DXpedition #20 - Babler State Park, Wildwood, MO

On the afternoon of June 23, 2021 (extending into the early evening hours), I returned to Babler State Park in Wildwood, MO, the site of DXpeditions #1 and #10, for the 20th DXpedition I've undertaken since November 2018. This is the first time I took my radios to Babler State Park in the warmer months; the first two DXpeditions were during the autumn months, just after Thanksgiving Day. To refresh your memory, the park is 25 miles west of downtown Saint Louis, and is operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

On this particular day, temperatures were in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (28-30 degrees Celsius) under partly cloudy skies with a cooling breeze, dropping to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) around sunset. This time, I selected the Cochran Picnic Area, one of the highest points in the park. I took a table under a shady tree, and set up my listening post. For AM (MW) broadcast band DX, I brought my General Electric Superadio III once again. I brought along my Tecsun PL-600 for shortwave DX; this is the first time I used the MFJ-1022 active antenna at Babler. On the first DXpedition, I used the Tecsun wire antenna; the second Babler DXpedition used a homebrew 30-foot longwire I made after the first Marais Temps Clair DXpedition. The MFJ-1022 works best when it's powered by a nine-volt battery. The antenna also works for the FM broadcast band (88-108 MHz); I heard many regional FM stations on the Tecsun PL-600. I also brought my Whistler WS1040 handheld  digital scanner to check VHF band conditions using the NOAA Weather Radio band. At my home listening post, I most frequently pull in WNG728 Bellflower, MO on 162.425 MHz and KXI70 Jerseyville, IL on 162.450 MHz (in addition to local KDO89 on 162.550 MHz). At Babler State Park, I have another semi-local: WWF75 Bourbon, MO (162.525 MHz).

Monitoring began around 1630 CDT (2130 UTC), and wrapped up around 2030 CDT (0130 UTC June 24). Before 1800 CDT (2300 UTC), AM (MW) reception conditions favored Missouri and Illinois stations; the 50 kW Chicago non-directional AM stations were heard. After 1800 CDT (2300 UTC), stations from other parts of the Midwest and Mid-South were heard. On the shortwave broadcast bands, stations were heard from every continent. Babler State Park became the first DXpedition site from where I have logged 100 stations (AM and SW combined) on this DXpedition.

The setup at the DXpedition site.

The picnic area sign.

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

580 kHz WILL Urbana, IL - 6/23 1658 noted with underwriting announcement, promo for Fresh Air, "AM 580 WILL and Will Illinois-dot-org" mention, legal ID at 1700. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KFNS 590.

610 kHz KCSP Kansas City, MO - 6/23 1936 noted with Kansas City Royals baseball play-by-play. A fair to poor signal was heard, alone on the channel.

670 kHz WSCR Chicago, IL - 6/23 1703 noted with a "670 the Score" slogan ID, mention of the Chicago Radiothon, into a conversation with a caller on philanthropy. A fair signal was heard, alone on the channel.

720 kHz WGN Chicago, IL - 6/23 1705 noted with local news, preview of upcoming topics, mentions of President Biden and Chicago politics, "WGN Radio 720, the Voice of Chicago" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KWRE 730.

780 kHz WBBM Chicago, IL - 6/23 1713 noted with local news, "News Radio 105.9" mention, promo mentioning "WBBM News Radio" and local ads. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from WEW 770.

790 kHz WRMS Beardstown, IL - 6/23 1715 noted with talk on fundraising for Catholic organizations, "EWTN Global Catholic Radio" mention into light Christian vocal music. A fair signal was heard with second adjacent channel interference from WEW 770.

810 kHz WHB Kansas City, MO - 6/23 1723 noted with local ads, promo, "ESPN 810" ID into sports talk. A fair to poor signal was heard, alone on the channel.

890 kHz WLS Chicago, IL - 6/23 1727 noted with talk on Chicago politics, CDT time check, "890 WLS" ID into weather forecast. A fair to poor signal was heard, alone on the channel.

900 kHz KFAL Fulton, MO - 6/23 1732 noted with "Your Home for Country Favorites, The Big 900 KFAL" jingle ID into Classic Country format. A fair signal was heard, alone on the channel.

940 kHz WMIX Mount Vernon, IL - 6/23 1855 noted with Adult Standards format, "AM 940 WMIX" ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KPSZ.

970 kHz WMAY Springfield, IL - 6/23 1900 noted with local news, "From the WMAY Newsroom" mention into local  ads. A fair signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1000 kHz WHNY Paris, TN - 6/23 1941 noted with Classic Country format, "Country Legends" mention and local ads. A good to fair signal was heard over WDJL and WXTN with no sign of WMVP.

1230 kHz WHCO Sparta, IL - 6/23 1734 noted with local ads, Saint Louis Cardinals promo, "Real Country 1230 and 97.3 WHCO" ID into  NBC News Radio. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KLPW 1220.

1240 kHz KFMO Park Hills, MO - 6/23 1737 noted with local ads, promo for The Sean Hannity Show, "The Parkland's News, Talk and Sports Leader, AM 1240 KFMO" slogan ID. A fair signal was heard in a WTAX null.

1270 kHz WDLR Marysville, OH - 6/23 1913 noted with Classic Hits format, "My 96-7" slogan ID. A fair to poor signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from WSDZ 1260.

1310 kHz KZRG Joplin, MO - 6/23 1917 noted with local ads, "News/Talk KZRG" slogan ID in promo. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WIBA; adjacent channel interference from KSIV 1320.

1330 kHz WBGW Evansville, IN - 6/23 1922 noted with Unlocking the Bible, promo for financial support, Scripture reading, brief Christian music, features on Christian living, "God's Word Network" group ID. A good signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KSIV 1320.

1370 kHz KCRV Caruthersville, MO - 6/23 1800 noted with "AM 1370 KCRV" ID. A fair signal was heard, mixing with KWRT; adjacent channel interference from KXFN 1380.

1390 kHz KJPW Waynesville, MO - 6/23 2004 noted with Fox News Radio and a PSA mentioning Missouri. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WGRB and other stations.

1400 kHz KJFF Festus, MO - 6/23 1801 noted with ABC News, national and local ads including one mentioning Sainte Genevieve, "K-Jeff" and "Straight Talk 1400 K-Jeff" slogan IDs in promo. A good signal was heard over KFRU.

1410 kHz WIHM Taylorville, IL - 6/23 1828 noted with The Litany of the Saints into a Covenant Network promo. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WIZM.

1430 kHz WYMC Mayfield, KY - 6/23 1831 noted with local ads, Time and Temperature promo, "WYMC" ID in promo into Oldies format. A fair signal was heard, mixing with WPLN and WXNT.

1440 kHz WGEM Quincy, IL - 6/23 1631 noted with local spots, station promo, "WGEM Sports, ESPN 1440" slogan ID into sports talk. A fair signal was heard, alone on the channel.

1450 kHz KYLS Fredericktown, MO - 6/23 1833 noted with Adult Contemporary format, "K-Hits 94-3" slogan ID in promo. A good to fair signal was heard over WFMB; adjacent channel interference from KHOJ 1460.

1480 kHz WBBP Memphis, TN - 6/23 2009 noted with "WBBP, It's in the Music" slogan ID into Urban Gospel format. A fair signal was heard, mixing with WJBM.

1500 kHz WPMB Vandalia, IL - 6/23 1849 noted with Adult Contemporary format, "1500 AM WPMB" ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WBRI.

1530 kHz WLIQ Quincy, IL - 6/23 1807 noted with "Kick AM 1530" slogan ID into Classic Country format. A good to fair signal was heard over WCKY.

1540 kHz WSMI Litchfield, IL - 6/23 1820 noted with weather forecast, "There's your weather on WSMI" mention into Country format. A fair signal was heard, mixing with KXEL.

