Best and worst signals

[ftballfan]

What stations have the best and worst signals in your opinion (in relation to licensed power; stations running STAs don't count for worst)?

Best:
WAPL (105.7 Appleton) [Stops the scan often in Manistee; Can be heard over most of Wisconsin; fights with WSRW along US-31 between Ludington and Shelby]
WBCT (93.7 Grand Rapids) [Despite the FCC doing everything to limit their reach (two new stations were plopped down on 93.7 and a third changed to 93.7 to allow another station to upgrade), they still get out a ways; can be heard into Indiana and east of Lansing]
WJZQ (92.9 Cadillac) [Their signal actually improved in Manistee when they moved their stick from Cadillac to Kalkaska; one time it stopped the scan as far south as West Shore CC, 10 miles from Ludington; can be heard in Grand Rapids at times]
WSRW (105.7 Grand Rapids) [Also gets out a ways; can likely be heard in southern Wisconsin; only thing limiting their reach is 100kW WAPL]
WTCM (103.5 Traverse City) [Stops the scan consistently in Hart, about 65 miles from their tower; can occasionally be heard in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Saginaw, and Flint; can likely be heard well into Wisconsin and the UP due to no 103.5s in WI]
WZDR (99.7 Sturgeon Bay) [Only runs 46kW; with how strong they can be in MI you'd think they were 100kW; can be heard along most of the Lake Michigan shoreline from north of Muskegon to the Bridge]
Worst:
WKLA (1450 Ludington) [Can barely be received by day 20 miles away; likely doesn't make it 10 miles at night]
WKZC (94.9 Scottville) [Licensed to run 17kW and doesn't have a reduced power STA; I don't think they've ever ran that much; When they fade out heading south on US-31, WTCM (nearly 50 miles northeast of their stick and also a country station) is still listenable]

 

[WDAE-FM101]

Worst
WCBS-FM (101.1) WHTX (100.3) New York
Severely limited due to co-channels in Philadelphia
WCBS also loses out to 101.3 in Hamden Connecticut.

 

[schmave]

KDKA is my hands-down winner for worst signal, at least as far as its output for its signal and frequency.
Best? WNAX, KLIF, WLW and WBAP jump out to me.

 

[ftballfan]

Worst
WCBS-FM (101.1) WHTX (100.3) New York
Severely limited due to co-channels in Philadelphia
WCBS also loses out to 101.3 in Hamden Connecticut.

Speaking of co-channels, there are two 105.7s in Baltimore and York, PA and two 104.7s in Charlotte and Columbia

 

[Lawppy]

In Coldwater, MI-

BEST-
101.5- WNSN- South Bend, IN- Just a hair over 65 miles away, but a fairly listenable signal even east of town. As you climb the hills in Hillsdale County, it's them you hear, not Toledo's WRVF, despite being closer to Toledo by this point. WRVF finally takes over once you reach the other side of the hills.

93.7- WBCT- Grand Rapids, MI- While their signal is definitely impressive given their distance, it's not as strong as many would suspect. Coldwater is right down the barrel of rough terrain between here and the 'BCT stick, so the signal suffers to a degree in this region. But they can still be heard deep into eastern Michigan and even parts of northern Indiana before other Class B's and drop-ins pick away at the signal.

WORST-
92.1- WCSR- Hillsdale, MI- Even though Hillsdale Co. is some of the highest terrain in south-central Michigan, WCSR's tower itself sits in a valley. That, on top of being on a crowded frequency limits their reach. It's not unlikely for 'CSR to be unlistenable in the car in Coldwater. I've even had problems with them as close as Quincy (11-12 miles away).

102.5- WBZV- Hudson, MI- The same hills that help WNSN are the ones that kill WBZV. Their tower is located just east of the highest terrain in Hillsdale Co, limiting the already puny class A signal's reach to the west. On top of being co-channel to mid-Michigan blowtorch WIOG, a 250 watt translator signed on from Kalamazoo last year. Now, even more than before, it's not unusual to lose WBZV completely despite being just over 20 miles from the tower. I personally nulled them out completely in Quincy, a mere 18 miles.

