|
Results of Rio Grande Valley fact-finding tour
|
JohnCallarman
|
Oct 31, 2002 21:24 PST
|
Results of a "research trip" to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas Friday
October 25 through Sunday October 27. Stations heard between 1611 and 2110
OCT 25 were taped off car radio rolling south on US 77 between Victoria and
Brownsville, Texas. Stations between 2308 OCT 25 and 2130 OCT 26 were taped
in Brownsville, either on car radio or on DX-398 in motel room. Stations
noted on OCT 27 were recorded on car radio on U.S. 83 between Brownsville
and Del Rio, Texas.
Times of reception mark times I taped the stations. Some comments refer to
observations on these stations made at other times.
Note there are a number of new slogans . or at least slogans not previously
listed or reported . and there is a clarification of what has happened in
Ciudad Allende, Coahuila, regarding XEVD-1380 or 1050. I suspect the company
first moved XEVD to 1050, as heard in February by several DX'ers, but then
determined to put XEVUC, ex-1520, on 1050 and return XEVD to 1380.
Note Ciudad Acuña references on 650 and 1600 . no station heard on either
frequency. On 800 on Sunday, October 27, XEZR in Zaragoza, Coahuila, was not
heard . unless it was briefly distorted signal during late afternoon. It was
not on 850, either. But on Monday morning, driving near Junction, Texas,
there were three Mexican signals fighting for dominance on 800. One of them
made much mention of Zaragoza during news block, but I could not pull out ID
as I pulled farther away from Zaragoza.
I wanted to find a Coahuila station on 1130 that might have matched my
unidentified signal heard in Krum last year, but found nothing here except
the religious Spanish speaker in Edna, Texas. Dunno if there's a station in
the south end of Coahuila or if the tape I made earlier may have been from a
station located somewhere else. It was different slogan from normal 1130
catch, the station in Toluca.
Several other stations easily heard in the Valley are not listed below,
because I did not have time to tape every signal available. 540 XEW relay,
580 XEMU, 610 XEBX, 690 XERG, 750 XETI, 770 XEACH (Radio Fórmula), 830 XEIK,
990 XET, 1050 XEG, 1080 weak Radio Fórmula likely XEXK, 1140 XEMR, 1190
XECT, 1280 XEAW, 1370 XEMON (Radio Fórmula), XEQI-1510, XENU-1550 and
XERF-1570 were noted but not taped . and there are several others I suspect
I could have found if I'd looked for them. (Have to save something for
another trip.)
Not included below are results of a five-hour post sunset session with Steve
Wiseblood at Boca Chica Beach.
The main reasons for compiling this survey are to find changes not covered
by existing lists, to provide possible clues that may help someone who hears
a tiny piece of programming among the QRM on these frequencies and to have a
bit of personal fun listening to stations I enjoy hearing.
560 MEXICO XEGIK, Acerera, Monclova, COAH OCT 27 1757-1806 (off and on)
Taped a couple of "Acerera" slogans amid the music here, but this was one I
didn't have time to search for TOH ID. (Callarman-TX)
570 MEXICO XEBJB, Monterrey, N.L. OCT 25 2045-2102 Audio logo heard after
each song consists of very quick sung call letters "XEBJB" followed by
accordion theme consisting of first eight bars of "Beer Barrell Polka." "La
Estacion del Barrito" and "Grupo Radio Alegria" mentioned only in full
top-of-the-hour ID, which also said schedule was 5 a.m. to midnight rather
than listed 24 hours. (Callarman-TX)
590 MEXICO XEFD La Consentida, Rio Bravo TAMS OCT 25 1927+ I didn't spend
much time with this station since it's often heard in Krum. In addition to
the Consentida slogan, in a promo, it indicated it uses "Noti-Gape"
information programming. (Callarman-TX)
600 MEXICO XEMN La Regiomontaña, Monterrey N.L. OCT 27 1730-1800 taped
audio logo at 1730 while on road 48 miles south of Laredo, Texas. At 1759,
taped promos and full ID with heavy production, lots of different sounds,
ending with "Grupo Radio México." This is not the strongest Monterrey
signal, and is subject to sideband QRM from XEFD-590 on east side of the
valley and XEBX-610 in the west. (Callarman-TX)
620 MEXICO XEGH Bonita, Reynosa TAMS OCT 25 1623+ Bonita is the correct
word for the old-style Mexican music this station plays. It is very strong
throughout the Rio Grande Valle, though it announces only mil watts during
its TOH ID. (Callarman-TX)
630 MEXICO XEFB La F-B, Monterrey N.L. OCT 27 1602 Full ID taped at the
Starr-Zapata County line, finally strong enough to overcome XEGH sidewash.
