While 1540 KXEL is off

[kilokat7]

From the KXEL website:

"On July 11th, straight line winds damaged a section of the roof at the KXEL transmitter building in Dysart, exposing our transmitter to the elements. The initial damage was repaired. Since then, residual damage has occurred through routine operation. Our engineer and consultants from the manufacturer are working to repair this new damage. KXEL will resume broadcasting as soon as possible. As always, local news updates can be heard on our sister station, Oldies 1330 KWLO."

Sorry if this is old news, but in their absence last night while listening to 1540 I caught two new ones: KLKC with ESPN Sports and KBOA with MOYL and CBS News at the top of the hour. These were heard when phasing out CHIN and both were decent throughout the night here. This might be a good frequency to check tonight for people in the Midwest if KXEL is still off.

 

[radioman148]

I did not know this. I will check very soon. Thanks for the info.

 

[cd637299]

Are the two stations mentioned by kilokat **authorized** for nighttime?

I know that when ZNS in Nassau was off last winter (copper thieves), AFAIK I caught two 1540's that (1) have no authorization for nights, and (2) shall be nameless.

Keep on the listen, kilokat!

cd

 

[kilokat7]

Are the two stations mentioned by kilokat **authorized** for nighttime?

I know that when ZNS in Nassau was off last winter (copper thieves), AFAIK I caught two 1540's that (1) have no authorization for nights, and (2) shall be nameless.

Keep on the listen, kilokat!

cd

As far as I know, the two I heard are both daytimers.

 

[cd637299]

Thanks. They are pirates, as far as I'm concerned.

That being said----some 1540's in Hurricane Irene's path might be running the full monty tonight & tomorrow (Philly???).....but you DXers in Irene's path, by all means, your lives are more important!

cd

 

[jd]

Before we pass judgement, let's note that both of the stations mentioned have Post Sunset Authority, although we don't whether they utilize their "flea power."

 

[cd637299]

^ Okay that's true. In my cases, the two stations were heard well after midnight.

cd

 

[jd]

Alright, that pretty much answers the question!

 

[radioman148]

Are the two stations mentioned by kilokat **authorized** for nighttime?

I know that when ZNS in Nassau was off last winter (copper thieves), AFAIK I caught two 1540's that (1) have no authorization for nights, and (2) shall be nameless.

Keep on the listen, kilokat!

cd

Were you able to hear KXEL when ZNS was off?

 

[cd637299]

Are the two stations mentioned by kilokat **authorized** for nighttime?

I know that when ZNS in Nassau was off last winter (copper thieves), AFAIK I caught two 1540's that (1) have no authorization for nights, and (2) shall be nameless.

Keep on the listen, kilokat!

cd

Were you able to hear KXEL when ZNS was off?

I may be the only person in the USA *not* to have heard KXEL from my home....I know it has a reach.

No Albany either....I haven't heard that one since 1975.

No CHIN, although I may have caught CHIN about 20 years ago w/ "Broadcast News."

Even ZNS itself has a tight pattern for 50 k, ostensibly to cover as much of the Bahamas as it can. I see that there is a CP for a fulltime 1540 around Orlando!

cd

 

[radioman148]

Are the two stations mentioned by kilokat **authorized** for nighttime?

I know that when ZNS in Nassau was off last winter (copper thieves), AFAIK I caught two 1540's that (1) have no authorization for nights, and (2) shall be nameless.

Keep on the listen, kilokat!

cd

Were you able to hear KXEL when ZNS was off?

I may be the only person in the USA *not* to have heard KXEL from my home....I know it has a reach.

No Albany either....I haven't heard that one since 1975.

No CHIN, although I may have caught CHIN about 20 years ago w/ "Broadcast News."

Even ZNS itself has a tight pattern for 50 k, ostensibly to cover as much of the Bahamas as it can. I see that there is a CP for a fulltime 1540 around Orlando!

cd

That's interesting. I'll bet that Orlando station will have a very tight pattern if they ever get on.

 

[jd]

I may be the only person in the USA *not* to have heard KXEL from my home....I know it has a reach.

Oh, I don't know about that. The last time I remember hearing KXEL I was pretty surprised. It was early morning about 75 miles southeast of Dallas, and KXEL easily covered up the 1540 from the Dallas area (KZMP University Park).

