WOR off the air - Cuban music on 710 AM

[George Jetson]

I was listening to news at top of the hour and about 1/3 into the news the signal went dead and all I could hear was Cuban music. I say that because I did hear the word “Cuba” though I don't understand Spanish. It sort of reminded me of Ricky Ricardo from the “I Love Lucy” show. The music isn't bad though, makes my want to buy a few bottles of wine, kick out my girlfriend and pick up a fat woman that likes to cook.

Now granted there is a quite bit of static but No annoying IBOC hash often messing up the finest DX stations all the time. That made me happy at least. I suppose I have a choice, I could listen online and enjoy more infomercials until Coast to Coast AM goes on or make it a plan and visit the local coffee and doughnut shop in search of a lonely heavyset woman that needs someone to talk to. I will need to move the radio around a bit for a better signal now, too bad I didn't learn Spanish.

I knew WOR was having problems, a clue was hearing the same PSA's and promos being played often back to back too many times to fill all the empty avails during network programming. Perhaps the new owners could kick in a few bucks and treat the listeners to a fresh set of fillers.

Badass Babalu http://youtu.be/rAV3bOJaQuY

 

[N1WVQ]

That could be Radio Mambi, WAQI/710 from Miami. The other possibility that comes to mind is that it's Radio Rebelde, also on 710 (to jam WAQI).

 

[davideduardo]

That could be Radio Mambi, WAQI/710 from Miami. The other possibility that comes to mind is that it's Radio Rebelde, also on 710 (to jam WAQI).

Mambí is severely directional to the south.

Cuba has 5 or 6 transmitters on 710 along the 800 mile length of Cuba, all intended to be local Radio Rebelde outlets but also to block the virulently anti Castro sentiments of WAQI.

 

[N1WVQ]

The last bit of the Cold War? Anyway, I know in Florida Cuba packs the A.M. band as I could hear Radio Reloj on several frequencies, the clearest being 570. Even in Massachusetts I can occasionally hear the Morse Code double R on a couple of frequencies. N.Y.ers, do you ever hear the Morse RR under WMCA?

 

[cd637299]

As to Radio Rebelde, it can also be heard throughout much of the USA via shortwave, 5025 kHz. That would be a way to find out which station it was.

I'd certainly go with Rebelde, but WAQI Radio Mambi has been heard in the north---how, I have no idea, but it has!

I wouldn't be surprised if Rebelde could faintly be heard even under WOR even while WOR is on the air; but I suppose that the IBOC would prevent that.

BTW I think that Reloj on 570 used to be heard on the former Northern Ireland node on Global Tuners. The operator used to post here, but the whole setup went awry, unfortunately.

cd

 

[satech]

When WOR does work on their towers they drop down to 10,000 watts non-directional. At that power level, I can hear the Cuban station underneath them at night here in central NJ.

Cuba's "Radio Reloj" can also be heard underneath 570 WMCA at night. Somewhere on the web is a recording made at WMCA's transmitter site. When their transmitter is turned off for maintenance, the Cuban signal comes in loud and clear!

 

[FredLeonard]

Given how their talk format is performing, when I read the headline my first thought Clear Channel had flipped the station to Cuban music. My second thought was an end-of-April fool joke.

 

[freedy]

what are they thinking over at CC? all about the money. speaking of which ,who makes money
for them besides Joan ,and John?

 

[Powell]

Down here in SC I do hear Miami as verified by ID.


Powell

 

[davideduardo]

The last bit of the Cold War?

Not really Cold War. Cuba, like other closed societies (Venezuela is approaching this, as well as Boliva and Ecuador in this Hemisphere) like to restrict what is put on their own airwaves and they try to insure that outside voices are not heard.

Populating 710 with local stations avoids Cubans hearing an opinion other than the official one via WAQI. This is like putting dissidents in jail, which they do with domestic persons of contrarian viewpoints (an improvement, since they used to shoot them).

Think of it as Zimbabwe in the Caribbean.

 

[Ai4i]

This is like putting dissidents in jail...

I hate to differ with you, but I really think the two represent a quantum difference.

 

[davideduardo]

This is like putting dissidents in jail...

I hate to differ with you, but I really think the two represent a quantum difference.

I probably did not explain my thought clearly enough.

Both actions are forms of suppression of ideas. The radio situation is to prevent Cubans from hearing "outside" and contrasting news sources. The tossing of dissidents in Combinado del Este prison is to prevent Cubans from hearing "inside" and contrasting opinions.

Despite Cuba being about 800 miles long from east to west, the number of AM stations, the number of frequencies they use and the total transmitter power are well in excess of what is needed for purely local service; the objective is to block any outside signals that might have news and information in Spanish.