Fm bandscan Francis, WA 2-22-14

[bobdavcav]

I just got back from my grandpa's earlier today. It was the first time I had been down there since I got the G8, and I got quite a lot, including a number of stations I had never heard before, or never heard from that location.
88.1 KWAO/Ocean Park, WA this is an odd signal since I've recieved it on just about every radio I've taken down there since the station moved, but the signal wasn't much better on the G8 than on other lower quality radios.
88.5 KPLU/Tacoma, WA very strong, in stereo.
88.7 KLOI/Astoria, OR
88.9 just confirmed KSWS/Chehalis, WA strong mono signal.
89.1 KMHD/Gresham, OR
89.3 any help on this one? UnIDed K-Love, thought it was KLOV/Winchester, OR but that's way too far south.
89.7 KOAC-FM/Astoria, OR strong mono signal, 180 W!
89.9 KQAC/Portland, OR
90.1 unknown KPLU translator.
90.3 KPLU's Raymond translator with a stereo signal.
90.7 KBOO/Portland, OR
91.3 KACW/South Bend, WA
91.5 KOPB-FM/Portland, OR
91.7 KXOT/Taccoma, WA
91.9 KUMD/Astoria, OR
92.3 KGON/Portland, OR
92.5 KQMV/Bellevue, WA in stereo at times!
92.7 KGHO's Abberdeen translator.
93.3 KUBE/Seattle, WA
93.7 KANY/Montisano, WA very weak.
93.9 I think I heard a very weak KPDQ-FM/Portland, OR
94.1 KMPS/Seattle, WA pretty good signal.
94.5 KLYK/Longview, WA
94.9 KQCB/Cannon Beach, OR in stereo.
95.1 KITI-FM/Winlock, WA
95.3 KXXK/Aberdeen, WA
95.5 KBFF/Portland, OR
95.7 KJR-FM/Seattle, WA
96.1 KXXO/Olympia, WA weak, I think they're on reduced power again. Why can't they seem to stay on at their main site anymore?
96.5 KJAQ/Seattle, WA mixing with a very weak KCYS/Seaside, OR
96.9 I've never been able to get a definitive ID off of this station, but I think it's KGY-FM/McCleery, WA
97.1 KYCH/Portland, OR
97.3 KIRO-FM/Taccoma, WA like a local.
97.7 KOMO-FM/Oakville, WA why do they have their stereo generator on?
97.9 I think KXPC made an appearance but it was very weak.
98.1 KING-FM/Seattle, WA like a local.
98.7 KUPL/Portland, OR
98.9 KLCK/Seattle, WA
99.3 KDDS/Elma, WA big signal, full stereo.
99.5 KWJJ/Portland, OR
99.7 KLMY/Long Beach, WA
99.9 KISW/Seattle, WA decent signal.
100.3 KKRZ/Portland, OR
100.7 KKWF/Seattle, WA
101.1 KSWW Raymond translator in stereo.
101.3 KLWA/Westport, WA
101.5 KPLZ/Seattle, WA
101.7 KXRO's fm translator.
101.9 KINK/Portland, OR
102.1 KSWW/Ocean Shores, WA
102.3 KCRX/Seaside, OR in stereo.
102.5 KZOK/Seattle, WA
102.9 KYNW/Centralia, WA see 88.1 KWAO above.
103.3 KKCW/Beaverton, OR
103.7 KHTP/Taccoma, WA in stereo at times.
103.9 KVAS/Elwacko, WA
104.1 I think both KAFE and KFIS made appearances, but both were very weak.
104.3 KMNT/Chehalis, WA in stereo. This is an odd signal because it doesn't come in on most lower quality radios very well out there.
104.5 KMCQ/Covington, WA first time I've heard them down there since they moved from the old site.
104.7 KDUX/Abberdeen, WA pretty decent signal.
105.1 KRSK/Molalla, OR
105.3 KCMS/Edmonds, WA
105.7 KJET/Raymond, WA local signal.
106.1 KBKS/Taccoma, WA
106.7 KLTH/Lake Oswigo, OR
106.9 KRWM/Bremerton, WA
107.1 KRQT/Castle Rock, WA strong mono signal.
107.5 KXJM/Banks, OR
107.7 KNDD/Seattle, WA
107.9 KLSY/South Bend, WA decent signal.

