** ALASKA. 7355 on its penultimate day from KNLS, Oct 24 at 1409 talk in English about the California Trail, from Missouri, 1414 praise music, 1418 more talk. Poor but audible signal. On Oct 26, English moves to 6890, why? But 7355 remains on in Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. 5045, R. Cultura, Pará, ID amid music at tune-in 0606 Oct 24, for FM 93.7, fair. Yet to hear them mention SW. Does the ZYG360 callsign really apply to SW as well as FM frequency, and AM if any? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL [and non]. R. Bandeirantes would have been doing well on 11925.1, Oct 24 at 0539 with ID in passing, if it were not for a big het from something properly on 11925.0. Het varied slightly, no doubt tnx to Bandeirantes transmitter too. Uncertain language occasionally challenged the Brazilian, and surprisingly at 0545 a timesignal, 5 or 6 pips. The interferer went off at 0559* clearing channel for Bandeirantes.
What was it? BBCWS in Kinyarwanda/Kirundi via South Africa, scheduled in A-09 at 05-06, 7 degrees from Meyerton. Perhaps the beeps merely signaled the transition from one dialect to another. Unfortunately, this collision continues in B-09. Brasil sees no point in registering its many non-tropical SW stations with HFCC, so who`s to know? Most of them can`t manage to tune their frequencies to .00 so they are a rich source of hets. 11815 RBC was also appearing weakly as well as on 4985 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BULGARIA [and non]. 15700, DW Russian via UK at 1452 marred by open carrier causing deep SAH fades: R. Bulgaria must have been uptuning prior to resuming frequency at 1500. But then turned it off again for a while longer (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Oct 24: at 1418 poor with flutter on both 8400, 9000; at 1422 about the same on 10210 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA [and non]. Suprised to find Vatican Italian in the clear on 5965, and REE relay on 5975 instead, Oct 24 at 0610. Usual muffled audio from REE and two guys conversing with Castilian accents, so was pretty sure of identity, but was casting about for a // to be certain. By this time 3350 and 6055 were off and 25m channels weren`t making it. Then 5975 cut off in mid-word at 0614. I retuned to 5965 and so had REE, clashing once again with VR producing heavy SAH as VR went into French at 0615. Was this an accident, or REE testing a way to escape the Vaticlash? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. RHC Oct 24: at 0611 found 6140 in open carrier instead of English or Spanish. Other 49m outlets were nominal, i.e. 6120 and 6000 Spanish, 6060 and 6010 English.
Spurchex later Oct 24: at 1247, RNV relay on 11705 was giving its almost totally wrong transmission schedule as it has done a myriad of times before; with very strong het from the RHC 11760 spur on 11708.4, matched on 11811.6. A quick scan found at least the whine peaking every 51.6 kHz or so between 11194.6 and 12325.4, i.e. 11 steps above and below. Also getting QRMed on 11705 was NHK via Canada at 1427.
At 1458 I noticed that RHC 15120 and 15360 cut modulation to open carriers for a while longer, helping to audiblize the collision on 15360, which is RFI in Persian 1430-1500.
I made a point of monitoring around 1500 to see what would happen to the spurs as RHC changes something on 11760. At 1458:45, 11708 spur went off at same time as 11760 fundamental, and no doubt all the other spurs went off too.
This cleared 11710 for V. of Korea at 1500 opening in English, but not for long, Commies vs Commies! Pyongyang`s 13-14 English and 14-15 French are always ruined by this. Habana came back on at 1501, with weaker signal on 11760 but still outputting correspondingly weaker spurs around 11708 and 11812, so it`s the same transmitter after an antenna change, presumably to favor LAm instead of NAm. Now not hearing ten more spurs on each side.
We`re not through yet --- At 1506:30, I had just tuned into RNV relay on 11680 in English when it dumped off the air, as did 11760 + spurs, power failure at site? But RHC 11690, which had just started at 1500, stayed on, as did 13760 an echo apart. We have assumed the echo means two different sites, but there could be some other reason for unmatched feeds. At 1508, 11760 + spurs returned, but 11680 was still off. At 1514, 11680 still off. Not until my 1537 check did I find 11680 RNV back on, again in English. And now 11760`s additional spurs had started to whine again, circa 11452, 11504, 11606, 11657, and 11862, roughly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. VOI already off 9525.9 by 1515 Oct 24, so instead I hear S Asian singing and talk on 9530. What does PWBR `2009` say? Nothing except Brasil at this hour. It`s really KSDA in Telugu talk at 1520, some splash from NHK 9535 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. AIR `9470` Aligarh distortion blob Oct 24 at 1419: centered on 9455 causing some mess to Chinese war on 9450, but Russian KFBS OK on 9465 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze has not been heard here most of the summer due to scheduling, but making it again now, Sat Oct 24 at 1402 on 5910 with ID in passing over piano music, in Korean but some Japanese names mentioned; fair signal. At 1403 punxuated by `busy music` to spark interest in today`s (?) news(?). This is the station obsessed with alleged North Korean abduxions of Japanese sesquidecades ago.
