DXpedition #12 - Weldon Spring Conservation Area

The receivers and scanner at the listening post.

On the evening of June 13 (UTC June 13-14), I decided to give a new place a try for my 12th DXpedition. That place is Weldon Spring Conservation Area in east central Saint Charles County, 30 miles west of downtown Saint Louis, MO. The area is named for the nearby city of Weldon Spring, MO; it is operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Located along Missouri Highway 94 southwest of Interstate 64/U.S. Highway 40, there are several places to set up. I chose a gravel parking lot on Highway 94 about a mile south of Francis Howell High School at the trailhead of the Clark Trail and the longer Lewis Trail, west of the Katy Trail, the main trail through the area.On  It is also the second conservation area I've been to with a closing time of 2200 local time (10:00 p.m.); the other one being Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area, the site of three DXpeditions.

The first thing I discovered on this DXpedition was that the lower-powered Saint Louis AM broadcast stations' signals were weaker. I also noted that the digital sidebands from Saint Louis' last remaining full-time digital AM station, KFUO 850 Clayton, MO, were negligible, at best. Being roughly 20 miles south of KHOJ 1460's transmitter site in Boschertown, the signal during the day is very strong, but is much weaker after sunset. Shortwave signals primarily came from the Americas and Europe, although a few made it from Asia and the Pacific.

For AM broadcast band DX, I brought my General Electric Superadio III, as always. For shortwave DX, I brought my Tecsun PL-600 and homebrewed 30-foot portable longwire. I also brought along my Whistler WS1040 handheld digital scanner to monitor local first responders. I did do a scan of the NOAA Weather Radio band; in addition to the local NOAA Weather Radio station, KDO89 162.550 MHz Saint Louis, MO,  I could also hear WNG728 Bellflower, MO (near Montgomery City) on 162.425 MHz, KXI70 Jerseyville, IL on 162.450 MHz and WWF75 Bourbon, MO (near Sullivan) on 162.525 MHz.

This is also the second DXpedition location where I heard an AM broadcast station from outside the United States. Monitoring started around 1810 CDT (2310 UTC), and wrapped up around 2100 CDT (0200 UTC).

DOMESTIC (U.S. and Canada) AM BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK 
All  times CDT; for EDT, add one hour, for UTC, add five hours.

1260 kHz WSDZ Belleville, IL - 6/13 1933 noted with promos for a Catholic organization, "Relevant Radio" ID into a discussion. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KSGF.

1290 kHz WIRL Peoria, IL - 6/13 2030 noted with Oldies format, "WIRL" jingle, another Oldie before switching back to a rebroadcast of a Saint Louis Cardinals baseball game. A good signal was heard before pattern change; fair to poor signal, mixing with WHIO after 2030 pattern change.

1440 kHz WGEM Quincy, IL - 6/13 1817 noted with weather forecast for Quincy into talk on Major League Baseball from ESPN Radio. A fair signal was heard; alone on the channel.

1450 kHz WFMB Springfield, IL - 6/13 1956 noted with local ads, "1450 AM WFMB Springfield" legal ID into ABC News update. A fair signal was heard with minor adjacent channel interference from KHOJ 1460.

1460 kHz KXNO Des Moines, IA - 6/13 2000 noted with "KXNO Des Moines, an iHeart Radio Station" legal ID into a Fox Sports Radio update. A fair signal was heard through KHOJ.

1490 kHz KDRS Paragould, AR - 6/13 2040 noted with "This is iRock Radio" ID into rock music. A fair to poor signal was heard, poking through other stations.

1490 kHz KTTR Rolla, MO - 6/13 1924 noted with local ad, local weather forecast from KYTV in Springfield, "Hot 104.9" ID into a Contemporary Hit Radio format. Afair signalwas heard over other stations.

1510 kHz WCAZ Macomb, IL - 6/13 1920 noted with a Classic Country format, "Real Country" ID. A fair signal was heard over WLAC.

1540 kHz KXEL Waterloo, IA - 6/13 1852 noted with "News Radio 1540 KXEL" ID in promo into a rebroadcast of The Sean Hannity Show. A fair signal was heard over WSMI.

1560 kHz KLTI Macon, MO - 6/13 1904 noted with a Classic Country format and mention of call letters. A fair to poor signal was heard under KTUI.

1560 kHz KTUI Sullivan, MO - 6/13 2006 noted with "KTUI" ID into a discussion program. A fair signal was heard over KLTI.

