DXpedition #8 - Creve Coeur County Park, Maryland Heights, MO

On the afternoon of October 25, I took my radios to Creve Coeur County Park, located in Maryland Heights, MO. The park is run by the Saint Louis County Parks Department; the park is located in an area bound by Marine Avenue, Maryland Heights Expressway (MO 141) and Page Avenue (MO 364). The primary feature is Creve Coeur Lake, which used to be a loop in the Missouri River.

I set up my listening post near the Taco Bell Shelter at the lake's northeastern shore. For AM broadcast band DX, I once again brought my General Electric Superadio III. Instead of the Tecsun PL-600, I was lucky I brought my Yaesu VX-5 handheld transceiver. Although it is designed to transmit on the 50 MHz (6 Meters), 144 MHz (2 Meters) and 440 MHz (70 centimeter) Amateur Radio bands, it has receiving capabilities for AM, FM, shortwave broadcast, VHF and UHF Public Service bands. I was able to couple a coiled 30-foot longwire to the VHF/UHF magnetic-mounted antenna to pull in shortwave DX. 

Monitoring began around 1540 CDT (2040 UTC) with late afternoon conditions on the AM broadcast band favoring the Midwest. A bluff directly behind where I parked the 2002 Chrysler Voyager attenuated lower-powered Saint Louis AM radio stations enough to pull in DX, like WBEL 1380 or KGYM 1600. Shortwave broadcast reception conditions favored the Americas and Asia, although Spain was heard on three frequencies and Greece was also noted. Sunset AM conditions extended into Minnesota and Texas. I wrapped up monitoring around 1810 CDT (2310 UTC), one minute before sunset.

General Electric Superadio III used for AM broadcast band DX.

Coiled 30-foot longwire used for shortwave DX.

AM BROADCAST BAND LOGS (all times CDT)

  910 kHz WSUI Iowa City, IA - 10/25 1715 noted with a discussion on politics, "Iowa Public Radio" ID, Central U.S. time check, news headlines and underwriting announcements. A fair signal was noted over KVIS.

  930 kHz WTAD Quincy, IL - 10/25 1705 noted with local ad, "WTAD" ID into The Mark Levin Show. A fair signal was noted over KWOC.

  960 kHz KZIM Cape Girardeau, MO - 10/25 1719 noted with promo for America's First News, "KZIM, KSIM" ID into The Lars Larson Show. A good signal was noted over KMA.

  980 kHz KSGM Chester, IL - 10/25 1605 noted with local news featuring an item from Sainte Genevieve, MO. A fair signal was noted, alone on the channel.

1080 kHz WNWI Oak Lawn, IL - 10/25 1725 noted with local ads in Polish. A fair to poor signal was noted over KRLD with WRYT nulled.

1250 kHz WSPL Streator, IL - 10/25 1735 noted with an Adult Standards format, "98.5 WSPL" ID. A fair signal was noted over KYYS.

1270 kHz KFLC Benbrook, TX - 10/25 1751 noted with local ads in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with WMKT and other stations.

1280 kHz KYRO Troy, MO - 10/25 1608 noted with a Classic Hits format, "FM 105.3, AM 1280 KYRO" ID. 105.3 refers to K287CM Wentzville, MO. A fair signal was noted over WBIG and WGBF. Change of format from News/Talk.

1290 kHz WIRL Peoria, IL - 10/25 1625 noted with an Oldies format, "Stand by for more of the biggest hits of all time, Super Hits WIRL" ID into local ads. A fair signal was noted over WHIO.

1380 kHz WBEL South Beloit, IL - 10/25 1640 noted with a Classic Hits format, "The Beat" jingle. A fair to poor signal was noted in a KXFN null.

1400 kHz WGIL Galesburg, IL - 10/25 1618 noted with local ads and "WGIL" ID. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KFRU and KJFF.

1410 kHz WIZM La Crosse, WI - 10/25 1756 noted with local ads, local talk show and "WIZM" ID. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with other stations.

1490 kHz KTTR Rolla, MO - 10/25 1655 noted with "The New Hot 104.9" ID into a Contemporary Hit Radio format. A fair to poor signal was noted over KFTK and other stations. Change of format from Contemporary Christian.

1510 kHz WCAZ Macomb, IL - 10/25 1800 noted with "Real Country 93.1 FM and 1510 AM, WCAZ Macomb/Carthage, W226CH Macomb/Carthage" legal ID into Fox News Radio. A fair signal was noted over WLAC.