*As an interesting note- The downsloping terrain heading east into SE Michigan helps WCSR and WBZV carry quite far in those directions. I've personally heard WCSR in a parking lot at University of Toledo and WBZV while leaving Toledo eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike, good for about 60-65 miles.

 

[tomservo]

In the Mobile-Pensacola area (two separate markets but most of the stations broadcast from the same two or three sticks halfway between each town)…

The best: Clear Channel recently upgraded 96.1 The Rocket (WRKH) and Lite Mix 99.9 (WMXC)'s 12-bay antenna on the WKRG-TV tower, and now it really gets out. It should, they're both 100 kW at 1755 feet! I actually got The Rocket's HD to decode in a first floor hotel room in Oceans Springs, Mississippi — 60 miles out. Not too bad for being just 1% of the analog.

The best HD signal we have belongs to Clear Channel's country 95-WKSJ at 94.9. I think it runs the maximum power for HD. The analog is 100 kW at 1555 feet, so it's no slouch in that department, either. But the HD is rock solid with a decent radio in both markets and well beyond.

On AM, comically bad ground conductivity coupled with nearby saltwater means everyone has weird real-world patterns. But the standout best overall signal is easily Cumulus' WXQW at 660 because it runs 10 kW days. It's the only area AM that's easily audible in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida during the day. An honorable mention goes to WMOB at 1360 with a 9 kW daytime signal from a TX site in Mobile Bay. I understand this little station is audible as far away as Roatan, off the coast of Honduras, during the day.

As for worsts…

I think our worst local FM signal is probably "SonLife Radio" WQUA on 102.1, licensed to the small town of Citronelle. It's 15 kW but doesn't even city grade Mobile. In fact, it really doesn't cover much of anything except pine trees and deer. It's pretty much hemmed in on all relevant sides so it cannot move closer to the city. In Mobile itself it barely qualifies as a fringe signal from my observations.

An honorable mention should definitely go to WNSP, a sports talk station licensed to Bay Minette that tries to cover Mobile. It reaches the city well enough but the moneyed demos out in the western burbs and across the bay are just too far out of reach to really be relevant. It thrives, I think, simply for being the only FM sports talk in the area.

The worst HD signal goes to Clear Channel's 107.3 Hit Music Now for Pensacola (WRGV). It originally ran 100 kW from a good stick north of Pensacola, but CC wanted to consolidate it and move it closer to Mobile, so it had to drop to 50 kW. Analog is basically OK (but not great) but the HD is useless. I'm less than 12 miles from the TX site and lose lock just sitting at home. In the car it's hopeless, especially in Pensacola itself.

Worst AM could apply to any number of signals but for sheer disappointment I think none are worse here than Pensacola's locally run news/talk 1620 WNRP. 10 kW days and 1 kW nights should be killer, but the day signal barely makes 20 miles while the night signal barely exceeds the tiny Pensacola metro area, just a few miles from the TX. Another Pensacola AM, WBSR, warrants a mention, too. 1 kW at 1450 doing AC for years and years, just recently switched to ESPN Radio with an FM translator. The 1 kW signal begins fading and nulling within just a few miles of the TX site. By the time you reach Lillian, Alabama, just 12 miles west, it's pretty much gone on the average radio.

 

[Buckeyes2001]

I've personally heard WCSR in a parking lot at University of Toledo and WBZV while leaving Toledo eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike, good for about 60-65 miles.

I'm surprised you got WCSR from the U of Toledo and not WOHF from Bellevue, OH. I seem to always get WOHF with a somewhat fuzzy signal when passing through Toledo.
The other day, I was getting WBZV from here in Vermilion, OH. I heard them say 'Buzz 102.5'. Rather unusual to hear them though as 102.5 here is almost always either WZOO/Edgewood, OH and/or WIOG/Bay City


The best FM signals around here are CIMX 88.7 and CIDR 93.9. I count on them both being there even in dead band conditions.

