After voting absentee for the 2022 midterm elections at the local election office on November 3, I took my radios to James S. McDonnell Park for my 29th DXpedition; it was also my third DXpedition to the Saint Louis County park named in memory of Saint Louis aviation pioneer James S. McDonnell. This is the first time I took the radios there during the week; that way, I would use one of the two picnic shelters normally reserved on the weekends. The site I selected was the McDonnell Shelter, the first one seen as you come off Adie Road. The McDonnell Shelter, along with the larger Lindbergh Shelter, has hosted several Field Day operations for the Saint Louis and Suburban Radio Club.
As usual, I brought my General Electric Superadio III for AM (MW) broadcast band DX. For shortwave DX, I brought my Tecsun PL-600; I alternated between the MFJ-1022 active antenna and the built-in telescoping whip, since the battery was low later in the DXpedition. Monitoring took place from 1400 to 1745 CDT (1900-2245 UTC). AM (MW) band conditions favored the Midwest until around 1630 CDT (2130 UTC), when stations from the South and Mid-Atlantic states started coming in. On the shortwave bands, all areas were heard except for the Pacific. The one thing I noted was the Cubans on 5025 and 5040 kHz back on the air, but weaker than usual, after Hurricane Ian.
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| The receiver setup at the McDonnell Shelter. |
AM (MW) BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK (All times CDT. For EDT, add one hour; add five hours for UTC.)
580 kHz WILL Urbana, IL - 11/3 1500 noted with "AM 580 WILL Urbana, 90.9 WILL-FM HD3 Urbana" legal ID, preview of Fresh Air into NPR News. A good signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KFNS 590.
670 kHz WSCR Chicago, IL - 11/3 1417 noted with talk on the World Series with MLB Network's Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo as the in-studio guest, "670 the Score" jingle ID, station promo, "670 the Score, an Audacy Station" slogan before returning to the Mad Dog. A good signal was heard, alone on channel.
720 kHz WGN Chicago, IL - 11/3 1421 noted with interview with guest talking about police funding and the 2024 elections, "WGN" spoken and jingle IDs into local ads. A fair signal was heard with ACI from KWRE 730.
740 kHz WVLN Olney, IL - 11/3 1420 noted with Sports Talk format, "CBS Sports Radio" jingle into local ads. A fair to poor signal was heard with ACI from KWRE 730.
740 kHz KRMG Tulsa, OK - 11/3 1744 noted with weather forecast, "News Radio KRMG" slogan ID into traffic report mentioning a serious crash on eastbound Interstate 44. A good to poor signal was heard, mixing with CFZM.
740 kHz CFZM Toronto, ON - 11/3 1743 noted with Oldies format, "Zoomer Radio" slogan ID. A good to poor signal was heard, mixing with KRMG.
760 kHz WJR Detroit, MI - 11/3 1731 noted with Fox News Radio, quick "WJR" ID, traffic report, weather forecast into local ads. A good to fair signal was heard with ACI from WEW 770.
780 kHz WBBM Chicago, IL - 11/3 1440 noted with traffic report, "News Radio 105.9 WBBM" slogan ID and weather forecast. A fair signal was heard with ACI from WEW 770.
820 kHz WVSG Columbus, OH - 11/3 1722 noted with talk on deliverance prayers and exorcisms from EWTN. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
890 kHz WLS Chicago, IL - 11/3 1554 noted with local ads, station promo and "890 WLS" ID. A fair to poor signal was heard with ACI from WIJR 880.
900 kHz KFAL Fulton, MO - 11/3 1432 noted with Classic Country format, station promo, "This is The Big 900 KFAL, on FM at 95.3" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
940 kHz WMIX Mount Vernon, IL - 11/3 1511 noted with Adult Standards format, "940 WMIX" ID. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel. Not as strong as in years passed.
970 kHz WMAY Springfield, IL - 11/3 1556 noted with Classic Hits format, "102.5 the Lake, Timeless Hits" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
1020 kHz KDKA Pittsburgh, PA - 11/3 1708 noted with local ad, promo for the Audacy app, preview of upcoming talk show with mention of Pennsylvania. A good signal was heard over WCIL.
1050 kHz WDZ Decatur, IL - 11/3 1559 noted with local ad, "This is WDZ Decatur" legal ID at 1600 into Fox Sports Radio update. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
1060 kHz WKNG Tallapoosa, GA - 11/3 1643 noted with "WKNG 1060 AM and 92.7 FM" ID, local ads and mention of Western Georgia. A fair to poor signal was heard over WMCL.
1140 kHz WRVA Richmond, VA - 11/3 1652 noted with traffic report, local ads, "News Radio WRVA" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard over WVEL.
1150 kHz KCPS Burlington, IA -11/3 1632 noted with local ads mentioning Burlington. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WGGH.
1170 kHz KTSB Tulsa, OK - 11/3 1653 noted with local ads mentioning phone numbers in Area Code 918. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WWVA.
