our time working instead of being able to enjoy the beach. Instead we're four miles to the west in Orange Beach at a hotel across the street from the gulf. The hotels are offering super-deep discounts to vendors. I really applaud them for that....more often than not, they jack up the rates instead.

As for your notes regarding daytime DX....

I've never heard Mexico or KVNS in the Gulf Shores area. KCTA does make it, but its very weak. I think I've heard KTRH, but it's under WLWI (Montgomery), and I've never been able to positively ID. The only other Texan is KLVI...which is also very weak, and generally underneath WOOF (Dothan, AL). Nothing from the Keys (KLEB owns 1600), although I have heard the x-bander from Marco.

And Zach.... I'll pm you with my contact info and wife's booth # over the weekend or at the beginning of next week. She has all that, and I won't catch up with her in Ohio until the end of the week. I've never been to Shrimpfest, either, but after coming to the gulf for 20 years, and a zillion recommendations, she's decided to exhibit there. We're both really looking forward to it and hoping we'll be able to mix in a little fun, music, etc.

Thanks for the tips on WABG and WCRV. Hard to imagine there's only one blues outlet in the Mississippi delta, but I guess that's somebody's idea of "progress". Whatever happened to KFFA? As for WCRV, I know they have a monster daytime signal....Non-directional IIRC. If that's the case, I wonder how they get away with that, given WSM not all that far away. Anyway, I've followed their day signal all the way into Illinois on I-57. They're audible to about Marion, which is about 55 miles from the southern tip of the state, where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers come together at Cairo.

 

[cyberdad]

In Gulf Shores try 540 WFLF Orlando during the day.

I used to be able to get this at the place where we usually stay....with a weak but reliable daytime signal. Unfortunately, however, a semi-local 540 came on last year and that was the end of WFLF. Problem is if you null the semi-local (WATG), you also null what's left of WFLF. I can still sometimes hear WFLF in the mix at night.

 

[cyberdad]

My neighbor tells me the Shrimp Festival can get very crowded...good for business. The entertainment lineup is enough to make me want to come down. I'm sure you'll both enjoy it!

I'm really looking forward to it. And my wife has been told repeatedly by trusted longtime friends and colleagues who've done the show that she should do quite well there. She has a pretty much set lineup of a half-dozen fall events that she does, but....long story short....some of these changed dates, which set up a hole in her schedule, so she jumped at the chance to give Shrimp Festival a try.

Of course the entertainment is reason enough to come down....and if it weren't for the fact that fall has always been the busy time of year for both of us, I'm sure we'd have made it down long ago.....as tourists instead of as vendors.

 

[317C50KW]

From looking at the hybrid map on FCC Info, it looks like WCRV is diplexed with another station. Does any one know what station that might be? Thanks.

 

[kenglish]

If you are going to the Guilf Shores area, please, please, please. please post some photos. ;D
(That's about the only way I'll ever get to see the Gulf again, any time soon.)

 

[cyberdad]

If you are going to the Guilf Shores area, please, please, please. please post some photos. ;D
(That's about the only way I'll ever get to see the Gulf again, any time soon.)

I'll try. I'd certainly be glad to, but I've had problems with this in the past.

We've spent at least a week on this part of the gulf....usually more than that...just about every year for over 25 years. Great place, great atmosphere, great people. Even the oil spill couldn't dampen the fun.

 

[kenglish]

We stayed in Gulf Breeze (Pensacola) when I was a kid....Pensacola is my grandmother's old home. Love that area, even though I've never been able to go back. Santa Rosa Island sure looks like a great DX spot, if you can get away from the condos...maybe down by Fort Pickens.

 

[K6JHU]

Unless the FCC data base is not up to date on this, WCRV is the only station operating within 10 km (about 5 miles) of their stated transmitter location.

 

[Tincap]

Sidebar note for Zach... Mrs. Cyberdad's Gulf Shores venue is Shrimpfest. At the urging several friends, she's a vendor there this year, and I'll be helping out as needed. I narrowly missed the chance to meet up with Darth last month in Portland, and also just missed crainbebo, who was also in town the same weekend. Earlier in the year, I missed cd in South Florida. But this time, I'm parked in one place for four days and taking part in a large public event. So, if you're planning on attending, by all means feel free to let me know, and I'll be more than happy to PM you with our booth number and contact info (we're right by the information center). It'd be my pleasure to buy you a beer (or whatever) and swap DX stories if you're so inclined.

Don't forget Cyber, the offer is always open, when you pass through my neck of the woods again. Happy hunting, out there!

~BG

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks, Tincap. I thought of you after I posted earlier about my two recent "near misses". IIRC we barely missed each other in Ottawa a couple of years back. Weren't we talking about the Royal Oak on Eagleson Road or some similar establishment? I had a customer on Stacie Drive, just behind the Royal Oak, and we'd frequently head over there for lunch. Great little spot.

Better watch out for my customer's brother, however....he's an OPP traffic cop!

 

[gar hi]

I had a thought on an AM station you could maybe try for in the daytime that would be a great catch considering it's only 1000 kw and at 1340 khz.

WTAN from Clearwater, the talk station.

I imagine, though, that there are probably other stations on the same frequency that can be heard from your location but depending on how strong they are maybe there's a shot at WTAN.


My most impressive daytime graveyard catch was WMID Atlantic City from Massapequa, Long Island with a pretty good signal, so I was wondering if a catch at the much greater distance where you will be was possible.

 

[cd637299]

I had a thought on an AM station you could maybe try for in the daytime that would be a great catch considering it's only 1000 kw and at 1340 khz.

WTAN from Clearwater, the talk station.

I imagine, though, that there are probably other stations on the same frequency that can be heard from your location but depending on how strong they are maybe there's a shot at WTAN.


My most impressive daytime graveyard catch was WMID Atlantic City from Massapequa, Long Island with a pretty good signal, so I was wondering if a catch at the much greater distance where you will be was possible.

There is no WFSH any longer on 1340, right? But, WEBY 1330 at 25 kW might be an issue for Cyberdad hearing WTAN---IBOC or no.

I only wish I had more time at San Blas in July. WTAN might have been a possibility. I may have heard WPSO 1500, with less power.

cd