Southern FM DX

Note: There was no Southern FM DX column for the June 2004 VHF-UHF Digest

July 2004

For DXers in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NV, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, Cuba and Mexico

Stations in orange indicate a new logging for the DXer
=========================================
Eric Bueneman - Hazelwood, MO - http://www.qsl.net/n0uih/

Kenwood AR-304 AM/FM/FM stereo receiver (modified with three 110 kHz filters by Bruce Elving) with a Radio Shack VU-210XR with Channel Master rotor at 30’ (9.1 meters) above ground level. Logs made before March 8, 2004 used the same antenna at 35’ AGL with a Radio Shack rotor. All times CST/CDT; all distances in miles/kilometers

1/27 Es
1719 KOIR 88.5 TX Edinburg, Christian talk in SS, o/KUMR  970/1561
1720 XHAAA 93.1 TM Reynosa, DJ talk and local ads in SS  985/1585
2/14 Tr
1540 WSWT 106.9 IL Peoria, local ad, legal ID, soft AC  140/225
1548 WILL 90.9 IL Urbana, opera, ACI from KWMU 90.7  155/249
1549 Springfield IL 90.5, 98.7, 101.9, 103.7  80/128
1550 WDNL 102.1 IL Danville, “D-102,” hot AC, mixing w/WIBV  175/282
1553 Decatur IL 95.1, 102.9,  110/177
1554 WGEL 101.7 IL Greenville, Vandalia ad, legal ID, k, through KLPW  50/80
3/8 Gw
1500 KDJR 100.1 MO DeSoto, legal ID, Christian teaching, ACI from KATZ 100.3  45/72
3/10 Gw
0029 KBGM 91.1 MO Park Hills, “New Life Radio,” CCM//WIBI  65/105
0036 KGNA 89.9 MO Arnold, Christian talk, light CCM//KGNV, through WLCA  25/40
3/25 Gw
1840 WRLJ 88.3 IL White Hall, “Adventures in Odyssey, “ promo, legal ID//WLUJ 89.7  45/72
4/6 Tr
0025 KLRQ 96.1 MO Clinton, “K-Love,” CCM, ACI from KIHT 96.3  185/298
0026 KZBK 96.9 MO Brookfield, “96-9 The Z,” hot AC, ACI from KFTK 97.1  155/249
0027 KQRC 98.9 KS Leavenworth, “98-9 The Rock,” hard r, light ACI from KFUO 99.1  255/410
0030 KKFI 90.1 MO Kansas City, soul mx, WTSG nulled  225/362
0035 Columbia MO 89.5, 91.3, 96.7, 101.5  105/169
0036 KZZT 105.5 MO Moberly, local ads, calls, o, light ACI from KPNT 105.7  115/184
0038 Jefferson City MO 88.9, 106.9  100/161
0045 KICK 97.9 MO Palmyra, “97-9 Kick FM,” k, slight ACI from KYKY 98.1  90/145
0048 KATI 94.3 MO California, “Cat Country 94.3,” promo, k  120/193
0051 Rolla MO 88.5, 105.3  80/128
0055 Decatur IL 93.1, 95.1, 102.9  110/177
0058 WSWT 106.9 IL Peoria, “Light Rock 107,” legal ID, soft AC  140/225
4/18 Tr
0111 KKOW 96.9 KS Pittsburg, “After Midnite,” k, ads, confirmed through website  260/418
0153 KQRC 98.9 KS Leavenworth, “98-9 The Rock,” hard r  255/410
0155 KFME 105.1 MO Garden City, “E-105,” hot AC  210/338
0158 KKFI 90.1 MO Kansas City, promos, legal ID, call-in show  225/362