 

[ftballfan]

In Coldwater, MI-

BEST-
101.5- WNSN- South Bend, IN- Just a hair over 65 miles away, but a fairly listenable signal even east of town. As you climb the hills in Hillsdale County, it's them you hear, not Toledo's WRVF, despite being closer to Toledo by this point. WRVF finally takes over once you reach the other side of the hills.

93.7- WBCT- Grand Rapids, MI- While their signal is definitely impressive given their distance, it's not as strong as many would suspect. Coldwater is right down the barrel of rough terrain between here and the 'BCT stick, so the signal suffers to a degree in this region. But they can still be heard deep into eastern Michigan and even parts of northern Indiana before other Class B's and drop-ins pick away at the signal.

WORST-
92.1- WCSR- Hillsdale, MI- Even though Hillsdale Co. is some of the highest terrain in south-central Michigan, WCSR's tower itself sits in a valley. That, on top of being on a crowded frequency limits their reach. It's not unlikely for 'CSR to be unlistenable in the car in Coldwater. I've even had problems with them as close as Quincy (11-12 miles away).

102.5- WBZV- Hudson, MI- The same hills that help WNSN are the ones that kill WBZV. Their tower is located just east of the highest terrain in Hillsdale Co, limiting the already puny class A signal's reach to the west. On top of being co-channel to mid-Michigan blowtorch WIOG, a 250 watt translator signed on from Kalamazoo last year. Now, even more than before, it's not unusual to lose WBZV completely despite being just over 20 miles from the tower. I personally nulled them out completely in Quincy, a mere 18 miles.

*As an interesting note- The downsloping terrain heading east into SE Michigan helps WCSR and WBZV carry quite far in those directions. I've personally heard WCSR in a parking lot at University of Toledo and WBZV while leaving Toledo eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike, good for about 60-65 miles.

I carried WNSN as far north as Pentwater a couple of weeks ago. It helps that the 101.5 in Manistee is running 250W from a roof of a building. WBCT still makes Manistee on rare occasions despite there being a drop-in 40 miles to the east. Before that station came on, it used to occasionally stop the scan, 120 miles away!! 92.1 is basically a giant cesspool for FM outside of local areas served by 92.1s in most areas. WIOG occasionally makes it as far west as Grand Rapids.

 

[ftballfan]

Another station I'd have to put forward for worst signals:
107.9 WCZW Charlevoix - Doesn't make Traverse City despite favorable terrain between Charlevoix and Traverse City (heck, a translator from that area puts a listenable signal into downtown TC!!!). WCDY McBain comes in instead with little interference despite there being some big hills between TC and McBain.

 

[audioguy]

For a graveyarder, Chicago's WSBC does very well on 1240. I have pulled them in as far east as Mishawaka (yes, I literally had to pull them in). The other Chicago area graveyarders on 1450 and 1490 are weak by comparison.

 

[cyberdad]

From my experience from many years as a business traveler, I'd give the best AM radio day signal that I've ever come across as CBK. Honorable mention to WWL's saltwater path along the gulf. Another honorable mention to CKY (Winnipeg) before it went off. 50kw at 580 although it ran into problems going east when it hit the Canadian sheild northwoods forests about 60 miles east of town.

Worst....Hard to argue with Zach about the AMs in the Pensacola area. Although North Georgia, parts of the Florida peninsula, Long Island, and most of New England come to mind as being pretty lousy in terms of ground conductivity. Worst....any graveyarder in any area with bad ground conductivity.