1660 kHz KWOD Kansas City, KS - 6/23 1824 noted with talk on the Kansas City Royals. A fair signal was heard over WTOU.

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

4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará - 6/24 0020 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

5010 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 6/24 0024 noted with commentary in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 6/23 2301 noted with news in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard.

5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 6/24 0027 noted with light vocal music, interval signal, "Radio Habana Ciba" ID into interview in Spanish. A good signal was heard.

6070 kHz CANADA CFRX Toronto, ON - 6/23 2347 noted with local ads, "News/Talk 1010" ID into political talk in English. A fair signal was heard.

6160 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WBCQ Monticello, ME - 6/24 0008 noted with Classic Rock music, talk on the music in English. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from Radio Havana Cuba on 6165 kHz.

7375 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Galbeni - 6/24 0010 noted with talk on public pensions in English. A good signal was heard.

7490 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WBCQ Monticello, ME - 6/23 2218 noted with talk on the Recording industry in English. A good signal was heard.

8764 kHz USB UNITED STATES OF AMERICA United States Coast Guard NMN Portsmouth, VA - 6/23 2201 noted with marine forecast for the Caribbean Sea in English. An excellent signal was heard.

9395 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 6/23 2338 noted with AWR Wavescan with mention of the Madison-Milwaukee DX Get-Together in English. An excellent signal was heard.

9590 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Kashgar - 6/23 2345 noted with promo in Spanish into Chinese pop music. A fair signal was heard.

10051 kHz USB NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 6/23 2157 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports in English. A good signal was heard.

11610 kHz MADAGASCAR Madagascar World Voice via Mahajanga - 6/23 2152 noted with Christian teaching in Chinese. A good to fair signal was heard.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, DF - 6/24 0058 noted with commentary in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

11815 kHz BRAZIL Radio Brasil Central ZYE440 Goiânia, Goiás - 6/24 0102 noted with news in Portuguese into light vocal music. A fair to poor signal was heard. This is the 100th station (combined AM/MW and SW) logged at Babler State Park.

13650 kHz JAPAN Radio Japan via Yamato - 6/23 2317 noted with traditional Japanese music with no announcements in Thai or Vietnamese. A very good signal was heard.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki - 6/23 2144 noted with interview with New Zealand transgender activist Georgina Beyer in English. A good to fair signal was heard.

14670 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 6/23 2220 noted with "CHU Canada" ID in English, UTC time check in English and French into time signals. A fair signal was heard.

15034 kHz USB CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 6/23 2136 noted with weather reports for various Canadian and European airports, "This is Trenton Military, Trenton Military" ID in English. A good signal was heard.

17855 kHz SPAIN Radio Exterior de España via Noblejas - 6/23 2315 noted with commentary in Spanish. A very good signal was heard.

DXpedition #19 - James S. McDonnell Park near Saint Ann, MO

For the first DXpedition of 2021 (and the 19th overall), I decided to make my second trip to James S. McDonnell Park near Saint Ann, MO. This is the site of the seventh DXpedition, which took place on October 19, 2019. This is also the park that the Saint Louis and Suburban Radio Club has held several Field Day operations at, including the 2021 edition. This is a Saint Louis County park named in memory of Saint Louis aviation pioneer James S. McDonnell.

It was sunny on the evening of May 29 (UTC May 29-30) with temperatures around 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius); unusually cool for late May. Once again, I brought my General Electric Superadio III for AM (MW) broadcast band DX and my Tecsun PL-600 for shortwave DX. This time, I brought my MFJ-1022 active antenna for shortwave DX. I set up on the roundabout about 100 yards east of the McDonnell Shelter, the site of SLSRC's 2019 operation. Monitoring began around 1800 CDT (2300 UTC), going until 2000 CDT (0100 UTC). AM (MW) BCB conditions at sunset favored the Midwest and Mid-South, while every continent except Africa was heard on shortwave.

The radios and shortwave antenna used on DXpedition #19.

AM (MW) BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK (All times Central Daylight Time; for Eastern Daylight Time, add one hour, six hours for UTC.)

930 kHz WTAD Quincy, IL - 5/29 1918 noted with local ads, promo for Memorial Day programming on the station, "WTAD" ID, promo for MLS soccer coverage on the Fox Sports 1 cable channel into a sports talk show from Fox Sports Radio. A good signal was heard with slight adjacent channel interference from WGNU 920.

940 kHz WMIX Mount Vernon, IL - 5/29 1922 noted with a "WMIX" ID into an Adult Standards format. A good to poor signal was heard over KPSZ.

980 kHz KSGM Chester, IL - 5/29 1930 noted with a Classic Country format, "980 and 105.3 KSGM" ID. A good to fair signal was heard over KMBZ and WYFN.

1030 kHz WGSF Memphis, TN - 5/29 1936 noted with Memphis area ads in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard over KCWJ.

1070 kHz WDIA Memphis, TN - 5/29 1943 noted with local ads, iHeart Radio app promo, "WDIA" jingle ID into an R&B Oldies format. A good signal was heard, mixing with KHMO.

1180 kHz WLDS Jacksonville, IL - 5/29 1825 noted with the Eye on Travel show from Selma, AL and local ads. A good to fair signal was heard over WUMY.

1350 kHz WWWL New Orleans, LA - 5/29 1952 noted with an R&B Oldies format, "Hot 92-9" slogan ID. A fair to poor signal, mixing with KRNT and other stations.

1420 kHz WINI Murphysboro, IL - 5/29 1845 noted with oldies format, jingle ID, "Southern Illinois' Cool 93-5" slogan ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WOC and other stations.

1420 kHz WOC Davenport, IA - 5/29 1847 noted with promo for The Kim Komando Show, "WOC Newsradio 1420" slogan ID, morning show promo, local ads into The Kim Komando Show. A good to poor signal was heard, mixing with WINI and other stations.

1490 kHz KTTR Rolla, MO - 5/29 1858 noted with a Contemporary Hit Radio format, "Hot 104.9" slogan ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1550 kHz KAPE Cape Girardeau, MO - 5/29 1905 noted with a local ad, "Cape Radio 95-7 FM News/Talk" slogan ID, weather forecast from KFVS-TV, brief Web Site promo into The Dave Ramsey Show. A good signal was heard over other stations.

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

4875 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA United States Air Force MARS stations - 5/30 0009 noted with a net control station taking traffic from various USAF MARS stations in English. A fair signal was heard in USB mode.

4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará - 5/30 0008 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

5010 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 5/30 0012 noted with talk in Spanish into light vocal music. A good to fair signal was heard.

5050 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWRB Morrison, TN - 5/29 2334 noted with a church service via telephone line in English. An excellent signal was heard.

5085 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WTWW Lebanon, TN - 5/30 0015 noted with Amateur Radio Newsline, with a story on Boats On The Air in English. An excellent signal was heard.

5505 kHz IRELAND Shannon VOLMET - 5/29 2358 noted with weather reports for various European airports, "This is Shannon VOLMET, Shannon VOLMET" ID in English. A fair to poor signal was heard in USB mode.

5990 kHz CUBA China Radio International via Quivicán - 5/29 2325 noted with promo into talk on opiate manufacturing in English. A good signal was heard.

6754 kHz CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 5/30 0047 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Trenton Military, Trenton Military" ID and UTC time check in English. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

6950 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Pirate) Wolverine Radio - 5/30 0041 noted with rock Oldies, "Wolverine Radio" ID in English. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

9265 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WINB Red Lion, PA - 5/30 0024 noted with Christian teaching in English. A good to fair signal was heard.

9420 kHz GREECE Voice of Greece via Avlida - 5/30 0027 noted with Classical operatic music and commentary in Greek. A good signal was heard.

9925 kHz GERMANY The Mighty KBC via Nauen - 5/30 0033 noted with pop/rock Oldies, "The Mighty KBC" ID in English. An excellent signal was heard.