1520 kHz KOLM Rochester, MN - 10/25 1802 noted with end of a CBS Sports Radio Sports Flash, mention of CBS Sports Radio. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KOKC and KRHW.

1530 kHz WLIQ Quincy, IL - 10/25 1541 noted with a local ad, "Your home for Classic Country, Kick AM 1530" ID into a Classic Country format. A fair signal was noted over WCKY.

1560 kHz KLTI Macon, MO - 10/25 1805 noted with a Country format, "KLTI, Today's True Country" ID. A fair signal was noted over KGOW and KTUI.

1570 kHz WFRL Freeport, IL - 10/25 1543 noted with Classic Country format, "AM 1570 the Giant" ID. A fair signal was noted through WBGZ.

1590 kHz KVGB Great Bend, KS - 10/25 1556 noted with The Dave Ramsey Show, "KVGB" ID into local ads. A fair to poor signal was noted over KMOZ.

1600 kHz KGYM Cedar Rapids, IA - 10/25 1559 noted with local ads, "KGYM Cedar Rapids" ID in a multi-station ID into ESPN sports update. A fair to poor signal was noted through KATZ.

1640 kHz WSJP Sussex, WI - 10/25 1809 noted with talk on forgiveness. A good signal was noted over WTNI.

SHORTWAVE LOGS (all times UTC)

5980 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Radio-TV Marti via Greenville, NC - 10/25 2212 noted with commentary mentioning Cuba and Venezuela in Spanish. A good signal was noted.

7315 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHRI Cypress Creek, SC - 10/25 2307 noted with Christian teaching in English. A good to fair signal was noted.

7380 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/25 2308 noted with commentary in English. A good to fair signal was noted.

9420 kHz GREECE Voice of Greece via Avlida - 10/25 2233 noted with discussion in Greek. A good to fair signal was noted.

9455 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Overcomer Ministry via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 10/25 2231 noted with Brother Stair discussing Scripture in English. A very good signal was noted.

9625 kHz PHILIPPINES Voice of America relay via Tinang - 10/25 2235 noted with commentary and discussion in Chinese. A good to fair signal was noted.

9665 kHz BRAZIL Radio Voz Missionaria ZYE890 Camboriu, Santa Catarina - 10/25 2210 noted with a sermon in Portuguese. A fair signal was noted.

9675 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Beijing - 10/25 2250 noted with commentary in Chinese. A fair to poor signal was noted.

9690 kHz SPAIN Radio Exterior de Espana via Noblejas - 10/25 2208 noted with discussion on the re-burial of Generalissimo Francisco Franco in English. A very good signal was noted.

9900 kHz TAIWAN Radio Taiwan International via Paochung - 10/25 2254 noted with commentary and discussion in Chinese. A good to fair signal was noted.

11850 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via Quivican - 10/25 2201 noted with ID and news in Spanish. A good to fair signal was noted.

11940 kHz SPAIN Radio Exterior de Espana via Noblejas - 10/25 2204 noted with commentary on the re-burial of Generalissimo Francisco Franco in English. A good to fair signal was noted.

12030 kHz SPAIN Radio Exterior de Espana via Noblejas - 10/25 2207 noted with commentary and discussion on the re-burial of Generalissimo Francisco Franco in English. A good signal was noted. 

DXpedition #7 - James S. McDonnell Park near Saint Ann, MO

On the afternoon of October 19, 2019, I took my radios to James S. McDonnell Park near Saint Ann, MO. The park is located near where Adie Road and Link Avenue splits. Link Avenue heads south into the West Overland area (where it turns into Warson Road), while Adie Road goes southwest toward northbound Lindbergh Boulevard (U.S. 67). I chose this particular park because one of the local Amateur Radio clubs I belong to, the Saint Louis and Suburban Radio Club, has operated their Field Day station from there on several occasions. The park is named in memory of the founder of McDonnell Aircraft Company (now part of Boeing).

Weather-wise, the temperatures were in the lower 60s under mostly cloudy skies with occasional rain sprinkles in the area. I set up on a soft shoulder on a roundabout roughly 100 yards east of the McDonnell Shelter, the site of SLSRC's 2019 Field Day operation. I lashed the 10-foot mast supporting one end of the longwire to a tree about 30 feet from where I set up my listening post. A five-foot mast, lashed to the fully open sliding door of the 2002 Chrysler Voyager I was driving, supported the longwire on the other end. I originally set up my listening post outside; however, when the sprinkles started falling, I moved the folding table I set up my listening post on inside the vehicle.