1570 kHz WFRL Freeport, IL - 6/13 2002 noted with a Country format, "Big Radio" ID". A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WBGZ.

1570 kHz KBCV Hollister, MO - 6/13 1908 noted with In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley from Bott Radio Network; also heard via KSIV-FM 91.5 MHz Saint Louis, MO. A fair to poor signal was heard over WBGZ.

1590 kHz WCGO Evanston, IL - 6/13 2054 noted with Big Band music program, brief open carrier, "WCGO and W240EH Evanston/Chicago" legal ID. A good signal was heard over WNTS.

1590 kHz KMOZ Rolla, MO - 6/13 1910 noted with In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, also heard on KBCV 1570 kHz and KSIV-FM 91.5 MHz. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WNTS.

1610 kHz CHHA Toronto, ON - 6/13 2007 noted with Latin American-style pop music, local announcements in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard, alone on the channel.

INTERNATIONAL AM BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK 
All times in UTC; for CDT, subtract five hours.

1620 kHz CUBA  Radio Rebelde synchros - 6/14 0149 noted with Cuban-style vocal music; also heard on 5025 kHz. A fair signal was heard over KOZN, WNRP and WTAW.

SHORTWAVE RADIO LOGBOOK 
All times in UTC; for CDT, subtract five hours.

4765 kHz CUBA Radio Progreso via Bejucal, Ciudad de la Habana - 6/14 0032 noted with pop music and ID in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard.

5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 6/14 0151 noted with Ciban-style vocal music; also heard on 1620 kHz. A good to fair signal was heard.

5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 6/14 0030 noted with "Radio Havana Cuba" ID, brief music into commentary in French. A fair signal was heard.

5055 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWRB Manchester, TN - 6/14 0037 noted with church service recorded off a low-quality telephone line in English. An excellent signal was noted. 

5085 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WTWW Lebanon, TN - 6/13 0039 noted with a recorded organ concert, announcements in English. An excellent signal was noted.

5505 kHz IRELAND Shannon VOLMET - 6/14 0044 noted with weather reports for various European airports, "This is Shannon VOLMET, Shannon VOLMET" ID in English. A fair signal was heard in USB mode.

6050 kHz ECUADOR Vozandes Media HCJB Quito, Pichincha - 6/14 0041 noted with church service in Waorani. A fair to poor signal was heard.

6604 kHz NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 6/13 2357 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Gander Radio out" ID at the end of transmission at 2359. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

6754 kHz CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 6/13 2356 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports in English. A very good signal was heard in USB mode.

6965 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Pirate) Wolverine Radio - 6/14 0125 noted with Classic Rock music, "Wolverine Radio" ID. An excellent signal was heard in USB mode.

7375 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Tiganesti - 6/14 0003 noted with news in English. A very good signal was heard.

9265 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WINB Red Lion, PA - 6/14 0143 noted with Christian teaching program in English. A good signal was heard.

9420 kHz GREECE Voice of Greece via Avlida - 6/13 2322 noted with traditional Greek music and commentary in Greek. A good signal was heard.

9925 kHz GERMANY The Mighty KBC via Nauen - 6/14 0104 noted with pop Oldies, "The Mighty KBC" ID. An excellent signal was heard.

11745 kHz CLANDESTINE Al-Azm Radio via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 6/14 0108 noted with chants from the Holy Qu'ran in Arabic; on past scheduled 2330 sign-off. A fair to poor signal was heard.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 BRasilia, D.F. - 6/13 2343 noted with contemporary music and a jingle ID in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

11815 kHz BRAZIL Radio Brasil Central ZYE440 Goiânia,Goiás - 6/13 2345 noted with pop music and ID in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

11860 kHz CLANDESTINE Republic of Yemen Radio/Radio Sana'a via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 6/14 0112 noted with chanting from the Holy Qu'ran in Arabic; on past listed 2330 sign-off. A fair signal was noted.

11990 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Radio Slovakia International via WRMI Okeechobee, FL (tentative) - 6/13 2355 noted with mention of WRMI in Spanish into interval signal. Not listed on WRMI's schedule or in the WRTH updater. A good signal was noted.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki - 6/13 2340 noted with an interview in English. A fair signal was heard.

15000 kHz HAWAII WWVH Kekaha, Kauai - 6/14 0021 noted with time signals, UTC time check at 0022. A good signal was heard with no sign of WWV.

15590 kHz THAILAND Radio Thailand International via Udon Thani - 6/14 0026 noted with commentary in English. A fair to poor signal was heard.

The portable longwire all set up and ready to go.