9975 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA KVOH Rancho Simi, CA - 5/30 0038 noted with Christian teaching in Spanish. An excellent signal was heard.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, DF - 5/29 2318 noted with pop music, "Radio Nacional" ID in Portuguese. A very good signal was heard.

13650 kHz JAPAN Radio Japan via Yamato - 5/29 2338 noted with brief commentary in Burmese into traditional Japanese music. A good to fair signal was heard.

15000 kHz HAWAII WWVH Kekaha, Kauai - 5/29 2326 noted with time signals and UTC time check in English. A fair  signal was heard over WWV.

15610 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WEWN Vandiver, AL - 5/29 2329 noted with a discussion on a book about Saint Michael the Archangel in English. A very good signal was heard.

DXing and Ham Radio: Effects on Relationships

September 7, 2022 marked 29 tears since my last relationship ended. This got me to thinking: "What effects do DXing (regardless of band) and Amateur (Ham) Radio have on relationships?"

The late Saint Louis DXer Terry Klasek stated that most DXers are loners. It's true that many DXers and a fair number of Hams are single. I'm one of those radio hobbyists (I'm both a DXer and a Ham) who is single. I have not been in a relationship since September of 1993. In my experience, it's been finding a Significant Other (in my case, a girlfriend or wife) who is completely tolerant of my engaging in the hobbies of DXing and Amateur Radio that's been the toughest. I would be very tolerant of her hobbies; that would enrich my personal experience. In addition to radio-related hobbies, I also partake in weather observation (which ties in with Amateur Radio, since I took training as a severe storm spotter) and photography as my hobbies, and have dabbled into astronomy and commercial aviation spotting (due in part to my shack being located three miles north of Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport).

What is it about DXing and Ham Radio that scares off potential dating (let alone marriage) partners? Is it that our ears are trained to cut through the static to hear the station we're trying to hear or work, and their ears aren't? Is it the off-kilter hours that we hold down to pursue this particular hobby? Is it the hours we spend in the shack chasing the DX? Is it the time some of us spend at local parks and conservation areas for the purpose of engaging in radio-related hobbies? Or is it something else? These questions have been on my mind over the years; it has been on my mind quite a bit in recent days.

My former fiancee (who shall remain nameless) couldn't stand my talking to fellow Hams on the local repeaters when I picked her up from her job as a dietary aide at a Spanish Lake, MO assisted care facility. Whenever I had my handheld transceiver (HT) in the car, I had to switch it off before she got in. She did tolerate one aspect of my hobby, though: DXing the AM (medium wave) broadcast band. Back in the 1990s, we could still get other teams' ball games on a 50,000-watt AM blowtorch. One of her favorite baseball players was catcher/outfielder Brian Downing, who was playing for the Texas Rangers back in 1993. At the time, the games were on WBAP 820 out of Fort Worth. I got my license eleven months before my last relationship ended. 

Terry Klasek told the story of another long-gone Saint Louis DXer, Rich Eddie. He had been involved in the hobby since the late 1960s; he was very knowledgeable about the hobby. For a while, he was married to the former Norma Jean Osborn. Her fandom of country music was more important to her than Rich's DXing. I don't know if she had something to do with it, but Rich ended up trashing over 2,500 QSL cards and letters. Some of those belonged to Richard Pistek, a Chicago DXer who passed away in 1980. Rich and Norma Jean, if my memory serves, were separated at the time of Rich's passing in 1996 at age 48. Several years after Rich's death, Terry wrote a Musing that was published in the NASWA Journal, in which he said: "A POX ON NORMA JEAN EDDIE!"

There are so many more Significant Others who have learned to tolerate the other person's hobbies. For example, ne of my fellow DXers (who's a radio station promo item collector) is married to a woman who collects items associated with the comic strip Garfield. I've actually read Garfield in the newspaper; that cat has some pretty funny thoughts. If I ever get into another relationship again, the toughest part will be, in my honest opinion, teaching the woman I'm in that relationship with, to be tolerant of the fact that I'm both a DXer and a Ham.

I'm sure you have a lot of thoughts on this subject.

DX Year in Review - 2020

2020 may go down as the most challenging year we have had in recent memory; I spent a lot more time at the dials in the year just passed. Here's a month-by-month review of my DX year of 2020.

January: Three new AM (MW) broadcast band stations were added to my home log: KKOZ 1430 Ava, MO on January 3 at 0552 CST (1152 UTC), WKTR 840 Earlysville, VA on January 7 at 0528 CST (1128 UTC), and KXTD 1530 Wagoner, OK on January 13 at 0402 CST (1002 UTC). KXTD was left on overnight, giving WCKY fits. One call change made it into the AM log on January 26 at 0310 CST (0910UTC): WVWZ 790 Ashland City, TN. On the shortwave bands, Asian stations were being heard in the local early morning and late afternoon hours; numerous Chinese stations were heard throughout the month. One FM relay was added to the log on January 29; I found it tough to copy K295CQ 106.9 Saint Louis, MO (relay of WGNU 920 Saint Louis, MO) through KWEC-LP Saint Peters, MO. 

February: Two call letter changes made it into the log on Leap Year Day (February 29): WSRP 910 Jacksonville, NC at 0240 CST (0840 UTC) and KTFS 940 Texarkana, TX at 0251 CST (0851 UTC). I logged WSRP previously as WLAS, and KTFS previously as KCMC. On the FM side, two relays were added to the logbook. W296DR 107.1 Alton, IL (relay of WBGZ 1570 Alton, IL) on February 18 at 2344 CST (0544 UTC 2/19); I had to put a super tight null on K296HA Washington, MO (relay of KRAP 1350 Washington, MO) to pull that one in. W232CR 94.3 Alton, IL switched to an Oldies format, relaying WIL-HD3 92.3 Saint Louis, MO, necessitating The Big Z's move to 107.1. K287CM 105.3 Troy, MO was heard at 2358 CST (0558 UTC 2/19); this one had tough copy through WAOX; K287BY (relay of KXFN 1380 Saint Louis, MO) was nulled to pull this one in. Leap Year Day also brought a pair of good shortwave catches: Voice of Turkey on 7280 kHz in Spanish at 0232 UTC (2032 CST 2/28) and Radio Thailand on 13750 kHz in Thai at 0240 UTC (2040 CST 2/28).

March: Before the Shelter-in-Place order (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) for Saint Louis County, MO took effect on March 22, I added three new AM (MW) stations. The big surprise was WGR 550 Buffalo, NY, logged on March 11 at 0415 CDT (0915 UTC) through a nulled KTRS. WDAY 970 Fargo, ND poked through with an ID on March 19 at 0205 CDT (0705 UTC). My old Georgia stomping grounds joined the 70 AM station club on March 20 at 1855 CDT (2355 UTC) with the log of WISK 990 Lawrenceville (moved from Americus). Most of the pre-lockdown logs on shortwave came from China Radio International: 11770 kHz via Beijing in Vietnamese on March 3 at 0045 UTC (1845 CST 3/2), 11790 kHz via Xiamen in English at 0054 UTC (1854 CST 3/2), 7250 kHz via Urumqi in Chinese at 0117 UTC (1917 CST 3/2) and 9710 kHz via Kashgar (Kasgar) in Spanish on March 5  at 0207 UTC (2007 CST 3/4). Three new AM stations were added to the logbook after the order took effect: WDLB 1450 Marshfield, WI on March 24 at 2157 CDT (0257 UTC 3/25), KFLN 960 Baker, MT (on day power) at 0130 CDT (0630 UTC) March 25, and KEBC 1560 Del City, OK at 0625 CDT (1125 UTC) on March 31. Shortwave highlights in the early days of the lockdown were WWVH Kekaha, Kauai, HI on 10 MHz over WWV at 0634 UTC (0134 CDT) on March 24, Radio Japan via Yamato on 9800 kHz in Japanese at 0744 UTC (0244 CDT) and BBC World Service via Vatican City (Santa Maria di Galeria) on 5875 kHz at 0514 UTC (0014 CDT) in English. I tried to send a reception report to Radio Algerienne for reception on 6105 kHz via Issoudun, France; the report never made it out of the United States due to COVID-19 postal restrictions.