As for night, I'd give it to the 800 that was on the island of Bonaire. Most distant reliable regular in the Chicago area....even if it did mix with (or sometimes get blown out by) XEROK and CKLW. KOMA and KAAY also had impressive nighttime signals if you happened to be in an area where their juice was aimed. Worst...any graveyarder in any area with bad ground conductivity. Honorable mention to Cuba's R. Enciclopedia on 530. Whether it's 10kw, 30kw, 50kw or whatever, the signal goes on forever with very little else on the channel to stop it.

FM? I'd give the best to the 103.3 in the Santa Barbara area. Honorable mention to KRTH, Los Angeles.

I'm sure there are others who can name better or worse examples than me....but I'm speaking from my own personal experience and travels.

 

[Icangelp]

Not an FM person.
Although, back in the day WOXR 97.7 in Oxford Ohio had a good signal to parts of Cincinnati considering the power.

I assume out of town stations...at my location...

Days
Best: WLAP 630 Lexington + WHAS Louisville, though when I'm driving, neither make it through a bridge structure to my receiver. WRFD 880 Worthington (Columbus) does well also.
Worst: I'll go with 1070 WFNI Indianapolis. No real reason. I just think 50KW directional towards me should be stronger. Probably because their transmitter is located in NW Indianapolis.

Nights
Best: WSM/WTAM/KMOX
Worst: KDKA/WGY/WHAM/WOAI
Worst local: WDJO 1480, WCVG 1320 & 123 WDBZ

I could replace stations in any category and still feel good about my post.

I'm with cyberdad regarding PJB Bonaire. 500KW and directional our way at night, and it traveled well when conditions favored.

KAAY and KOMA both had monster signals. When I lived in Kansas City in the late 60's, most nights KAAY boomed in almost like a local.

 

[crainbebo]

Worst signal in Seattle? A tie between KNTB 1480 Tacoma and KZIZ 1560 Sumner! KNTB doesn't even make it to Renton. (It's ESPN Deportes). KZIZ does 10 miles, max, in the day. Other than that it's a horrible, staticky, messy signal. Honorable mention to KRIZ 1420 Renton.

-crainbebo

 

[charlestondxman]

Best AM signal in my area: WLTQ 730. 5kw from marsh, and easily listenable through entire Charleston area, along with Savannah and Myrtle daytime. Also listenable many miles offshore of coast. Night signal at 103 watts still adequately covers area.

Worst: WZJY 1480. Has strength of graveyarder, and goes out miles before them. Night signal from Mt. P useable for a couple miles, if that.

Best FM signal: WAVF 101.7. No co-channel for miles, and dominates frequency in eastern SC. Also can be heard frequently in Columbia and Savannah.

Worst: 100.5. Hampered by a 100.3 only 50 or 60 miles away and a co-channel in Florence, struggles to get past Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties.

 

[ftballfan]

Lower Michigan has awful ground conductivity. It's so bad that most of the AMs I get in Manistee during the day are from Wisconsin. A couple of weeks ago I pulled in WOSH (100+ miles away on 1490 and most of that over water) and other Wisconsin graveyarders with a decent signal while WKLA (closest AM, 20 miles away on 1450 and all over land) was unlistenable.

I've never pulled in Radio Enciclopedia, let alone anything from Cuba, in Manistee. If I get anything on 530, it's CIAO.

Icangelp, there are two stations that run decent power at night on 1200 that battle each other up here, WRTO Chicago and WCHB Taylor/Detroit

Charlestondxman, The 101.7 being the best in Charleston is somewhat surprising as 101.7 was an FM graveyard prior to Docket 80-90

 

[schmave]

I've personally heard WCSR in a parking lot at University of Toledo and WBZV while leaving Toledo eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike, good for about 60-65 miles.

I'm surprised you got WCSR from the U of Toledo and not WOHF from Bellevue, OH. I seem to always get WOHF with a somewhat fuzzy signal when passing through Toledo.
The other day, I was getting WBZV from here in Vermilion, OH. I heard them say 'Buzz 102.5'. Rather unusual to hear them though as 102.5 here is almost always either WZOO/Edgewood, OH and/or WIOG/Bay City.