0337 KRMS 93.5 MO Osage Beach, “93-dot-5,” classic r  140/225
0339 WIBW 94.5 KS Topeka, “94 Country,” k, x-97.3  285/459
0348 KTBZ 96.5 MO Kansas City, “96-5 The Buzz,” modern r, $  225/362
0351 KZPL 97.3 MO Lee’s Summit, “97-3 The Planet,” promo, hot AC  215/346
0353 KFBD 97.9 MO Waynesville, “B-97.9,” PSA, light r  120/193
0358 KNWI 107.1 IA Osceola, “Family & Family Minute,” legal ID, AP News//KNWM 96.1  235/378
0405 KTBG 90.9 MO Warrensburg, “The Bridge,” modern AC  180/290
0408 KJCK 97.5 KS Junction City, “Big Cat 97-5,” CHR  350/563
0410 KPOW 97.7 MO LaMonte, “Power 97,” Sedalia ads, wx, classic r  165/266
0422 KBBM 100.1 MO Jefferson City, “100.1 The Buzz,” modern r, ACI from KFAV 99.9  100/161
0426 KYYS 99.7 MO Kansas City, “99-7 KY,” local ads, AOR  225/362
0428 WLMG 101.9 LA New Orleans, “Magic 101.9,” soft AC, local ads, prev by Es  600/966
0436 KEYN 103.7 KS Wichita, jingle ID, o  400/644
0437 KSAJ 98.5 KS Abilene, “Oldies Radio 98.5,” o  365/587
0451 KNIA 102.9 IA Iowa City, local ad, through KEZS  225/362
4/21 Tr
2039 KYLS 95.9 MO Ironton, “Froggy 96,” k, WOLG nulled  80/128
2057 KKID 92.9 MO Salem, “92-9 K-Kid,” classic r  90/145
5/11 Tr
0231 KUPH 96.9 MO Mountain View, “The Fox 96-9,” local ads, hot AC  145/233
0255 KAMS 95.1 AR Mammoth Spring, “K-Country,” promo, k  175/282
0302 KBMV 107.1 MO Birch Tree, “107-1 The Point,” hot AC  125/201
0317 KBIY 91.3 MO Van Buren, CCM, PSAs//KNLH 89.5  125/201
0353 KFLW 98.9 MO St. Robert, “98-9 The Fort,” hot AC  90/145
0359 KDAA 97.5 MO Rolla, legal ID, AC, WBBA/WDLJ nulled  80/128
0401 KWTO 98.7 MO Springfield, Fox Sports Radio, local ads  190/306
0404 KIYS 101.9 AR Jonesboro, “101-9 Kiss FM,” CHR  200/322
5/14 Tr
2150 KTKS 95.1 MO Versailles, “KS-95,” Royals postgame show, Kansas City ads  130/209
2210 KGRS 107.3 IA Burlington, “Mix 107-dot-3,” hot AC  140/225
2219 WNLF 95.9 IL Macomb, “Modern Rock 95-9,” local ads, modern r, WOLG off  115/185
2239 KMMO 102.9 MO Marshall, “Real Radio KMMO,” k  155/249
2245 KPOW 97.7 MO LaMonte, “Power 97,” Sedalia ads, classic r  165/266
2254 KBBM 100.1 MO Jefferson City, “100.1 The Buzz,” local ads  100/161
2255 KRES 104.7 MO Moberly, local ads, k  115/185
2258 KWWC 90.5 MO Columbia, “Sweet 90.5,” legal ID, AC  105/169
2330 WQKQ 92.1 IL Carthage, “KQ-92,” classic hits  125/201
2334 KCLR 99.3 MO Boonville, “Clear 99,” k  125/201
2354 KRRY 100.9 MO Canton, “Y-101,” PSAs, wx, CHR  110/177
5/15 Tr
0011 WEJT 105.1 IL Shelbyville, “Light Rock 105-1,” AC  115/185
0023 WYDS 93.1 IL Decatur, “93-1 The Party,” CHR  110/177
0025 KLRQ 96.1 MO Clinton, “K-Love,” CCM  185/298
