DXpedition #21 - Harry S. Truman Park, Hazelwood, MO

The DXpedition on July 2 (UTC July 2-3) was planned for Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area (the site of DXpeditions #13 and #17), also in Hazelwood. However, due to flooding along Aubuchon and Charbonier Roads, the area was closed. This required a last minute change to Harry S. Truman Park, about a mile to the southeast (and on higher ground). Truman Park is operated by Hazelwood Parks and Recreation; it was originally planned as a Saint Louis County park in the late 1970s. The area around the park was annexed into the City of Hazelwood in 1981 (the year I started DXing). It is named in honor of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, who served from 1945 to 1953.

Temperatures were in the lower 80s (27-29 degrees Celsius) on this July evening under clear skies with low humidity. I set up my listening post on two adjoining picnic tables east of Truman Pond, the centerpiece of the nature-themed park. I brought my General Electric Superadio III for AM (MW) broadcast band DX. For shortwave DX, I brought my Tecsun PL-600 receiver and MFJ-1022 active antenna (powered by a nine-volt battery). On the AM (MW) broadcast band, reception conditions favored the Midwest before sunset; after sunset, the band was open from Mexico and Cuba in the south to Manitoba and Ontario in the north. All continents were heard on shortwave except Africa and Asia. This is the first time I took my radios out in the field in the month of July. 

The listening post at Truman Park. (Truman Pond is in the background.)

AM BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK (All times CDT; for EDT, add one hour, five hours for UTC)

540 kHz KMLB Monroe, LA - 7/2 2105 noted with a promo for The Dave Ramsey Show, "News/Talk 105.7 and 540 KMLB" slogan ID, weather forecast into The Dave Ramsey Show. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KTRS 550 kHz.

570 kHz KLIF Dallas, TX - 7/2 2127 noted with The Jim Bohannon Show with a guest talking about COVID-19, local ads, "KLIF 570 AM and 96.3 FM HD2" ID, Fox News Radio update and a promo. A good to fair signal was heard over other stations.

570 kHz Radio Reloj CMBD Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba - 7/2 2135 noted with news headlines, "Radio Reloj" ID in Spanish, time signals, "RR" ID in Morse Code. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KLIF and other stations.

580 kHz WILL Urbana, IL - 7/2 1954 noted with Fresh Air, with a guest talking about Classical music, underwriting announcements, brief Blues music, preview of a rebroadcast of All Things Considered from earlier in the day into NPR News. A fair signal was heard with ACI from KFNS 590 kHz.

610 kHz WRUS Russellville, KY - 7/2 2001 noted with a Classic Hits format emphasizing 1980s hits ('80s at Eight?), "Logan County's Information Source, WRUS" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard over KCSP.

610 kHz KCSP Kansas City, MO - 7/2 2109 noted with Kansas City Royals baseball play-by-play. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WAGG.

620 kHz WJDX Jackson, MS - 7/2 2121 noted with iHeart Radio podcast promo, local ads and Fox Sports Radio promos. A fair signal was heard over WRJZ and WTMJ with ACI from KYFI 630 kHz.

730 kHz XEX Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico - 7/2 2139 noted with hard rock music in English, "W Deportes" ID in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

800 kHz KREI Farmington, MO - 7/2 2016 noted with When Radio Was, local ads, "Super Talk 800 KREI" slogan ID. A good to fair signal was heard over CKLW.

880 kHz CKLQ Brandon, MB - 7/2 2140 noted with Country format, "Q Country" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard over WIJR with ACI from WWL 870 kHz.

950 kHz KWOS Jefferson City, MO - 7/2 1853 noted with local ads, "News Radio KWOS" slogan ID into  The Sean Hannity Show.  A good signal was heard, alone on the channel.

960 kHz WDLM East Moline, IL - 7/2 2025 noted with Insight for Living, features on Christian living and local promos. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KCGS, KMA and KZIM.

1030 kHz KCWJ Blue Springs, MO - 7/2 2037 noted with local ads, "Classic Country 1030 KCWJ" slogan ID into Classic Country format. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1060 kHz KBFL Springfield, MO - 7/2 2057 noted with Springfield Cardinals baseball play-by-play. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1220 kHz KLPW Union, MO - 7/2 1857 noted with Classic Rock format, "KLPW 1220 AM and K224EZ 92.7 FM Union/Washington" legal ID at 1907. A good signal was heard over WLPO.

