** COLOMBIA. 5910-, May 18 at 0054 & 0151 recheck, NO signal from
Alcaraván Radio on its signature offset. I had not been hearing it at
late-night bandscans circa 0630 for quite some time, but perhaps was
signing off earlier. Apparently it`s been gone completely. I don`t see
it hitting monthly bulletins since March so probably last heard in
February. Anyone heard it since? A pity as in the A-season there is no
longer a primetime bihour blockage of China via Cuba (Glenn Hauser,
OK, WOR)
** CUBA. 5025, May 17 at 0623, R. Rebelde is OFF. Something`s always
wrong at RadioCuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** CUBA. 5990, May 18 at 0053, CRI relay is S9+15/25 but just barely
modulated, yet surpassing 6000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** CUBA. 6000, May 18 at 0049, RHC with S9+25/40 of dead air in
English. Then I check second harmonic, 12000 dead air is almost as
strong, S9+25/35. Why not more of them? Trouble is, the NRD-545 puts
internal carriers on some exact MHz. Not even that on 18000; a JBA
carrier on 24000; and S9+5 on 30000 -- axually won`t tune above
29999.99. At 0152, 6000 at S9+20/25 now has suptorted modulation, I
can barely believe it`s English. Something`s always wrong at RHC. The
Other Side:
``READ TODAY THE CUBA OF TOMORROW May 14, 2024
Cuba: no rudder, no compass, and a dictatorship at the helm --- Not
one useful or original idea emerged from the most recent Council of
Ministers, overseeing a country facing a humanitarian emergency.
Rafaela Cruz, La Habana 13 Mayo 2024 - 19:08 CEST
The crisis is now so severe in Cuba that the new Economy Minister,
Alonso Vázquez, had to recognize that "in general there is an
unfavorable outlook (...) export revenues are falling, imports are
also decreasing, and different key economic activities, such as the
production of the main agricultural products, and sugar and other
byproducts, as well as the generation of electricity, are falling
short...``
https://diariodecuba.com/economia/1715620099_54757.html
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** MEXICO [and non]. How I FM DX: this is not a competition to rack
up totals: I do not count stations, states, countries or anything. I
report what I hear with as much research as I can manage to identify,
but make no irrefutable claims without evidence. Each DX catch unID or
not is a potential learning experience. Always welcome ID help. I
don`t use an external antenna any more: I get plenty of DX on the
caradio; sometimes on a DX-398 where I can manipulate the telescopic
in real time vs nearby or DX CCI, which also has RDS capability. These
are all on caradio in garage which of course does have a STereo
indicator when activated. All times and dates are strictly UT. Main
reference the excellent WTFDA FM Database. Distances are km/statute
miles city-to-city, not site-to-site, from distancefromto.net Showing
them does not necessarily imply greater ID accuracy. I do not have
Internet access while DXing, no comparing with webstreams, nor even
consulting the FMDB. Nor do I make any recordings. I already have to
spend more time on post-research than during axual DX sessions.
As I am recording WORLD OF RADIO 2243 on Thursday afternoon May 16, I
check DXMAP and see an MUF spike of 109 MHz! east of here, so pause to
check DX in the car, which it turns out is coming from SE Mexico
instead:
99.3 at 2259, Spanish rap about ``los Federales``, fading up and down
to inaugurate our sporadic E FM DX season; 2301 something about ``pura
--- vida``, ``Exa FM 99.3``; 2305 ad for a móvil, in pesos, and for
Bancaya (sp?). Fringe KLOR Ponca City overridden, audible at fades.
2305 back to studio and WOR. 2330 next check a bit of English, ID with
``Front Row``, maybe something else. 2343 cancer PSA from Secretaría
de Salud, mention Isla Mérida. This must be XHMRA-FM in Mérida,
Yucatán, 91.488/91.488 kW ERP. How`s that for precision? There are two
other Exas on 99.3 beyond, in far Acapulco and Cd. Obregón. 2344 ad
for nationwide store El Soriano. After I take another break, now UT
May 17 at 0009, another ID as ``Exa FM 99.3``. 1893 km/1176 stmi
101.5 at 2302, Spanish JBA - got to be careful here, there are SS
closest to us both in OK and KS. But ID as 101.5 FM, something about
Península, and Mexican political ad. Surely XHYK-FM, Conkal, Yuc,
25/25 kW. Only other on an almost-island is in La Paz, BCS. Yes, at
0010 May 17, a Yucatán political ad. 1886/1172
105.9 at 2333, slogan ``más música que oye`` - not sure of last word;
and commercial for hormones, you don`t? hear on US radio. 0001
May 17, station or program name Balanza? News of looking for corpses
in a cold case of 10 years; ``Balance Media Globe`` sounds like
English, then ``Súper Stéreo 105.9`` and rock in English. These may be
two different stations. Besides being in the PTA, latter slogan leads
only right to XHFCY-FM, Kanasín, Yuc, 25/25 kW. No hits searching on
Balanza/Balance whatever. 1899/1180
100.1 at 2337, bit of Spanish vs 99.9 local LPFM. Based solely on PTA
= probable target area, of the 20 XH`s on 100.1, the only one in Camp
or Yuc is XHYU-FM, 7.5/7.5 kW in Mérida. 1893/1176
100.3 at 2337, a sign of Spanish. 2357 ad in Spanish, or rather PSA
from Secretaría de Salud, ad for Hot Sale, promo for program at 4 pm;
address in 24039 código postal, Campeche, XHMI 100.3 ID; 2359 TC, Son
las 6``. XHMI-FM 100.3 in San Francisco de Campeche, Camp, 39.8/39.8
kW. 1974/1227
97.3 at 2347, Spanish music, talk, 5:49 TC at 2349; 2351 R. Fórmula
ID; 2353 vote for PAN ad; 2355 Campeche ad, promo program at 8 am and
17 pm; ``Radio Fórmula Campeche 97.3 FM``. Slogan ID again at 0009.