The best FM signals around here are CIMX 88.7 and CIDR 93.9. I count on them both being there even in dead band conditions.

Didn't even think about FM because I rarely DX it, but I wholeheartedly agree with these two Windsor signals. WIOT out of Toledo has a great signal as far as 75 miles from Toledo in some directions, but adjacent interference does a job on it once you get near Lima and Lorain.

 

[Lawppy]

I'm surprised you got WCSR from the U of Toledo and not WOHF from Bellevue, OH. I seem to always get WOHF with a somewhat fuzzy signal when passing through Toledo. The other day, I was getting WBZV from here in Vermilion, OH. I heard them say 'Buzz 102.5'. Rather unusual to hear them though as 102.5 here is almost always either WZOO/Edgewood, OH and/or WIOG/Bay City.

I thought I'd have WOHF too, but there they were at Univ. of Toledo! WBZV in Vermillion is more of a surprise to me. You're literally hard pressed to hear them 30 miles to the west due to the 250 watt Kalamazoo translator and WIOG. My personal experience with 102.5 in the Firelands region of OH is a weak WIOG, WDVE- Pittsburgh and even WTSS out of Buffalo on occasion.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

For a graveyarder, Chicago's WSBC does very well on 1240. I have pulled them in as far east as Mishawaka (yes, I literally had to pull them in). The other Chicago area graveyarders on 1450 and 1490 are weak by comparison.

And it's not even at full efficiency for tower height. It's limited by WJOB 1230. It must be in a good patch of conductivity. It's stronger than WLS in Park Ridge.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Not an FM person.
Although, back in the day WOXR 97.7 in Oxford Ohio had a good signal to parts of Cincinnati considering the power.

I assume out of town stations...at my location...

Days
Best: WLAP 630 Lexington + WHAS Louisville, though when I'm driving, neither make it through a bridge structure to my receiver. WRFD 880 Worthington (Columbus) does well also.
Worst: I'll go with 1070 WFNI Indianapolis. No real reason. I just think 50KW directional towards me should be stronger. Probably because their transmitter is located in NW Indianapolis.

Nights
Best: WSM/WTAM/KMOX
Worst: KDKA/WGY/WHAM/WOAI
Worst local: WDJO 1480, WCVG 1320 & 123 WDBZ

I could replace stations in any category and still feel good about my post.

I'm with cyberdad regarding PJB Bonaire. 500KW and directional our way at night, and it traveled well when conditions favored.

KAAY and KOMA both had monster signals. When I lived in Kansas City in the late 60's, most nights KAAY boomed in almost like a local.

WFNI has the best signal in Indy but it's no WLW or WHAS. Many 50KW stations have tall towers that result in superior signals. WFNI has a set of 240' sticks, so yes, I would expect it to not measure up as well as some other 50KW facilities.

 

[rfry]

...WFNI has the best signal in Indy but it's no WLW or WHAS. Many 50KW stations have tall towers that result in superior signals. WFNI has a set of 240' sticks, so yes, I would expect it to not measure up as well as some other 50KW facilities.

Good observation.

While WFNI has more groundwave ERP at the peak of their daytime main lobe than any 50 kW, non-D, 24/7 "legacy" AM station typically using a 195-degree monopole, the RMS value* of the WFNI directional pattern is 2,191 mV/m at 1 km -- compared to (for example) the non-D pattern of WJR with an RMS value of 2,845 mV/m.

WFNI would need to supply ~84.3 kW to the common point of their existing daytime array in order to produce the same groundwave RMS field at 1 km that WJR produces with 50 kW.

The FCC would not permit that for WFNI, of course, because that would not provide the protections needed for other assignments, and for the maximum transmitter power allowed for the various classes of AM stations.

Earth conductivity at the operating frequency along each groundwave path also has a significant effect.

* the value of the field at the radius of a perfect circle having the same enclosed area as the directional pattern