"JIMMY BUFFETT DX" BANDSCANS FROM CUBA, JAMAICA, and SOUTH FLORIDA Contents: Part 1: Cuba, 1997 by Jean Burnell Part 2: Cuba, 1996 by Jean Burnell Part 3: Cuba, 1994 by Jean Burnell Part 4: Jamaica, 1999 by Bob Foxworth Part 5: Florida, 1997 by Paul Zecchino Part 6: Florida Keys (Cubans), 2000 by Terry Krueger Part 7: Western Caribbean Cruise, 1998 by Jay Novello JEAN BURNELL'S CUBAN LOGS in three sections (1: 1997, 2: 1996, 3: 1994) *** PART 1: 1997 *** Hi Guys, I'm just back from a week of R&R in Cuba. Great holiday! My son was in the pool 6 hours per day. They had a beautiful beach, friendly people, good food, and only a 4-hour flight from H'fax. For us, it's easily the cheapest sunshine destination, and no fear of getting murdered in your bed. I ran a daytime bandscan a couple of days ago, and it's interesting that a number of stations have disappeared since we were last there (this was the same time and same place as a year ago). I taped some more local ID's - I think I've got most of them now. Once again I could not hear the Armed Forces stn on 1340, even during a stop-over at the airport in Santiago. As much as I hear complaints from US DXers re. Cuban QRM, it really is unbelievable how the Cuban stations get decimated by US stations at night. Local stations from Holguin that are SIO 555 during the day are inaudible/undecipherable after sunset. Isn't it curious that most of the Floridians that are heard in Cuba during the day are the SS ones....or are any stns in Miami left that b/cast in EE, hi!? A couple of obvious differences from last year were the ease with which Jamaica could be heard on 580 (last year all I heard hear was R. Monte Cristi from Dom. Rep.), the appearance of local R. Angulo on 1110, R. Revolucion from Palma Soriano was very strong on 1200, local R. Musical on 1010 is now R. Reloj, and R. Granma (1590) that was SIO 555 last year is off. I noted a Colombian audible all day on 1260 that was San Andres Island (I think this is a separate country on Merriman's list), but the other San Andres stations were inaudible. Here's the stuff in detail: Cuban Daytime Bandscan by Jean Burnell, St. John's, Newfoundland Guardalavaca, Province of Holguin, Cuba April 9-10, 1997 (checked during daytime only) Sony 2010, internal antenna Freq Station SIO Notes 530 R. Vision Cristiana TCA 555 540 R. Rebelde 444 550 R. Rebelde 242 RJR Montego Bay JMC 242 560 R. Rebelde 454 570 R. Reloj 454 580 RJR Galina JMC 444 unID in SS 222 * 590 R. Rebelde 455 600 R. Rebelde 311 transmitter problems 610.1 R. Rebelde 455 620 R. Rebelde 455 630 - 640 R. Progreso 422 buzz possibly transmitted 650 R. Rebelde 444 660 v. weak SS 670 v. weak SS 680 R. Rebelde 222 local noise 690 R. Progreso 344 700 - 710 R. Rebelde 555 720 - 730 - 740 R. Progreso 444 WWNZ Orlando FL 222 750 - 760 R. Reloj 444 770 - 780 - 790 WAXY South Miami FL 343 800 R. Rebelde 222 unID in SS 222 810 R. Progreso 344 820 R. Progreso 444 830 WACC Hialeah FL 830 840 "Dobleve" 242 850 WEAT West Palm Beach FL 333 R. Progreso 222 860 - 870 - 880 - 890 R. Progreso 444 900 R. Progreso 544 910 - 920 R. Reloj 354 930 R. Reloj 354 940 R. Reloj 433 WINZ Miami FL 422 950 R. Reloj 344 960 R. Reloj 344 970 - 980 R. Reloj 444 La Voz del Niquel 444 990 - 1000 - 1010 R. Reloj 455 but absent at other times 1020 - 1030 - 1040 R. Victoria 444 WYFX Boynton Beach FL 322 1050 R. Victoria 455 1060 - 1070 CMKS 244 1080 unID SS religion 244 1090 - 1100 R. Angulo 455 1110.1 R. Angulo 555 1120 - 1130.1 R. Angulo 353 1140 WQBA Miami FL 444 1150 R. Bayamo 444 1160 - 1170 - 1180 R. Rebelde 433 R. Marti Marathon FL 422 // ineffectively jammed 9825 1190 - 1200 R. Revolucion 444 1210 WCMQ Miami Springs FL 354 R. Revolucion 222 1220 - 1230 unID EE 242 carries Florida Marlins baseball 1240 ZNS2 Nassau BAH 444 1250 - 1260 Caracol HJHU CLM 243 1270 - 1280 - 1290 WBZT West Palm Beach FL 242 1300 R. Enciclopedia 333 poor audio unID EE talk 222 1310 - 1320 WLQY Hollywood FL? 243 Haitian programming 1330 - 1340 R. Banes 455 1350.9 R. Libertad 444 1360 WKAT Miami FL 344 1370 R. Cadena Agramonte 444 1380 R. Cadena Agramonte 344 1390 - 1400 - 1410 - 1420 - 1430 unID SS 242 1440 - 1450 unID SS 243 1460 - 1470 - 1480 - 1490 R. Mayari 555 1500 R. Enciclopedia 243 1510 - 1520 R. Baragua 242 1530 - 1540 ZNS1 Nassau BAH 555 1550 - 1560 WAGL Lancaster SC 444 1570 weak EE 1580 - 1590 - 1600 WPOM West Palm Beach FL 232 * unidentied SS stations are not R. Rebelde, R. Progreso or R. Reloj. Here are a few nighttime logs -- I hesitate to say "DX" because I suspect that these would be regularly heard at this location! No TA's heard this time. (Dates and times here are UTC.) 820.2 COLOMBIA R. Vigia (HJAD), 10 April, 0215 - Sports play-by-play "a travez de Todelar," ads; SIO 444 [JB-Cuba] 850 DOMINICAN REP. R. Clarin (HIAZ), Santiago, 10 April, 0205 - American League baseball play-by-play, Dominican ads, // 860 Santo Domingo; SIO 333 [JB-Cuba] 1010 COLOMBIA R. Reloj (HJOP), Barranquilla, 7 April, 0043 - LA dance mx, lots of "Radio Reloj" ID's; over the Cuban Radio Reloj, SIO 333 [JB-Cuba] 1050 MEXICO R. Pirata (XEQOO), Cancun, 7 April, 0200 - Disco mx, woman w/ ID. (Heard at other times with baseball play-by-play.) SIO 322 [JB-Cuba] 1130 DOMINICAN REP. R. Cadena de Noticias (HIRL), Santo Domingo, 7 April, 0152 - Lots of news, many ID's; SIO 444 [JB-Cuba] 1160 DOMINICAN REP. Radiolandia (HIBG), Santiago, 8 April, 0230 - Yankees baseball play-by-play, lots of ads for stores in Santiago, frequent ID's; SIO 343 [JB-Cuba] Best wishes.......Jean Jean Burnell, St. John's, NF at Guardalavaca, Cuba, Sony 2010 jburnell@plato.ucs.mun.ca This is a message from jburnell@morgan.ucs.mun.ca to hard-core-dx@rko.iki.fi list. To unsubscribe the list, send "unsubscribe hard-core-dx" in mail body to majordomo@rko.iki.fi. Cuban Daytime Bandscan by Jean Burnell, St. John's, Newfoundland jburnell@plato.ucs.mun.ca Guardalavaca, Province of Holguin, Cuba April 9-10, 1997 (*daytime only*) Sony 2010, internal antenna Freq Station SIO Notes 530 R. Vision Cristiana TCA 555 540 R. Rebelde 444 550 R. Rebelde 242 RJR Montego Bay JMC 242 560 R. Rebelde 454 570 R. Reloj 454 580 RJR Galina JMC 444 unID in SS 222 * 590 R. Rebelde 455 600 R. Rebelde 311 transmitter problems 610.1 R. Rebelde 455 620 R. Rebelde 455 630 - 640 R. Progreso 422 buzz, seems transmitted 650 R. Rebelde 444 660 v. weak SS 670 v. weak SS 680 R. Rebelde 222 local noise 690 R. Progreso 344 700 - 710 R. Rebelde 555 720 - 730 - 740 R. Progreso 444 WWNZ Orlando FL 222 750 - 760 R. Reloj 444 770 - 780 - 790 WAXY South Miami FL 343 800 R. Rebelde 222 unID in SS 222 810 R. Progreso 344 820 R. Progreso 444 830 WACC Hialeah FL 830 840 "Dobleve" 242 850 WEAT West Palm Beach FL 333 R. Progreso 222 860 - 870 - 880 - 890 R. Progreso 444 900 R. Progreso 544 910 - 920 R. Reloj 354 930 R. Reloj 354 940 R. Reloj 433 WINZ Miami FL 422 950 R. Reloj 344 960 R. Reloj 344 970 - 980 R. Reloj 444 La Voz del Niquel 444 990 - 1000 - 1010 R. Reloj 455 absent at other times 1020 - 1030 - 1040 R. Victoria 444 WYFX Boynton Beach FL 322 1050 R. Victoria 455 1060 - 1070 CMKS 244 1080 unID SS religion 244 1090 - 1100 R. Angulo 455 1110.1 R. Angulo 555 1120 - 1130.1 R. Angulo 353 1140 WQBA Miami FL 444 1150 R. Bayamo 444 1160 - 1170 - 1180 R. Rebelde 433 R. Marti Marathon FL 422 // ineffectively jammed 9825 1190 - 1200 R. Revolucion 444 1210 WCMQ Miami Springs FL 354 R. Revolucion 222 1220 - 1230 unID EE 242 carries Florida Marlins baseball 1240 ZNS2 Nassau BAH 444 1250 - 1260 Caracol HJHU CLM 243 1270 - 1280 - 1290 WBZT West Palm Beach FL 242 1300 R. Enciclopedia 333 poor audio unID EE talk 222 1310 - 1320 WLQY Hollywood FL? 243 Haitian programming 1330 - 1340 R. Banes 455 1350.9 R. Libertad 444 1360 WKAT Miami FL 344 1370 R. Cadena Agramonte 444 1380 R. Cadena Agramonte 344 1390 - 1400 - 1410 - 1420 - 1430 unID SS 242 1440 - 1450 unID SS 243 1460 - 1470 - 1480 - 1490 R. Mayari 555 1500 R. Enciclopedia 243 1510 - 1520 R. Baragua 242 1530 - 1540 ZNS1 Nassau BAH 555 1550 - 1560 WAGL Lancaster SC 444 1570 weak EE 1580 - 1590 - 1600 WPOM West Palm Beach FL 232 * unidentied SS stations are not R. Rebelde, R. Progreso or R. Reloj. There were a number of changes from the bandscan made at the same place and at the same time last year - 1010 R. Musical is now just R. Reloj, 1590 R. Granma is off the air, 1110 R. Angulo from Holgiun was off last year, is now on, same for R. Revolucion on 1200... Jean Burnell, St. John's, Newfoundland -- jburnell@plato.ucs.mun.ca *** PART 2: CUBA, 1996 BY JEAN BURNELL *** I was in Cuba a couple of weeks ago, and I had a great time at the beach! Between pina coladas I made some logs/observations, some of which may be useful! The MW band during daylight is dominated, of course, by many Cubans, but at night only the big network Cubans were clearly audible on their most local frequencies. Most channels yielded U.S. stations at night. Surprisingly, no Jamaicans were audible at night or during the day. ... Jean _____________ Jean Burnell near Guardalavaca, Province of Holguin, Cuba Sony 2010 with internal antenna (jburnell@kean.ucs.mun.ca) ------------------------------------------------ Dates and times UTC: Trans-Atlantic (trivial logs!) 1134t CROATIA Hrvatski R., Zadar, APR 9 0226 - Likely this w/ mellow pops but without ancmt between the tunes; SIO 333 1215 ENGLAND Virgin R. synchros, APR 9 0218 - Rock mx, but deep fades; SIO 332 1314 NORWAY NRK, Kvitsoy, APR 9 0214 - Jazz saxiphone, male ancr in Norwegian; SIO 344 1521 SAUDI ARABIA BSKSA, Duba, APR 13 0313 - Koran in the clear using USB, almost as strong as at home; SIO 344 Pan-American 810 BAHAMAS R. Bahamas (ZNS3), Freeport, APR 12 1211 - Bank ads, softball schedule, // 1540. Far below a R. Progreso outlet, SIO 322-1 930 MONTSERRAT R. Antilles, APR 11 0306-0331 - BBC WS pgms: nx then sports, Big Ben chimes at 0330; SIO 322. APR 12 0234-0239 - VOA newsmagazine pgm; SIO 432. In both instances QRM from R. Reloj. I've trying to hear this from NF for years, but local CJYQ is very tough! 