 

[crainbebo]

89.3 is K207DB in Aberdeen, with K-LOVE. How good did KSWW come in? I remember when I was in Raymond it came in horribly. Had to use 101.1 to listen to it.

Did you try 94.3? KRKZ should be there now. 103.9 is actually Ilwaco, WA (with an I and an L).

-crainbebo

 

[bobdavcav]

I thought I heard very weak talk programming on 94.3 but no CHR. KSWW was probably as strong as just about any of the Cougar or Portland sticks, so not exactly great but listenable.

 

[fordranger797]

Wow. I am truly surprised that you were able to pick up anything from Tiger/Cougar down there. I can see how the Portland stations would boom in, but it looks like the terrain is far too treacherous for anything from the north to reach.

 

[bobdavcav]

Actually Ford, it's just the opposite. I have a hard time with Portland sticks down there and usually can only pick up KKRZ if anything from Portland down there, but that was a little different with the G8.

 

[fordranger797]

Actually Ford, it's just the opposite. I have a hard time with Portland sticks down there and usually can only pick up KKRZ if anything from Portland down there, but that was a little different with the G8.

I always think of the Portland stations being easy to pick up in south Washington. However, once I look at a map its easy to see what is wrong with my logic. Portland is considerably far south compared to a city like Astoria. Where do you typically begin to lose the Portland FM's? Centrailia?

Fun fact: The Portland FM towers all have a lower HAAT compared to Tiger Mountain transmitters.

 

[crainbebo]

I lose Portland by around south Olympia/Tumwater, sometimes even Dupont.
There are still tropo hotspots around here however - Hood Canal near Lilliwaup can pull in Portland really well at 140 miles sometimes, and parts of Vashon Island especially toward Burton, are Portland hotspots.

-crainbebo

 

[fordranger797]

I lose Portland by around south Olympia/Tumwater, sometimes even Dupont.
There are still tropo hotspots around here however - Hood Canal near Lilliwaup can pull in Portland really well at 140 miles sometimes, and parts of Vashon Island especially toward Burton, are Portland hotspots.

-crainbebo

Interesting! I typically try to listen to CKKQ 100.3 on a leisurely basis. However, that darned KKRZ 100.3 is always drowning it out. KKRZ, KXL, and KINK are all powerhouses. Even from my home in Gig Harbour I still am picking up Portland stations like locals at times.

There are a lot of strange little enclaves in this neck of the woods where you can easily pick up the stonehenge signals.

That whole Olympia area must just be a mess for FM radio. I mean, you could potentially be picking up a weak signal from the Mount Seymour and Stonehenge towers at the same time (not to mention the Seattle locals which seem to be considerably weaker once you move too far west from Olympia). I don't think the radio locator map lies when it comes to the FM range in this region.

 

[bobdavcav]

Yes here are some interesting fm anomalies in this area. For example, a number of the Stonehenge stations come in like locals on the Eugene Global Tuners node except for KGON due to that darn LP fm station in Harrisburg. I really don't quite get why they chose 92.3 when KGON is right there and the closest thing that I know of just one click up the dial on 92.5 is KQMV. KWJJ is also blocked by a religious translator. The other odd one is that the other stations KKRZ, KKCW, and even KXL don't do as well down there. I'm not sure about KXL though, and KINK is degraded significantly by the KWAX translator. KXJM isn't that great down there either, and I'm debating whether the K-Love at 107.3 has anything to do with that or not.