Late afternoon and sunset conditions on the AM (MW) broadcast band favored the Midwest, Mid-South and the Carolinas. On the shortwave broadcast bands, I once again heard at least one transmitter from each continent. For AM (MW) broadcast band DX, I once again used the General Electric Superadio III with a built-in ferrite rod antenna. For shortwave broadcast DX, I once again used the Tecsun PL-600 with a homebrew 30-foot longwire.

The end of the 30-foot longwire lashed to a tree.

The listening post before the rain came.

The listening post moved inside the van.

The antenna mast lashing.

The center insulator attached to the five-foot mast near the listening post.

AM BROADCAST BAND LOGS (all times Central U.S. time)

720 kHz WGCR Pisgah Forest, NC - 10/19 1739 noted with a Southern Gospel format, mention of previous song played by a female announcer, into The Digital Heritage Moment, with a feature on wildlife in southern Appalachia. A fair signal was noted in a WGN null.

810 kHz WHB Kansas City, MO - 10/19 1745 noted with local ad, "WHB" ID into talk on college football. A fair signal was noted over other stations. 

940 kHz WECO Wartburg, TN - 10/19 1752 noted with a Southern Gospel format, "AM 940 WECO" ID. A fair to poor signal, noted mixing with other stations.

980 kHz KMBZ Kansas City, MO - 10/19 1800 noted with legal ID, "Talk 980 KMBZ" mention into ABC News. A fair signal was noted over KSGM and WYFN.

1070 kHz KFTI Wichita, KS - 10/19 1806 noted with Classic Country, "Classic Country 1070" ID. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KHMO, WAPI, WCSZ and other stations.

1070 kHz WCSZ Sans Souci, SC - 10/19 1810 poked through with an announcement in Spanish into a Regional Mexican format. A poor signal was noted, mixing with KFTI, KHMO, WAPI and other stations.

1200 kHz WRTO Chicago, IL - 10/19 1640 noted with national ad in English into soccer coverage promos in Spanish. A good signal was noted with adjacent channel interference from KQQZ 1190 kHz.

1350 kHz WPDR Portage, WI - 10/19 1646 noted with Oldies format, "AM 1350 WPDR" ID. A fair signal was noted over KRAP and WSIQ.

1510 kHz WLAC Nashville, TN - 10/19 1708 noted with Vanderbilt University football play-by-play, local ads, "This is Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC" ID. A good to fair signal was noted over WCAZ.

1530 kHz KVDW England, AR - 10/19 1821 noted with an Urban Gospel format and a local promo. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KGBT and WCKY.

1530 kHz KGBT Harlingen, TX - 10/19 1824 noted with soccer play-by-play in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KVDW and WCKY.

1560 kHz KLNG Council Bluffs, IA - 10/19 1826 noted with the tail end of a Christian teaching program, choral Christian music until sign-off at 1830. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KGOW.

1560 kHz KGOW Bellaire, TX - 10/19 1825 noted with commentary in Vietnamese. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with KLNG.

1580 kHz WLIJ Shelbyville, TN - 10/19 1711 noted with a Country format, mention of call letters. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with other stations.

SHORTWAVE LOGS (all times UTC)

4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Para ZYG362 Belem, Para - 10/19 2307 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was noted.

5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 10/19 2113 noted with commentary in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was noted.

5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/19 2257 noted with tail end of commentary in Spanish into RHC interval signal. A fair signal was noted.

5050 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWRB Morrison, TN - 10/19 2258 noted with ID and Christian teaching program in English. An excellent signal was noted. 

5085 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WTWW Lebanon, TN - 10/19 2301 noted with Ham Radio Live and an ad for ICOM America in English. An excellent signal was noted.

7490 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Overcomer Ministry via WBCQ Monticello, ME - 10/19 2116 noted with Brother R.G. Stair talking about the military strength of Russia, Israel and other countries in English. A very good signal was noted.

9790 kHz FRANCE Radio France Internationale via Issoudun - 10/19 2119 noted with commentary and discussion in French. A fair signal was noted.