Like XEMN-600, words "Grupo Radio México" end full ID. Uses simple "F-B"
audio logo between (or over) songs. (Callarman-TX)
640 MEXICO XETAM Fiesta Mexicana, Cd. Victoria TAMS OCT 25 1937+ This one
gives "Fiesta Mexicana" slogan often, with both FM (96.1) and AM
frequencies, during music programming. I planned to get TOH ID tape on
Sunday morning in Brownsville but it was one of very, very few stations
doing church programming, and gave no call letter IDs between programs when
I checked. (Callarman-TX)
650 MEXICO Ciudad Acuña COAH OCT 27 Only an open carrier heard on this
frequency while in Del Rio on a Sunday. I wanted to clear up conflicting
listings on 650 and 1600 here. No luck. (Callarman-TX)
660 MEXICO XEAR Tampico TAMS/XEFZ Monterrey N.L. OCT 25 1716+ These two
often reported stations vie for dominance during the daytime on this
frequency in the valley. Close to the coast, "La Mexicana" with its
traditional rancheras tops the channel; farther inland it's the "XEFZ
Noti-Radio" news format that dominates. (Callarman-TX)
730 MEXICO XEPQ La Sabrosita, Muzquiz COAH OCT 25 1859+ This station first
heard somewhat weakly between Raymondville and Kingsville, Texas, but I didn
't get there quickly enough to get TOH ID. All I have on tape is XHEC,
Sabinas, Coahuila. On Sunday, OCT 27, there were many commercial strings and
local lady announcer playing dedications, but I looked elsewhere for TOH IDs
and did not hear call letters. La Sabrosita, as listed in IRCA Mexican log,
is the slogan this station uses. (Callarman-TX)
780 MEXICO XESFT La Triple T, San Fernando TAMS OCT 25 1611+ Loud as far
north as Victoria, Texas, and heard throughout the weekend throughout the
Rio Grande Valley. One of the strongest signals in the Valley. No wonder it'
s heard so often at greater distances. (Callarman-TX)
790 MEXICO XEFE La Úvale (?), Nuevo Laredo TAMS OCT 25 1713+ This station
uses many production sounds, electronic zaps, lasers, explosions, in its
audio logos and its TOH ID. I did not hear "Radio Fiesta" slogan at any
time. I recorded the signal on the road between Refugio and Kingsville,
Texas and, with TOH ID on tape there, I did not record this one later when I
was in Laredo; so I'm not absolutely certain of "Úvale" name (I can't find
that word in my Spanish-English dictionary.) (Callarman-TX)
800 MEXICO XEDD AM La Doble D, Montemorelos, N.L. OCT. 26 1657-1730 Very
good signal in Brownsville from this suburban Monterrey station on a
relatively new frequency, using this slogan between songs. Had full ID at
1730. (Callarman-TX)
810 MEXICO XERI La Rey 8-10 AM, Reynosa TAMS OCT 26 0012+ This station uses
several different voices, male and female, and mucho drums and electronic
zaps between musical selections. Also drops in "Realmente Música" name from
time to time. One full ID taped at 2201 OCT 26 was very heavily echoed and
double-voiced, with "XERI" call letters imposed over other words, partly in
English: "There's only one Ra-Ra-Radio station, Radio Rey, Radio Rey,
broadcasting from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Radio Rey." I had identified slogan
as "La R-I" when I pulled this through with mucho QRM in Krum, but local
monitoring makes "La Rey" clear to my old ears. (Callarman-TX)
830 MEXICO XELN, Super Llegadora, Linares N.L. OCT 27 1510-1531 Local DJ
takes phone calls and makes dedications. Listener can hear him talk, but not
the caller. Generous with "Super Llegadora" slogan, AM and FM, and local
commercials. (Callarman-TX)
860 MEXICO XETF La Fiesta 860, Tampico TAMS OCT 26 2206-2231 First words
after each selection of tropical music were "En La Fiesta Ochocientos
Sesenta" followed by time check. At 2230 took broadcast from Mexico City
updating Hurricane Kenna situation. QRM from Monterrey and San Antonio, but
XETF got stronger the closer I got to Boca Chica Beach. (Callarman-TX)
860 MEXICO XENL Radio Recuerdo, Monterrey N.L. OCT 27 1624-1630 Nice,
Mexican standard pop music, generous slogan IDs "Radio Recuerdo, La Única de
Monterrey, con lo major de la rondallas."