1240 BAHAMAS R. Bahamas (ZNS2), Nassau, APR 12 1158-1203 - Baseball scores, wx for Bahamas, local anmts, nx from 1203, // 1540 at this time; SIO 333. APR 12 1359 - Religious song, long jingle/ID song at 1402, not // 1540; SIO 344 1340 COLOMBIA RCN stn, more than one possible site, APR 10 0220 - Sports play-by-play, mentioned "Cadena RCN" and was // 770 and 1400; SIO 222 1500 VENEZUELA R. Dos Mil, Cumana, APR 13 2336 - "Radio Dos Mil" ID, ads w/ prices in Bolivares; SIO 333 1570 DOMINICAN REP. R. Amanecer Internacional, Santo Domingo, APR 11 0055 - Choppy signal but dominated the freq w/ SS religion, ID at 0057; SIO 444-3 Only DR stn I could find. 1580 BELIZE VOA Relay, APR 12 0239-0245 - VOA in EE w/ newsmagazine; SIO 242 *********************** Jean Burnell at Guardalavaca, Province of Holguin, Cuba Equipment: Sony 2010 with internal antenna Daytime bandscan compiled 9 - 13 April, 1996 Freq Station Likely location SIO 532.0 R. Vision Cristiana South Caicos 555 540.0 R. Rebelde Sancti Spiritus 444 550.0 R. Rebelde/a Guantanamo 555 570.0 R. Reloj/b Pilon 452 580.0 R. Monte Cristi? ? (U.S. stn) 333 590.0 R. Rebelde/c Santa Clara 443 600.0 R. Rebelde Urbana Norris 555 610.0 R. Rebelde Bahia Honda? 232 620.0 R. Rebelde Moa 555 640.0 R. Progreso Las Tunas 555 650.0 R. Rebelde Santiago de Cuba 354 660.0 R. Progreso Santa Clara 242 680.0 R. Rebelde Ciego de Avila 253 690.0 R. Progreso/d Jovellanos 222 710.0 R. Rebelde Holguin 555 740.0 R. Progreso Sagua de Tamano 555 760.0 R. Reloj/e Las Mercedes 542 789.5 R. Reloj Pinar del Rio 544 800.0 R. Progreso/f Manzanillo 455 810.0 R. Progreso Guantanamo 232 810.0 R. Bahamas (ZNS3) Freeport 322 820.0 R. Progreso Contramaestre 355 840.0 "W" Santa Clara 344 850.0 R. Rebelde/g ? 222 890.0 R. Progreso/h ? 344 900.0 R. Progreso Cacocum 555 910.0 R. Cadena Agramonte Camaguey 233 920.0 R. Reloj Union de Reyes 252 930.0 R. Reloj Ciego de Avila 555 940.0 R. Reloj/i Holguin 544 940.0 WINZ Miami FL 322 950.0 R. Reloj Sancti Spiritus 243 980.0 R. Reloj/j Bayamo 222 1000.0 R. Musical Camaguey 253 1010.0 R. Musical Holguin 455 1024.0 CCR Grand Turk 455 1040.0 R. Victoria/k Puerto Padre 432 1040.0 WYFX Boynton Beach FL 432 1050.0 R. Victoria Las Tunas 555 1060.0 R. Victoria/l Amancio Rodriguez 343 1100.0 R. Angulo Banes 555 1110.2 unID/m SS weak 1120.0 R. Angulo Mayari 454 1130.7v R. Angulo Sagua de Tanamo 354 1140.0 R. Bayamo/n Media Luna 322 1140.0 WQBA Miami FL 433 1150.0 R. Bayamo Entronque Bueycito 444 1210.0 WCMQ Miami Spring FL 355 1230.0 WJNO West Palm Beach FL 352 1240.0 R. Bahamas (ZNS2) Nassau 344 1270.0 R. Reloj/o Camaguey 455 1300.0 R. Enciclopedia Las Tunas 544 1300.0 WFFG Marathon FL 322 1310.0 "W" Sagua la Grande 242 1320.0 R. Enciclopedia Santiago de Cuba 344 1340.0 R. Banes Banes 555 1350.0 R. Libertad Puerto Padre 555 1360.0 WKAT Miami FL 455 1370.0 R. Cadena Agramonte Nuevitas 555 1400.0 R. Cadena Agramonte Guaimaro 344 1400.0 WSGA Savannah GA 232 1450.0 WOCN Miami Beach FL 343 1490.0 R. Mayari Mayari 555 1500.0 R. Enciclopedia?/p Holguin? 242 1540.0 R. Bahamas (ZNS1)/q Nassau 555 1560.0 WAGL Lancaster SC 444 1560.0 WTAI Melbourne FL 222 1590.0 R. Granma Manzanillo 555 a a ca. 1 kHz tone seems to be broadcast, not a het b very poor audio, essentially unlistenable c gritty sound quality, only R. Reloj listed here in WRTH d QRM mainly locally generated electrical noise e Huge carrier, tinny signal, hum and tone f WRTH says this has been reported on 792 g under US stn, not listed in WRTH h not listed in WRTH but also noted back in Nov 1994 i QRM from WINZ j under another Cuban k slightly stronger than WYFX l bit muffled, heard IDing as "Radio Las Tunas" also m not // 1100, no sign of the R. Angulo from Holguin listed here in WRTH n under WQBA o muffled audio p muffled audio, it is hard to believe this very weak signal emanates from a nearby town q WRTH lists R. Juvenil in Holguin on 1540 kHz, which did not seem to be active. R. Bahamas makes this freq unusable in Cuba. ********************** Jean Burnell at airport of Puerto Plata, Dominican Rep. Equipment: Sony 2010 with internal antenna Daytime bandscan compiled 14 April, 1996, 1830-2000 UTC Freq Station/note/a Location Strength/5 532 R. Vision Cristiana South Caicos 5 540 unID, R. ABC? Santo Domingo? 2 560 R. Ritmos/b Santiago 4 580 unID in SS ? 2 590 R. Santa Maria La Vega 5 610 R. Accion/c Santiago 4 660 R. Quisqueyana Santiago 4 720 R. Norte Santiago 4 770 R. Aguila Santiago 4 820 R. Santiago Santiago 4 840 R. Isabel de Torres Puerto Plata 5 850 R. Clarin?/d,e Santiago 3 860 R. Clarin?/d Santo Domingo 2 870 R. La Vega La Vega 4 900 R. Puerto Plata Puerto Plata 5 930 Ondas del Yague Santiago 4 970 R. Olimpica/f La Vega 2 990 R. Cibao Santiago 2 1050 R. Hispaniola Santiago 3 1090 R. Amistad Santiago 3 1160 unID, Radiolandia? Santiago? 2 1190 R. Azul Santiago 4 1270 R. Vision/g Santo Domingo 3 1490 RTV Dominicana Puerto Plata 5 1540 R. Bahamas Nassau 2 a WRTH lists many more stations in Santiago, La Vega and, especially, Puerto Plata which I feel I would have heard if the stations had been active. I did check every 10 kHz-channel, and every one with discernable audio is noted here. b Disappeared (off air) 1927-1944, 1946-... c Open carrier at 1835, later with rock mx d 850 // 860. The only ID heard was garbled, but the station's name sounded like only one syllable, not the two syllables of "Clarin" e WRTH says this is inactive f IDed as "HIVP" without mention of "Radio Olimpica" g IDed as "Radio Hit" *** PART 3: CUBA, 1994 BY JEAN BURNELL *** Logs from: Jean Burnell (St. John's, Newfoundland) DXing at Varadero, Province of Matanzas, Cuba Equipment: Radio Shack DX-440 Times/dates: Eastern Languages: USA is EE except when specified; all others SS except when specified. Note regarding transmitter sites for Cuban network stations: rough bearings were taken (by turning the radio to effect a null). When the bearing and the signal strength are consistent with a site listed in WRTH then this is given and the place name is followed by *. (Correct bearings were noted for the USA stations.) When there is no listed station or the signal strength seems inconsistent with the listed site or was unable to effect a null (for whatever reason), no transmitter site is given. 535 TURKS & CAICOS R. Vision Cristiana, South Caicos NOV 7 1541 - Very weak preaching in SS. SIO 252 540 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMHV), Santi Spiritus* NOV 7 1528 - Phil Collins tune, SS talk, // 550. SIO 344 550 CUBA R. Rebelde, Pinar del Rio* NOV 7 1537 - Cuban mx, promo for Rebelde pgm called "Mision", then a song called "La Cucamarcha" (very clearly heard) with same tune as the familiar "La Cucaracha"... perhaps a SS pun, but it's over my head! QRM 1 kHz het, SIO 444 550 CUBA R. Reloj, NOV 7 1538 - pips and CW discerned under Rebelde, seems off freq by about 1 kHz. Not listed in WRTH. SIO 221 560 USA WQAM, Miami FL Nov 7 1544 - Sports talk, ad for Florida college football, ID: "Sports Radio 560, WQAM", and Bell South ad. SIO 555 570.1 CUBA R. Reloj, NOV 7 1553 - Nx, pips and ID. Transmitter hum and muffled audio. Seems much too strong and has wrong bearing for listed Pilon site. SIO 555 580 USA WDBL, Orlando NOV 12 2251 - Over SS stn, football results, then talk about Magic: "...Join us for the next Magic game right here on WDBL". SIO 333 581.9 unID NOV 7 1555 - Just a carrier, no audio discernible ... nor in the evenings. 590 USA WAFC, Clewiston FL NOV 7 1558 - SS religious pgm ending, slogan: "la energia musical esta en Radio Fiesta", legal ID at 1600: "This is WAFC, Clewiston, quinienta noventa, Radio Fiesta", nx to 1604:30 then slogan "Esta es la explosion musical de Radio Fiesta", salsa mx. SIO 254 597.9 unID NOV 7 1605 - Big het, no audio. 600 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMKV), Urbano Noris* NOV 13 0004 - Cuban salsa mx, //550. SIO 555 610 USA WIOD, Miami FL NOV 7 1606 - Telephone numbers including 1-800-944-WIOD, slogan: "News-talk radio 610, WIOD", talk pgm w/ Bill Hendry. SIO 544 when Rebelde nulled. 610 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMAN), Bahia Honda* NOV 7 1610 - LA ballad, // 550. SIO 544 when WIOD nulled. 