Aoki reminds us that it`s 100 kW, 280 degrees from the JSR transmitter in Ibaragi-Koga-Yamata, Japan with this language rotation since June 23: Sat Korean; Fri English; Wed Korean/Chinese/English; Sun/Mon/Tue/Thu Japanese. But not always. Remains to be seen whether there will be any B-09 changes. They had been switching to another 6 MHz frequency periodically when too much jamming built up, but not lately? No jamming audible, and I suppose it helps to get them noticed to be neighborly to VOA Korean on 5890 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LAOS [non]. Hmong Lao Radio is back! Missing most of October from Sat/Sun 13-14 slot via WHRI 11785, but revived with excellent signal Sat Oct 24 at 1322 check, Hmong talk; 1352 into the ``jungle serenade`` of rustic instrument, chirps from various creatures, which are nothing like you hear in Hminnesota. No further announcements; at 1357 cut to piano hymn, and at 1359 to WHR ID, 1400 into the other Hmong show, World Christian Radio which had not been on hiatus.
Now HLR has a ``current broadcast`` dated 10/25, after a break since 10/11 on http://www.h-lr.com/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBYA. As soon as I intuned 21695, Oct 24 at 1425, I heard ``the leader of the revolution`` which was all I needed to know that it was Tripoli and I should keep ontuning; fairly good signal, tho. I did sweep past it again at 1448, when the riff from Beethoven`s Ninth was involuntarily serenading more stuff about Q`daffy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MADAGASCAR [non]. No luck hearing the reactivated Radio Mada clandestine. Schedule was given as Sat & Sun 1530-1600 on 15640 via Moldova in A-09, changing to 15670 in B-09; however, Media Network noticed their website said the change would be made already Oct 24. 15635-15645 was as usual occupied by Sines, Portugal DRM, and if there was anything from Pridnestrovye under it, could not detect here.
15670, tuned in early at 1525, had Asian talk frequently mentioning Bible, and also J.C. in some form. W&M dialog kept right on going past 1530, no sign of Mada. Scheduled in A-09 as YFR in Hindi via Wertachtal until 1600. In B-09, i.e. from tomorrow Oct 25, 15670 should be clear for Kishinov, 300 kW at 160 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PORTUGAL [and non]. 21655 with RDPI, first time heard in a longtime, Oct 24 at 1425, Portuguese conversation. It`s scheduled before 1600 only on weekends. In selective opening, as not much from the Spanish or Saudi 13m triads, just Libya. 1449 mentioning Madeira, and by then BSKSA making it best on 21640, also 21505-buzz, 21460, and signs of Spain on 21570 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. 7330, at 1408 Oct 24, WS of VOR ID in English, very poor, but an echo apart from stronger // 15605. Per Aoki, 7330 is 230 degrees from Vladivostok-Rasdolnoy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAUDI ARABIA. 17660, BSKSA in French, Oct 24 at 1450 with heavy flutter, while Arabic on 21640 was relatively steady. See also PORTUGAL (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Following my previous observation that Brother Scare was being heard less than usual on the Overcomer broadcasts, some wondered if he were dead yet. I don`t think so, but just ask Dr Gene Scott about the magic of tape recording. Earlier on Sabbath Oct 24 I heard his own voice say that some other Brother, Jack? Would be speaking at 10 am [EDT, God`s timezone].
At 1454 I paused on WBCQ 15420 as the other guy was still preaching, about how mining causes volcanic eruptions such as Krakatoa. Uh, huh. This was running eight seconds ahead of WWRB 9385, so get your prophecies first from WBCQ! However at this hour 15420 had co-channel QRM, i.e. BBCWS Somali via Seychelles until 1500, then other languages until 1700.
