[IRCA] MW DX from Enid OK, December 11-14, 2010

[Glenn Hauser <wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>]

All times and dates strictly UT. MW log editors are welcome to excerpt items, reformat and change to favorite timezone if necessary. Rx: mostly DX-398 with internal antenna only; some caradio as specified; above 2 MHz on FRG-7 with 110-foot east-west longwire.

** KOREA NORTH. The Chosun radio war was raging the morning of Dec 12, the main Asian signals on lower bands coming from there:
2850, at 1332, KCBS with usual choral music, S9+18.
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [I include this in my MW reports, since 2850 is officially MW, but here I will spare you all the SW above 3 MHz logs which went with it]

** MEXICO. Dec 14 at 1451 UT, I decided to check MW for residual skywave signals an hour after sunrise. 1300 had Spanish dominating briefly, government PSA, timecheck for something 10 de la mañana, which had to be an hour or two off, even if he was saying 10 till 10, ID as Radio México Noticias. No doubt the 50 kW XEP from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, where it`s 7:51 am. But this was probably a network program from the DF at 8:51 am local (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OKLAHOMA. Finally Dec 13 around 1930 UT we went out to the Talking House at 1910 E Ash that I had heard a few days ago on 1570 coming from Samantha Sabedra`s house elsewhere in Enid, but not since. No sign of a signal on 1570 as we approached 1910. However, there was a standard-issue T.H. sign next to the house, showing 1630! 
http://www.w4uvh.net/1630-1570th2.jpg

Yes, there it is on the caradio parked right in front --- and with huge splash from local KFXY-1640, which is 10 kW, but ERP much more than that with direxional antenna tight toward Enid. Possibly could have lessened the QRM by side tuning downward, but the caradio moves only in 10-kHz steps. 

This is incredible: she picks a terrible frequency due to QRM, which you can`t even hear clearly at local range of a few meters. 1570 would have been much better, in the daytime only having to overcome weak 1570 from Claremore (and maybe 1580 from Blackwell). 

Sounds like the same loop we had heard earlier on 1570 at Samantha`s, 607 W. Elm, complete with big hum, which however, stopped for a second during a break, so we know it is on her audio recording, another turn-off. There was no point in recording it at the real location. 

Here you are privileged to hear it as previously recorded in front of Sam`s place, better than any current customer could on 1630:
http://www.w4uvh.net/1570th1910.mp3

Blurb about the house included here among others:
http://www.samanthakennington.com/Featured-Homes.html

Enlargeable view of 1910 E Ash:
http://www.samanthakennington.com/200_150_csupload_24334912.jpg?u=349741585

In reality it`s a bit messier, and obviously still occupied, with a motorcycle parked in front, and a black cat (white paws) [not pixured] perched atop the polycart SWDU (solid waste disposal unit) on the west side:
http://www.w4uvh.net/1630-1570th1.jpg

The 1630 sign is not on the curb, but there is a realty sign with MLS handouts for the taking. One about this house says it is 51 to 70 years old, price $37,900, has lead-based paint, etc., etc. Also Sam`s own folder listing this and several other hice, back page promoting Talking House concept, including ``You won`t even know it`s on``. 

As we drove away, the 1630 signal hardly lasted a block before being totally overcome by KFXY-1640. No wonder we had not heard it further away. I`d say this client is not getting her money`s worth. O yeah, the TH deal is a free bonus! BTW, per her e-mail address, Sam`s nickname is Sassy.

At night, early UT Dec 14, we were within one mile of the property, and altho KFXY was not such a problem, could not hear it vs broadcasters on 1630. But who wants to inspect a potential purchase in the dark?

1670, at a parking lot in western Enid, 2120 UT Dec 13, there is just enough WTDY starting to skywave in to audiblize a mushy co-channel signal, which has got to be another Talking House. 1670 was the frequency where Greg Winkeljohn was running three at a time a few months ago, but we thought they had all gone off. Certainly the most easterly and strongest one is not heard as we approach that area, but will have to revisit the other two spots to be sure this 1670 is really somewhere else, and then track it down (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OKLAHOMA [and non]. 1320, low rumbling het at 2124 UT Dec 13 on caradio. Primary groundwave here is KCLI Clinton OK, so will have to check near low noon whether its carrier is out of step with neighboring frequencies on the DX-398 with BFO. Which is what I did already at 1452 UT Dec 14, and found that KCLI is not the one off-frequency, as it was promoting its Tradio show at 7 am, phone 323-9900, ``News-Talk 1320, KCLI``. The off-frequency het from something else was somewhat audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also U S A, KSKY item: FCC moves Oklahoma City to Texas. Whose water are they drinking?