610 CUBA R. Reloj (CMHI), Trinidad* NOV 7 1610 - Pips and CW discerned under Rebelde. SIO 221 620 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMGN), Colon* NOV 8 1608 - Promo for Rebelde pgm, talk about Hemingway, Richard Marx song. SIO 555 620 USA WSUN, St. Petersburg FL NOV 11 1357 - Rebelde seemed absent, just a huge carrier and this puny, but easily readable signal. Ads, promo for "Roseanne" and other pgms on "Channel 44", ID at 1400: "AM 620, WSUN St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, and the new home of Ron Ross (or Ron Ron?)" then wx and nx. SIO 244 640 CUBA R. Progreso (CMBC), Guanabacoa* NOV 8 1616 - Cuban pop mx. SIO 555 640 USA WLVJ, Royal Palm Beach FL NOV 8 1650 - In Progreso null: Mormon religious pgm asking for at least $20 donations, at 1659: "This is IBN, the International Broadcasting Network", excerpt from Dave Thomas' book, at 11700 woman ID'ed: "This is Elizabeth Roach, you're listening to WLVJ, Royal Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami". In Progreso null, SIO 333 650 USA WSM, Nashville TN NOV 11 2215 - C&W mx, ad for an inn "near Opryland". SIO 433 660 CUBA R. Progreso (CMHG), Santa Clara* NOV 8 1617 - Cuban pop mx, // 640. Splatter from 670, SIO 544 660 USA WFAN, New York NY NOV 12 2304 - Ad for insurance in New York state, sports post-game show. SS QRM, SIO 433 670 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMQ), Arroyo Arenas* NOV 8 1629 - Mx, stn hype, cultural nx, // 620. SIO 555 670 USA WWFE, Miami FL NOV 8 1631 - SS "Radio Fe" ID's, legal ID at 1632: "Radio Fe, WWFE, Miami, Florida" then nx read by Ricardo Quintana, and talk about Cuban problems. In Rebelde null, SIO 533 680 CUBA R. Progreso (CMHN), Cienfuegos* NOV 8 1636 - Cuban mx // 640. Rebelde QRM, SIO 433 680 CUBA R. Rebelde (CMJV), Ciego de Avila* NOV 8 1637 - Woman talking then Beatles' "Yesterday", // 620. Dominated by Progreso, SIO 332 690 CUBA R. Progreso, Jovellanos* NOV 8 1640 - Song about R. Progreso, the pgm's name is "Discoteca Popular". Very strong but with a buzzing noise. SIO 554 700 unID NOV 8 1644 - Very weak in EE, possibly C&W or religious mx. SIO 241 700 USA WLW, Cincinnati OH NOV 9 2129 - Ad for "EVB's Diamond Showroom", WLW ID at 2130. SIO 344 710 CUBA R. Rebelde, not nullable so 2 transmitters? NOV 8 1646 - Rebelde report from Cienfuegos. Over another SS stn, SIO 544 710 USA WAQI, Miami FL NOV 11 2220 - In Rebelde null, SS ads for cars, Cuban mx and health plan, ID as "Radio Mambi, la grande" then commentary by station owner. SIO 444 720 JAMAICA RJR, Kingston NOV 8 1702 - Nx in EE: Grenada reduces rum imports from Trinidad. Splatter from 710, SIO 243 740 CUBA R. Progreso (CMKP), Sagua de Tanamo* NOV 8 1722 - "Discoteca Popular" pgm, // 640. SIO 455 750 USA WSB, Altanta GA NOV 8 1723 - Wx "forecast for Atlanta area". SIO 344 750 VENEZUELA R. Caracas Radio (YVKS), Caracas NOV 8 1726 - Ad w/ prices in Bolivares, ad for Viasa airline, talk about Venezuelan armed forces. SIO 244 760 CUBA R. Reloj (CMCD), Guanabacoa* NOV 10 2129 - News, ID, pips. Noisy transmitter, SIO 433 760 USA WBDN, Brandon FL NOV 10 2133 - Freq is a real mess in Reloj null. A station faded up with this local promo/ID: "This is Jeff Brooks. Join me at 10 AM on Saturdays, right here on AM 760, WBDN", then national business talk pgm w/ caller from California. SIO 322 770 USA WABC, New York NY NOV 8 2200 - WABC nx. SIO 333 770 COLOMBIA RCN (HJJX), Bogota NOV 8 2201 - In WABC null, SS talk, "Radio RCN" ID at 2202. SIO 333 770 USA WWCN, North Fort Myers FL NOV 11 1401 - USA Radio Nx interspersed with ads, local ad at 1406: employee wanted for the "Geebles Report" , then at 1407: "You are tuned to the 'Geebles Report' on WWCN, AM 770, the real giant in talk radio". SIO 254 790 USA WAXY, South Miami FL NOV 8 2204 - New call cf. AM Switch V.62 No.5 - Telephone number given is 930-0790, mentioning Miami, then Buddy Holly song. In the evening QRM'ed by Reloj and an unID stn in SS, SIO 333 (but alone on the freq daytime, SIO 455). 790 CUBA R. Reloj (CMAQ), Pinar del Rio NOV 8 2206 - Nx w/ Reloj ticks, ID. SIO 233. Was right on frequency. 800 NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Trans-World R., Bonaire NOV 8 2210 - EE preaching. SIO 544 810 COLOMBIA CARACOL (HJCY), Bogota NOV 8 2213 - 2 men w/ news, Coca-Cola ad, CARACOL ID's. SIO 444 820 CUBA R. Ciudad de la Habana (CMCA), Santa Catalina* NOV 8 2226 - Guitar then piano mx, peculiar ID or pgm name at 2228 sounded like "Radio Soo-Ga" (or "Soo-Gar") with "98.7 FM y 820 AM, la Habana", pgm promos including for one at 11 PM called "Radio Luna". SIO 544. NOV 11 1421 - Mixed bag of music, talk about the events at the Faculty of Arts at the university, what's on at the cinemas. ID at 1431: "Radio Ciudad, 98.7 FM y 820 AM, La Habana". Then pgm "Aqui y Ahora" kicked off w/ quotes from Jose Mart. SIO 444 820 USA WBAP, Fort Worth TX NOV 8 2234 - "WBAP news" then interview with Texas senator. Under Cuban, SIO 222 820 USA WNZE, Largo FL NOV 12 1359 - New call cf. AM Switch V.62 No. 5 - In Cuban null, ID: "WNZE Largo, Tampa Bay, AM 820, the wins sports team", jingle: "All sports, all the time, the team" then the "20-20 Team Ticker latest sports news". SIO 444 830 USA WADU?, Norco LA? NOV 10 2141 - SS: LA mx, Central Time TC, many ID's as "Radio Monumental", mentioned "aqui en la ciudad historica de New Orleans" and later "aqui en el estado de Louisiana". Right direction for New Orleans. SIO 443 840 CUBA "W" (CMHW), Santa Clara* NOV 10 2152 - Man talking about a contest: address in Santa Clara for entries. QRM from WHAS, SIO 433. NOV 12 1404 - TC, contest about Cuban women, pgm "Carabana Musical". SIO 555 840 USA WHAS, Louisville KY NOV 10 2154 - "WHAS weather", Oxmore Toyota ad. In "W" null, SIO 433 850 JAMAICA RJR, Savanna-la-Mar NOV 11 2101 - Mess of weak signals, this one faded up w/ "Radio One" jingle then EE anmts of cancellations due to poor weather. SIO 222 860 USA WGUL, Dunedin FL NOV 11 2106 - ID for FM including: "Tampa Bay's music of your life station". SIO 433 860 MEXICO R. Chetumali?, (XECNN?), Cancun NOV 11 2111 - SS: wx for Mexico, status of water supplies. SIO 333. NOV 11, 2200 - In WGUL null, ID by woman sounded like: "Sintonize la frecuencia del estado de Quintana Roo en la frontera caribe de la Patria, Radio Chetumali, 860 kHz amplitud modulada con 5 mil watts de potencia", then talk by man. SIO 322 870 USA WWL, New Orleans LA NOV 11 2118 - Tom Licas Show, at least 6 ads in a row, promo for Saturday pgm "on WWL". SIO 333 880 CUBA R. Progreso (CMAF?), Pinar del Rio? NOV 11 2125 - Weather warnings for Tropical Storm Gordon, // 640. SIO 322 880 USA WCBS, New York NY NOV 11 2139 - Dominating freq with report from the "WCBS Weather Center". SIO 433 890 CUBA R. Progreso, NOV 12 1407 - Soap opera, // 640. Unlisted but strength and direction suggest this is either in province of La Habana or Pinar del Rio...perhaps the 30 kW outlet listed on 880 for Pinar del Rio is now here. SIO 555 900 unID NOV 12 2306 - Freq approximate, seems somewhat below 900, many hets -- SS: ad for "Teleguia", PSA for "la Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos", ad for "discos" w/ mx from "llano del norte". No time to get ID! SIO 333 910 CUBA R. Reloj (CMGL? - listed call same as 920), Bolondron* NOV 9 2204 - News with time ticks. SIO 544. NOV 12 1410 - News, time ticks. SIO 555 920 CUBA R. Reloj (CMGL? - listed call same as 910), Union de Reyes* NOV 9 2207 - "Boletin de la Noche" news, ID's, // 910. SIO 544. NOV 12 1413 - News. SIO 555 920 USA KYST, Texas City TX NOV 9 2210 - SS: in Reloj null w/ ID: "920, KYST, 920 Radio Alegria", then ads. SIO 343 930 CUBA R. Reloj (CMGB), Cardenas - No sign of this listed station from a nearby town. Checked NOV 9 2209 and NOV 12 1415. 940 USA WINZ, Miami FL NOV 9 2216 - Sports talk, ads including for Miami Hurricane football tickets, WINZ Info-line, ID: "This is Florida's news and sports station, Newsradio 940, Wins". SIO 544. NOV 12 1434 - Florida Gators football. SIO 455 950 CUBA R. Metropolitana (CMBL), Arroyo Arenas* NOV 12 1416 - As noted by Krueger a few months ago, this one has moved from 860 kHz - Lots of Cuban mx, few anmts until end of pgm at 1429. ID at 1430: "Transmite Radio Metropolitana, Ciudad de La Habana", then talk about Jose Marti. SIO 354 960 CUBA R. Enciclopedia (CMGF), Matanzas* NOV 9 2124 - Piano music, // 1270. SIO 444. NOV 12 1437 - Theme from "Around the World in 80 Days". SIO 555 980 CUBA COCO Periodico del Aire, Sapo* NOV 12 1440 - Baseball play-by-play Industriales versus Matanzas, mentioned "senal de la Coco" at 1445, pips quietly behind commentary at 1500, then ID about a minute later: "C-O-C-O, el Periodico del Aire". Transmitter hum, SIO 454 1000 COLOMBIA RCN (HJAQ), Cartagena NOV 9 2222 - SS: ads, "desde Plaza Cartagena"... "aqui en Cartagena", then talk about Miss Universe. SIO 544 1010 USA WBZ, Boston MA NOV 12 2300 - Legal ID, Boston wx, nx w/ Robert Ames. SIO 444 1040 USA WYFX, Boynton Beach FL NOV 9 1439 - "Foxy 1040" ID, soul music. SIO 344 1040 USA WMTX, Pinellas Park FL NOV 9 1452 - In WYFX null, "Rolanda" promo "on WFLA, channel 8", phone contest ("Which of the 7 dwarfs refuses to wash?"), Fleetwood Mac tune, ID at 1500: "You're listening to the best mix of today's hits and your all time favorites on 'Mix 96', Tampa Bay's best variety of music", jingle: "Mix 96, WMTX". SIO 243 1080 CUBA tent R. Cadena Habana (CMCH), Gines NOV 6 2159 - Cuban mx, man and woman with chat (no ID) until music resumed at 2204. SIO 333 1090 MEXICO Voz de Yucatan (XEFC), Merida NOV 6 2157 - Faded up with "XEFC estereo" ID. Long deep fades, SIO 332 1090 USA KAAY, Little Rock AR NOV 9 2225 - Preaching: "Shambock Revivals", at 2230 ID: "Working together and growing together, you and KAAY, 1090, Little