Will this continue in B-09? Yes, and it`s getting worse. In A-09 WBCQ had 15420 to itself at least after 1700, mostly for the benefit of the anapaestic Fence Lake preacher from New Mexico. But in B-09, BBC plans to use 15420 straight thru from 13 to 19, all in English, the first hour Seychelles 270 degrees, 14-17 Cyprus 175, 17-19 Meyerton at 5 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Hams operating illegally, they think with impunity, Oct 24 at 0618 on 3810-3811 in SSB. I had decided to try for HD2IOA on 3810, but instead found this mess, music being played as I intuned at 0618, ``Old Black Betty had a child, and the damn thing gone wild``. Plus more racist, sexist remarx, swearing. Repeatedly taunting contesters such as N4LA to get off the occupied frequency. Several stations were involved with few IDs, but one called himself WZed5Q several times. Various other music clips inserted. I had plenty of this nonsense by 0625. ARRL callsign lookup from FCC database shows: Peak, Michael L, WZ5Q (Extra) - PO BOX 12646, Lake Charles, LA 70612 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. A few days ago I had a US MW harmonic on 4800, and now one on 4740, this one definitely identified. As I was heading for Makassar on 4750, which turned out not to provide much signal today, I was interrupted at 1256 Oct 24 on 4740 by strong, distorted Spanish, obviously a US commercial station.
Lots of PSAs with 800 numbers, some ads inmixed; 1259 one for SSS. Audio mostly on but sometimes cuts out briefly. Not exactly FM or SSB, but S-meter level affected by modulation level. At hourtop 1300 accented ID in English for a W-call on 1580 in Wisconsin! And back to Spanish, 1304 mentions ``sports center cada 20 minutos``, more ads and PSAs in Spanish including from HUD. 1305 ID as ESPN Deportes Radio (ESPN letters pronounced in English), 1306 opening ESPN show ``De Mano a Mano``. 1310 starts fading down, but back up at 1320, more PSAs, one regarding anti-discrimination, 800 number. 1335 finally a bit of music, ESPN Deportes again, 1337 sounded like local ad; 1340 another HUD PSA and website sounded like www.mexicoaffordable.com but that`s not valid.
Threw in one commercial in English at 1342 for holiday-something in Cambria, phone starting with 920. 1343 outlook for the day`s games in fútbol italiano, hondureño, béisbol de las grandes ligas. By 1345 had faded out again, but checked again before hourtop it had revived at 1358 with another Selective Service PSA, 1359:50 Clear ID in English as: ``WTTN, 1580, Columbus, Wisconsin`` and back to Spanish. Did not check further as too much else to monitor.
Meanwhile, I had concluded it was WTTN by consulting the NRC AM Log 2009, which shows that as the only 1580 in Wisconsin. However, its format info says: OLD - CNN/DG, ``The Goose`` and some Spanish on Sundays. OLD means oldies, as in rock music; DG means Dial Global network, variety of music formats and talk shows (all in Spanish??). There is no separate listing for ESPN`s Spanish sports network.
Address is axually in Beaver Dam, another nearby town to Columbus as is Cambria, in Columbia county.
WTTN is 5 kW in daytime, direxional, and only 4 watts at night. FCC pattern plot shows major lobes at 105 and 290 degrees, minor lobe at 200 degrees, null at 235, so we are in between those two. See http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/1297309-106702.pdf
That`s for 1580, but what is the pattern and power output on 4740?
Surely the WTTN calls originally (and still?) allude to Watertown, not too far away, between Madison and Milwaukee, and Watertown is in a major lobe from site due west of Columbus almost halfway to Arlington. Welcome to America`s newest tropical band station, but will it last? Surely others tuning for DX on 60m heard this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WRMI, 9955, usually inaudible in the nightmiddle, was fairly audible at 0555 UT Sat Oct 24 as La Rosa de Tokio was upwrapping, no jamming audible from the DCJC. Probably on NW antenna unlike most Saturdays due to Faith the Dog special scheduled earlier at 0100. VG after 1400 with R. Prague relay as usual also jamless, but at 1519 recheck, YL preacher in English was being heavily jammed! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 9325 with continuous 1 kHz tone test, Oct 24 at 1421. Must be VOA Tinang, PHILIPPINES, as prélude to 1430 Burmese; while VOA is already in Burmese until 1430 on adjacent 9320 via Tinian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VENEZUELA [non]. See CUBA [and non] for disruptions to RNV by Cuban transmitter failures and spurs interfering with self (gh)
Hmmm, it took me about as much time to compile this report, 3.5 hours, as the axual monitoring concerned consumed. Must rethink my time management priorities. ###
** BRAZIL. 5045, R. Cultura, Pará, ID amid music at tune-in 0606 Oct 24, for FM 93.7, fair. Yet to hear them mention SW. Does the ZYG360 callsign really apply to SW as well as FM frequency, and AM if any? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL [and non]. R. Bandeirantes would have been doing well on 11925.1, Oct 24 at 0539 with ID in passing, if it were not for a big het from something properly on 11925.0. Het varied slightly, no doubt tnx to Bandeirantes transmitter too. Uncertain language occasionally challenged the Brazilian, and surprisingly at 0545 a timesignal, 5 or 6 pips. The interferer went off at 0559* clearing channel for Bandeirantes.