11610 kHz MADAGASCAR Madagascar World Voice via Mahajanga - 10/19 2124 noted with Chinese language lessons with English translations into Christian teaching program in Chinese. A good signal was noted.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazonia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 10/19 2217 noted with pop music and talk in Portuguese. A very good signal was noted.

11820 kHz SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Radio International via Riyadh - 10/19 2130 noted with the Holy Qu'ran program in Arabic. A good signal was noted.

11915 kHz SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Radio International via Riyadh - 10/19 2133 noted with the Holy Qu'ran program in Arabic. A fair to poor signal was noted.

13680 kHz JAPAN NHK World (Radio Japan) via Yamato - 10/19 2138 noted with piano music and talk in Japanese. A fair to poor signal was noted.

13740 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/19 2317 noted with commentary on Cuban political processes in English. An excellent signal was noted.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki - 10/19 2322 noted with commentary in English. A fair to poor signal was noted.

15580 kHz BOTSWANA Voice of America relay Mopeng Hill - 10/19 2103 noted with news in English into pop music, A fair signal was noted.

DXpedition #6 - Lincoln Shields Recreation Area, West Alton, MO

For my sixth DXpedition, I decided to give a different place a try. This time, I decided to give the Lincoln Shields Recreation Area a try. I've taken pictures from this area in the past, but I often wondered how DX would be at this location. It didn't take me long to find out!

On the afternoon of October 4, 2019, I took my radios there. Lincoln Shields Recreation Area is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, located in West Alton, MO at the southern end of the Clark Bridge along U.S. Highway 67. The area is within sight of downtown Alton, IL. Temperatures were in the upper 60s Fahrenheit under mostly clear skies; just four days before, the mercury was in the mid-90s Fahrenheit. A breeze was blowing in from the Mississippi River, some 20 yards to the north of where I set up my listening post.

I set up on the southern end of the asphalt parking lot, lashing the 10-foot high mast of the 30-foot longwire to a sign post with a "Bike Route" sign. A second mast, five feet high, was set up on the passenger side sliding door of the 2002 Chrysler Voyager I was driving. Once again, I brought my Tecsun PL-600 for shortwave DX and my General Electric Superadio III for AM broadcast band DX. The longwire was connected to the Tecsun. I began monitoring shortly after 2100 UTC.

On the AM broadcast band, late afternoon band conditions favored the Midwest. Stations were not only noted from Missouri and Illinois, but also from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. I discovered that I could put a tight null on the 20,000-watt day signal of WSDZ 1260 Belleville, IL in the late afternoon hours. I could hear several AMs carrying Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Saint Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves from the Cardinals' radio network. The biggest surprise of the afternoon turned out to be WING 1410 kHz Dayton, OH. I had expected WIZM La Crosse, WI to be dominant on the channel. The closest transmitters were of KFNS 590 and WBGZ 1570.

This was the first DXpedition where I heard at least one shortwave relay station from each continent. So many pleasant surprises were noted, including KBS World via Gimje, South Korea on 11810 kHz, Radio Free Asia via Dushanbe on 9875 kHz and Radio Brasil Central on 11815 kHz. Conditions were fair in the late afternoon all the way to the 49 Meter band, with 60 Meters from as far south as Brazil in by 2300 UTC. I finally wrapped up monitoring at 2340 UTC, five minutes before sunset.

General Electric Superadio III for AM broadcast band DX, Tecsun PL-600 for shortwave DX.

Clip mount for the center insulator supporting the longwire before adding the RG-6QS cable.

Longwire antenna for shortwave DX at sunset.

AM BROADCAST BAND DX (All times CDT)

  740 kHz WVLN Olney, IL - 10/4 1736 noted with local ads mentioning phone numbers in Area Code 618. A fair signal was noted with adjacent channel interference from KWRE 730 kHz.

1100 kHz WTAM Cleveland, OH - 10/4 1743 noted with talk on Las Vegas, "WTAM" ID and mention of the station's Web site. A good to fair signal was noted; alone on channel.

1170 kHz KFAQ Tulsa, OK - 10/4 1821 noted with local ads, promo for The Pat Campbell Show, "Talk Radio 1170" ID, promo mentioning Tulsa, into sports talk show. A good signal was noted over KBOB and KJXX.

1400 kHz WGIL Galesburg, IL - 10/4 1638 noted with Game 2 of the National League Division Series. A fair signal was noted through KJFF.