0038 WDKR 107.3 IL Maroa, “Good Times, Great Oldies, WDKR,” o  115/185
0045 WHOW 95.9 IL Clinton, “Today’s hits, yesterday’s favorites,” loegal ID, AC/oldies  120/193
0053 WBNH 88.5 IL Pekin, light CCM, SRN nx, legal ID  140/225
0108 WDQZ 99.5 IL Lexington, “99-5 and 102-3 The Eagle,” classic hits  155/249
0123 WDQX 102.3 IL Morton, “The Eagle,” classic hits, last heard as WFXF  135/217
0216 W205BC 88.9 IL Taylorville, BBN mention, Christian mx and teaching  70/113
1142 KWRT 93.1 MO Boonville, “Casino 93.1,” adult standards  125/201
1144 KQRC 98.9 KS Leavenworth, “98-9 The Rock,” AOR  255/410
1147 WTAO 105.1 IL Murphysboro, “TAO,” AOR  110/177
2058 WUSI 90.3 IL Olney, PSA, legal ID//WSIU 91.9 and WVSI 88.9  130/209
2101 WILL 90.9  IL Urbana, legal ID, “The Jazz Corner,” mention of relays on 101.1 and 106.5  155/249
2140 WBNQ 101.5 IL Bloomington, local ads, wx, calls, CHR  140/225
2154 WDNL 102.1 IL Danville, local ads, ‘90s hits  175/282
5/16 Tr
0048 WLRW 94.5 IL Champaign, “The New Sound of Mix 94.5,” PSA, CHR  150/240
0051 WHQQ 98.9 IL Neoga, Charleston ads  110/177
0054 WACF 98.5 IL Paris, local ads, calls, k, KTJJ nulled  145/233
0112 W203AN 88.5 IL Flora, “American Family Radio,” PSAs, CCM  100/161
0126 WKRV 107.1 IL Vandalia, “107-1 The Curve,” CHR  70/113
0231 WQRL 106.3 IL Benton, “Q-106,” o  95/153
0238 WOKZ 105.9 IL Fairfield, calls, k  145/233
0256 KJEZ 95.5 MO Poplar Bluff, “Classic 95.5,” legal ID, classic r, WFUN off  140/225
1159 KOKX 95.3 IA Keokuk, Christian mx, AM/FM ID, “Cool 95,” o  125/201
1222 KMJK 107.3 MO Lexington, “Magic 107.3,” R&B o  185/298
1322 KWTO 98.7 MO Springfield, SW Missouri State University baseball  190/306
1354 WDQN 95.9 IL DuQuoin, “Revelation Insights,” light Christian mx, legal ID  100/161
1422 KJEL 103.7 MO Lebanon, St. Louis Cardinals baseball  155/249
5/22 Es
1214 XHLDO 89.9 TM Nuevo Laredo, PSAs and ads in SS  940/1513
1217 XHXL 91.7 NL Monterrey, local ads in SS, Beatles mx in EE  1075/1730
1220 XHMLS 91.3 TM Matamoros, talk mentioning Mexico in SS  985/1585
1221 KBNL 89.9 TX Laredo, talk in SS through KGNV  935/1504
1222 KROM 92.9 TX San Antonio, Tejano mx, local ads in SS  790/1271
1228 KJBZ 92.7 TX Laredo, “Z-93,” talk in EE/SS, Tejano mx  935/1504
1230 KUT 90.5 TX Austin, choral mx, local underwriting  715/1151
1233 XHSAB 89.5 NL Sabinas Hidalgo, talk in SS, Nortena mx thru KCFV/KEPX  1020/1642
5/26 Es
1840 WIKX 92.9 FL Charlotte Harbor, “Kix Country,” traffic report, local ad  945/1521
5/26 Tr
2132 KSCV 90.1 MO Springfield, “Truths that Transform” // KSIV 91.5  190/306
5/29 Tr
0200 Kansas City 90.1, 99.7, 102.1  225/386
2119 Columbia MO 90.5, 91.3, 96.7, 101.5  105/169