April: Two AM call  letter changes made it into the log that month: WIJR 880 Highland, IL on April 5 at 0618 CDT (1118 UTC); that had tough copy through WCBS. XELRDA 580 Piedras Negras, CL was heard on April 30 at 0550 CDT (1050 UTC). New AM logs: Michigan joined the 50 station club on AM with WMPL 920 Hancock, MI was heard April 2 at 0158 CDT (0658 UTC). KROL 1430 Carrollton, MO put Missouri into the 130 AM station club on April 5 at 0331 CDT (0831 UTC). By that point, KZQZ Saint Louis was operating 50 kW daytime only. WIIN 780 Ridgeland, MS was heard April 9 at 0510 CDT (1010 UTC), giving WBBM fits. WKPR 1440 Kalamazoo, MI was heard April 11 at 0759 CDT (1259 UTC), giving WGEM a good run for the proverbial money. Wisconsin on 1490 kHz was completed on April 18 at 0400 CDT (0900 UTC) with WIGM in Medford poking through KTTR, WOSH and other stations on the frequency. WIGM is also my 75th AM from Wisconsin. Florida joined the 40 station club on AM with the log of WLVJ 1020 Boynton Beach at 0501 CDT (1001 UTC) on April 22. WGLM 1380 Greenville, MI was heard at 0427 CDT (0927 UTC) on April 25; local KXFN was off for maintenance. One hour and 18 minutes later, at 0545 CDT (1045 UTC), XEMP 710 Mexico City was heard, taking out Cuba with WOR nulled. Shortwave highlights in April included American pirate Damn Skippy on 6925 kHz USB at 2330 UTC (1830 CDT) April 26, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on 11905 kHz in Hindi on April 27at 0040 UTC (1940 CDT 4/26) and WWVH Kekaha, Kauai, HI on 15 MHz at 0249 UTC April 30 (2149 CDT 4/29) with no sign of WWV. Three AM (MW) frequencies in the Saint Louis area were cleared when KQQZ 1190 Fairview Heights, IL, KZQZ 1430 Saint Louis, MO and KFTK 1490 East Saint Louis, IL had their licenses revoked by the FCC. The three stations, along with long-silent WQQW 1510 Highland, IL, were owned by Entertainment Media Trust, doing business as Insane Broadcasting Company, and run by right wing extremist Bob Romanik. KFTK 1490 was leased to Entercom, which also owns right wing talker KFTK-FM 97.1 Florissant, MO and 50 kW blowtorch KMOX 1120 Saint Louis, MO.

MMSSTV capture from Damn Skippy on 6925 kHz.

May: The month began with another Florida AM added to the logbook. WACC 830 Hialeah was heard in a WCCO null at 0229 CDT (0729 UTC) on May 1. Two new Midwesterners were added on May 12: WKRO 1490 Cairo, IL at 0520 CDT (1020 UTC) and KLEX 1570 Lexington, MO echoing behind KBCV (with WBGZ nulled) at 0637 CDT (1137 UTC). WKRO completed my 1490 kHz logs from the Land of Lincoln. On May 19 at 0459 CDT (0959 UTC), I caught WNWC 1190 Sun Prairie, WI on day power, giving WOWO fits. On May 26 at 0239 CDT (0739 UTC), I noted WSLV 1110 Ardmore, TN left on overnight. I finally heard KNLS Anchor Point, AK after years of trying; I logged them on 9695 kHz on May 18 at 0835 UTC (0335 CDT). Other highlights on shortwave include Saudi Radio International on 9675 kHz via Riyadh on May 9 at 2001 UTC (1501 CDT) in Turkish, CNR1 Shijiazhuang, China 11720 kHz on May 15 at 0012 UTC (1912 UTC 5/14), along with U.S. pirates Mix Radio International on 12030 kHz  USB on May 10 at 0210 UTC (2110 CDT 5/9) and WDOG on 6950 kHz USB at 0108 UTC on May 17 (2018 CDT 5/16). One new FM was added in May: KYGV-LP 102.9 Saint Louis, MO through K275CI and KEZS on May 19 at 0027 CDT (0527 UTC). The Shelter-in-Place order for Saint Louis County expired on May 18.

June: After a delay due to the pandemic, the first DXpedition of 2020 took me to Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area on June 1 (UTC June 2) for a sunset DXpedition. On June 13, (UTC June 13-14), I took the radios to Weldon Spring Conservation Area for a sunset-early evening DXpedition. On June 24, I set up at Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area for my first sunrise-early morning DXpedition. I began upgrading my equipment in the shack with a new Dell computer with Windows 10, replacing a 2004 vintage Dell computer with Windows XP. It was a great time to upgrade, as the digital television spectrum repack took full effect. Adding the Hauppaugue Win-TV HVR video dongle, I was able to capture my first DX capture on June 6, in the form of KRBK 22 Osage Beach, MO. The next morning brought in new repack logs from Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Indiana joined the 40 station club on DTV on that June 7 opening with the log of WTTV 27 Bloomington. A big surprise from that opening was WBKI 16 Salem, IN with local KDTL-LD nulled. Another surprise was KGAN 29 Cedar Rapids for my 15th Iowa DTV. 11 repacked DTVs were logged on June 6-7. June 7 also brought my 200th FM station from Missouri, in the form of KBTN-FM 99.7 Neosho at 0029 CDT (0509 UTC). On the NOAA Weather Radio bands, I noted a city of license change at 0020 CDT (0520 UTC) June 7: WXL46 162.400 Fordland, MO (ex-Springfield). Speaking of Springfield, MO, I logged a call letter change on AM: KRZD 1550 on June 3 at 0544 CDT (1044 UTC). The other call change I caught was KGLA 830 Norco, LA on June 25 at 0314 CDT (0814 UTC). New AM logs included KOTA 1380 Rapid City, SD on June 16 at 0426 CDT (0926 UTC) and WCFO 1160 East Point, GA on June 26 at 0445 CDT (0945 UTC). I caught KOTA while KXFN was off for maintenance. Shortwave highlights include Honolulu VOLMET on 6679 kHz USB on June 11 at 0552 UTC (0052 CDT) and CNR1 from Beijing on 6175 kHz on June 17 at 1016 UTC (0516 CDT).

KRBK 22 Osage Beach, MO, seen 6/7.

July: The excessive heat kept the radios home during the month. On July 2, I noted channel changes for WPXS Mount Vernon, IL (from 21 to 13) and W36EX Alton, IL (from 50, where they were W50CH in analog, flash-cutting to digital, to 36). WPXS' move to 13 made it a semi-local, even though my shack is 85 miles (137 km) from Mount Vernon. July 3 brought more DTV repack logs, this time from central Illinois. The big surprise was WRSP 16 Springfield, IL, pulled in through a tight null of KDTL-LD. Two new FM logs made it to the shack in the month of July: K275BB 102.9 Washington, MO (K275CI Saint Charles was off for maintenance) on July 15 at 0120 CDT (0620 UTC) and WXXQ 98.5 Freeport, IL on July 17 at 0454 CDT (0954 UTC). On the AM side, a call letter change was noted on July 23 with WKST 1200 New Castle, PA heard in a WOAI null at 0255 CDT (0755 UTC). Two new AM stations were logged in July: WTTN 1580 Columbus, WI on July 10 at 0454 CDT (0954 UTC) and WXRL 1300 Lancaster, NY on July 23 at 0212 CDT (0712 UTC). Shortwave highlights include BBC in Pashto on 5930 kHz via Moosbrunn, Austria on July 28 at 0118 UTC (2018 CDT 7/27) and CNR8 Beijing on 9785 kHz at 1115 UTC (0615 CDT) on July 28.