Rock". SIO 444 1110 USA WBT, Charlotte NC NOV 9 2231 - Charlotte Hornets basketball. Over unID SS stn, SIO 444 1140 USA WQBA, Miami FL NOV 9 2159 - SS: TC, ad, ID's ("WQBA, la primera en noticias") then news by woman. QRM from tent WRVA and terrible locally generated buzzing noise, SIO 322 1180 CUBA R. Rebelde NOV 9 1413 - "Hooked on the Feeling", Rebelde ID at 1418, // 620. SIO 533 1180 CUBA R. Taino, Villa Maria NOV 9 2246 - Phil Collins song, // 1100. Very poor under R. Rebelde and R. Marti, SIO 222 1180 USA R. Marti, Marathon Key FL NOV 9 2251 - "Radio Marti" ID, Cuban news. Dominant signal on this freq, SIO 544 1190 USA WOEQ, Royal Palm Beach FL NOV 9 2253 - Creole: lots of ads for stores and a chiropractor in Palm Beach, Boynton Beach Boulevard, etc. "Legal" ID at 2300 had call letters in French only! QRM from tent WOWO, SIO 333 1200 USA WDCQ, Pine Island Center FL NOV 9 1511 - C&W tune, ads including Standard Brands Electronic in Naples and Ft. Myers, phone talk (call 1-800-694-1200) with caller from Ft. Myers. SIO 433 1210 USA WGMP, Philadelphia PA NOV 9 2059 - Sports talk, promo for CBS morning pgm, jingle ID at 2100, CBS news. SIO 322 1220 CUBA R. 26 (CMGY), Central Espana NOV 12 2355 - LA ballad, // 1240. SIO 344 1230 CUBA R. 26 (CMGJ), Union de Reyes* NOV 12 2357 - LA ballad, // 1240. SIO 344 1240 CUBA R. 26 (CMGW), Bolondron* NOV 9 2201 - Promo for local festival, contest about AIDS with address, telephone number for AIDS questions, "Radio 26" ID at 2209, Celine Dione song "Color de Amor". (Other Radio 26 outlets - see above - inaudible at night due to QRM.) SIO 544 1250 USA WDAE, Miami FL NOV 13 0001 - Found relaying their FM sister station: ID as "WUSA 1-oh-1, Tampa Bay's favorite station". SIO 333 1260 CUBA R. Rebelde, ??, Cuban salsa mx, // 550. SIO 344 1270 CUBA R. Enciclopedia (CMGF?), likely Varadero* NOV 9 2118 - Must be local, light orchestral music (Percy Faith), woman announcer every 2 songs. At 2159 ID: "CMVU Radio Enciclopedia, La Habana". WRTH lists CMGF Varadero on 1280...it's definitely not on 1280: I believe this is it on 1270. SIO 555 1280 USA? unID stn NOV 13 0007 - SS: ads or promos many times for "Copacabana" -- so often that I thought it may be the station name! Still doing it at 0031 recheck. Bearing suggests Florida's east coast. SIO 344 1290 CUBA R. Enciclopedia, NOV 10 0738 - Light mx, woman announcer, // 1270. SIO 454 1290 USA WBZT, West Palm Beach FL NOV 10 2102 - Ad, ABC nx, WBZT ID, ad for bowling. Over R. Enciclopedia at night, SIO 443 1300 USA WFFG, Marathon FL NOV 9 1338 - Promo for sports coverage in "Sports on the Rock" 7-9 AM, legal ID at 1400: "Keys Talk, 13 Hundred. Talk, sports and news from Marathon and the Florida Keys, we are WFFG, 13-hundred AM", then NBC nx. SIO 555 1340 CUBA R. Ciudad del Mar (CMHU), Palmira* NOV 9 1403 - Followed this for more than an hour without an ID. Baseball game between "conjuntos" from Matanzas and Cienfuegos. Bearing correct for Cienfuegos. SIO 354. NOV 12 1504 - Baseball play-by-play Juventud versus Cienfuegos from the "Estadio 5 de Septiembre". Woman's voice w/ ID inserted at 1505, and then the commentators mentioned the stn again 30 sec later. SIO 244 1360 USA WKAT, Miami FL NOV 9 0959 - SS ad for burglar alarms, ad for U. of Miami choir's CD, "Radio Paz" ID and legal ID: "WKAT, North Miami, Miami, Fort Lauderdale. Radio Paz programando la buena noticia a todo el sur de la Florida y el Caribe. Esta es su emisora". SIO 555 1380 USA unID stn NOV 13 0029 - Lot's of soul music, few anmts until 0029 then "You're right where you should be, 1380 the Touch". SIO 444 1390 CUBA R. Jaruco (CMBT), Jaruco* NOV 9 1024 - Salsa mx, program name or slogan seemed to be called "Radio de la Manana" -- really original -- echo anmts, "Radio Jaruco" ID at 1031 and local anmts. SIO 255 1400 R. Musical Nacional (CMGX), Matanzas* NOV 10 2156 - Classical piano, ID at 2201 as "CMBF Radio Musical Nacional" then opera pgm began. SIO 443 1420 CUBA R. Llanuda?, Colon* NOV 11 0832 - Pgm called "Buenos Dias Llanuda", mentioned a few times, talk about workers. WRTH calls this R. Llanuras but it sounded like Llanuda to me (and reception was excellent) SIO 455 1420 USA WRCG, Columbus GA NOV 11 2229 - Break in Jim Bohannon Show with ID: "WRCG Columbus, the valley's local news authority" and a message from the IRS. SIO 322 1450 USA WOCN, Miami Beach FL NOV 10 2204 - SS: In a mess w/ ID for pgm for Dominicans, ID, slogan: "La radio de todo los latinoamericanos". SIO 322. NOV 11 0756 - Promo for pgm "'Aqui Nicaragua' a travez de Union Radio, 1450". SIO 344 1470 CUBA R. Ciudad Bandera (CMGE), Cardenas* NOV 11 0827 - Anmts by man and woman, e.g. roadworks in Sta Marta de Varadero, "Hit Parade" contest, mention that the upcoming "boletin economico internacional" is simultaneously broadcast by R. Ciudad Bandera and R. Llanuras de Colon. (This was not true! See 1420), then at 0830 the pgm started. SIO 555 1500 USA WKIZ, Key West FL NOV 9 1006 - Pop song "Wendy", // 1600. Odd arrangement to have two AM stations in the same town with // program. SIO 454 1500 USA WTOP, Washington DC NOV 13 0020 - "WTOP news time 1220" then jewelry store ad. SIO 333 1510 USA WLAC, Nashville TN NOV 11 2131 - ID, PSA for National Kidney Assn. SIO 444 1530 USA WSAI, Cincinnati OH NOV 11 2133 - Engelbert Humperdink song, "1530 WSAI" ID, contest with Bob Hope CD to give away. SIO 444 1540 BAHAMAS R. Bahamas (ZNS1), Nassau NOV 9 1015 - Disco version of "Also Spracht Zarathustra". SIO 454. NOV 10 2110 - Mix of tunes, few anmts, distinctively accented announcer in EE. Over SS stn, SIO 444 1540 tent CANADA CHIN, Toronto NOV 9 2304 - No ID, but who else would have Indian film music here? SIO 222 1560 USA WQEW, New York NY NOV 9 2307 - "1560, WQEW" then Nat King Cole contest. SIO 244 1600 USA WKWF, Key West FL NOV 9 1002 - On the air, cf. AM Switch V.62 No. 5, relaying WKIZ - CBS nx, ads, tropical wx report (special watch on Tropical Storm Gordon), ID at 1006 as "WKIZ-AM stereo. The one to turn to for a song to sing along to.", // 1500. SIO 555 1600 USA WPOM, Riviera Beach FL NOV 9 2134 - Caught ID in WKWF null. QRM WKWF and at least 1 other US stn. Heard Creole here a few minutes later, not sure if this was WPOM or another... SIO 322 1610 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon NOV 9 2309 - Dr. Gene Scott rambling... SIO 333 *** PART 4: JAMAICAN BANDSCAN BY BOB FOXWORTH *** Jamaica Bandscan (1999) by Bob Foxworth, NRC, IRCA This is a daytime bandscan of signals heard from Ocho Rios, Jamaica during the week of 22 - 28 November 1999. All receptions, unless otherwise specified, are of normal daytime conditions and were taken 1000 - 1400 local time, some cases as late as 1600. Equipment was a Radio Shack DX-375 portable with enclosed short ferrite bar antenna, no modifications or external antennas, and were taken outside, on a beach. Due to the geography of the area, all arrival angles from the SE, S and through the SW to the W are blocked by hills reaching several hundred m height, within 1 to 3 km. As a result, the daytime dial is almost exclusively Cuban. This list includes a relative strength index (like the S of a SIO report) and a rough bearing estimate. The S scale ranges from s1 (just enough to detect audio but not well enough to ID language) to s2 (can ID language), s3 (can ID details), s4 (weak but usable), s5 (fair), s6 (decent), s7 (strong), s8 (nice full signal) to s9 (local quality). S8 and s9 are the only ranges that would be considered by me to be "commercial" quality. Bearings are approximate, and referenced by DFing Montego Bay (107 km by road to the west, a 2 hour drive) and assigning a value = 270 degrees, the actual bearing to the town centre appears closer to 275 but I don't know the xmtr location. I then used a circular protractor lying flat to set this point, and rotated the receiver case over it while listening with headphones, to avoid the problem of having others hear me listening to Cuban radio stations, which probably would not be a wise move. Combining this ref uncertainty with my procedural uncertainty leads me to believe the supplied bearings are probably no better than +/- 10 degrees. In addition, some signals seemed to vary a bit from day to day. By identifying Polaris one night to the N, I verified the approximate protractor accuracy with fixed visible distant landmarks. This survey is a result of several days' endeavor, as I was able to get time away from other more "touristy" pursuits. I made it a point to sample each frequency once, many I wanted to work further but never got back to. There were three lengthy logging episodes of about an hour to 2 each and a few other shorter followups. I wasted some good hourly breaks on Gitmo, looking for non-forthcoming local IDs, and chasing Cuban locals. I have a sense that the philosophy of many the easternmost stations is "we're here, you know we're here and we just don't need to bother with IDs because you know who we are." Lots of holiday talk starting up with such as "la reina de las dias de festivales sera en la plaza este noche", guest interviews, a good percentage on some stations of EG music e.g. Mamas and Papas, a decent variety of programming available. Some but by no means all stations had some truly nice local Cuban music but most of what I heard sounded