What a difference a new receiver, modified for DXing, can make! I purchased a used Kenwood
AR-304 receiver in January; I sent it to Bruce Elving for modification. The selectivity of this particular receiver now approaches that of the receiver it replaces, a 1970s-vintage Realistic STA-90 which wasn’t modified. I was able to hear stations that I couldn’t otherwise hear with the old rig. I’m now able to null out WLCA on 89.9 to hear KGNV and KGNA, pull in KBGM with sister station WIBI nulled, and get KDJR 100.1 between locals on 99.9 and 100.3. The first E-skip heard with this receiver came in the same month; I was surprised to pull in KOIR 88.5 with Christian programming in Spanish. XHAAA 93.1, a skip regular during the summer months, was also heard; the same opening also brought in some TV DX.
On March 1, the Radio Shack rotor gave up the ghost due to high winds. The top part of the rotor, supporting the 10-foot mast, broke off from the rotor. While I was able to salvage the VU-210XR, I had to replace the rotor. This time, a Channel Master rotor replaced the RS rotor, with a five-foot mast. The 10-foot mast was also salvaged; it’s now supporting a Radio Shack discone antenna for NOAA Weather Radio DX and VHF/UHF utility band monitoring. The new rotor was installed on March 8.
It didn’t take long for the first trops to come in…the opening of April 6 brought in some DX from outstate Missouri and the Kansas City area. KLRQ’s format change from Classic Hits to Contemporary Christian was noted; the station is now non-commercial. I also heard a few stations from Illinois making it in. The opening of April 18 was also a surprise; this is the earliest I’ve had trops of over 400 miles on FM at this QTH. KKOW 96.9 was a pleasant surprise, ditto with KFME 105.1. This was previously a St. Joseph assignment, as I also heard KKJO on this frequency before they shifted to 105.5. Also noted WIBW on its new 94.5 frequency; this assignment came as a result of the combination of two 97.3 assignments into one, which I also noted with KZPL coming in, with clean separation from local KFTK 97.1. The other station in this complicated switch, KJCK 97.5, also came in. KJCK had been on 94.5 before this mega-switch. Also noted a call letter change with KNWI 107.1 (last heard as KJJC, “The Jock”); this one is carrying the Skylight network from KTIS 98.5 Minneapolis. KNIA 102.9 also made it in; albeit with a weak signal. The signal was too weak to see if the IBOC sidebands would wreak havoc with KEZK and KLOU. The major surprise of this opening was WLMG 101.9, noted off the back side of the antenna. The mentions of New Orleans, Kenner and AirTran Airways clinched it for me. It was the only FM in from south of Springfield, MO. The opening of May 11 included some new Missouri stations; I last heard KBMV 107.1 back in the 1980s from the old Lamplight Lane QTH. The reception of KBIY was the highlight of the opening; I pulled this one in through KBIA with ACI from KSIV 91.5.
The opening of May 14-16 netted two new stations on 95.9; WNLF (greetings, Jeff and Frank!) and WHOW. Semi-local WOLG was noted off the air at the time. I now have only one Columbia, MO station left to hear, after logging KWWC 90.5 with a Soft AC format (a tad softer than KPLA 101.5).  I also noted WDQZ 99.5 with Classic Hits; WDQX 102.3 (which I last heard as WFXF in August 1999) also made it in, but with some ACI from local KEZK 102.5. Only my second translator was logged at this location, with W205BC 88.9 relaying WYFG 91.1 Gaffney, SC with BBN programming. The third one followed nearly twenty-three hours later, with W203AN 88.5, relaying WAFR 88.3 Tupelo, MS. Also noted KJEZ 95.5 with WFUN having popped off for a few minutes, while KOKX 95.3 was noted just before noon local time coming out of Christian programming, simulcast with their AM (1310 kHz). The FM broke away from the AM to its regular Oldies format at the top of the hour.
The E-skip opening of May 22 was the first one of the season to reach into the FM band. The opening of May 10 only peaked at 37.3 MHz into Connecticut, while the opening on May 12 only reached VHF-TV Channel 4 into Arizona. The first surprise on the 5/22 opening was Spanish on 88.9, between locals on 88.7 and 89.1. A check of the Mexican government’s radio Web site showed XHLDO Nuevo Laredo. Also noted XHMLS 91.3 with talk mentioning Mexico; sounded like a statewide or nationwide talk program. KBNL 89.9 poked through KGNV with talk in Spanish; sounded Christian in nature. A station I thought was a Mexican rolled in with ads mentioning Tampico and Linares, but another one mentioning San Antonio was in that cluster; it was determined that it was definitely KROM. KJBZ 92.7 was noted in “Spanglish” (a dialect combining English and Spanish words and phrases, widely spoken in the Rio Grande Valley); the “Z-93” identifier was spoken in English. Finally noted some E-skip on 90.5 with KUT; the phrase “support for KUT comes from…” clinched it for me. Good going with a local on 90.7! Finally, XHSAB was noted with Spanish talk and Nortena music; tough copy with local KCFV nulled and through KEPX (with Christian programming in Spanish).
The E-skip event of May 26 was mainly a TV opening to the southwest; however, WIKX 92.9 was noted with a traffic report mentioning Interstate 75 before KGRC took over. KSCV 90.1 was noted for a call letter change; the last three letters of the call sign stand for “Springfield’s Christian Voice”. It is now part of the Bott Radio Network, a non-commercial satellite feed aired only on stations owned by Bott Broadcasting Company, including my locals KSIV 91.5 (and their sister station on 1320 kHz). I last caught this station as an affiliate of American Family Radio as KAKU.
731 stations have been logged at this QTH as of May 30, 2004. 73 and good DX, Eric (N0UIH)
 