Even ZNS itself has a tight pattern for 50 k, ostensibly to cover as much of the Bahamas as it can. I see that there is a CP for a fulltime 1540 around Orlando!

Yep, I saw that when they applied during the last filing window but I didn't look into the latest on it until now. Thanks for bringing it up. 7kW day/.3 night, and talk about a shoehorn! It really wouldn't put that much daytime city-grade over the Orland area. Here's the tech info on it, with the daytime pattern starting on page 9 and the nighttime skywave plot on page 38:

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101247713&qnum=5110&copynum=1&exhcnum=2

It's not on the "blocked" application list but it hasn't been approved yet and the Bahamas apparently hasn't signed off on it yet, either. So it may not happen.

 

[kilokat7]

I had the radio on this morning, well past sunrise, hoping to catch KTGG from Spring Arbor, MI. which I've never heard. I had religious programming that went right through TOH without ID'ing. At 9:30am they gave their ID. It was KXEL They are back and as strong as ever...

 

[radioman148]

I had the radio on this morning, well past sunrise, hoping to catch KTGG from Spring Arbor, MI. which I've never heard. I had religious programming that went right through TOH without ID'ing. At 9:30am they gave their ID. It was KXEL They are back and as strong as ever...

I guess KXEL wasn't down very long.

 

[Icangelp]

Thanks for the tip, kilo.

Didn't I.D. anything on 1540, but I did verify 10 new ones on 1550 and 1590. My veries included 1550/WIRV in Irvine KY, @64 watts. Also verified 1590/WCSL in Cherryville NC @30 watts...if they were following the rules that is.

I'll try 1540 again tonight.

Anyone know of a station on 1550KHZ that would have been playing late sixties hippie music last night? "I heard it through the grapevine", by Credance was playing when I first tuned in. Thought they said their web address was "action1550.com", but no such address.

 

[davideduardo]

Thanks for the tip, kilo.

Didn't I.D. anything on 1540, but I did verify 10 new ones on 1550 and 1590. My veries included 1550/WIRV in Irvine KY, @64 watts. Also verified 1590/WCSL in Cherryville NC @30 watts...if they were following the rules that is.

Are you getting eMail veries? That is an amazing rate of return for this era of small town radio with contract engineers and such...

 

[hipporadio]

Last night, I was in the car in the dreaded and inconveniently-close 1530 WCKY cancellation zone and heard 1540 KXEL. At 9:30PM, one gospel show was ending – followed by their "Music with a message, 1540, KXEL, Waterloo, Iowa" ID – followed by yet another "paid performance" of salvation rites. Since there appeared to be a number of "party crashers" [including the distinct fragrance of CHIN] in the background trying to seize the stage, I'm wondering if KXEL is operating on reduced power. It's usually more dominant in this part of the world!

 

[Icangelp]

Thanks for the tip, kilo.

Didn't I.D. anything on 1540, but I did verify 10 new ones on 1550 and 1590. My veries included 1550/WIRV in Irvine KY, @64 watts. Also verified 1590/WCSL in Cherryville NC @30 watts...if they were following the rules that is.

Are you getting eMail veries? That is an amazing rate of return for this era of small town radio with contract engineers and such...

David.

I mis-wrote. I meant I.D., not verification. Call me crazy, but in all my years of DX'ing, I have never sought a verification.

Five of the ten station I.D.s came within a couple of minutes of each other. I don't think I have ever had that happen before.

By the way, how is the DX in Prescott?

 

[cyberdad]

I had the radio on this morning, well past sunrise, hoping to catch KTGG from Spring Arbor, MI. which I've never heard. I had religious programming that went right through TOH without ID'ing. At 9:30am they gave their ID. It was KXEL They are back and as strong as ever...

I didn't know KXEL was off. I definitely stand to be corrected but I think they've been back on for a while. I heard a strong signal and paid religion on 1540 earlier this week. I only listened for about a minute, and just assumed it was KXEL.

 

[davideduardo]

By the way, how is the DX in Prescott?

Right now, with summer heat, the DX sucks. I've got the lesser of the receivers in Prescott, an R-75, while the TenTec and the Drake are in The Desert (Indian Wells) but during the winter, with the lack of locals and semi-local blasters, a lot of my favorite target, Mexico, can be heard as well as TPs.