recorded. Signal audio quality ranged from some quite good, most fair, a couple overmodulated, notably 1310 at times which actually splashed 1300 and 1320 sometimes. And the common syndrome of one station with good studio audio and others doing pickups or relays with noticeably deteriorated quality was evident. Very few signals seemed off frequency, but on a BFO-less receiver I could not be sure on those freqs where a single signal was present. Signals on 600, 700, 760, 1200 and 1310 were noted off the air, at least once, some twice, but hrd with audio other times. Where there are 2 signals, a SAH (Sub Audible Hetrodyne) describes the observed carrier difference in Hz. a detail of probably just academic interest except that it shows on balance the Cuban stations are doing a good job of frequency control. I did some night DXing, not much, and it's generally unremarkable, I did hear WSAA-620 well and WFLA-970 poorly in the evening once. The GY freqs sound much as they do from home except usually a few signals try to dominate, once in a while, atop the jumble. The north coast of Ja. is a fertile ground for researching radio in the Ote. and surrounding regions, and perhaps being far from el Maximo Lider in La Habana encourages a bit more expression of local programming sentiments. Use of proper DXing tools, and resisting the other attractions which take up so much time, such as visiting "Firefly" in Pt. Maria/Galina Point (playwright Noel Coward's Ja. home from 1948 until his passing in 1973, and now run as a museum by the Ja. National Heritage Trust), or the Columbus shipwreck site (1504) in St. Ann's Bay together with the Great Seville House, where many archaeological artifacts can be seen, would yield an impressive body of knowledge of the state of radio in Cuba, unlike this meager effort provided below....if feasible I would do this survey once from Negril and again from Pt. Antonio with a good sharp loop. 530 TCA s8 RV Chr. solid, clean deep null to 040, nothing underneath. Always in Sp. lang. 540 CUB s7 // 570, 600, null 320, weak mix underneath, non-ID,a messy freq 550 CUB s3 //570, 1 Hz SAH, null not clean, due to Ja. 550 JAM s2 null on 90-270 line 560 vacant, splash from 580 570 CUB s5 2 signals here, difficult to work due heavy 580 splash, maybe one Reloj from the west 580 JAM s9 ID variously as "Radio Jamaica" or "RJR", poor null but roughly 90-270 (re-radiation?) 590 CUB s1 unworkable due heavy splash 600 CUB s8 null 000, orchestral mx, only hrd once, otherwise off air, (Progreso?) 610 CUB s5 Reloj, null 300 610 CUB s3 unid mx, null 340, 400Hz het, was // 620 620 CUB s6 null 300, cl mx, // 600, very good audio 630 CUB s7 null 310, bad 500Hz het, unseparable audio 640 CUB s4 Progreso, can't null, 5Hz SAH, not //620, believe 2 TX here 650 CUB s6 null 010, at times // 620 Rebelde, another signal here, my notes not clear... 660 CUB s4 Progreso, 2 different signals, 3Hz SAH, one null at 300 670 CUB s7 null 290, // 600 680 CUB s4 // 600, null 310, poor audio 690 CUB s7 null 000, // 630, 10Hz SAH 700 JAM s8 null reference 270, // 580, slight telephone ground-loop hum on audio feed 700 CUB s5 null appx 000, in clean Ja. null, cont. "Acker Bilk" style mx, no ancts. hrd, a 20 Hz SAH 710 CUB s4 2 different, one w/talk+mx nulls 000, other // 670, neither was Miami 720 JAM s8 RJR // 700, null 160, nothing under 730 CUB s3 various mx, null 290, don't know if a chain (one of many un-revisited fqs. ) 740 vacant 750 CUB s7 // 710, null 300, alone, I don't think JAM active here, was once JBC Galina Pt. here 760 CUB s7 Reloj, null 330, once w/dead air, once off air, w/weak 400 Hz het 90/270 HTI? no audio 770 JAM s4 // 720, null 210, nothing under, maybe Cuba gov't protecting their Ja. neighbors here? 780 vacant 790 CUB s2 talk, believe Reloj 800 CUB s3 local px, (? but see 900), // 810, null 340 810 CUB s7 null 020, seems head of this chain, best audio 820 CUB s2 // 810 and forgot to note null dir. 830 CUB s7 Reloj, audio clear and good, null 000 840 CUB s8 Dobleve, another one s2, no good null, 5Hz SAH, I think multiple xmtrs for "W" here 850 CUB s4 // 810, null 330, a 15Hz SAH present but no good audio on 2nd sig 860 vacant 870 CUB s7 Reloj, null 300 880 CUB s3 Progreso, null 290 890 CUB s7 Progreso, null 000, was a very weak s2 local px under, unDF'ed 900 CUB s8 was // 810, null 350, was NOT //890, hrd ment. Progreso--do they have 2 feeds? 910 CUB s6 null 330, local mx, no // was traced, this needed more work! 920 CUB s8 null 340, was // 900 but audio just awful 930 CUB s8 Reloj, null 020, solid quality 940 CUB s4 Reloj, jumble of 2 other unIDs behind, think all were Cubans 950 CUB s2 Reloj, null 010, can't believe this the same one that rulez in Tampa at night 960 CUB s8 Reloj, null 030, another s2 signal in their null but not traced 970 vacant 980 unid s1 990 CUB s2 talk pgm, local, didn't note null, was // 1000 1000 CUB s3 null 320, a 10Hz SAH with unID signal 1010 CUB s2 null 000, untraced 1020 vacant 1030 vacant 1040 CUB s2 null 000, unid mx pgm 1050 --- s3 null 270, unid talk pgm, think Cuban but don't trust null, 4Hz SAH, doubt HTI 1060 CUB s5 unid mx pgm, null 330 1070 CUB s8 null 020, talk, sounded like local pgm 1080 CUB s3 null 300, mx pgm, tried hard for any sign of FF here (R. Commerce, HTI), no luck 1090 unid s1 1100 CUB s4 local mx pgm, null 000, was // 1110 1110 CUB s8 null 350, leader of this chain? // 1100 1120 CUB s6 null 300, another local mx pgm 1130 CUB s2 2 signals here, one is // 1120, hard to work with my poor rx 1140 CUB s6 talk, cl mx pgm, null 320, // 1150, 1160 1150 CUB s8 null 340, great audio, by far the best, wasted a lot of time trying to get an ID 1160 CUB s9 null 320, sounds like off-air relay of 1150, audio only fair 1170 unid s1 1180 CUB s8 Incredible, this fq sounds just like from Tampa! w/ mx/talk pgm, did not check to see if parallel anything, may be Rebelde, but wierd warbly characteristic on audio (is this "waterfall" jamming?) and could not null it, I think there are multiple Cuban xmtrs here and each does some kind of warbly jamming to its own signal, at one point, at 1630 LT, with them running mx, and partially nulled, I could detect a s2 Sp. talking with def. Marti IDs, my only US daytime log and it was quite difficult to pull out. Doesn't anyone else hear this audio? Sounds like aurora on VHF. Incidentally, the same thing on 6030 during middle of day with Marti 49mb believed off the air. 1190 CUB s8 "Radio Santi Spiritu" [not as "Sancti Spiritus"] null 320, // 1210 variety mx 1200 CUB s8 local mx pgm, null 020, ment. Santiago, no good IDs caught-- could use more work 1210 CUB s7 // 1190, null 320, null indicates reasonably close to 1190, why? 1210 CUB s7 different signal and pgm, same level, null 000, 20Hz SAH 1220 unid s1 null 330, no details logged 1230 unid s1 appeared to null 000, other time appeared vacant 1240 unid s1 no details logged, believed Cuban by audio traces, other time appeared vacant 1250 CUB s3 null 040, talk in SS, local px? 1260 vacant (all times tried) 1270 CUB s7 variety Cuban mx, null 330, had Reloj under at s5, did not note null dir. 1280 CUB s8 local mx, null 020, a 2 to 3 kHz het here! couldn't tell which side or from where 1290 unid s1 believed Cuban 1300 CUB s7 null 340, cl mx, mention Bayamo, 100Hz het 1310 CUB s8 local, variety mx, null 340, "R Santa Cruz" , noticieros municipales de radio, good IDer Hrd one day severely overmodulated and splashing badly, other time souded normaL. 1320 CUB s3 null 340, talk 1330 CUB s8 null 330, strictly Cuban local mx, few words, sank (wasted?) lots of time on this guy 1340 CUB s4 2 signals, 1 Hz SAH, best was USN/Guantanamo, steady NPR news in Eng., null 050, never hrd any local ID, only "National Public Radio World-wide on the Armed Forces Radio Network" and mx fill where any local cutaway would go, possibly never has any local news or IDs? 2nd signal, Sp. talk, at s2, no null obtained but seemed westward as faded when I peaked Gitmo. It is interesting, I can find no evidence the Cubans are trying to mask reception of this station, perhaps the bland programming is an explanation. 1350 unid s1 believed Cuban 1360 CUB s3 local mx pgm, null 340 1370 CUB s2 null 340, local mx group, think once was live in-studio, // 1380 and 1410 1380 CUB s2 null 330 variety 1390 vacant, all tries 1400 CUB s2 null 340, // 1410 1410 CUB s8 null 330, strong but poor audio, mentioned Bayamo, some (recorded) Eng. songs 1420 vacant 1430 unid s1 1440 CUB s2 null 340, talk 1450 CUB s5 One day, seemed null 340 w/local mx, another day ID hrd as Radio Amancio, null 300, why such difference on 1 signal? 