WRSP 16 Springfield, IL, seen in July.

 August: Two more DXpeditions took place in August. On August 5 (UTC August 5-6), I set up at Sioux Passage County Park and August 21 (UTC August 21-22) at August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area for sunset DXpeditions. Only one new AM station was logged that month: WVHF 1140 Kentwood, MI on August 16 at 0452 CDT (0952 UTC). During August, I added an SDRplay RSPdx software-defined receiver to my shack. Shortwave highlights from home included FEBC via Bocaue, Philippines on 9275 kHz in Chinese at 1120 UTC (0620 CDT) August 11, Radio France Internationale via Issoudun in Swahili on 9655 kHz at 0442 UTC August 12 (2343 CDT 8/11), BBC in Pashto via Armenia on 9880 kHz at 0220 UTC August 14 (2120 CDT 8/13) and VOA Studio 7 via Mopeng Hill, Botswana in Shona on 7270 kHz at 0450 UTC on August 19 (2350 CDT August 18). A DTV opening into southeast MO was received on August 18, allowing me to lok KDKZ-LD 18 Farmington and repacks KFVS 11 and KBSI 36 Cape Girardeau. KBSI 36 turned out to be the 40th Missouri digital TV station logged.

KFVS 11 Cape Girardeau, MO, seen 8/17.

September: On September 19 (UTC September 19-20), I went on a DXpedition to Howell Island Conservation Area at sunset into the early evening hours. Two call letter changes were noted on AM that month: WQEZ 1370 Fort Campbell, KY on September 5 at 0522 CDT (1022 UTC) and WMEJ 1190 Bay Saint Louis, MS on September 23 at 0412 CDT (0912 UTC). New AM logs in September included WATH 970 Athens, OH on September 5 at 0500 CDT (1000 UTC), two new Charleston, SC metro stations on September 12 in the forms of WAZS 980 Summerville at 0136 CDT (0636 UTC) and WTMZ 910 Dorchester Terrace at 0258 CDT (0758 UTC). Much-wanted WAOV 1450 Vincennes, IN poked through on September 21 at 0233 CDT (0733 UTC). Two new stations made it into the AM log on September 23: WHOC 1490 Philadelphia, MS poking through at 0059 CDT (0559 UTC) and WZAM 970 Ishpeming, MI at 0515 CDT (1015 UTC). WHOC represents my 40th Mississippi AM log. Tropospheric enhancement openings took place on September 16 into MO/IL/IN/OH; the big surprise of that opening was WKEF 34 Dayton, OH at 0508 CDT (1008 UTC), September 26 into OK/KS/NE and western MO, and on September 27 into IN and KY. On that opening, I pulled in my 20th Nebraska FM, as KLNE 88.7 Lexington made it through a nulled WSIE on September 26 at 0500 CDT (1000 UTC). I logged my 200th in that opening, in the form of  KSHB 36 Kansas City, MO. Two new Kansas City FM stations were logged in that opening: KCUR 89.3 (tough copy through KTBJ) and KWJC 91.9 (with K220HT inaudible). One new Kansas FM was logged: KFXJ 104.5 Augusta (Wichita). Two new NOAA Weather Radio stations were logged on that opening: WXK92 162.400 Ellsworth, KS at 0831 CDT (1331 UTC) and EXL66 162.450 Mountain View, AR (through KXI70) at 0840 CDT (1340 UTC). The September 27 opening brought my 10th Kentucky DTV in the form of WPSD 19 (through KPTN-LD). No FM or DTV E-skip was logged, but the DTV repack salvaged the DTV DX season for me. Shortwave highlights included U.S. Coast Guard station NMN Portsmouth, VA on 13089 kHz USB at 2354 UTC (1854 CDT) September 11, SLBC on 11905 kHz in Bengali at 0035 UTC September 23 (1935 CDT 9/22) and VOA Studio 7 on 6170 kHz in Shona on September 25 at 0450 UTC (2350 CDT 9/24).

WKEF 34 (22) Dayton, OH, seen 9/16.

DTV #200, KSHB 36 Kansas City, MO, seen 9/26.

October: On October 9 (UTC October 9-10, I took the radios to Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area for a sunset-early evening DXpedition; the second DXpedition of 2020 to Saint Stan's. Four new AM stations were added in October: WMGY 800 Montgomery, AL on October 2 at 0241 CDT (0741 UTC), WKOK 1070 Sunbury, PA (20th Keystone State AM) on October 26 at 0549 CDT (1049 UTC), KGLB 1310 Glencoe, MN on October 30 at 0405 CDT (0905 UTC) and WCKW 1010 Garyville, LA (likely on day power) on the same day at 0443 CDT (0943 UTC).

November: I wrapped up the 2020 DXpedition season by taking the radios out to Pere Marquette State Park on November 6, a 76-degree (Fahrenheit) day, for a late afternoon-sunset DXpedition. One call letter change on AM was noted in November: WHNY 1000 Paris, TN on November 24 at 0618 CST (1218 UTC). 13 new AM logs were noted in November, including a new Canadian (CFMB 1280 Montreal, QC), two new Florida AM stations (WTBN 570 Pinellas Park and WJXL 1010 Jacksonville Beach), and two new Texans (KWBC 1550 College Station and KILT 610 Houston). Kansas and Oklahoma joined the 40 station club on AM. #40 from the Sunflower State was heard on November 11 at 1701 CST (2301 UTC) in the form of KJRG 950 Newton. The 40th AM from Oklahoma turned out to be KWHW 1450 Altus, heard on November 24 at 0430 CST (1030 UTC). I added one more Oklahoma AM after that: KSEO 750 Durant (with WSB nulled) on November 25 at 0521 CST (1121 UTC). The big surprise on AM in November came on the 23 at 0410 CST (1010 UTC) in the form of WFGM 1300 Morgantown, WV (on day power). A much-wanted FM station finally got into the logbook on November 27 at 0232 CST (0832 UTC) in the form of KDBB 104.3 Bonne Terre, MO.

December: Three call changes on AM were noted in the log: KVCU 1190 Boulder, CO (on day power) at 2055 CST December 16 (0255 UTC 12/17), WDLR 1270 Marysville, OH on December 29 at 2323 CST (0423 UTC 12/30) and WTOU 1660 Kalamazoo, MI on December 30 at 0415 CST (1015 UTC). I would catch WKEX 1430 Blacksburg, VA on day power on December 5 at 0405 CST (1005 UTC) and WKTF 1550 Vienna, GA (also on day power) on December 26 at 0310 CST (0910 UTC). I added another local channel (graveyard) AM station to my log on December 21 at 0300 CST (0900 UTC) in the form of KICD 1240 Spencer, IA. WSYW 810 Indianapolis was a pleasant surprise; I heard this one on December 5 at 0522 CST (1122 UTC). The biggest surprise was WDTW 1310 Dearborn, MI, heard at 0355 CST (0955 UTC) on December 13. Shortwave highlights included two VOLMET stations in the 3 MHz band, Gander on 3485 kHz USB on December 29 at 0657 UTC (0057 CST) and Shannon on 3413 kHz USB at 0818 UTC (0218 CST) on New Year's Eve. A Cuban "Spy Numbers" station was heard on 11635 kHz at 0806 UTC (0206 CST) on New Year's Eve.

So much time was spent at the dials during 2020, especially during the last nine months of the year, when COVID-19 ravaged our planet (especially the United States).  

DXpedition #18 - Pere Marquette State Park

For the 18th DXpedition on November 6, 2020, I returned to Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, IL, the site of the November 14, 2019 DXpedition. It was quite a difference in 51 weeks; last year, the overlooks were closed due to leftover snow from the November 11, 2019 snow event. This time, the overlooks were open; the temperatures were in the mid-70s Fahrenheit under clear skies; I set up outside the 2002 Chrysler Voyager I was driving. This time, I set up my listening post at Lover's Leap Overlook, one of the highest places in the park accessible to vehicles; this offers a view of Calhoun, Jersey and Madison Counties in Illinois, as well as Saint Charles and Saint Louis Counties in Missouri. On a clear day, you can see the tallest buildings in Chesterfield, Missouri. 