920 MEXICO XEMJ La Coqueta, Piedres Negras COAH OCT 27 2023-2100 (off and
on) During 1012 break, heard first mention of this new slogan "La Coqueta,"
commercials, and CIRT mention; sexy-voiced girl whispers "La Coqueta" at
2045; station segues music often; commercial string at 2059 included promo
for night program, "Noches Bohemias en XEMJ" fútbol promo, "La Coqueta"
again mentioned during full ID. (Callarman-TX)
930 MEXICO XEU La U de Veracruz, Veracruz VER OCT 26 1851 Nice music on
this station and slogan "La U de Veracruz, Novoscientos-Treinta, Amplitud
Modulada" ID given often. It would be program quality in Brownsville if it
were not for XERKS adjacent channel QRM, though it's quite a ways down the
coast. Oddly, this station was dominant on the car radio about 1000 OCT 25
as I started the trip at Krum. The only Mexican I'd previously identified
from Krum on this frequency was XEQS. (Callarman-TX)
940 MEXICO XERKS La Poderosa, Reynosa, TAMS OCT 26 0357-0400+ This station
is the Mexican equivalent of U.S. contemporary Christian stations, with
modern music with Christian themes. TOH ID includes "Transmitiende un
mensaje de Díos." (Callarman-TX)
940 MEXICO XEYJ Y-J Mexicana, Nueva Rosita COAH OCT 27 2213 Taped slogan
"Nueva Cuarenta AM, Y-J Mexicana, Esta es Radio Todo Exitos." Nueva Rosita,
Zaragoza, Muzquiz and Sabinas are part of Piedras Negras market.
(Callarman-TX)
960 MEXICO XEK, Nuevo Laredo TAM OCT 27 1725 This station and several
others in Tamaulipas carried a Sunday morning special event broadcast. I
stopped to tape what must have been the official state anthem for Tamaulipas
that began the political broadcast. This station is widely heard in the full
valley, but I have taped full ID from Krum, so didn't stay long on 960.
(Callarman-TX)
970 MEXICO XEO Radio Gallito, Matomoros TAMS OCT 25 1900+ This mostly music
station, with lots of local commercial strings, retains the Gallito slogan.
I did not hear a rooster crow, though, during the times I tuned across 970.
I haven't been able to hear this one in KHVN null at Krum. (Callarman-TX)
990 MEXICO XET La T Grande, Monterrey NL OCT 25 2308+ I would like to see
this station's directional antenna pattern. While it puts a powerful signal
into Krum before the night pattern change (or did until KCAF's return), it
was not a strong signal in many parts of the Rio Grande Valley during the
weekend I was there. (Callarman-TX)
1000 MEXICO XENLT Radio Fórmula, Nuevo Laredo TAM OCT 27 1708 Radio
Fõrmula-970 ID heard on this one, identifying, at least, which network one
can expect to hear on this station. I did not try to get a TOH ID on this
one. (Callarman-TX)
1010 MEXICO XEKD, La K de Oro, Ciudad Acuña, COAH OCT 27 2123-2303, strong
signal from Nuevo Laredo on into Ciudad Acuña, has talky male DJ with lots
of dedications and talks on telephone to listeners, who do not get on the
air. Strong enough to make me believe it was more than listed 500 watts. At
2303 full ID, said "Mil watts." Interchangeably used "La K de Oro" or "XEKD"
calls between songs. (Callarman-TX)
1050 MEXICO XEVUC, La Super Estación, mil cincuenta AM, Allende, COAH OCT 27
2138-2200, is definitely the station here. The call letters are almost lost
in heavily produced full ID at 2159, but "La Super Estación slogan is
generously used. The music is more subdued than XEG's ranchera and, of
course, easily distinguishable from XEQOO's disco-type sounds. XEVUC,
formerly on 1520, is owned by same company that has XEVD-1380, that had been
identified on this frequency as "La Viva" and "La Vida." Wonder why this
station, which announces "diez mil watts" during full ID, was allowed to
move here and cut into what must have been part of XEG's coverage area. See
1380. (Callarman-TX)
1090 MEXICO XEWL Fiesta Mexicana, Nuevo Laredo TAM OCT 27 1735-1740+ heard
with commercial string, then began what appeared to be lead-in commentary
from "Radiorama Deportes" for play-by-play of soccer game between
Guadalajara and Veracruz. Earlier, farther east, this station and Monterrey'
s XEAU QRM'd each other. Both have been taped in Krum. (Callarman-TX)
1110 MEXICO XEOQ Noti-Gape 11-10, Rio Bravo TAMS OCT 26 Taped good
commercial string and full ID. Audio Logo is "Noti-Gape Once Diez."