1360 kHz KBKB Fort Madison, IA - 7/2 1919 noted with weather forecast, promo for The Herd with Colin Cowherd, "Fox Sports Radio 104-5 and 1360" slogan ID into promo for The Dan Patrick Show.  A fair signal was heard over WSAI.

1420 kHz WINI Murphysboro, IL - 7/2 1928 noted with Saint Louis Cardinals baseball play-by-play, "Cool 93-5" slogan ID, "WINI Murphysboro/Carbondale" legal ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WOC.

1490 kHz KTTR Rolla, MO - 7/2 1947 noted with local ads, "Hot 104.9" slogan ID into Contemporary Hit Radio format. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations. 

SHORTWAVE RADIO LOGBOOK (All times UTC; for CDT, subtract five hours, four hours for EDT.)

3330 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON – 7/3 0044 noted with “CHU Canada” ID in English, UTC time check in English and French into time signals. A good to fair signal was heard.

4765 kHz CUBA Radio Progreso via Bejucal, Ciudad de la Habana – 7/3 0046 noted with light vocal music and brief commentary in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard.

4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará – 7/3 0117 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

5010 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Radio Slovakia International via WRMI Okeechobee, FL – 7/3 0042 noted with commentary in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana – 7/3 0113 noted with commentary in Spanish. A very good signal was heard.

5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana – 7/3 0115 noted with news analysis in Spanish. A good signal was heard.

5085 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WTWW Lebanon, TN – 7/3 0122 noted with 1980s pop oldies, ad for Main Trading Company and a quick “WTWW” ID. An excellent signal was heard.

5505 kHz IRELAND Shannon VOLMET – 7/3 0156 noted with weather reports and forecasts for various European airports, “This is Shannon VOLMET, Shannon VOLMET” ID in English. A good to fair signal was heard in USB mode.

5970 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WEWN Vandiver, AL – 7/3 0112 noted with The Holy Rosary in Spanish. An excellent signal was heard.

5995 kHz MALI ORTM Radio Mali via Bamako – 7/2 2355 noted with commentary in French. A fair signal was heard.

6070 kHz CANADA CFRX Toronto, ON – 7/3 0103 noted with local news, traffic report, weather forecast, “News/Talk 1010” ID in English. A good signal was heard. 

6160 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WBCQ Monticello, ME – 7/3 0106 noted with talk on the American Revolution in English. A good to fair signal was heard with ACI from Radio Havana Cuba on 6165 kHz.

6185 kHz MEXICO Señal Cultura México XEPPM Mexico City, DF – 7/3 0110 noted with commentary in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

6604 kHz NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 7/2 2359 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Gander Radio out" ID at 2400. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

6754 kHz CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 7/3 0001 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Trenton Military out" ID at 0002. A very good signal was heard in USB mode.

7365 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Radio Martí via Greenville, NC – 7/3 0235 noted with commentary in Spanish. A very good signal was heard with Cuban jamming.

9265 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WINB Red Lion, PA – 7/3 0035 noted with Christian teaching in Spanish. A good signal was heard.

9440 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Galbeni – 7/3 0225noted with pop music into commentary in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

9490 kHz CLANDESTINE Radio Republica via Issoudun, France – 7/3 0218 noted with commentary in Spanish directed at Cuba. A good signal was heard.

9665 kHz BRAZIL Radio Voz Missionaria ZYE890 Camboriú, Santa Catarina – 7/3 0137 noted with Christian teaching in Portuguese. A fair signal was heard.

9870 kHz TURKEY Voice of Turkey via Emirler – 7/3 0139 noted with commentary in Spanish into Middle Eastern music. A fair signal was heard.

9955 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WRMI Okeechobee, FL – 7/3 0149 noted with Christian teaching in English. An excellent signal was heard.

9975 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA KVOH Rancho Simi, CA – 7/3 0027 noted with Contemporary Christian music, “La Voz de Esperanza” ID in Spanish. A very good signal was heard.

10051 kHz NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 7/3 0152 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Gander Radio" ID in English. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, DF – 7/3 0055 noted with commentary in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

11945 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Galbeni – 7/3 0214 noted with commentary in Spanish. A good to fair signal was heard..

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki – 7/3 0018 noted with pop music and talk on the music in English. A fair signal was heard.