The General Electric Superadio III was brought along for AM (MW) broadcast band DX, along with the Tecsun PL-600 for shortwave DX. This time, I brought my MFJ-1022 active antenna, which I broke into DXpedition service at Beckemeier Conservation Area in August 2020. The last time I was at Pere Marquette, locals on 1190 and 1430 kHz were still on the air, along with East Saint Louis on 1490 kHz. With the three stations now off the air, I wanted to find out what I could hear on the now-empty channels. On the AM (MW) broadcast band, pre-sunset and sunset conditions once again favored the Midwest and Mid-South; shortwave stations were heard from all over the world with the exception of the Middle East. Monitoring began around 1430 CST (2030 UTC), and wrapped up around 1740 CST (2340 UTC).

The listening post at Lover's Leap Overlook.

AM (MW) BROADCAST BAND LOGBOOK (All times CST; for UTC, add six hours; for EST, add one hour.) 

  570 kHz WAAX Gadsden, AL - 11/6 1631 noted with local ads, "News Radio 101.9" ID into weather forecast. A fair to poor signal was heard over WKYX and WNAX.

  750 kHz WNDZ Portage, IN - 11/6 1505 noted with an interview in Spanish. A fair signal was heard over KBNN.

  910 kHz WSUI Iowa City, IA - 11/6 1639 noted with All Things Considered, featuring talk on the election process and Alzheimer's research. A good signal was heard over WJCW.

  950 kHz WNTD Chicago, IL - 11/6 1641 noted with "Relevant Radio" mention during a pledge drive. A good signal was heard over KWOS.

  980 kHz KMBZ Kansas City, MO - 11/6 1651 noted with Kansas City area ads. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

  990 kHz WNML Knoxville, TN - 11/6 1547 noted with local ads, "Sports Radio 990 the Animal" ID into talk on college football. A fair to poor signal was heard over other stations.

1130 kHz KWKH Shreveport, LA - 11/6 1710 noted with talk on the National Football League and local ads. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations; adjacent channel interference from KMOX 1120 kHz.

1180 kHz WLDS Jacksonville, IL - 11/6 1457 noted with The Dave Ramsey Show, local ads, "News Radio 1180 WLDS Jacksonville" legal ID at 1500 into CBS News. A fair signal was heard over WHAM; not bad for 300 watts!

1190 kHz WOWO Fort Wayne, IN - 11/6 1454 noted with local ads, station promo, "Wo-wo Radio" ID into a local talk show. A fair signal was heard, alone on the channel.

1250 kHz KCFI Cedar Falls, IA - 11/6 1615 noted with Oldies format, "True Oldies KCFI" ID into local ads. A fair signal was heard over KRRD, KYYS and WSSP.

1250 kHz KYYS Kansas City, KS - 11/6 1621 noted with a discussion in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KCFI, KRRD and WSSP.

1380 kHz WBEL South Beloit, IL - 11/6 1609 noted with Classic Hits format, "92-3, 98-9 the Beat, '80s, '90s and Whatever" slogan. A good to fair signal was heard in a KXFN null.

1430 kHz WPLN Madison, TN - 11/6 1603 noted with BBC News, "BBC World Service" ID into news analysis. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1440 kHz WGEM Quincy, IL -11/6 1559 noted with call letters in promo, legal ID at 1600 into ESPN Sports Center Update. A good signal was heard, mixing with WROK.

1440 kHz WROK Rockford, IL - 11/6 1559 noted with "News Radio 1440 WROK" and "WROK-dot-com" mention in promo, legal ID at 1600 into Fox News Radio. A good to fair signal was heard, mixing with WGEM.

1490 kHz KTTR Rolla, MO - 11/6 1554 noted with Contemporary Hit Radio format, "Hot 104.9" ID. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WOSH and other stations.

1490 kHz WOSH Oshkosh, WI - 11/6 1553 noted with several "News/Talk 1490 WOSH" IDs in a promo. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with KTTR and other stations.

1510 kHz WWHN Joliet, IL - 11/6 1736 noted with Urban Gospel format until the carrier was cut at 1737. A fair signal was heard over WLAC.

1520 kHz KRHW Sikeston, MO - 11/6 1733 noted with Classic Country format, "Country Legends 1520 and 98-9 KRHW" ID in promo. A good to fair signal was heard over KOKC.

SHORTWAVE RADIO LOGBOOK (All times UTC; for CST, subtract six hours, subtract five hours for EST.)

  2500 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWV Fort Collins, CO - 11/6 2226 noted with time signals, UTC time check in English at 2227. A fair to poor signal was heard.

  3330 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 11/6 2227 noted with time signals, "CHU Canada" ID in English at 2228, UTC time checks in English and French. A good to fair signal was heard.

  4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará -11/6 2225 noted with promos and commentary in Portuguese. A poor signal was heard.

  5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 11/6 2246 noted with news analysis in Spanish.  A good to fair signal was heard.

  5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 11/6 2243 noted with talk on the U.S. Presidential election mentioning Arizona in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

  5995 kHz MALI ORTM Radio Mali - 11/6 2247 noted with news analysis in French. A good to fair signal was heard.

  6070 kHz CANADA CFRX Toronto, ON - 11/6 2310 noted with talk on medical marijuana into talk on COVID-19 cases in Ontario in English. A good to fair signal was heard.

  6115 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Overcomer Ministry via WWCR Nashville, TN - 11/6 2308 noted with sermon by Brother R.G. Stair in English. An excellent signal was heard.

  6180 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 11/6 2254 noted with commentary and analysis in Portuguese. A good signal was heard.

  6604 kHz NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 11/6 2326 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports in English. A good to fair signal was heard in USB mode.

  7220 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Xiamen - 11/6 2317 noted with commentary in Vietnamese into traditional Chinese music. A fair signal was heard.

  7850 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 11/6 2219 noted with time signals, "CHU Canada" ID in English, UTC time check in English and French at 2220. A good to fair signal was heard.

  9900 kHz TAIWAN Radio Taiwan International via Paochung - 11/6 2324 noted with promos in Chinese. A fair signal was heard.

11610 kHz MADAGASCAR Madagascar World Voice - 11/6 2118 noted with sermon and Christian vocal music in Chinese. A very good signal was heard.

11720 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Voice of America via Greenville, NC - 11/6 2124 noted with mention of Music Time in Africa, "VOA" ID in English into Hi-Life music. An excellent signal was heard.

11810 kHz ASCENSION ISLAND BBC World Service relay - 11/6 2129 noted with promos into BBC News in English. A fair signal was heard.

11975 kHz MALI China Radio International via Bamako - 11/6 2134 noted with commentary in French. A good to fair signal was heard.

12075 kHz BOTSWANA Voice of America via Mopeng Hill - 11/6 2136 noted with news analysis in Bambara. A good to fair signal was heard.

12095 kHz ASCENSION ISLAND BBC World Service relay - 11/6 2139 noted with discussion on European football (soccer) in English. A fair signal was heard.

13630 kHz MALI China Radio International via Bamako - 11/6 2115 noted with talk on E-cigarettes in English. A good signal was heard.

15000 kHz HAWAII WWVH Kekaha, Kauai - 11/6 2047 noted with time signals, UTC time check and announcement about the station in English. A fair to poor signal was heard over WWV.

15034 kHz CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 11/6 2049 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Trenton Military, Trenton Military" ID and UTC time check in English. A good signal was heard in USB mode.

15600 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Beijing - 11/6 2110 noted with commentary in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard.

