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Re: [IRCA] Domestic MWDX to Enid OK, August 6-13, 2015

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** U S A. Circa 2140 UT August 13, with figures swirling around in my head, I am suddenly hit by inspiration, a likely explanation for the 6220 unID I have been hearing last few evenings: a mixture between a US shortwave station and a mediumwave station at the same site: AFAIK, this could apply only to WBCQ (with WXME 780) and WWCR (with WNQM 1300). (WINB was an outgrowth of WGCB 1440, but the latter has morphed into WGLD at a different site 5 minutes of latitude and 10 minutes of longitude away from Red Lion.)

Further: 0045 UT is indeed the current August powerdown/pattern change time for WNQM 1300, 50 kW day non-direxional, 5 kW night direxional to SE with very minor lobes in other direxions; per FCC AM Query:
WNQM  LSR/LSS, UT:
Aug: 1100/0045
Sep: 1130/0000

But via the WWCR website, linking to WNQM:
http://www.1300wnqm.com/
lacking any program schedule, you`d never know there is anything but English religion, nor here:
http://www.1300wnqm.com/pgm-links_wnqm.html

WNQM webstream checked at 2240 UT Aug 13: certainly English, gospel-huxter. I know that WNQM used to change to Spanish at night, and probably still does. This gets more complicated. The listed ``La Ranchera`` (slogan I logged previously) in Nashville is 880 WMDB, and the ``1300`` or ``1600`` ID I heard went on to say algo- ``ochenta``. Perhaps the WMDB format is duplicated or transferred to 1300 after dark? Since it`s allowed only a puny TWO WATTS at nite on 880. But the website http://www.laranchera880.com/ is all about 880, nothing about 1300. I vaguely recall hearing something about such a rental as of a few years ago, but haven`t been able to locate a story on it. (I have also DXed WMDB directly on 880 a couple times --- not on 2 watts, tho)

7520 schedule of WWCR-4 is currently 0000-0200 UT only. I recall there have been previous instances of WNQM 1300 mixing with a WWCR SW frequency to produce a spur displaced by 1300 kHz. Such as:

``U S A. 7190, April 7 [2011y] at 1143 UT, the dulcet tones of Brother Scare are just barely audible, but still there when fully attenuated, fading in and out, with some QRhaM, and // 5890 synchronized, so spur from WWCR +++ plus WNQM, 1300 kHz higher. There could be another one, 1300 kHz lower on 4590 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST 11-15)``

Might as well compute all the possible plus/minus 1300 mixes with #4 frequencies and the other three WWCR transmitters:

15825: 17125, 14525
15795: 17095, 14495
13845: 15145, 12545
12160: 13460, 10860
 9980: 11280,  8680
 9350: 10650,  8050
 7520:  8820,  6220***
 7490:  8790,  6190
 6115:  7415,  4815
 5935:  7235,  4635
 5890:  7190,  4590
 5070:  6370,  3770
 4840:  6140,  3540
 3215:  4515,  1915

This of course does not account for lots of other possible mixes involving two of the SW transmitters and/or the MW transmitter! If we were to hear two WWCR programs on a 2A minus B shortwave-only mix of extremely strong signals, there might be some question whether it`s transmitted or caused by receiver overload. But if the MW 1300 frequency is involved (far away from Nashville where we don`t hear it at all on fundamental) it has to be transmitted as a spurious SW frequency. 

This theory of origin of the 6220 mystery accounts for: powering down circa 0045; mixture of Spanish and English at times; frequencies mentioned and slogan in the partial IDs. 

Now it remains to catch something more certain on 6220 to confirm the theory! If not, then to check the WMDB and/or WNQM webcasts. 

So at 2354 UT August 13 I start monitoring 6220 on the NRD-545 with ALA-330S, and 7520 on the PL-880 with rod, both with BFO offset to detect exactly when the carriers come on --- and they do! Simultaneously at *2358:32.5. A minute earlier on 6220 I was hearing some Spanish, but it`s coincidental 2-way (which is what belongs on this marine band), and still after 6220.0-AM comes on for a bit, with ``cambios`` on USB only. Meanwhile I can detect the WWCR steel-drum transition IS on 6220 as well as on super-strong 7520. I wonder if the Spanish 2-wayers are confounded by this QRM, and give up? No more of them to be heard.

Now we are into UT August 14: I quickly check 8820, which is 7520 plus 1300, and do detect a JBA carrier there, likely a match, but no match in strength or readability. 7520 with huxter talk is registering 45 over S9 at 0008, while 6220 mostly music is S4 barely above the noise level. At 0028 I retune to 6220 and find Spanish music in a nice peak, enough to also audiblize the English YL g.h. underneath and // 7520; 0030 announcement is unreadable during a fade. 0032, 6220 fades up to S5; 0038 another fade up with double audio like at 0028; 0041 a peak to S7 and super-hype voice actor in Spanish mentions ``ocho ochenta`` (880); 0044:37.5 or so the 6220 signal drops down to S2, below the noise level, at official August sunset time in Nashville.

Now it`s back to the computer for the webstreams. At 0059 UT I bring them both up and they are the same, altho not synchronized, with Telemundo promo/ad, but no ToH ID before resuming music. 

WMDB: http://www.laranchera880.com/en-vivo-247/
WNQM shoutcast: http://216.240.139.89:3663/

At 0103 UT, ID mentions ``WNQM, 1,300, se convierte en La Ranchera, 880, y mil, 300, tu música y tu tradición`` --- the slogan on the 880 website. So now my theory is totally, 100% confirmed. Never mind previous ideas it might be a pirate relay, or a shortwave-only frequency mix. This 6220 signal may only be a few watts, supposedly within tolerance for spurs? That makes it hot DX.

WWCR program schedule shows 7520 is on the air UT Tue-Sat ONLY, at 00-02 with only three gospel-huxter programs: Real Radio (not a DX program!), Unshackled, and A Call to Decision. So we are greatly indebted to WWCR for providing some fascinating DX from this transmitter & WNQM`s, lacking any worthwhile programming.

I had asked pirate specialist Chris Lobdell in MA if he was hearing it, but he hasn`t, while some others now have, resulting in this thread:
http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,22948.0.html
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. 6180, Aug 14 at 0047 after 6220 has cut power, I check again for the sixth harmonic extremely distorted of KBUF Garden City KS 1030, and there it is, modulation peaking at S6, and somewhat more readable by slope/side tuning around 6179. First time heard since initial catch, but don`t stay with it as I am sure what it is (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

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