What was it? BBCWS in Kinyarwanda/Kirundi via South Africa, scheduled in A-09 at 05-06, 7 degrees from Meyerton. Perhaps the beeps merely signaled the transition from one dialect to another. Unfortunately, this collision continues in B-09. Brasil sees no point in registering its many non-tropical SW stations with HFCC, so who`s to know? Most of them can`t manage to tune their frequencies to .00 so they are a rich source of hets. 11815 RBC was also appearing weakly as well as on 4985 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BULGARIA [and non]. 15700, DW Russian via UK at 1452 marred by open carrier causing deep SAH fades: R. Bulgaria must have been uptuning prior to resuming frequency at 1500. But then turned it off again for a while longer (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Oct 24: at 1418 poor with flutter on both 8400, 9000; at 1422 about the same on 10210 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA [and non]. Suprised to find Vatican Italian in the clear on 5965, and REE relay on 5975 instead, Oct 24 at 0610. Usual muffled audio from REE and two guys conversing with Castilian accents, so was pretty sure of identity, but was casting about for a // to be certain. By this time 3350 and 6055 were off and 25m channels weren`t making it. Then 5975 cut off in mid-word at 0614. I retuned to 5965 and so had REE, clashing once again with VR producing heavy SAH as VR went into French at 0615. Was this an accident, or REE testing a way to escape the Vaticlash? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. RHC Oct 24: at 0611 found 6140 in open carrier instead of English or Spanish. Other 49m outlets were nominal, i.e. 6120 and 6000 Spanish, 6060 and 6010 English.
Spurchex later Oct 24: at 1247, RNV relay on 11705 was giving its almost totally wrong transmission schedule as it has done a myriad of times before; with very strong het from the RHC 11760 spur on 11708.4, matched on 11811.6. A quick scan found at least the whine peaking every 51.6 kHz or so between 11194.6 and 12325.4, i.e. 11 steps above and below. Also getting QRMed on 11705 was NHK via Canada at 1427.
At 1458 I noticed that RHC 15120 and 15360 cut modulation to open carriers for a while longer, helping to audiblize the collision on 15360, which is RFI in Persian 1430-1500.
I made a point of monitoring around 1500 to see what would happen to the spurs as RHC changes something on 11760. At 1458:45, 11708 spur went off at same time as 11760 fundamental, and no doubt all the other spurs went off too.
This cleared 11710 for V. of Korea at 1500 opening in English, but not for long, Commies vs Commies! Pyongyang`s 13-14 English and 14-15 French are always ruined by this. Habana came back on at 1501, with weaker signal on 11760 but still outputting correspondingly weaker spurs around 11708 and 11812, so it`s the same transmitter after an antenna change, presumably to favor LAm instead of NAm. Now not hearing ten more spurs on each side.
We`re not through yet --- At 1506:30, I had just tuned into RNV relay on 11680 in English when it dumped off the air, as did 11760 + spurs, power failure at site? But RHC 11690, which had just started at 1500, stayed on, as did 13760 an echo apart. We have assumed the echo means two different sites, but there could be some other reason for unmatched feeds. At 1508, 11760 + spurs returned, but 11680 was still off. At 1514, 11680 still off. Not until my 1537 check did I find 11680 RNV back on, again in English. And now 11760`s additional spurs had started to whine again, circa 11452, 11504, 11606, 11657, and 11862, roughly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. VOI already off 9525.9 by 1515 Oct 24, so instead I hear S Asian singing and talk on 9530. What does PWBR `2009` say? Nothing except Brasil at this hour. It`s really KSDA in Telugu talk at 1520, some splash from NHK 9535 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. AIR `9470` Aligarh distortion blob Oct 24 at 1419: centered on 9455 causing some mess to Chinese war on 9450, but Russian KFBS OK on 9465 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH [non]. Shiokaze has not been heard here most of the summer due to scheduling, but making it again now, Sat Oct 24 at 1402 on 5910 with ID in passing over piano music, in Korean but some Japanese names mentioned; fair signal. At 1403 punxuated by `busy music` to spark interest in today`s (?) news(?). This is the station obsessed with alleged North Korean abduxions of Japanese sesquidecades ago.
