[IRCA] DX During KIRL's Silence

Eric Bueneman (N0UIH), Hazelwood, MO)

Equipment: General Electric Superadio III

All times Eastern; for local time, subtract one hour.

DOWN THE DIAL

1450 WFMB Springfield, IL-5/16 1543 noted with local and national ads, mention of Web site, "Sports radio 14-50" mention into ESPN sports report. Good signal over KYLS with local KIRL 1460 off for repairs. (EB-MO)

1450 KYLS Fredericktown, MO-5/16 1539 noted with Classic Hits, "Your favorites from the '70s and beyond, this is KYLS, AM 14-50" slogan. Good to fair in WFMB null. (EB-MO)

1460 WROY Carmi, IL-5/16 1522 noted with Oldies from the '50s through the '80s, community calendar and local ads. Weak but alone on frequency with local KIRL down for repairs. (EB-MO)

1470 WMBD Peoria, IL-5/16 1601 noted with local news. Fair signal with minor splash from WJBM 1480. Local KIRL off for repairs. (EB-MO)

1510 WLRB Macomb, IL-5/16 1543 noted with Westwood One Adult Standards, local and national ads, "15-10 WLRB" slogan. Fair to poor signal; semi-local WDID on open carrier. (EB-MO)

1520 WHOW Clinton, IL-5/16 1547 noted with Adult Contemporary music, "Clinton's source for information, news, talk 15-20 WHOW-AM" slogan. Same satellite music format used by WHOW-FM 95.9; probably used as filler when talk programming isn't available. Good to fair over KRHW. (EB-MO)

1530 KPCR Bowling Green, MO-5/16 1556 noted with Sean Hannity, national ads, Shriners' Hospital PSA, "KHMO Hannibal and KPCR Bowling Green" legal ID into AP network news. KHMO 1070 also in with fair signal next to local WRYT 1080. Fair signal. (EB-MO)

NOTES

Bronco Broadcasting has sold KIRL 1460 after owning the station for 26 years. The new owners are Tony and Theresa Holman, who run the not-for-profit Catholic radio apostolate Covenant Network. Their other local property, WRYT 1080, is a 500-watt daytimer. Since KIRL is a full-time station (5000/500 DA-2), they would most likely simulcast WOLG 95.9 Carlinville, IL at night. WRYT still holds a CP for 337 watts at night using the daytime array. KIRL operates with two sites; the daytime site is on State Road 94 north of State Road 370 in Boschertown; the nighttime site is on Aubuchon Road, one mile north of State Road 370 and Earth City Expressway in Hazelwood. WRYT's transmitter site is located at Interstate 55 and State Road 143 northeast of Edwardsville. Covenant Network has been on a building and buying spree; building several relays for WOLG 95.9 and acquiring WRMS 790 Beardstown, IL in recent months.

The Catholic community in St. Charles stands to benefit most by this acquisition; that area has a growing Catholic population. The nighttime pattern on 1460 favors the city of St. Charles and northern St. Louis County (the latter with a declining Catholic population). This apostolate will expand into areas to the southwest with the day pattern, to areas such as Franklin County and even into Rolla.

73, Eric (N0UIH)