 

[fordranger797]

Yes here are some interesting fm anomalies in this area. For example, a number of the Stonehenge stations come in like locals on the Eugene Global Tuners node except for KGON due to that darn LP fm station in Harrisburg. I really don't quite get why they chose 92.3 when KGON is right there and the closest thing that I know of just one click up the dial on 92.5 is KQMV. KWJJ is also blocked by a religious translator. The other odd one is that the other stations KKRZ, KKCW, and even KXL don't do as well down there. I'm not sure about KXL though, and KINK is degraded significantly by the KWAX translator. KXJM isn't that great down there either, and I'm debating whether the K-Love at 107.3 has anything to do with that or not.

Bob - If you live in Olympia, your reception of the Seattle FM's must be significantly lower than mine, making it easier to tune out the interference. I have experienced the opposite results in Gig Harbour/Tacoma. KGON is a lost cause, KQMV makes it impossible to hear anything on the frequencies adjacent to 92.5. Its the same for KXJM and KWJJ. KXL, KINK, and KKRZ are the only stations that produce a relatively listenable signal in the car or at home. Unfortunately, these signals are usually just "pesky" from my perspective because I really have no interest in listening to either one (with the exception of KINK). KXL is the strongest. I think the powerful, mono signal really gives them an edge over the other signals from Portland.

Olympia is a strange place for radio. It seems like all of the Seattle locals degrade significantly in signal quality as soon as you get onto highway 8/12 heading towards Grays Harbour. I can usually pick up a decent reception (from the tiger mountain signals) until I get to about Montesano before the signal is no longer reasonable for listening pleasure. I presume that the Cougar Mountain signals don't even make it that far.

 

[bobdavcav]

I live in Edmonds, so Portland sticks are pretty rare up here. Sometimes I can get KINK and I have picked up KXL, but that's about it, picked up KWJJ once during strong tropo last summer. I really wish KHTP would shut down the 103.3 translator as it makes receiving KKCW very challenging if not impossible. It's always been my belief that if all stations have bad reception in one particular area they should either move the sticks to get a better signal in the problem area (not really an option in KHTP's case) or just deal with the degraded signal, which would be the best option in KHTP's case. I was talking about the Global Tuners receiver in Eugene yesterday.

 

[fordranger797]

I live in Edmonds, so Portland sticks are pretty rare up here. Sometimes I can get KINK and I have picked up KXL, but that's about it, picked up KWJJ once during strong tropo last summer. I really wish KHTP would shut down the 103.3 translator as it makes receiving KKCW very challenging if not impossible. It's always been my belief that if all stations have bad reception in one particular area they should either move the sticks to get a better signal in the problem area (not really an option in KHTP's case) or just deal with the degraded signal, which would be the best option in KHTP's case. I was talking about the Global Tuners receiver in Eugene yesterday.

I really do not understand the translator. Its not as if they actually mention the translator existing on air (nor can I find any place on the website that mentions better reception downtown on 103.3). I really think the only people who actually know about it are those of us who spend time chatting about radio signals on radio discussions By the way, does anyone know if KHTP is using 104.1 for a translator in Olympia? According to Radio Locator, there is a translator somewhere in that region (which also seems like a fruitless idea). My 104.1 frequency is dominated by the KMAS translator all of the way out in Mason County.

I have had luck with KKCW here. It is one of the many Portland FM's that I can usually rely on to pick up. Again, its also one of those stations that I am not particularly interested in picking up, too.


Here is an interesting idea (perhaps some of the "seasoned veterans" of the radio world could weigh in on this). What would be the benefit to moving the transmitters to Queen Anne Hill or even atop the Columbia Tower? I assume the ERP allowance would go up to 100kw on every frequency since it is a considerably lower height. Then again, KUOW is already using Queen Ann hill (and their coverage is laughable).

 

[bobdavcav]

As far as I know, they still use the 104.1 translator, but haven't tried it recently when I'm down that way. I'm not sure why many stations don't mention their translators, but I've never heard a mention of KZZU's 92.5 translator or KSWW's 101.1 translator. As for moving the towers back to Queen Anne, I'm not sure what the requirements for that would be. Yes, the stations would all be able to upgrade to 100 kw, but I'm not sure if current building code will allow tower height to be as high as it would need to be. KUOW runs 100 kw at 224 meters. Of that, 168 meters comes from the tower height above ground. I'm not sure how much improvement you'd see in signal coverage if you added 300 meters or so to the height of that tower.