Aoki reminds us that it`s 100 kW, 280 degrees from the JSR transmitter in Ibaragi-Koga-Yamata, Japan with this language rotation since June 23: Sat Korean; Fri English; Wed Korean/Chinese/English; Sun/Mon/Tue/Thu Japanese. But not always. Remains to be seen whether there will be any B-09 changes. They had been switching to another 6 MHz frequency periodically when too much jamming built up, but not lately? No jamming audible, and I suppose it helps to get them noticed to be neighborly to VOA Korean on 5890 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LAOS [non]. Hmong Lao Radio is back! Missing most of October from Sat/Sun 13-14 slot via WHRI 11785, but revived with excellent signal Sat Oct 24 at 1322 check, Hmong talk; 1352 into the ``jungle serenade`` of rustic instrument, chirps from various creatures, which are nothing like you hear in Hminnesota. No further announcements; at 1357 cut to piano hymn, and at 1359 to WHR ID, 1400 into the other Hmong show, World Christian Radio which had not been on hiatus.
Now HLR has a ``current broadcast`` dated 10/25, after a break since 10/11 on http://www.h-lr.com/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBYA. As soon as I intuned 21695, Oct 24 at 1425, I heard ``the leader of the revolution`` which was all I needed to know that it was Tripoli and I should keep ontuning; fairly good signal, tho. I did sweep past it again at 1448, when the riff from Beethoven`s Ninth was involuntarily serenading more stuff about Q`daffy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MADAGASCAR [non]. No luck hearing the reactivated Radio Mada clandestine. Schedule was given as Sat & Sun 1530-1600 on 15640 via Moldova in A-09, changing to 15670 in B-09; however, Media Network noticed their website said the change would be made already Oct 24. 15635-15645 was as usual occupied by Sines, Portugal DRM, and if there was anything from Pridnestrovye under it, could not detect here.
15670, tuned in early at 1525, had Asian talk frequently mentioning Bible, and also J.C. in some form. W&M dialog kept right on going past 1530, no sign of Mada. Scheduled in A-09 as YFR in Hindi via Wertachtal until 1600. In B-09, i.e. from tomorrow Oct 25, 15670 should be clear for Kishinov, 300 kW at 160 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PORTUGAL [and non]. 21655 with RDPI, first time heard in a longtime, Oct 24 at 1425, Portuguese conversation. It`s scheduled before 1600 only on weekends. In selective opening, as not much from the Spanish or Saudi 13m triads, just Libya. 1449 mentioning Madeira, and by then BSKSA making it best on 21640, also 21505-buzz, 21460, and signs of Spain on 21570 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. 7330, at 1408 Oct 24, WS of VOR ID in English, very poor, but an echo apart from stronger // 15605. Per Aoki, 7330 is 230 degrees from Vladivostok-Rasdolnoy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAUDI ARABIA. 17660, BSKSA in French, Oct 24 at 1450 with heavy flutter, while Arabic on 21640 was relatively steady. See also PORTUGAL (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Following my previous observation that Brother Scare was being heard less than usual on the Overcomer broadcasts, some wondered if he were dead yet. I don`t think so, but just ask Dr Gene Scott about the magic of tape recording. Earlier on Sabbath Oct 24 I heard his own voice say that some other Brother, Jack? Would be speaking at 10 am [EDT, God`s timezone].
At 1454 I paused on WBCQ 15420 as the other guy was still preaching, about how mining causes volcanic eruptions such as Krakatoa. Uh, huh. This was running eight seconds ahead of WWRB 9385, so get your prophecies first from WBCQ! However at this hour 15420 had co-channel QRM, i.e. BBCWS Somali via Seychelles until 1500, then other languages until 1700.