1460 unid s1 1470 CUB s2 null 020, local mx Many of these weak local mx, I did not have time to check // 1480 CUB s3 null 330, mx 1490 unid s1 1500 CUB s7 null 020, wonderful ritmos but unID, scarce talk 1510 vacant 1520 CUB s7 null 010 more local mx but again no chance to try to link // but I doubt // to anyone else 1530 unid s1 1540 BAH s2 null 330 not hrd in midday, but only towards 1500 LT, talk determined as Eng., alone here but very weak 1550 vacant 1560 CUB s2 null 330 unID talk // 1570 1570 CUB s3 null 310 1580 vacant 1590 CUB s7 null 350, local mx, another attractive target to try to ID 1600 vacant x-band-- Vacant during day, after 1630LT, started to get faint 1660-1670-1680 only, traces of audio -------------------- FM band - local signals available in Ocho Rios: 89.5 "KLAS-FM 89" spoken as "kay-ell-ay-ess" and, not as "class", once said 89.4 but tuned cleanly on 89.5, sounds like a college stations in the US 91.5 "Fame-FM", rock mx 94.3 "RJR 94-FM" variety programming, semi-gov't style 100.3 "RJR radio-2 FM" lots of reggae, great stuff 101.5 "love-101" and co-promos "love-TV" religious/EZ-listening 102.1 "Hot-102" various lively mx pgms but has good news block at dinnertime 102.9 // 102.1 but weaker 105.1 IRIE-FM reggae, a popular station, saw their xmtr from a"robot" (unofficial) taxi, 2 dipoles on 40-foot pole 105.5 weaker // of IRIE 106.7 "Power 106 FM" rock and religious mx both heard 107.3 another // of 105.1 --------------------- TV signals I did a scan, once, with a hand held portable lcd-screen TV. One VHF signal, appeared to be on channel 7, for "CVM-TV" and nothing on UHF. Found out that this station was one of the six channels on the hotel cable system, the rest were sat networks like USA and HBO. CVM-TV carries just about everything, such as CBS shows like Walker Texas Ranger, lots of A&E stuff, carries Jennings ABC news at 1830 unless pre-empts for local stuff, like TeleFood-99, inserts locally produced ads, some of which are dreadful by our standards, constantly inserting one ad too many and rejoining news upcut, one day went to ABC 10 seconds early and saw the countdown leader to the news open, Jamaican people are wonderfully unbothered by such technical foibles...No Problem Mon! I checked the Gleaner, they list NO radio information on either MW or FM, just lists 3 TV channels, ITE, CVM and Love, and a large section on US cable networks so the sat dish business is live and well here. KRUEGER'S KOMMENTS ON BOB'S BANDSCAN Nice to read Robert Foxworths' Jamaica bandscan! The only thoughts (or maybe better yet just guesses) I can add are as follows: 890 Progreso; A National network. I have never heard a "second" feed. Could this have been Musical Nacional, or maybe something else new? Could "Progreso" have been just a random reference to "progress" or even a cross-reference to the Progreso network? Dunno. 950 Reloj; This Reloj channel is up there with 1180-Reloj and 640-Progreso with a local daytime signal in Clearwater. Not that there couldn't be another transmitter there, but suspect it's the same monsterous transmitter site. 1180 while I have not heard a jammer in years here (if you don't count the local level Rebelde transmitter) from Clearwater, or the Keys last June, as we all know they used to openly jam the VOA/Marti Marathon, FL transmitter on this frequency. Does the noise you hear sound the same as the 1140 sporadic eastern Cuba buzzer I have been hearing for weeks here now? (It's not the same as the digital jammers used by Cuba against Marti on shortwave, though.) 1190 "Santi Spiritu" is no doubt R Sancti Spiritus, the Provincial network. But you are not imagining things. I (and others) have noted that the ID is pronounced something like this, which can be attributed to the regional Cuban Spanish dialect. 1310 R Santa Cruz; no Santa Cruz on my list, but could this be the local Santa Cruz listed on 1410, or the (presumably same) local "R Santa Cruz del Sur" on 1460 discovered by David Crawford 7/98 and confirmed by Arnie Coro (RHC) on a new or even second/third frequency? 1330 R Portada de Libertad, Holguin?; for what it's worth, Jay Novello did definitely log it 1/98 while on a Caribbean cruise. 1450 R Amancio; could this be a new or renamed local? There is an Amancio, located a few miles inland from the south coast of Las Tunas province. Maybe ex-R Maboa on 1450? That location certainly could propagate well to Jamaica. I will try to inquire more on this. 1600 (vacant) somewhat surprised for years that at least a local hasn't been assigned to this channel. --------------------- Now the only truly scientific part of this haphazard survey: Receiver location: UTM: Z18 277484e 2036744n or 18 deg. 24.548 min. N, 077 deg. 06.388 min. W in case someone wants to calculate bearings to known Cuban sites before I get around to it. Permission granted for use/reprinting by others including NRC and IRCA in print or electronic media. *** PART 5: NON-US STATIONS HEARD DAYS IN FLORIDA (1997) - Paul Zecchino *** Daytime Bandscan of non-US stations: made from Manasota Key, FL by Paul Zecchino (1997) Bahamas: 810 Cuba: 550, 570 (mix WHNZ), 590 (mix WAFL/WGNE), 600 (mix WVOG), 620 (mix WSUM), 630, 640 (mix WLVJ), 660 (mix WORL), 670 (mix WWFE), 690, 710 (mix WAQI), 730 (mix WWTK), 760 (mix WBDN), 790 (mix WMRZ/WLBE), 820 (mix WRFA), 840 (mix WPGS), 850 (mix possible Jamaica), 870 (mix WWL), 880, 890, 910 (mix WFNS), 920 (mix WMEL), 940 (mix WINZ), 950 (mix WOMX), 960 (mix WJCM), 980 (mix WRNE/WWNN), 990 (mix WHOO), 1000 (2 stn's, mix WMLZ), 1020, 1030 (mix WONQ), 1080 (mix WFIV), 1090 (2 stn's), 1100, 1120, 1140 (mix WQBA), 1160, 1180, 1200 (2 stn's), 1210 (mix WCMQ), 1220, 1230, 1240 (mix WINK), 1260 (mix WSUA/WFTW), 1270 (o/ unID US), 1290, 1310, 1320 (mix WAMR), 1330, 1340 (mix WTAN/WITS), 1350 (mix WCRM), 1390 (mix WROA), 1400, 1490, 1540 Jamaica: 700, 750, 850 (t) (mix Cuba) Mexico: 860 (XECCN; mix WGUL), 1050 (XEQOO o/ unID US) *** PART 6: CUBANS HEARD DAYTIME FROM FLORIDA KEYS (2000) by TERRY KRUEGER *** CUBA BANDSCAN The below bandscan was conducted from 10:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (1445-1745 GMT) on June 20th from Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, near the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (CIA) monitoring site. Equipment used: RadioShack DX-399 digital portable coupled to a RadioShack 15-1853 non-active mini loop. The Sony car radio was used a couple of times to confirm parallels. Once again, a green picnic bench was deployed. New finds were Radio Ciudad Bandera (a Cuban "Local") on 1140 -- where lots of other strange happenings have been taking place recently -- in parallel to their traditionally sole frequency of 1470. Also "new" is Dobleve programming on 1110. Notably absent were a few normally active big transmiters (550, 560, 880), maybe saving power for the sugar refineries this day. Thankfully, the Elian coverage has all but vanished, allowing for the confirmation of station ID's, affiliations and parallels with ease. Most (but not all) stations continue to accept the "Noticias Nacional de Radio" 30 minute news feed from 1 p.m. local. 540 R Rebelde 550 R Rebelde (not audible or active) 560 R Rebelde (not audible or active) 570 R Reloj, huge signal 590 R Musical Nacional, huge signal 600 R Rebelde 610 R Rebelde (threshold under WIOD) 620 R Rebelde 630 R Progreso 640 R Progreso 652+/- same carrier as heard in Clearwater, an unmodulated R Sandino? 660 R Progreso 670 R Rebelde, atop the domestic Spanish 680 R Rebelde, mixing with Progreso 680 R Progreso, mixing with Rebelde 690 R Progreso, seriously overmodulated 710 R Rebelde, mixing with the domestic Spanish 730 R Progeso 750 R Progreso 760 R Reloj 800 R Progreso 820 R Ciudad de la Habana 840 Dobleve 850 R Reloj 870 R Reloj, weakly under the Key West TIS 880 R Progreso (not audible or active) 890 R Progreso 910 R Metropolitana 930 R Reloj 940 R Reloj, no trace of malfunctioning or jamming transmitter 950 R Reloj 960 R Reloj, weak under Enciclopedia 960 R Enciclopedia 980 COCO 990 R Guama 1000 R Guama 1020 R Guama 1030 R Musical Nacional, clscl mx // 590 and no trace of Guama 1080 R Cadena Habana, "Esta es R Cadena Habana, la frecuencia popular" 1090 R Cadena Habana, looping more westerly than 1080 1100 R Cadena Habana, strongest of the four 1110 Dobleve, NEW huge 60 cycle blob, didn't ID till much later when audio was up, // 840 1120 R Cadena Habana 1140 jammer, loud and atop targeted WQBA 1140 R Ciudad Bandera, NEW and loud in tight null of the jammer and WQBA, // 1470 - canned ID by W before and after "Noticiero Nacional de Radio" as "R Ciudad Bandera, Desde Cardenas, Cuba." 1160/1170 spatter from R Marti, Marathon 1180 R Rebelde, under R Marti 1190 splatter from R Marti 1200 weak Spanish, unable to ID 1210 weak Spanish under domestic R Unica and I don't think // 1200 1220 R Veinte y seis 1230 R Viente y seis 1240 R Viente y seis, all three with really tinny, sloppy, telco-ish audio 1250 R Caibarien 1260 R Enciclopedia, strong but with weird buzzing audio 1270 R Enciclopedia, clever Muzak version of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (but does life go on?) 1290 R Taino, strong 1290 Dobleve, weak under Taino 1310 Dobleve 1310 R Enciclopedia, under Dobleve 1330 R Jaruco, huge overmod signal but no trace of 1390 parallel 1340 R Ciudad del Mar 1350 R Ciudad del Mar, weaker than 1340, running novella 1380 R Cadena Agramonte, songs by NG la Banda and Jose Jose, under Tampa's "Radio Disney" signal 1390 R Jaruco, not active at least today, but 1330 was 1400 R Musical Nacional, poor, //590 1420 R Llanuras 1430 R Surco, fair when the domestic Spanish Christian was nulled 1440 R Surco, // 1430 1450 R Guines 1460 R Santa Cruz del Sur, fair w/ merengue, live M&W and ID 1490 R Camoa, good with nice traditional folk songs 1540 R Sagua, strong with ZNS-1 in very tight null=20 5025 R Rebelde, fair at 1 p.m. with "Noticero Nacional de Radio," not SSB as recently reported, at least not now 96.7 MHz R Rebelde, stereo and fair, still