 

[fordranger797]

As far as I know, they still use the 104.1 translator, but haven't tried it recently when I'm down that way. I'm not sure why many stations don't mention their translators, but I've never heard a mention of KZZU's 92.5 translator or KSWW's 101.1 translator. As for moving the towers back to Queen Anne, I'm not sure what the requirements for that would be. Yes, the stations would all be able to upgrade to 100 kw, but I'm not sure if current building code will allow tower height to be as high as it would need to be. KUOW runs 100 kw at 224 meters. Of that, 168 meters comes from the tower height above ground. I'm not sure how much improvement you'd see in signal coverage if you added 300 meters or so to the height of that tower.

It seems like the only real benefit would be coverage downtown. Probably not enough reason to cut off coverage for tens of thousands living in the "fringe" range.

 

[fordranger797]

By the way, I just looked into KZZU. I'm surprised they need a translator. Coeur D'Alene should be well within the 60dbu contour.

 

[bobdavcav]

Actually due to a mountain being in the way Spokane signals are crap in Coer Dalene, the only exception being KHTQ. I'm not sure why their site hasn't become the main site for Spokane signals, as KHTQ puts out a strong signal over the entire area. KXLY has a CP to move to that same site, which should improve coverage in the metro. Maybe it was because they only run 37 kw at 914 meters, but when I stayed in Cheney, I had a hard time picking them up in my room. KEZE also had some issues being a C2 instead of a C.

 

[fordranger797]

Actually due to a mountain being in the way Spokane signals are crap in Coer Dalene, the only exception being KHTQ. I'm not sure why their site hasn't become the main site for Spokane signals, as KHTQ puts out a strong signal over the entire area. KXLY has a CP to move to that same site, which should improve coverage in the metro. Maybe it was because they only run 37 kw at 914 meters, but when I stayed in Cheney, I had a hard time picking them up in my room. KEZE also had some issues being a C2 instead of a C.

It seems like the only drawback to moving the transmitters east is reduced coverage to the west. However, I don't really think that there are too many people living that far west of Spokane who care to pick up the Spokane radio dial. Communities like Ritzville and Cheney would still have decent coverage.

It seems like omni-directional signals are the way to go in Spokane.

 

[bobdavcav]

I hought Ritzville was closer to Moses Lake? Cheney would still get a strong signal you're right.

 

[Blatherwatch]

As far as I know, they still use the 104.1 translator, but haven't tried it recently when I'm down that way. I'm not sure why many stations don't mention their translators, but I've never heard a mention of KZZU's 92.5 translator or KSWW's 101.1 translator. As for moving the towers back to Queen Anne, I'm not sure what the requirements for that would be. Yes, the stations would all be able to upgrade to 100 kw, but I'm not sure if current building code will allow tower height to be as high as it would need to be. KUOW runs 100 kw at 224 meters. Of that, 168 meters comes from the tower height above ground. I'm not sure how much improvement you'd see in signal coverage if you added 300 meters or so to the height of that tower.

I get the old KMNT104.1 translator until just north of downtown Olympia, in fact I was in the parking lot next to KGY and the KMAS FM signal took over, must be a null around the inlet. 91.5 out of Portland is hitting the brick wall of the spanish translator off Capitol again. It was on and off part of last year then they fired it up again. I usually lose it south of exit 88 where KOPB comes in. KGHO holds a pretty good signal until about exit 68 on I-5 then KXL comes in. KINK is still readable north to Olympia except around Centralia when it gets clobbered by another K-Crap station, so does 102.5 until south of Chehalis. Speaking of KZOK, their signal is not as good to the south as it once was.

 

[bobdavcav]

Is KGHO still on 103.3? I remember picking up that station with a weak signal fading in and out on my iPod a few years ago all the way south to the rest area just south of Olympia.