1170 kHz WWVA Wheeling, WV - 11/3 1655 noted with local ads, political ad mentioning Ohio, station promo, "News Radio 1170 WWVA" slogan ID into The Sean Hannity Show. A fair signal was heard over KTSB.
1180 kHz WLDS Jacksonville, IL - 11/3 1613 noted with "AM 1180 WLDS" ID, local ads mentioning Jacksonville into View From the Crow's Nest. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
1200 kHz WRTO Chicago, IL - 11/3 1618 noted with Sports Talk format and local ads in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard, alone on channel.
1290 kHz WHKY Hickory, NC - 11/3 1706 noted with "WHKY Talk Radio" slogan ID into The Mark Levin Show. A good to fair signal was heard over WIRL.
1370 kHz KWRT Boonville, MO - 11/3 1637 noted with quick "KWRT" ID into Classic Country format. A fair signal was heard with ACI from KXFN 1380.
1450 kHz WFMB Springfield, IL - 11/3 1607 noted with local ads mentioning Springfield. A fair signal was heard with ACI from KHOJ 1460.
1500 kHz WPMB Vandalia, IL - 11/3 1541 noted with Adult Contemporary format, "This is WPMB" ID. A fair signal was heard, alone on channel.
1580 kHz WAMW Washington, IN - 11/3 1543 noted with Country format, "This is Four-Star Country the General, WAMW" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard with ACI from WBGZ 1570.
1590 kHz WRCY Mount Vernon, IN - 11/3 1545 noted with an ad for a farm co-op in Mount Vernon, election PSA, weather forecast, "AM 1590, 98.9 WPIW" slogan ID. 98.9 refers to W255DQ Poseyville, IN. A fair to poor signal was heard with ACI from KATZ 1600.
1610 kHz CHHA Toronto, ON - 11/3 1700 noted with local ads, "CHHA 1610 AM" ID into local news in Spanish. A good signal was heard with ACI from KATZ 1600.
SHORTWAVE RADIO LOGBOOK (All times UTC. For CDT, subtract five hours; subtract four hours for EDT.)
3330 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 11/3 2120 noted with time signals, "CHU Canada" ID in French, UTC time check in French and English at 2121. A fair to poor signal was heard.
5000 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWV Fort Collins, CO - 11/3 2017 noted with time signals, UTC time check at 2018 into solar weather outlook. A fair signal was heard.
5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 11/3 2219 noted with commentary in Spanish. A poor signal was heard.
5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via Bejucal, Ciudad de la Habana - 11/3 2220 noted with commentary and vocal music in Spanish. A poor signal was heard.
9275 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WMLK Bethel, PA - 11/3 1929 noted with sermon mentioning the Bill of Rights in English. A good signal was heard.
9350 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWCR Nashville, TN - 11/3 2006 noted with sermon in English. A good signal was heard.
9800 kHz PHILIPPINES Voice of America via Tinang - 11/3 2033 noted with news and commentary in Korean. A fair signal was heard.
10051 kHz NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 11/3 2027 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Gander Radio out" ID at 2029 sign-off. A fair signal was heard in USB mode.
11640 kHz MALI CGTN Radio via Bamako - 11/3 2107 noted with commentary and feature on Chinese history in English. A fair signal was heard.
11720 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Voice of America via Greenville, NC - 11/3 2104 noted with news, "VOA News" ID into pop music in English. An excellent signal was heard.
12030 kHz SPAIN
Radio Exterior de España via Noblejas - 11/3 2003 noted with news and promos in Spanish. A good signal was heard.
12095 kHz ASCENSION ISLAND BBC World Service relay - 11/3 2135 noted with interviews in English. A fair to good signal was heard.
13264 kHz IRELAND Shannon VOLMET - 11/3 2022 noted with weather reports for the North Atlantic and various European airports, "This is Shannon VOLMET, Shannon VOLMET" ID in English. A fair signal was heard in USB mode.
13630 kHz MALI CGTN Radio via Bamako - 11/3 2006 noted with discussion on sleep in English. A good signal was heard.
14670 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 11/3 2020 noted with time signals, "CHU Canada" ID in French, UTC time check in French and English at 2021. A very good signal was heard.
15034 kHz CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 11/3 1902 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Trenton Military out" ID at 1903 sign-off in English. A good signal was heard in USB mode.
15580 kHz BOTSWANA Voice of America via Mopeng Hill - 11/3 1902 noted with news, "This is VOA News" ID into VOA News Now in English. A fair signal was heard.
15730 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Voice of America via Greenville, NC - 11/3 1948 noted with interview and promo in French. An excellent signal was heard.
15770 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Voice of America via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 11/3 1950 noted with story on energy supplies in Ukraine in English. An excellent signal was heard.
15825 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWCR Nashville, TN - 11/3 1954 noted with sermon in English. An excellent signal was heard.
17700 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Voice of America via Greenville, NC - 11/3 1908 noted with interview in French. A good signal was heard.
17790 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Pan American Broadcasting via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 11/3 1919 noted with sermon in English. An excellent signal was heard.