21525 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Pan American Broadcasting via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 11/6 2040 noted with Christian teaching program in English. A fair to poor signal was heard.

DXpedition #17 - Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area

On the evening of October 9 (UTC October 9-10), I returned to Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area, the site of my June 24 sunrise DXpedition. This time, it was a sunset-early evening DXpedition. Once again, I took along my General Electric Superadio III for AM (MW) broadcast band DX, along with the Tecsun PL-600 and 30-foot portable longwire for shortwave DX and the Whistler WS1040 handheld analog/digital scanner for monitoring VHF/UHF Public Service radio traffic. Once again, I set up in the gravel parking lot on the east end of the conservation area, but on the opposite side of the lot from the site of DXpedition #13. 

I started monitoring around 1810 CDT (2310 UTC October 9), wrapping up around 2140 CDT (0240 UTC October 10). On the shortwave bands, all areas of the world except the Middle East were heard. Reception conditions around sunset and into the early evening hours favored the Midwest and Northeast, although a few stations from the Mid-South were heard. I stayed where I was parked until 20 minutes before the area shut down for the night at 2200 CDT (0300 UTC). This area is a prime spot for both sunrise and sunset DX.

Listening post setup inside the minivan.

Portable longwire antenna for shortwave DX.

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

  540 kHz WAUK Jackson, WI - 10/9 1918 noted with local ad, "ESPN 540" ID into high school football play-by-play. A fair signal was heard, alone on the channel.

  550 kHz WGR Buffalo, NY - 10/9 2120 noted with Game 5 of the American League Division Series, "WGR Sports Radio 550" ID, podcast promo and local ads. A fair signal was heard over KTSA in a null of KTRS.

  680 kHz WMFS Memphis, TN - 10/9 2126 noted with ESPN promos and local ads before fading out. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with CJOB and WCTT.

  770 kHz WABC New York, NY - 10/9 1921 noted with local ads mentioning phone numbers in Area Codes 212 and 718. A fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from WBBM 780.

  800 kHz CKLW Windsor, ON - 10/9 1940 noted with talk on Quebec's struggle for independence from Canada, "AM 800" ID into local ads. A good signal was heard over KQCV.

  860 kHz CJBC Toronto, ON - 10/9 1946 noted with an interview in French. A good signal was heard over WSON.

  900 kHz  KFAL Fulton, MO - 10/9 1947 noted with a Classic Country format, "KFAL AM 900" ID. A fair signal was heard, mixing with CHML.

  970 kHz WMAY Springfield, IL - 10/9 1813 noted with local ad, phone app promo, "92.7, 94.7 and 970 WMAY" ID into an interview. A fair to poor signal was heard over WHA.

1130 kHz WBBR New York, NY - 10/9 2133 noted with a Bloomberg promo, "Bloomberg Radio" ID into a legal talk show. A good to fair signal was heard, mixing with KWKH; ACI from KMOX 1120.

1220 kHz WLPO La Salle, IL - 10/9 1956 noted with a Classic Hits format, legal ID at 2000, "103-9 WLPO" ID at 2003. A fair signal was heard over WHKW and WSLM.

1230 kHz WFXN Moline, IL - 10/9 2006 noted with high school football play-by-play, "Fox Sports 1230" ID into local ad. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1420 kHz KBHS Hot Springs, AR - 10/9 2040 noted with a Regional Mexican format, "La Zeta" ID and CDT time check in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WIMS and WOC.

1430 kHz WCMY Ottawa, IL - 10/9 1900 noted with legal ID into high school football play-by-play. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WXNT and WYMC.

1440 kHz KTUV Little Rock, AR - 10/9 2104 noted with a "99.9 FM Little Rock" ID in heavily accented English into a discussion in Spanish. A good to poor signal was heard, mixing with WGEM, WROK and WZYX.

1490 kHz KWXT Dardanelle, AR - 10/9 2117 noted with "KWXT, Great Southern Gospel" ID into a Southern Gospel format. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with other stations.

1620 kHz WNRP Gulf Breeze, FL - 10/9 1847 noted with local ads mentioning Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. A fair signal was heard with ACI from KCJJ 1630.

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

  2500 kHz UNITED STATES WWV Fort Collins, CO - 10/10 0220 noted with time signals, UTC time check in English at 0221. A good signal was heard.

  3215 kHz UNITED STATES WWCR Nashville, TN - 10/10 0222 noted with right wing talk on China in English. A very good signal was heard.

  3330 kHz CANADA CHU Ottawa, ON - 10/10 0223 noted with time signals, "CHU Canada" ID in English at 0224 and French at 0225, UTC time checks in English and French. A good signal was heard.

  4765 kHz CUBA Radio Progreso via Bejucal, Ciudad de la Habana - 10/10 0225 noted with commentary and ID in Spanish into Cuban-style music in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

  4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará - 10/9 2317 noted with commentary in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

  5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 10/10 0104 noted with a discussion in Spanish. A good signal was heard.

  5040 kHz CUBA Radio Havana Cuba via La Habana - 10/10 0106 noted with news analysis in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

  5085 kHz UNITED STATES WTWW Lebanon, TN - 10/10 0113 noted with pop Oldies, "WTWW" jingle. A fair signal was heard.

  5995 kHz MALI ORTM Radio Mali - 10/9 2320 noted with a discussion in French. A fair signal was heard.

  6100 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Galbeni - 10/10 0038 noted with commentary, music clips, promo and ID in Romanian. A very good signal was heard.

  6180 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 10/10 0026 noted with promo and commentary in Portuguese. A very good signal was heard.

  6185 kHz MEXICO Señal Cultura México XEPPM Mexico, D.F. - 10/10 0028 noted with a discussion on economics in Spanish. A fair signal was heard with ACI from Brazil on 6180 kHz.

  6960 kHz UNITED STATES (Pirate) Ball Smacker Radio - 10/10 0150 noted with rock music, QSL information and ID in English. A good signal was heard in AM mode.

  7268 kHz UNITED STATES Hurricane Watch Net WX4NHC - 10/9 2324 noted with information on Hurricane Delta, "Hurricane Watch Net" ID in English. A very good signal was heard in LSB mode.

  7295 kHz MALI China Radio International via Bamako - 10/9 2334 noted with a dramatic play in Chinese. A fair signal was heard.

  9605 kHz UNITED STATES KBS World via WHRI Cypress Creek, SC - 10/10 0159 noted with a "KBS World" ID in English, "WHRI Cypress Creek, South Carolina" ID before the carrier was cut off at 0200. A fair signal was heard.

  9665 kHz BRAZIL Radio Voz Missionária ZYE890 Camboriú, Santa Catarina - 10/10 0202 noted with ID into Christian music and a sermon in Portuguese. A fair signal was heard.

  9815 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Kasgar - 10/10 0207 noted with news analysis in Chinese. A poor signal was heard.

10000 kHz BRAZIL PPE Rio de Janeiro, R.J. - 10/10 0214 noted with announcements in Portuguese and high-pitched tones every ten seconds. A poor signal was noted, mixing with WWV under WWVH.

10000 kHz HAWAII WWVH Kekaha, Kauai - 10/10 0211 noted with time signals, UTC time check in English. A fair signal was heard over WWV and PPE.

11750 kHz CHINA China National Radio 1 Shijiazhuang - 10/10 0134 noted with promos, ads and discussion in Chinese. A fair signal was heard.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 10/10 0016 noted with commentary in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki - 10/10 0052 noted with commentary in English into pop music. A fair signal was heard.

15000 kHz HAWAII WWVH Kehaha, Kauai - 10/9 2336 noted with UTC time check in English and time signals. A fair signal was heard with no sign of WWV.

15380 kHz CHINA China National Radio 1 Beijing - 10/9 2340 noted with commentary in Chinese. A poor signal was heard.