This is XHRAC-FM, also in San Francisco de Campeche, 25/25 kW.
1974/1227
Following are UT May 17:
92.1 at 0005, music in mono overriding weak OK signal. Only one in
Yuc/Camp PTA is XHMYL-FM, Mérida, 2.85/2.85 kW. Not listed as mono and
a CHR format should be in stereo. But mono-mode info is woefully
incomplete. 1893/1176
94.5 at 0006, Spanish talk, nothing further. In PTA of Yuc/Camp there
are two in Yuc: XHVG-FM Mérida 10.0/10.0 kW; and XHMIN-FM, Tizimín
3.0/3.0 kW. Of course with Es we can make no assumptions based on
minor power differentials. 1947/1210 = Tizimín
95.3 at 0007, Spanish music fighting KOKC translator in OKC which
really gets out from a high tower. Enid 95.1 LPFM CP not yet on. Only
95.3 in Camp/Yuc is XHMH-FM, Mérida, 25/25 kW, Candela FM. Many of
these are familiar from previous openings. This one originating on AM
970 even had a SW relay on 6105, widely reported in 2009/2010y.
1893/1176
96.7 at 0008, dramatic Spanish, maybe an ad? Nothing further. Only
Camp/Yuc is XHESE-FM, Champotón, Campeche, 6.0/6.0 kW, Ke Buena.
2007/1247
I hate to miss any DX, but I also have to finish up WORLD OF RADIO
2243, so another break at 0011-0049, after which I`m getting Florida
instead:
101.5, still tuned here as I turn caradio back on, immediately at
0049, ``D101.5.com, Jaxonvil`` = really V101.5, WSOL-FM, Yulee FL,
100/100 kW. Yulee is just N of Jax on I-95. 1636/1017
94.3 at 0101, ``94.3 The Lake, WNFB, Lake City`` overcomes KSPI
Stillwater translator/Bott in KS. WNFB is 50/50 kW. L.C. is west of
Jax near I-10, almost halfway to Tallahassee. 1573/977
97.3 at 0104 mixing with Spanish remnant, Toyota in Ocala ad, 352 area
code ad. Trouble is, no such station in Ocala. Closest would be
Micanopy, N of Ocala on I-75 but closer to Gainesville: WSKY-FM,
50/50
kW. The only other FL fullpower, non-LP, non-translator 97.3 is in
Miami. Micanopy is a very small town, not even in my atlas index.
1642/1020
99.3 at 0107, ``Backstage Country`` program or promo. Again at 0110
and ``in the Valley``, ad for oysters & crawfish, so near a coast?
Can`t find any hit on the station list of the show originating in
Nashville:
https://backstagecountry.com/where-to-listen/
where the only 99.3 is apparently a translator in Hope AR of KBYB
101.7 Shreveport LA. Not likely, far from PTA and too close for Es.
99.3 at 0108, CCI maybe different station mentions Hampton Roads, i.e.
SE corner of VA, but the only 99.3 in the Norfolk area is a translator
in Virginia Beach, W257BV, The Time Machine Radio Network: doubtful
but possibly.
99.3 at 0109, ID as ``BIN 99.3`` i.e. Black Information Network. No
hits on the DB anywhere for BIN abbr. or in full. Only one in
https://www.binnews.com/stations/
is Montgomery, presumably AL, but own website never reveals callsign!
https://montgomery.binnews.com/
but that would be W257DS, translator of WMGY-800, ``Praise 96.5`` with
gospel music as also outdated? listed in the NRC AM Log. Is there
another Montgomery anywhere with a radio station on anyfrequency FM?
Yes, NY, WV, IN, but none on 99.3 nor BIN! We do know that BIN claims
99.3 in Mont`y AL due to weather info on website. 1492/927
Opening still going as I have to quit and finish up WOR! I would
certainly appreciate any help in sorting out and IDing these 99.3s.