William McGuire – Cheverly, MD

DX-398

4/6 Tr
1953 WXCY 103.7 MD Havre de Grace, ID by female
2140 WINX 94.3 MD St. Michael’s, k, local ad
4/19 Tr
0624 WLEV 100.7 PA Allentown, “Soft Rock 100”
4/22 Tr
2237 WTDK 107.1 MD Federalsburg, “The Duck”
4/26 Tr
2328 WOLC 102.5 MD Princess Anne, rel mx, “Joy 102.5”
5/6 Tr
2306 WICO 97.5 MD Salisbury, “Cat Country”
2329 WZBH 93.5 DE Georgetown, “The Beach”
5/7 Tr
0016 WOGL 98.1 PA Philadelphia, o, ID
0025 WGBG 98.5 DE Seaford, “Delmarva’s classic rock station,”
0054 WAAI 100.9 MD Hurlock, k, ID
0123 WAFL 97.7 DE Milford, “Eagle 97.7”
0130 WOCQ 103.9 MD Berlin, hiphop, “OC 104”
2025 WGRX 104.5 VA Falmouth, k, “Thunder 104.5”
2028 WTVR 98.1 VA Richmond, station promo, “Lite 98.1”
5/10 Tr
2300 WMGK 102.9 PA Philadelphia, “MGK”
2315 WSNI 104.5 PA Philadelphia, “Sunny 104.5”
5/11 Tr
0055 WPST 97.5 NJ Trenton, local ads, “PST”
0102 WWIN 95.9 MD Glen Burnie, “Unity through music, Magic 95.9,” ID
0108 WSTW 93.7 DE Wilmington, ID
5/14 Tr
0052 WZXL 100.7 NJ Wildwood, ID, “South Jersey’s Rock Station”
0100 WWFG 99.9 MD Ocean City, “Froggy 99.9,” local ad
5/23 Tr
0247 WNVZ 104.5 VA Norfolk, “Z-104”
2349 WWWV 97.5 VA Charlottesville, local ads, PSA, “3WV”
6/8 Tr
2150 WKJS 104.7 VA Crewe, promo, “Kiss 104.7”
6/9 Tr
2325 WGRX 104.5 VA Falmouth, k, “Thunder 104.5”
2355 WTVR 98.1 VA Richmond, ID, “Lite 98”