(Callarman TX)
1170 MEXICO XERT Once-Setenta AM, La Gigante, Reynosa TAMS OCT 25 1655+ This
station uses a lot of Radio Fórmula feeds, but continues "La Gigante"
slogan. It also continues well beyond listed afternoon sign/off time. I did
not get a TOH ID on tape for this one. At 1930 OCT 26, there was a full ID
here, but it was for XEDF-1500, a Radio Fórmula key station. (Callarman-TX)
1260 MEXICO XER, Radio Linares, Linares N.L. OCT 27 1536-1605 (tuning back
and forth between this one and XEXD-1350) on this Sunday morning, a couple
of men discussed historical topics that seemed to include music and
religion, with some early 20th century music dropped in. At 1557, after a
couple of PSAs, had dance-band sounding jingle with time check over, then
singers: "Radio Linares." Then came a musical theme and at 1600, without ID,
began a two-voice newscast called "Noti-Oro," "Multimedios Estrellas de Oro,
communicaciones total, presentó Noti-Oro." At 1605 had full ID, including
address of studios and offices on Carretera Nacional kilometro 256.3,
Linares, Nuevo León, Mexico." (Callarman-TX)
1310 MEXICO XEAM La M Grande, Matamoros TAMS OCT 26 0100-0105 Audio logo
heard often consisted of singing jingle "XEAM, La M Grande." (Callarman-TX)
1320 MEXICO XECPN La Mexicana, Piedras Negras COAH OCT 27 2019-2100 (off and
on) New slogan, no longer listed "La Poderosa." "La Mexicana, La Mexicana"
is sung to the tune of the old Mexican classic, "Guadalajara, Guadalajara,"
just as XEUR-1530, Mexico City, does. Full ID taped at 2100. (Callarman-TX)
1340 MEXICO XEMT Mágia 13-40, Matamoros, TAMS OCT 26 1747-1808 Segues smooth
jazz and romantic music, occasionally dropping in singing ID "Mágia Trece
Catorce," and occasional live announcer will also drop this new slogan in.
TOH ID does not use the "Mágia" slogan, but sings at the beginning and end
of detailed ID, "Grupo Promo Sat" (that spelling from printed ad, but it
sounds like "Somo Zhay") and gives frequency as "mil trescientos cuarenta
kilohertz," different from the construction used in the audio logo.
(Callarman-TX)
1340 MEXICO XEBK El Sistemo Combo XEBK, Nuevo Laredo, TAMS OCT 27 1900+
taped call letter ID; and taped commercial string at 1916. Did not hear
listed "La Tremenda" slogan. Will this be heard outside it's local area?
(Callarman-TX)
1340 MEXICO XEDH Ciudad Acuña COAH OCT 27 2236-2300, while XEKD-1010 has
gabby male DJ and ranchera/norteña type music, this Acuña station has gabby
female DJ and rock. Heavy production full ID at 2300, but there's so much
noise, the words and the call letters are almost lost even when heard
locally. On a graveyard frequency, it would be very hard to pull this ID
out. (Callarman-TX)
1350 MEXICO XEZD La Doña de la Frontera, Camargo TAMS OCT 27 1535-1601
(tuning back and forth between this one and XER-1260) The DJ sounded like a
little girl, doing dedications, gabbing one-way on phone, giggling a lot,
between records and commercials. At 1549, there was a unique jingle -- a
male singer with accordion and guitar accompaniment, folk-music style: "Anda
la casa ven escuchar, esta stación tan popular. He es La Doña de la
Frontera, La XE-ZD." At 1601, had sounds of rounds of bullets before and
after deep-voiced, echoed "XEZD." (Callarman-TX)
1370 MEXICO XEGNK Radio Mexicana, Nuevo Laredo TAM OCT 27 1743-1749 "Es
Radio de Verdad, Radio Mexicana, Trece-Setenta," long commercial string,
"Trece-Setenta, Radio Mexicana." Nice to get a good tape on this little
station that squeazed through QRM in Krum at 0130 sign-off a few months ago.