15555 kHz NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Radio Free Asia via Saipan - 10/9 2342 noted with news analysis in Chinese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

15600 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Beijing - 10/9 2344 noted with traditional Chinese music and brief talk in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

DXpedition #16 - Howell Island Conservation Area

On the evening of September 19, 2020 (UTC September 19-20), I took my radios to Howell Island Conservation Area. This particular conservation area is in two counties; the parking lot is in Saint Louis County (in the city of Chesterfield), while Howell Island itself is in Saint Charles County (near the city of Weldon Spring). A causeway across the Centaur Chute in the Missouri river connects the Saint Louis and Saint Charles County sides of the conservation area; however, access was closed due to flood damage in the spring, which confined my activities to Saint Louis County. The area is also on the final approach to Spirit of Saint Louis Airport.

I set up my listening post on the far western end of the parking lot, toward the biking and hiking trail going through the area. Lashing the mast to one of the posts supporting a gate that keeps motor vehicles out of the main part of the area, I was able to stretch my portable longwire to the full 30-foot length. Monitoring started around 1830 CDT (2330 UTC) and went all the way to 2145 CDT (0245 UTC 9/20). As usual, I used a General Electric Superadio III for AM (MW) broadcast band DX, and a Tecsun PL-600 LW/AM (MW)/SW/FM receiver connected to the aforementioned 30-foot portable longwire antenna for shortwave DX. Band conditions at sunset and into the early hours of darkness favored the U.S. East Coast and the Midwest, while all continents were heard on shortwave except Africa and the Middle East.

The longwire antenna fully extended at Howell Island.

 

The radios inside the minivan, with logbook.

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

  600 kHz WSJS Winston-Salem, NC - 9/19 2109 noted with college football scores and highlights, "Fox Sports Radio" mention and local ads. A good to fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KFNS 590.

  660 kHz WFAN New York, NY - 9/19 2116 noted with New York Yankees baseball play-by-play and local ads. A good to fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from WSM 650.

  710 kHz WEKC Williamsburg, KY - 9/19 1851 noted with Southern Gospel music until sign-off at 1900. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with WOR.

  710 kHz WOR New York, NY - 9/19 1840 noted with a medical talk show, ads mentioning numbers in Area Code 212, "WOR, WAXQ-HD2 New York, an iHeart Radio Station, the Voice of New York" ID at 1900 into local news. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WEKC, becoming good to fair after WEKC signed off.

  740 kHz CFZM Toronto, ON - 9/19 2128 noted with Oldies format, "Zoomer Radio" ID and DJ talking about the music. A good signal was heard over KRMG.

  740 kHz KRMG Tulsa, OK - 9/19 2129 noted with local ads, mention of 102.3 FM, "KRMG Tulsa" ID into local news. A fair signal was heard through CFZM.

  790 kHz WKRD Louisville, KY - 9/19 1904 noted with local ads into talk on college football, including scores and highlights. A fair to poor signal, mixing with WMC and WVWZ.

  790 kHz WVWZ Ashland City, TN - 9/19 1918 noted with Country music, "The Bear 103.9-dot-com" mention into local ads. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WKRD and WMC.

  820 kHz WVSG Columbus, OH - 9/19 1920 noted with talk on youth ministry and promos, lost at 1930 power cut/pattern change. A fair signal was heard, mixing with WBAP.

  950 kHz WORD Spartanburg, SC - 9/19 1932 noted with ESPN promo into NASCAR race coverage. A fair signal was heard, mixing with KWOS and WWJ.

1030 kHz WBZ Boston, MA - 9/19 2017 noted with local ads mentioning Boston phone numbers in Boston and New England, into The SHP Financial Retirement Show. A good to fair signal was heard with adjacent channel interference from KDKA 1020

1360 kHz WSAI Cincinnati, OH - 9/19 2042 noted with local ads, "Fox Sports Radio" mention, "Fox Sports 1360 Cincinnati" ID in promo. A good to fair signal was heard, mixing with WKMI and other stations.

1410 kHz WING Dayton, OH - 9/19 2047 noted with Cincinnati Reds baseball play-by-play, local ads. A good to fair signal was heard, mixing with WHLN and WIZM.

1560 kHz WFME New York, NY - 9/19 2059 noted with Family Radio promo, lost at 2100 pattern change. A good to fair signal was heard over KGOW and WGLB.

1570 kHz WBGZ Alton, IL - 9/19 2102 noted with local news and ads. A fair to poor signal was noted, mixing with other stations.

1610 kHz CHHA Toronto, ON - 9/19 2055 noted with Latin American pop music, "CHHA 1610 AM, Radio Voces Latinas" ID into ad for the sales department. A good signal was heard.

1690 kHz WMLB Avondale Estates, GA - 9/19 1943 noted with Oldies format, legal ID after 2000. A fair to poor signal was heard, mixing with WVON.

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

  4055 kHz GUATEMALA Radio Verdad TGAV Chiquimula - 9/20 0110 noted with a sermon in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard. 

  4765 kHz CUBA Radio Progreso via Bejucal, Ciudad de la Habana - 9/20 0112 noted with brief commentary, ID into contemporary music in Spanish. A fair signal was heard.

  4875 kHz BRAZIL Radio Roraima ZYG810 Boa Vista, Roraima - 9/20 0122 noted with commentary and pop music in Portuguese. A poor signal was heard.

  4885 kHz BRAZIL Radio Clube do Pará ZYG362 Belém, Pará - 9/20 0021 noted with pop music, ID and promo in Portuguese. A fair to poor signal was heard.

  5010 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Family Radio via WRMI Okeechobee, FL - 9/19 2350 noted with Christian teaching and vocal music in Spanish. A good to fair signal was heard.

  5025 kHz CUBA Radio Rebelde CMBA Bauta, Ciudad de la Habana - 9/20 0030 noted with brief commentary into pop music in Spanish. An excellent signal was heard.

  5050 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WWRB Morrison (Manchester), TN - 9/20 0026 noted with anti-Halloween sermon in English. An excellent signal was heard.

  5505 kHz USB IRELAND Shannon VOLMET - 9/20 0000 noted with weather reports for various European airports, "This is Shannon VOLMET, Shannon VOLMET" ID in English. A good signal was heard.

  5930 kHz AUSTRIA BBC relay Moosbrunn - 9/20 0040 noted with commentary in the Dari language. A fair signal was heard.

  6105 kHz FRANCE NHK World-Radio Japan via Issoudun - 9/20 0205 noted with tail end of news, brief music into feature in Japanese. A very good signal was heard.

  6180 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 9/19 2344 noted with commentary in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

  6185 kHz MÉXICO Radio Educación XEPPM México, D.F. - 9/20 0212 noted with a discussion in Spanish. A fair to poor signal was heard.

  6604 kHz USB NEWFOUNDLAND Gander VOLMET - 9/20 0156 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Gander Radio out" ID at 0159 sign-off. A good signal was heard.

  6754 kHz USB CANADA CHR Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON - 9/19 2354 noted with weather reports for various Canadian airports, "This is Trenton Military, Trenton Military" ID in English. An excellent signal was heard.

  7305 kHz UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Vatican Radio via Greenville, NC - 9/20 0153 noted with homily from Pope Francis and commentary in Spanish. An excellent signal was heard.

  7420 kHz ROMANIA Radio Romania International via Galbeni - 9/20 0134 noted with Classical music and commentary in Romanian. A good signal was heard.

  9710 kHz CHINA China Radio International via Kashgar - 9/20 0055 noted with brief commentary in Portuguese, traditional Chinese and pop music, interval signal, ID in multiple languages into news in Spanish. A good to fair signal was heard.

11780 kHz BRAZIL Radio Nacional da Amazônia ZYE365 Brasilia, D.F. - 9/19 2340 noted with local ads into contemporary music in Portuguese. An excellent signal was heard.

13840 kHz NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Pacific via Rangitaiki - 9/20 0010 noted with commentary in English. A fair signal was heard.