AM Frequency of the Week - 820 kHz

[Icangelp]

From the bayfront area of downtown St. Petersburg, WWBA 820 is one the strongest daytime signals, with me being 14.4 miles s.e. of their Largo towers (as the crow flies), at night if you look on the coverage map

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WWBA&service=AM&status=L&hours=N

downtown St. Pete is in the major lobe, so although their signal here is weaker at night, it is still relatively strong, enough to be listenable (although their programming isn't!), I assume the Cuban 820 I hear must be in or near Havana, which is due south of my location, so if I turn my radio just a bit I can hear the Cuban station under WWBA and if I turn my radio to the west/east direction, I can sometime hear WBAP underneath; again both the Cuban and WBAP never override the WWBA signal here and the WWBA 820 signal is listenable at night here, as well as in Palmetto and downtown Bradenton to the south, but by the time you get just south of the Bradenton/Sarasota airport, the Cuban station takes over.

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

I've only heard WWBA for short periods during sunrise or sunset, when they are doing local news. What is wrong with their programming?

 

[drt]

Actually their morning programming is probably the best in the area, but that's a low bar! I haven't listened to the PM drive program in a while, but their talk shows in the evening are 3rd and 4th tier. I am a news junkie and their local news is good in the morning, but the rest of the day; it seems to be lacking; in fact I get more local/regional news by listening to WINK 1200 mid-day; even though WINK is in Fort Myers. America's Radio News is their mainstay (as it is also on WINK0-1200) but WINK carries the local after/evening newscast of WINK TV; so there is a local angle.

Both WINK and WWBA are 50,000 watts day with great signals and both drop to 1,000 watts directional at night and FWIW Sunset for both stations this month is 8PM EDT and sunrise for both is 7AM EDT.

I guess I was just giving a knee-jerk opinion; believe me, there are far worse stations in this market.

drt

 

[cyberdad]

I guess I was just giving a knee-jerk opinion; believe me, there are far worse stations in this market.

drt[/color]

Having spent three weeks in the area this past January, I think that's a pretty safe assessment. WWBA struck me as a pretty "vanilla" news-talk operation. Nothing particularly distinguished or particularly bad about it. The night signal was actually still pretty good where I was on St. Pete Beach (Treasure Island). But I could null it and hear WBAP underneath, as well as Spanish, which I assume was Cuba.

 

[drt]

Having spent three weeks in the area this past January, I think that's a pretty safe assessment. WWBA struck me as a pretty "vanilla" news-talk operation. Nothing particularly distinguished or particularly bad about it. The night signal was actually still pretty good where I was on St. Pete Beach (Treasure Island). But I could null it and hear WBAP underneath, as well as Spanish, which I assume was Cuba.

Agreed, I don't think anyone would confuse WWBA with WBBM, WCBS or WTOP!

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

 

[drt]

I guess I was just giving a knee-jerk opinion; believe me, there are far worse stations in this market.

drt[/color]

Having spent three weeks in the area this past January, I think that's a pretty safe assessment. WWBA struck me as a pretty "vanilla" news-talk operation. Nothing particularly distinguished or particularly bad about it. The night signal was actually still pretty good where I was on St. Pete Beach (Treasure Island). But I could null it and hear WBAP underneath, as well as Spanish, which I assume was Cuba.

Agreed; I don't think WWBA would have to worry about anyone confusing them with WBBM, WCBS or WTOP.

drt

 

[Icangelp]

Thanks drt & cyberdad.

The Cincinnati/Dayton market doesn't even have one morning news outlet, let alone an all (mostly) news station.

But then, we probably don't deserve one. ;D

 

[cyberdad]

Thanks drt & cyberdad.

The Cincinnati/Dayton market doesn't even have one morning news outlet, let alone an all (mostly) news station.

But then, we probably don't deserve one. ;D

With apologies for the veer and also apologies for the fact that I'm not really knowledgeable in this area, I'm a little surprised WKRC never went the morning all news route. Maybe they did at some point, but I never hear the signal here in the Chicago area, so I don't know. But I think news in the morning on a major AM signal might be a good foil to WLW.

 

[BMR]

819 is the nearest European multiple, but for some reason it isn't used in the UK. 828 gives a pretty good signal from the Birmingham transmitter of the BBC Asian Network. This targets immigrants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (and their descendants)

 

[RyanHoward]

Warminster PA(Philly 'burbs):

Daytime: WNYC New York(weak signal)
Night: also WNYC, but a little stronger. Also heard WBAP a few times.

 

[icybluelake]

Eastern Iowa, daytime: sometimes a weak WCPT. Weaker than years ago. Often some splatter from local KXIC (800), Iowa City.

Nighttime: WBAP usually, often quite strong; otherwise nothing.

 

[robotique]

just west of Boston MA with a barrage of portables including the original first CCrane CCRadio, Sangean ATS-505, Tecsun-PL660....

Daytime:
Nothing

Evening:
WNYC New York NY

Overnight past loggings:
WNYC New York NY
WGGM Chester VA
WWFD Frederick MD
WWLZ Horseheads NY


I haven't logged WBAP Dallas TX since 2001 (with a DX hiatus of 2002-2009)