John Zondlo – Yukon, OK - CST – All new

Akai AT-VO4 tuner (modified w/2 110 filters), APS-9B antenna w/Channel Master 9521A rotor at 16’, Conrad RDS Manager

5/5 Tr
2137 KOBT 100.7 TX Winnie, SS, “Orbita”
5/6 Tr
0835 KSMB 94.5 LA Lafayette, calls
0915 KGRM 91.5 LA Grambling, interview with Grambling U president
1001 KLBQ 98.7 AR El Dorado, calls, r
1026 KIXB 103.3 AR El Dorado, k, local spots
1029 KMLK 101.5 AR El Dorado, urban
5/8 Tr
0937 KAYD 101.7 TX Silsbee, “Kay-D 101,” k
0953 KKPS 99.5 TX Brownsville, “K-Pasa,” SS
5/18 Tr
0948 KTOT 89.5 TX Spearman, High Plains Public Radio, j
1007 KPZA 103.7 NM Jal, spot for busn in Kermit TX
1015 KFLP 106.1 TX Floydada, calls
1018 KAMZ 103.5 TX Tahoka, “La Ley,” nortena
1040 KYMI 98.5 TX Los Ybanez, ment of Brownfield, SS
1047 KTUM 107.1 NM Tatum, local talk and “New Mexico in the Morning” from KRUI
5/19 Tr
0713 KATR 98.3 CO Otis, “Cat Country”
0736 KSPZ 92.9 CO Colorado Springs, traffic
0740 KILO 94.3 CO Colorado Springs, “Key-lo,”    nx
0744 KWGB 97.9 KS Colby, “K-97.9,” k
0807 KQSK 97.5 NE Chadron, k, local spots, “Double-Q  country”
0832 KKFM 98.1 CO Colorado Springs, sports
0900 KEPC 89.7 CO Colorado Springs, ID
0914 KFZX 102.1 TX Gardendale, calls
6/19 Es
1511 KBAZ 96.3 MT Hamilton, “The Blaze,” r
1520 KLTC 107.5 MT Superior, r, “Missoula’s Wild 107.5”
1523 KZOQ 100.1 MT Missoula, local spots
1525 KMSO 102.5 MT Missoula, r, “Mountain FM”
1535 KMCQ 104.5 OR The Dalles, “Q-104,” spot for festival in Stevenson WA
1550 KYWL 103.9 WA Spokane, spots for Foothills Mazda and Silverwood Water Park
1558 KGDN 101.3 WA Pasco, roundtable for Republican US House Candidates
1636 CKLJ 97.7 AB Olds, k, calls, “All hit country”
1650 KISC 98.1 WA Spokane, r, “Kiss 98.1,” literockkiss.com
2157 CFGW 94.1 SK Yorkton, “Fox FM,” local spot
2201 CKCK 94.5 SK Regina, classic r, “Rock 94”
6/20 Es
1550 WVYB 103.3 FL Holly Hill, local spots

From the Editor
     Looks like DX has been pretty meager in Southern FM DX land. Only one good day of Es here as of this writing. Still hoping for a few good openings to the northeast this year….lots of stations I haven’t heard up there.
     Hope to see many of you in Omaha at the end of this month for the WTFDA Convention. This one will be a treat for me, as it’s been 25 years since I’ve attended a club convention that I haven’t hosted. Omaha is a great central location, easily accessible to many club members. I know Mike and Matt have some great stuff planned. Hopefully we’ll have lots of DX to talk about.
     See y’all next month!

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