1410 kHz WING Dayton, OH - 10/4 1702 noted with "ESPN 1410" ID, "From the Buffalo Wild Wings Studios, this is WING" mention into sports talk. A fair signal was noted over WIZM.

1450 kHz WKEI Kewanee, IL - 10/4 1755 noted with Game 2 of the National League Division Series. A poor signal was noted through other stations with ACI from KHOJ 1460 kHz.

1470 kHz WMBD Peoria, IL - 10/4 1701 noted with local news, "WMBD" ID. A good signal was noted with ACI from KHOJ 1460.

1500 kHz WBRI Indianapolis, IN - 10/4 1724 noted with The New Believers Christian teaching program, "AM 1500 WBRI and 96.7 FM" ID into USA Radio News. A fair signal was noted over KSTP and WPMB.

1510 kHz WCAZ Macomb, IL - 10/4 1642 noted with Classic Country format, "Classic Country WCAZ" ID. A fair signal was noted over WLAC.

1520 kHz KRHW Sikeston, MO - 10/4 1644 noted with Classic Country format, "Country Legends 98-9 and 1520 KRHW" ID. A fair signal was noted over WHOW.

1660 kHz KWOD Kansas City, KS - 10/4 1648 noted with local spots, promo mentioning Missouri State sports into Fox Sports Radio. A good signal was noted, alone on channel.

1690 kHz WVON Berwyn, IL - 10/4 1649 noted with "The Talk of Chicago, WVON" ID and several promos. A good signal was noted, alone on channel.

1700 kHz KBGG Des Moines, IA - 10/4 1654 noted with Des Moines traffic report and local ads. A good signal was noted, alone on channel.

SHORTWAVE LOGS (all times UTC)

4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Para ZYG362 Belem, Para - 10/4 2317 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was noted.

5010 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Deutsche Welle via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 10/4 2227 noted with tail end of commentary in Spanish into "Fidelio" interval signal. A fair signal was noted.

5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 10/4 2218 noted with classic Cuban vocal music and commentary in Spanish. A fair signal was noted.

5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/4 2216 noted with light vocal music and commentary in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was noted.

6175 kHz  ALBANIA China Radio International relay via Cerrik - 10/4 2233 noted with traditional Chinese music until 2255, commentary in Portuguese. A fair signal was noted.

6195 kHz BOTSWANA Voice of America relay Mopeng Hill - 10/4 2110 noted with African hi-life music and talk in English. A fair signal was noted.

6950 kHz USB UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (PIRATE) Radio Free Whatever - 10/4 2304 noted with rock music, DJ (Dick Weed?) talking about Liam Gallagher and Oasis, mention of other pirates and various food and drink, off at 2310. A good to poor signal was noted.

7350 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Kasgar - 10/4 2301 noted with news in English. A fair to poor signal was noted.

9445 kHz INDIA All India Radio via Bengaluru - 10/4 2133 noted with traditional Indian music and commentary in English. A fair signal was noted.

9620 kHz TURKEY Voice of Turkey via Emirler - 10/4 2131 noted with Middle Eastern music and description of the song played in English. A fair signal was noted.

9875 kHz TAJIKISTAN Radio Free Asia via Dushanbe - 10/4 2334 noted with discussion in Tibetan. A fair signal was noted.

10051 kHz USB CANADA Gander VOLMET - 10/4 2158 noted with aviation weather reports for various Canadian cities. A good signal was noted.

11810 kHz SOUTH KOREA KBS World via Gimje - 10/4 2209 noted with news and analysis in English. A fair to poor signal was noted.

11815 kHz BRAZIL Radio Brasil Central ZYE440 Goiania, Goias - 10/4 2312 noted with pop music and local ads in Portuguese. A good signal was noted.

11820 kHz SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Radio International via Riyadh - 10/4 2213 noted with the Holy Qu'ran program in Arabic. A fair signal was noted.

11880 kHz AUSTRIA Adventist World Radio Africa via Moosbrunn - 10/4 2121 noted with a Christian teaching program in English. A fair signal was noted.

12095 kHz ASCENSION ISLAND BBC World Service relay - 10/4 2118 noted with talk on human versus artificial intelligence in English. A very good signal was noted.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki- 10/4 2335 noted with pop music, talk and "RNZ National" ID in English. A fair to poor signal was noted with ACI from WWCR on 13845 kHz.

15370 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/4 2124 noted with news analysis in Spanish. An excellent signal was noted.