(Callarman-TX)
1380 MEXICO XEVD La VD, Allende, COAH OCT 27 2303 After taping XEVUC ID on
1050, I moved here and found "desde Allende . La Ve De, Ve De, La Ve De."
This slogan clearly was not "La Vida." I'll have to come back to tape full
ID some time, if I can't hear this one in Krum. (Callarman-TX)
1390 MEXICO XEOR Mix 13-90, Reynosa TAMS OCT 26 1900 Taped full ID at TOH,
heavy production sounds, including slogan "Mix Trece-Noventa." I had QSL'd
this station nearly 40 years ago from the Panhandle, but in Krum, I hear the
other Tamaulipas station on 1390. (Callarman-TX)
1410 MEXICO XEAS La Tamaulipeca, Nueva Laredo TAMS OCT 27 between 1900 and
2000, taped several breaks, including full ID at 2000. Lots of "explosive"
production sounds in audio logos, full IDs and commercials. This is a "Radio
Rama" station. (Callarman-TX)
1420 MEXICO XEEW Radio Fórmula W 14-20, Matamoros TAMS OCT 25 2201-2205 and
various additional times during the weekend. Most of its programming during
the times I listened consisted of Radio Fórmula-970 relays, but with local
cut-ins at commercial breaks, identifying itself as "Radio Fórmula W 14-20."
One ID was heard for Radio Fórmula Cadena Nacional 970. I taped XEEW call
letter IDs at TOH. (Callarman-TX)
1430 MEXICO XEWD Poder de la Radio, Miguel Aleman, TAMS OCT 27 1923+ Promo
and CL ID included some English, in an "electronic voice," with male
announcers. EV: "Best music" Regular voice: Mejor Música" . "XEWD Catorce
Treinta" EV: "XEWD, Fourteen-Thirty AM" RV: "Con todo el Poder de la Radio"
EV: "Power Radio" RV: ". va contigo." This announcement had continual
drumbeat in background. At 1500 on OCT 27, after listening to gabby female
DJ, the TOH ID was given, amid many production noises, by two female voices,
with call, city, telephone and fax numbers, and again, the phrase "Con Todo
el Poder de la Radio." I did not hear anything that sounded like "La Grande"
in either break. (Callarman-TX)
1450 MEXICO XEVH Imperativa 14-50, Matamoros TAMS OCT 25 2128-2133 Audio
logo contains new station name, sometimes given as "Radio Imperativa,"
sometimes simply as "Imperativa 14-50." Oddly, while giving slogan, ID's
frequency as "catorce cincuenta" but in full ID uses odd construction "mil
cuatro cincuenta." (Callarman-TX)
1470 MEXICO XEHI La Reina de la Frontera, Miguel Aleman TAMS OCT 27
1149-1458 Gabby DJ and lots of commercials. Heard both "La Reina de la
Frontera" and La Reina Catorce Setenta" slogans. Full ID taped at 1458. I
spent a lot of time ID'ing this one from Krum a year or so ago.
(Callarman-TX)
1480 MEXICO XETKR Rancherita y Regional, Monterrey N.L. OCT 27 1149 audio
logo "Es TKR . (fanfare) Racherita y Regional" between segued songs. The
fanfare was a six-note tune to which we sang, when we were little kids ages
ago, "You're a dirty robber." (Callarman-TX)
1490 MEXICO XEMS La MS, La Super Estación de Matamoros/Radio Mexicana,
Matamoros TAMS OCT 25 2155-2201 Uses La MS etc. as audio logo during
programming but at TOH full ID calls itself Radio Mexicana. (Callarman-TX)
1600 MEXICO Ciudad Acuña COAH OCT 27 I wanted to clear up conflicting
listings here and on 650 while in the valley, but on this Sunday, there was
no signal whatsoever in Del Rio, Texas, across Rio Bravo from Ciudad Acuña.
Don't know if this is a silent Sunday station of if it no longer exists.
(Callarman-TX)
John Callarman -301 W. McCart St. - Krum TX 76249-5503
Family Genealogist - Ham Radio Operator KA9SPA
|
|
 |
|
