WSOC 103.7-FM Interference in Hendersonville

[tylerSC]

Drove through Hendersonville and Asheville this weekend. Disappointed to discover another new low power signal interfering with a full power station. Apparently a translator signal for HIS Radio is now broadcasting on 103.7-FM near Hendersonville, which blocks out WSOC-FM from Charlotte, which used to be strong and clear in this area.

Must have happened just recently, because I was last up there at the end of May, and WSOC was coming in clear and the HD signal was even locking on pretty consistently. Now you just get both stations interfering, although the WSOC-HD will sometimes still lock on. You could probably still get WSOC with a good rabbit ears or outside antenna, but car reception is now problematic. When will this translator nonsense ever end? The FCC is allowing these signals too close, where they are blocking out distant reception of full power stations, and creating more interference rather than clear reception of the low power stations.

Meanwhile, Kiss 95.1 and Channel 96.1 both still come in clear in Hendersonville, for now. Including the HD. And they are even clear north of Asheville on I-40 going from Candler towards Canton, and the HD will still lock on.

WLNK-107.9 no longer makes it into Hendersonville since they added that null to the west about 10 years ago. Which I wish they would reconsider and make more omnidirectional again. But it still makes it into Spartanburg and Greenville, although there is now also low power interference around Greenville.

 

[djjim6629]

Well, WSOC's transmitter is in NE Mecklenburg County and 95.1/96.1 is in central Gaston County so it makes sense that 95.1/96.1 would do better out near Asheville. I do agree that the fcc is allowing LPFM's and translators too close to full service stations. My old station in NH is taking a beating from a translator. Check out 94.0 WFTN-FM and then look at the translator on 94.1 in Manchester, NH. Just one example of many I suppose. Plain stupid.

 

[tylerSC]

Well, WSOC's transmitter is in NE Mecklenburg County and 95.1/96.1 is in central Gaston County so it makes sense that 95.1/96.1 would do better out near Asheville. I do agree that the fcc is allowing LPFM's and translators too close to full service stations. My old station in NH is taking a beating from a translator. Check out 94.0 WFTN-FM and then look at the translator on 94.1 in Manchester, NH. Just one example of many I suppose. Plain stupid.

Actually 103.7 from Charlotte was coming in strong and clear in Hendersonville before this new interference. They apparently have a very good transmitter, as I get a good signal on my home radio in Greenville, SC. As well as 95.1 and 96.1 which are closer. But low power signals now interfere with 102.9 and 107.9 here, but I can still get them on my home radio with rabbit ears. But these low power signals are too close to the fringe contour of these full power stations.

 

[RadioRumor]

The so-called 'new' interference from translator W279AI in Hendersonville has been around for 15 years. The original CP was granted in 1997.

Radio Training Network had a major mod trying to move it to 105.9. It sat at the FCC for nearly 5 years until it was withdrawn in 2003. All this is public record.

 

[tylerSC]

The so-called 'new' interference from translator W279AI in Hendersonville has been around for 15 years. The original CP was granted in 1997.

Radio Training Network had a major mod trying to move it to 105.9. It sat at the FCC for nearly 5 years until it was withdrawn in 2003. All this is public record.

Well they were either off the air or recently adjusted their power or antenna. Because there was definitely interference that did not exist before on 103.7 in the Hendersonville area.

 

[vchimpanzee]

WLNK-107.9 no longer makes it into Hendersonville since they added that null to the west about 10 years ago.

Wouldn't matter anyway. The Citizen-Times sports section lists WHKP's frequency as 107.7, even though it's really 1450.

 

[vchimpanzee]

The so-called 'new' interference from translator W279AI in Hendersonville has been around for 15 years. The original CP was granted in 1997.

Radio Training Network had a major mod trying to move it to 105.9. It sat at the FCC for nearly 5 years until it was withdrawn in 2003. All this is public record.

WTMT would surely keep that from happening.

By the way, I've heard 103.7 30 miles west of Asheville in my motel room.

 

[tylerSC]

WTMT would surely keep that from happening.

By the way, I've heard 103.7 30 miles west of Asheville in my motel room.

Yes 103.7 has a very good signal, and their tower is not even west of Charlotte like some of the Dallas towers. And I used to pick it up good in Hendersonville around the Walmart up until that translator began interfering last summer. Although the 103.7-HD would often still lock in. Also in that area, 95.1 and 96.1 were coming in strong, including the HD. But 107.9 now has that null to the west, which I don't quite understand. But 107.9 still makes it down the mountain into Greenville and Spartanburg, but the problem in Greenville is that new low power FM on the same frequency. Which brings it back to that translator interference issue again.

 

[mcy919]

In Asheville, they just signed on a translator for ESPN Radio at 97.3 FM. I drove through there on Friday and unfortunately for them I picked up WKBC from North Wilkesboro both east and west of Asheville. The translator dealt with a lot of interference while the other ones there came in loud and clear. It's unfortunate because I'm a fan of sports radio and AM usually isn't an option at night.

 

[vchimpanzee]

In Asheville, they just signed on a translator for ESPN Radio at 97.3 FM. I drove through there on Friday and unfortunately for them I picked up WKBC from North Wilkesboro both east and west of Asheville. The translator dealt with a lot of interference while the other ones there came in loud and clear. It's unfortunate because I'm a fan of sports radio and AM usually isn't an option at night.

I thought WISE had a good signal.

 

[mcy919]

I thought WISE had a good signal.

I was on I-40 when I listened to it so maybe it's better in other parts of town.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I was on I-40 when I listened to it so maybe it's better in other parts of town.

I don't know what its directional signal is like at night. They added WYSE in Canton years ago, though that hardly seems worthwhile since that's one of those stations that doesn't have much of a signal after dark. It does reach Lake Junaluska, though.

WISE doesn't make it that far at night.

 

[gr8oldies]

I get to Asheville several times a year, and it doesn't seem like much of anything covers the market except 99.9 and 106.9

 

[tylerSC]

I get to Asheville several times a year, and it doesn't seem like much of anything covers the market except 99.9 and 106.9

These 2 powerful stations can be heard across several states including NC, SC, GA, TN, KY, and VA. When I drove to Lexington, Kentucky back in October I could get them all the way from Greenville, SC until they dropped out somewhere near Corbin, KY. I stopped in London, KY at the nearest Frisch's Big Boy and they had just faded out. I could get them both good driving through Knoxville.

 

[tylerSC]

I was on I-40 when I listened to it so maybe it's better in other parts of town.

When driving on I-40 west of Asheville, you get a good signal from 95.1 and 96.1 from Charlotte through Canton and Haywood County. They also come in through parts of TN including a stretch around the big river and parts of I-81. 107.9 used to be the same before they created that null to the west.