Will this continue in B-09? Yes, and it`s getting worse. In A-09 WBCQ had 15420 to itself at least after 1700, mostly for the benefit of the anapaestic Fence Lake preacher from New Mexico. But in B-09, BBC plans to use 15420 straight thru from 13 to 19, all in English, the first hour Seychelles 270 degrees, 14-17 Cyprus 175, 17-19 Meyerton at 5 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Hams operating illegally, they think with impunity, Oct 24 at 0618 on 3810-3811 in SSB. I had decided to try for HD2IOA on 3810, but instead found this mess, music being played as I intuned at 0618, ``Old Black Betty had a child, and the damn thing gone wild``. Plus more racist, sexist remarx, swearing. Repeatedly taunting contesters such as N4LA to get off the occupied frequency. Several stations were involved with few IDs, but one called himself WZed5Q several times. Various other music clips inserted. I had plenty of this nonsense by 0625. ARRL callsign lookup from FCC database shows: Peak, Michael L, WZ5Q (Extra) - PO BOX 12646, Lake Charles, LA 70612 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. A few days ago I had a US MW harmonic on 4800, and now one on 4740, this one definitely identified. As I was heading for Makassar on 4750, which turned out not to provide much signal today, I was interrupted at 1256 Oct 24 on 4740 by strong, distorted Spanish, obviously a US commercial station.
Lots of PSAs with 800 numbers, some ads inmixed; 1259 one for SSS. Audio mostly on but sometimes cuts out briefly. Not exactly FM or SSB, but S-meter level affected by modulation level. At hourtop 1300 accented ID in English for a W-call on 1580 in Wisconsin! And back to Spanish, 1304 mentions ``sports center cada 20 minutos``, more ads and PSAs in Spanish including from HUD. 1305 ID as ESPN Deportes Radio (ESPN letters pronounced in English), 1306 opening ESPN show ``De Mano a Mano``. 1310 starts fading down, but back up at 1320, more PSAs, one regarding anti-discrimination, 800 number. 1335 finally a bit of music, ESPN Deportes again, 1337 sounded like local ad; 1340 another HUD PSA and website sounded like www.mexicoaffordable.com but that`s not valid.
Threw in one commercial in English at 1342 for holiday-something in Cambria, phone starting with 920. 1343 outlook for the day`s games in fútbol italiano, hondureño, béisbol de las grandes ligas. By 1345 had faded out again, but checked again before hourtop it had revived at 1358 with another Selective Service PSA, 1359:50 Clear ID in English as: ``WTTN, 1580, Columbus, Wisconsin`` and back to Spanish. Did not check further as too much else to monitor.
Meanwhile, I had concluded it was WTTN by consulting the NRC AM Log 2009, which shows that as the only 1580 in Wisconsin. However, its format info says: OLD - CNN/DG, ``The Goose`` and some Spanish on Sundays. OLD means oldies, as in rock music; DG means Dial Global network, variety of music formats and talk shows (all in Spanish??). There is no separate listing for ESPN`s Spanish sports network.
Address is axually in Beaver Dam, another nearby town to Columbus as is Cambria, in Columbia county.
WTTN is 5 kW in daytime, direxional, and only 4 watts at night. FCC pattern plot shows major lobes at 105 and 290 degrees, minor lobe at 200 degrees, null at 235, so we are in between those two. See http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/1297309-106702.pdf
That`s for 1580, but what is the pattern and power output on 4740?
Surely the WTTN calls originally (and still?) allude to Watertown, not too far away, between Madison and Milwaukee, and Watertown is in a major lobe from site due west of Columbus almost halfway to Arlington. Welcome to America`s newest tropical band station, but will it last? Surely others tuning for DX on 60m heard this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WRMI, 9955, usually inaudible in the nightmiddle, was fairly audible at 0555 UT Sat Oct 24 as La Rosa de Tokio was upwrapping, no jamming audible from the DCJC. Probably on NW antenna unlike most Saturdays due to Faith the Dog special scheduled earlier at 0100. VG after 1400 with R. Prague relay as usual also jamless, but at 1519 recheck, YL preacher in English was being heavily jammed! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 9325 with continuous 1 kHz tone test, Oct 24 at 1421. Must be VOA Tinang, PHILIPPINES, as prélude to 1430 Burmese; while VOA is already in Burmese until 1430 on adjacent 9320 via Tinian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VENEZUELA [non]. See CUBA [and non] for disruptions to RNV by Cuban transmitter failures and spurs interfering with self (gh)
Hmmm, it took me about as much time to compile this report, 3.5 hours, as the axual monitoring concerned consumed. Must rethink my time management priorities. ###