the only Cuban FMer I can hear despite extensive scans. Suspect most are not active, and those that are are well under 1 kW. [Terry Krueger in Tocabaga DX #53] *** PART 7: JAY NOVELLO'S 1998 W. CARIBBEAN CRUISE *** Jay Novello (with help and support from Marie) - Wake Forest, NC - rec.radio.cruise We spent a week at the beginning of 1998 cruising the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean's "Enchantment of the Seas". The cruise left from the Port of Miami, took us to Cozumel on the eastern coast of Mexico, then to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and to Georgetown, Grand Cayman, then returned to Miami. Since this trip offered the appealing idea of a mobile location from which to monitor local radio, I took along a collection of receiving and recording equipment and attempted a survey of the local and regional radio audible in that part of the world. There were more than enough signals present on both AM and FM to keep me busy during the time I wasn't otherwise occupied; in fact, I doubt I would have had a chance to ID all the Mexican and (especially) Cuban stations if I had twice as much free time. One problem became evident immediately upon boarding the ship: the thing is one giant QRM factory. Almost every light bulb on board is a small flourescent device, which throws a racket on the MW band when in proximity; even worse, however, is the fact that these lights feed noise back into the AC line. As a result, MW is almost completely obliterated by noise when attempting to power the receiver with an AC adapter, and I wound up using batteries the entire time. In fact, the noise radiating from the AC lines is at such a level that listening inside the passenger cabins is mostly fruitless; careful positioning of the radio in the center of the room's window will bring in locals and stronger stations at night. Monitoring from the outside decks on floors 4, 5 and 10 were quickly ruled out since they only offered a view toward one side or the other, and the overhead ceiling not only contained power lines but blocked signals as well. After considerable searching, we found the best monitoring location to be on the 11th floor observation deck, at the highest and nearly most forward public space on board. The sky was open overhead and on both sides, and there were no walls containing power lines in the vicinity. There was one annoying problem even with this deck; it was in the field of a couple of rotating direction-finding devices at the highest point on the ship, which would cause a brief QRM sweep every 2 1/2 seconds. I learned to live with this noise, though, and on the two occasions when the ship was actually docked at a port of call, these devices were turned off. I had originally intended to concentrate on taping music from the local and regional Cuban MW stations, to prepare a sequel to the Cuban Music page I put together a few years ago (http://itre.ncsu.edu/music/cuban-music.html). I took some reference material along since I planned on doing a bandscan, too. Well, it struck me a little too late into the trip that it might be fun to try to tape as many ID's from those same Cuban stations and use them to "illustrate" the bandscan. The bandscan appears with the samples I've done to date at http://itre.ncsu.edu/radio/cruise/. I regret not approaching this with a little more discipline, since I found out on the last day at sea that I could hear just about any of the small Cuban stations in the vicinity with some careful targeting, tuning and nulling. That's OK with me, though; it's an excuse to go back. The equipment used included an aging and travel-battered Sony ICF-2010, a GE SuperRadio III, and an Aiwa recording cassette personal stereo, fed with an attenuating patch cord; and a Sony ICF-1000T cassette/receiver, given a boost by a Kiwa Pocket Loop. I have mixed feelings about the 1000T; it's well-built and sounds fine with headphones. It is quite selective and the synchronous detector does a good job dealing with adjacent channel QRM. However, it would benefit greatly from a wider bandwidth on AM, and the frequency response of its built-in cassette recorder could be better on the high end. In addition, its sensitivity leaves a little to be desired; it seems to have good dynamic range, though, and can handle strong signal input without overloading. The Kiwa Pocket Loop is an excellent match, especially when patched directly into the AM antenna input. In addition, this combination provided considerable rejection of the broad-banded direction-finding QRM. Between the two recording devices, I filled 32 C-90's with music and ID's. The loggings below each carry a designation with the date and general location of reception. Here are some details of those locations: MIA 1/3 - Inside a hotel in downtown Miami. at sea 1/4 - Cruising along the upper Florida Keys in the evening. The ship left Miami at 1700 local. at sea 1/5 - Cruising westward along the coast of northwestern Cuba; provinces of La Habana, Ciudad de la Habana, and Pinar del Rio nearby. Cozumel 1/6 - In port at Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Local stations were the ones in Cozumel, Cancun and Chetumal. at sea 1/7 - Cruising eastward roughly along the 19th parallel between Cozumel and Jamaica, skirting the Cayman Islands, with a clear shot to the Cuban provinces of La Habana, Matanzas, and Cienfuegos. JA 1/8 - In port at Ocho Rios, Jamaica, mostly taping local FM, but also near Cuba's provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba. Caymans 1/9 - Anchored off Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Best chance at Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, and Camaguey. At sea 1/10 - Cruising back around the westernmost part of Cuba. MIA 1/11 - Back in port in Miami, and monitoring from the airport in Fort Lauderdale. The bandscan -- All times local (EST) 530 TURKS AND CAICOS R Vision Cristiana, North End; usual stuff (at sea 1/3) 550 CUBA: R Rebelde, Pinar del Rio, PR and others; //96.7, audio sounded like STL mistuned (at sea 1/5) JAMAICA: RJR Montego Bay, with "Family Counselors" callin show 0930 (at sea 1/7) 560 USA: WQAM Miami, pro football game (MIA 1/3) CUBA: R Rebelde, unknown site (JA 1/8) 570 CUBA: R Reloj, Pilon, GR (?); very strong at sea 1/7, also (at sea 1/4) USA: WHNZ, Pinellas Park FL, "570 WINS" nx format (at sea 1/5) 580 JAMAICA: RJR Galina, //550 (at sea 1/7) 590 USA: WAFC Clewiston FL, "Radio Fiesta" Mexican ranchera stuff (MIA 1/3) CUBA: R Rebelde, Santa Clara VC; this channel noted playing classical mx 1030 not // to 550, 710, 96.7, etc; does not carry "Noticiero Nacional de Radio" at 1300. Heard a nice program of Isaac Albeniz piano compositions. (at sea 1/5) 600 CUBA: R Rebelde, Urbano Noris HO; playing Bee Gees "Words", strong signal (at sea 1/7) 610 USA: WIOD Miami, "NewsRadio 610" (MIA 1/3) 620 USA: WSUN St Petersburg, 1000 relaying TV nxcast (at sea 1/5) CUBA: R Rebelde, Colon, MA (JA 1/8) 640 CUBA: R Progreso, Guanabacoa, HA; beautiful daytime signal (MIA 1/3) USA: WLVJ, Royal Palm Beach-Ft Lauderdale-Miami, "Family Value Radio" blowing away R Progreso in the evenings with PT Christian preaching (MIA 1/3) 650 CUBA: R Sandino, Pinar del Rio, PR; already on at 1700, so not "2300-0300" as in WRTH 98; nice signal in Rebelde null. Likes to semi-ID as "Super Onda". (at sea 1/5) Election stuff, ID 1600 (at sea 1/10) CUBA: R Rebelde, much stronger signal than either 1 kW xmtr in WRTH would suggest, but heard when in Ocho Rios so I suppose this could plausibly be the Santiago de Cuba or Media Luna, GR site. (JA 1/8) 670 USA: WWFE Hialeah, "La Fe", but Greek music heard Saturday at 1815 with lots of "Kyprios" mentions, numerous ads for White's Chapel Lane (?) (MIA 1/3) CUBA: R Rebelde, Arroyo Arenas, CH (at sea 1/5) 680 CUBA: R Progreso, Ciego de Avila, CA (at sea 1/7) 690 CUBA: R Progreso, Jovellanos, MA (at sea 1/4 nighttime) 700 CUBA: R Enciclopedia, Guantanamo, GU (? - only 1 kW in WRTH); no ID heard 1700, but format fits: all instrumental mx, announced by woman (JA 1/8) 710 USA: WAQI Miami, Cuban exile programming (MIA 1/3) CUBA: R Rebelde, La Julia HA and probably others; strong (at sea 1/7) 720 JAMAICA: RJR (JA 1/8) 730 CUBA: R Progreso, La Fe, IJ (at sea 1/5 and 1/7) 740 MEXICO: XEPET Peto, Yucatan, possibly the one with program about "la botana" (?), ads for Coke, Wal-Mart and Cerveza Iron Cross, prices in pesos, semi-ID'ing as "Radio Formula Cadena Nacional". (at sea 1/5) 750 USA: WSB Atlanta (at sea 1/4 nighttime) CUBA: R Rebelde, WRTH 98 lists only 1 kW from Trinidad, SS here; strong daytime (at sea 1/7) 760 CUBA: R Reloj, Guanabacoa HA (at sea 1/7) 770 USA: unID FL talk station with "Florida Forum" (at sea 1/5) JAMAICA: RJR, Spur Tree JA (at sea 1/7) COLOMBIA: RCN Bogota (at sea 1/7 nighttime) 790 CUBA: R Reloj, Pinar del Rio PR (at sea 1/5) 800 CUBA: R Progreso, Manzanillo GR listed in WRTH as as 1 kW, strong (at sea 1/5) 810 MEXICO: XERB, Sol Stereo, Cozumel QR, Ace Hardware and building supply ads, // 89.9, gives calls and 810 AM in occasional canned IDs. (Cozumel 1/6) 820 CUBA: R Ciudad de la Habana, Santa Catalina, CH; announcing 94.? FM and 820 AM. Airs "Noticiero Nacional de Radio" 1300, // to just about every other Cuban station except R Reloj, R Enciclopedia and the 590 Rebelde outlet. (at