** U S A. 660, KSKY Dallas TX, Dec 13 at 2132 UT promoted its FM simulcasts in three different areas of The Metroplex, on 92.9, 95.5 and 99.9, plus KSKY.com  That website reminds us the frequencies serve Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, respectively. So what stations are these, really? FCC FM Query:

92.9 has nothing in Dallas per se, and nothing beyond applications in the area for 23 watts in Cedar Hill (the major FM/TV transmitter site SE of Dallas), 75 watts at Lewisville but these are both by the so-called Educational Media Foundation, a gospel-huxter front. But since they are outside the non-comm band, they could be carrying KSKY at least temporarily, if they are really on already. Unhelpful clue: elsewhere on the homepage, a poll about which FM frequency you listen to most, lists 92.9 as Dallas/Plano.

Having brought up all the 92.9s in Texas, I spotted another very interesting entry on the list:
NEW 225 D  FX  92.9 MHz APP OKLAHOMA CITY TX US BNPFT-20030311ASC - 139270 0.092 kW 0. m  FRED R AND EVELYN K MORTON

The last I checked, Oklahoma City was in --- OKLAHOMA! The Google map does bring up the Valley Brook site on the south side of OKC OK, but still labeled as OKC, TX! But they digress.

What about 95.5 in Arlington TX? You guessed it: nothing listed there. Closest is back in Dallas, an app for a TCU translator with 90 watts. Also a couple of apps for Cleburne 14 watts, and Venus 92 watts, which are S of Fort Worth, but too far to be of any use in Arlington.

What about 99.9 in Fort Worth? Ditto, nothing there either. There are apps for translators in Arlington, and Plano which is back in the Dallas area. There`s a long list of other TX towns on 99.9 with apps, none of which I recognize as being in the FW area. Enough time spent on this wild goose chase.

So all three of these frequencies announced for KSKY on FM lead nowhere. What`s going on? The latest fad among AM stations is to get on FM ``where the listeners are``, even if only low-powered translators. 

Of course KSKY 660 has a good 250+ mile groundwave coverage area in daytime, but that is not good enough! Could any of these FMs be part 15 or even pirates? Finally on KSKY`s About Us page I find a message submit form, so I ask:

``I am trying to figure out where your three FM relays actually are. I don`t find any FCC listings for the cities and frequencies given. Could you give me the callsigns (translators?) for 92.9, 95.5 and 99.9 and the official cities of license? BTW, I get you just fine on 660. Thanks`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No reply as of 1800 UT Dec 14

** U S A. 1090, Dec 13 at 2127 UT on caradio with ND antenna, ad for freedom100.com, American Planning Association, labeled as a PSA, planning.org then hymn on keyboard. This signal is atop SAH of about 3 Hz. 2130, illegal ID as ``10-90 KAAY``, more music. Next check at 2139, a preacher denouncing idolatry with an Irish accent, so is he Catholic? In that case would suspect EWTN`s KEXS in Excelsior Springs MO; however this sig is strong and even more dominant than it was a dekaminute earlier, so suspect still KAAY. It`s 50 kW non-direxional daytime, still in effect at this hour, but skywave kicking in already, so this is likely ordinary for a December afternoon.

However, KAAY Little Rock AR filed for STA to operate at 20% power and non-direxionally at night, since a theft Dec 1 of ``a significant amount of transmission line from the antenna system, and a significant amount of copper electrical wiring``, per FCC Engineering STA BSTA - 20101208AEP via Bill Frahm, Dec 10, amfmtvdx at qth.net. 

Night pattern was a tight figure 8, NNW-SSE so rarely audible here, and full night power is 50 kW, so tfn it`s 10 kW ND at night. Several DXers have been reporting it recently in areas normally nulled.

This led me to recheck at night, 0333 UT Dec 14. 1090 is normally not dominated by anything here at night, but yes, now from the east comes: Brother Scare! Whoopeee! This conveniently fits into the null of IBOC from KRLD-1080 Dallas.

However at 1449 UT when KAAY might still be propagating, 1090 is instead dominated by preacher from the NNE, i.e. KEXS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. 1290, just as I tune in Dec 14 at 1459 UT, nice ID, ``Your source for news-talk, KOWB, Laramie`` Wyoming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###



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