And any other uncertain ones above (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** NORTH AMERICA. 6960 AM, UT Sat May 18 at 0149, weak S7 music OPOB,
bet it`s Ballsmacker Radio on its regular Friday evening sked. Yep,
per many reports here starting at 0058:
https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,129600.0.html
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** OKLAHOMA. 91.7, May 16 at 2335 during DX bandscan, I notice that
KOSU is in mono. Have not checked thoroughly but likely mono all day
during NPR/newstalk programs. Split personality, after 0000 UT ``The
Spy`` music has stereo turned on. Long ago when I worked at KOSU, I
recall switching stereo to mono going from classical music to NPR
news. FMDB does not show anything but [blank] mode implying always
stereo. It`s not exactly set up to display 50-50 (Glenn Hauser, Enid,
WOR)
** SPAIN. 15390, May 17 at 2157, still no signal from REE to Africa as
monitored direct. 15520 is on but not // 17855 which is S9+30. 17715
is much weaker and // 17855. They all join for token English from
2200. One news item at 2203 is about Gibraltar, still no agreement
after 6 hours of negotiations with the UKQOGBANI. 2205 `Mideast
correspondent` about Palestinian catastrophe; her name twice but no
way to understand it, no mention of Beirut, Lebanon so maybe a
different one. 2209 feature interview about an art museum dating back
to the XV century in Cuenca, travelling and now in Madrid. Yet another
segment about a 100% visual medium on a 100% aural medium! (Glenn
Hauser, OK, WOR)
** TURKEY. 11785.009, May 17 at 2158, no signal direct from VOT; by
2201 a JBA carrier. At 2221 into UTwente when measured, S9+35 with
`Turkish Folk Tale`. 2224 music. 2229 multi-lingual ID filler reel.
2231 music. 2235 `That`s Why` about Greek and Latin medical terms -
unfortunately this segment always voiced by Ms. Badax; would like to
have understood it. 2244 promo for TRTEnglish.com website, music. 2249
``with-you-every-hour`` promo, music. 2254 s/off unusually by the OM,
does not mention SW, focus on webcast. 2255 IS. 2256 restart IS with
German IDs. 2300 timesignal and s/on German. Something`s always
erroneous at Emirler. I let it run: still going past 2330 with music.
2332 multi-lingual ID filler reel. 2334 music. 2335.5* chop off air
abruptly (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 2243 monitoring: missed checking
Friday May 17 at 2030 on IRRS 1323 Italy, and WRMI webcast-only.
Anyone hear them?
Confirmed Friday May 17 at 2200 on WRMI 9955, JBA direct in HNL, and
can`t even be sure it`s me; also undermodulated? But confirmed into
Bonaire SDR where it`s aimed at 2219, S6/S8.
Also confirmed Friday May 17 at 2232 the 2230 on SW Gold Radio,
Germany, S9+5/10 into UTwente. Next:
0400 UT Saturday WTWW 5085;
1430 UT Saturday SW Radio, Germany 6160;
1730 UT Saturday SW Radio, Germany 3975 & 6160;
1930vUT Saturday WA0RCR 1860-AM;
0000 UT Sunday WRMI 9955 to SSE [also web-, phonecast; jammed?];
0230vUT Sunday WA0RCR 1860-AM [nominal 0315; as late as 0500];
2000 UT Sunday IRRS 1323-Italy;
2130 UT Sunday SW Radio, Germany 3975 & 6160;
0030 UT Monday WRMI 7780 to SW;
0300vUT Monday WBCQ Area 51 6160v to WSW;
0830 UT Monday SW Radio, Germany 6160;
1930 UT Monday SW Radio, Germany 3975 & 6160;
0330 UT Tuesday WRMI 7780 to SW [irregular];
1300 UT Tuesday WRMI 9955 to SSE [also web-, phonecast; jammed?];
2330 UT Tuesday WRMI 9395 to NNW;
2330 UT Tuesday SW Radio, Germany 3975;
1930 UT Wednesday SW Radio, Germany 3975 & 6160;
2100 UT Wednesday WBCQ 7490v to WSW;
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 5010 to S;
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 9395 to NNW;
1630 UT Thursday SW Radio, Germany 6160.
As noncommercial services, financial support appreciated, by MO or
check on a US bank to: Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702.
Thanks this week to Sheldon Harvey, Québec who sent a box of
equipment.
One may also contribute, not necessarily in US funds, via PayPal to:
woradio at yahoo.com (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A. Pre-`AAAWWW` check of WBCQs, into NH SDR, Fri May 17 at
2346: 3265+ & 5130+ OFF. 6160 -70 Hz = 6159.30 presumed TOM but not
BS. 7490 -71 Hz = 7489.929 FKB. 9330.000 WLCR Portuguese S9+30.
Recheck 7490 at 0000 May 17: dead air. Finally at 0002 announces this
AAAWWW first aired on Friday January 12, 2024. I already reported on
that one at the time; never mind (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
UNIDENTIFIED. 6986.5 USB, May 18 at 0100, no pirates on their band,
but brief 2-ways in para?military English here, like a MARS net?
Except they are uttering tactical calls: Juliet Zero Golf, and Big Top
Golf? both of which tell the NCS they have no traffic. Nothing on this
frequency in EiBi or Klingenfuss. UDXF gets 14 hits mostly as Civil
Air Patrol. Maybe interagency? My last log was in 2016y:
```6986.5-USB, 0217 Feb 23, ``shall we keep it open for army
only?````` Michigan ARE had lots of logs on this frequency until March
2023 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
This report dispatched at 0255 UT May 18
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/article.php?story=2024051803150367