sea 1/4) Symphonic mx 1400, no ID (at sea 1/10) USA: WZTM, Largo FL, "Sports Radio 820 The Bay" (at sea 1/5) 830 unID with Palabra de Dios stuff (at sea 1/4 nighttime) 840 CUBA: Dobleve, Santa Clara, VC (MIA 1/4 and at sea 1/5) ID 1600 (at sea 1/10) USA: WHAS, Louisville KY (at sea 1/4 nighttime) 850 USA: presumed WEAT, West Palm Beach FL, "850 News Radio". No real ID heard (MIA 1/4) CUBA: R Reloj, unknown site (at sea 1/5) CUBA: R Progreso, Baracoa, GU (at sea 1/7) 859.9 MEXICO: XECTL, R Chetumal, Chetumal QR, surprised to hear this with baladas instead of Cancun local, mentioning "Cadena Radio Tucuman" (?) (Cozumel 1/6) 860 MEXICO: XECCM, R Caribe, Cancun QR, lots of "Turquesa" mentions, ID 1108 with mentions of 5 kW, "La Mexicana", and "Instituto Quintanarooense de Comunicaciones Social". (at sea 1/10) 870 CUBA: R Reloj, unknown site (at sea 1/7) 880 CUBA: R Progreso, Pinar del Rio PR (at sea 1/7) USA: WCBS, New York (at sea 1/4 nighttime) 890 CUBA: R Progreso, Santiago de Cuba, SC with Top 20 countdown in progress 1015 Saturday; DJ would play the record at each position from the national chart, then the international chart. Location as listed in multiple recent AMDXNF loggings, but seems a bit far afield for daytime reception in Miami. (MIA 1/4) 900 USA: unID domestic, white Christian preacher, weak downtown (MIA 1/4) 910 CUBA: R Metropolitana, Arroyo Arenas CH; DJ tele-talk, IDs 1520 and 1530, strong (at sea 1/10) 930 CUBA: R Reloj, Las Tunas LT (at sea 1/4 nighttime and 1/7) 940 USA: WINZ, local yak, Tylenol ads, traffic, weather, "Super Talk" (MIA 1/4) CUBA: R Progreso, Holguin HO? No Reloj heard here (at sea 1/7) 950 CUBA: R Reloj, Sancti Spiritus SS? strong, can't believe 1 kW as in WRTH (at sea 1/5) 960 CUBA: R Reloj, Guantanamo GU (at sea 1/7) unID Mexican 970 USA: WFLA Tampa, tele-talk (at sea 1/10) 980 USA: WHSR Pompano Beach, ID assumed, brokered ethnic programming. Heard program called "Jewish Talk Radio" ending 1000, followed by dead air, no ID, standard disclaimer, and into Italian program. Fair in WFBA splash. (MIA 1/4) CUBA: COCO/CMCK "El Periodico del Aire", Sapo, CH; promo giving station address; formal ID 1500, announced // 91.7 (at sea 1/10) 990 USA: WFBA Miami, R Aeropuerto Musical, mostly instrumental, lounge versions of Cuban standards, and fifties Orquestra stuff; multiple versions of "Perfidia", "Piel Canela", etc; heard a couple of vocal cuts in Portuguese by Brazilian singer Simone; occasional female group singing ID, terse male canned ID at the top of each hour simply "WFBA, 990 kHz, Miami". No ads heard in almost four hours of listening. (MIA 1/3 and 1/11) CUBA: R Guama, unknown site; strong daytime (at sea 1/5 and 1/10) 1000 CUBA: R Guama, Los Palacios PR; strong daytime (at sea 1/5 and 1/10) 1010 CUBA: R Reloj, no Guama heard here (Caymans 1/9) 1020 CUBA: R Guama, Bahia Honda PR; strong daytime (at sea 1/5 and 1/10) 1030 CUBA: R Guama, La Palma PR; weak daytime, both this and 1020 listed as 1 kW in WRTH (at sea 1/5) 1050 MEXICO: XEQOO, R Pirata, Cancun QR, pop mx - strong all over Western Caribbean. // much weaker 90.7, only heard at Cozumel. In retrospect, I'm surprised I didn't come across R Victoria here or in the vicinity. (at sea 1/5 and subsequent days) 1070 CUBA: R Guama, Pinar del Rio, PR election promo then novela 1130 (at sea 1/7) 1635 Pablo Milanes "Sandra", Grupo Irakere "Rucu Rucu a Santa Clara" (Caymans 1/9) 1080 CUBA: R Cadena Habana "La Frecuencia Popular", Guines, HA; talk, strong (at sea 1/7) USA: WVCG Coral Gables FL, 1430-1530 Greek mx program annced in Greek and English (MIA 1/11) 1090 CUBA: R Guama, Santa Lucia PR; nice Isaac Delgado son, short nx 1037 followed by ID 1040, very strong (at sea 1/10) 1100 CUBA: R Cadena Habana, unknown site; weak (at sea 1/7) MEXICO: XECAM, R Mundo Maya Turquesa, Cancun QR (not listed in WRTH 98), musica romantica, ID 0929 (at sea 1/10) 1110 CUBA: R Angulo, Holguin HO; excellent big band rumba music, ID 1200 (at sea 1/7) USA: unID domestic, white Christian preacher (at sea 1/10) 1120 CUBA: R Cadena Habana, Artemisa, HA; informal ID 1400 (at sea 1/10) 1140 CUBA: R Bayamo, Media Luna GR; baladas, 1150 better (at sea 1/7) USA: WQBA, Miami (at sea 1/10) 1150 CUBA: R Bayamo, Entronque Bueycito GR; // weaker 1140; nice ID 1200 (at sea 1/7) 1170 COLOMBIA: Caracol Colombia, Cartagena (at sea 1/5 night) USA: WAVS Davie-Ft Lauderdale-Miami with Hindi film mx 0915, 1531 with Soca and Reggae Mx news, Caribbean restaurant and grocery store ad string, "South Florida's Only Full-time Caribbean Radio Station" (MIA 1/11) 1180 USA: R Marti, Marathon FL (at sea 1/5) 1190 CUBA: R Sancti Spritus, Yaguajay SS; live sports event 1220; ID 1230 and into local mx (at sea 1/7) 1200 CUBA: R Revolucion, Palma Soriano SC; heard ID but missed taping it, nuts. Election promo, ending with "La Radio Cubana en servicio de nuestra pueblo". (JA 1/8) CUBA: R Ariguanabo, San Antonio de los Banos, HA; hour-long sports show starting 1600 with IDs in passing and occasional music. FM'ing audio getting progressively worse during hour; field reports from various sports events, finally a formal ID 1700 (at sea 1/10) 1205 CAYMAN ISLANDS: R Cayman, nice singing ID 1215 but then "Midday Meditation" (at sea 1/7) 1210 CUBA: R Sancti Spritus, Sancti Spiritus ss; live sports event 1220 (at sea 1/7) 1220 CUBA: R 26, Central Espana MA; presumed, no ID heard (at sea 1/7) 1230 CUBA: R 26, Union de Reyes MA; presumed, no ID heard; "Noticiero Nacional de Radio" 1300, but off 1330 recheck. Apparantly didn't check 1220 at this time. (at sea 1/7) 1260 CUBA: R Enciclopedia, unknown site, //1410 (at sea 1/10) USA?: weak Caracol (at sea 1/5 nighttime but also 1/7 daytime) probably WSUA Miami, as heard with "Caracol Miami" non-ids 1000 (MIA 1/11) 1270 CUBA: R Caribe, Nueva Gerona IJ; strong with lots of talk about Camaguey, live event. Also noted with music program and lots of "desde Caribe" dropins, which is how this one likes to ID even formally. (at sea 1/7) Program of Mexican music 0856, election promo, informal ID "En la Isla de la Juventud" 0900 (Caymans 1/9) 1290 CUBA: R Taino, Villa Maria CH (at sea 1/5) 1300 CUBA: R Enciclopedia, Las Tunas LT; instrumental mx anncd by woman, heavy on low end, ID 1400 (at sea 1/7) 1310 CUBA: R Enciclopedia, unknown site (at sea 1/10) 1320 CUBA: R Artemisa, Artemisa HA; ID 1402, into symphonic mx (at sea 1/7) USA: WLQY Miami FL presumed with Haitian kompas mx (MIA 1/11) 1330 CUBA: R Jaruco, suspect in Artemisa HA; this channel seemed to be off when R Artemisa was on 1320, and vice versa (at sea 1/5) CUBA: R Portada de Libertad, Holguin HO; ID (not R Libertad) 1701 (at sea 1/7) 1340 CUBA: R Ciudad del Mar, Palmira CI; beisbol, election promos, local IDs //weaker 1350 (at sea 1/7) nice full ID 1000 (Caymans 1/9) USA: unID domestic station playing Hindi film mx 1140, announced in English, wishing Muslim brothers and sisters "Ramadan Mubarak" (at sea 1/10) 1350 CUBA: R Ciudad del Mar, Aguada de Pasajeros CI (at sea 1/7) unID Spanish language Christian preacher (at sea 1/10) 1360 CUBA: R Cadena Agramonte, Rodolfo Ramirez Esquivel CM; beisbol // 1380; "Escuche Camaguey, Cadena Agramonte 1644 (at sea 1/7) excerpt from Fidel speech 0903, sports news program 0930, good ID 1000, program "Medidiano" (Caymans 1/9) USA: domestic "R Sucesos" -- WKAT? (at sea 1/10) USA: WKAT North Miami FL, with song "No Tengo Dinero" and "RCN Miami" pseudo-IDs 0952 (MIA 1/11) 1380 CUBA: R Cadena Agramonte, Central Brasil CM; beisbol // 1360 (at sea 1/7) USA: domestic "1380 The Touch", domestic R&B (at sea 1/10) 1390 CUBA: R Jaruco, Jaruco HA (at sea 1/5) 1410 CUBA: R Cadena Agramonte, unknown site; // 1360 (Caymans 1/9) CUBA: R Enciclopedia, Pinar del Rio PR; instrumental stuff, ID 1258 (at sea 1/10) 1420 CUBA: R Cadena Agramonte, unknown site; with beisbol // 1360, 1380 (at sea 1/7) USA: unID domestic with "Solid Gospel" (at sea 1/10) 1440 CUBA: unID Cuban station playing "Peter and the Wolf" (Caymans 1/9) USA: WWCL Lehigh Acres FL, ranchera mx (at sea 1/10) 1450 CUBA: CMBU, R Guines, Guines, HA; strong with baladas, ID 1445 (at sea 1/7) Program "Recital" with salsas by Hilberto Santarossa 1530 (Caymans 1/9) 1480 CUBA: R Florida, Florida CM; election stuff, lots of talk by man and woman, numerous ID's, as at 1500; some music. Suspect this is more than listed 250 watts. (at sea 1/7) 1490 USA: WMBM Miami Beach FL, Attorney Vernita Williams answering questions about tax exemptions for religious organizations on "Legal Issues and Answers" (MIA 1/3) 1500 MEXICO: XESM Mexico City, "mil quimientos AM", Marta Sanchez song, CST TCs, ID 0902 (at sea 1/10) 1520 USA: unID domestic with infomercial: "Stop the pain of arthritis with all-natural products". It sure was nice to get away from radio like this for a week. (MIA 1/3) CUBA: Cuban I missed going back to ID, probably R Baragua, Palma Soriano SC (JA 1/8) 1540 BAHAMAS: ZNS1, Nassau; Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and similar stuff (JA 1/8) 1560 USA: WRHC Coral Gables FL, ranchera mx (MIA 1/3) 1580 USA: WCCF Punta Gorda FL, "Newsradio 1580" (at sea 1/10) 1590 CUBA: Rdif Granmense, Manzanillo GR; ID'ing as such and not as R Granma, as in passing after 1600 news block, referring to Manzanillo as "Ciudad del Golfo". strong (at sea 1/7) 1700 USA: WCMQ, Miami Springs FL (MIA 1/3)