Best DX'ing Spots in Rhode Island

[ScottBurns]

Those of you who like to DX can probably help with this question. Where are the best DX'ing spots in Rhode Island? With abundant water, I know that there are many. Moreover, I know that DX'ing varies seasonally.

In my experience, I would rank the Bristol-Portsmouth-Tiverton area the best in the state for DX'ing. I can consistently pick up stations from Northern New England, Connecticut, and even Long Island.

Anyone else have any good specific locations?

 

[Skynet74]

Misquamicut Beach Area in Westerly I picked up 92.3 K-Rock in New York City several years ago. I was listening to 92 Pro-FM one moment and then right underneath a stop light 92.3 New York came in. It was very clear too. So I pulled over to make sure of the station. Right along the water is the sweet spot. I'm fairly certain that those beach houses in the area can pick up both Pro-Fm and Free-Fm New York by a simple turn of their Stereo antenna.

 

[Ill alert the media]

Misquamicut Beach Area in Westerly I picked up 92.3 K-Rock in New York City several years ago. I was listening to 92 Pro-FM one moment and then right underneath a stop light 92.3 New York came in. It was very clear too. So I pulled over to make sure of the station. Right along the water is the sweet spot. I'm fairly certain that those beach houses in the area can pick up both Pro-Fm and Free-Fm New York by a simple turn of their Stereo antenna.

So if I move to a beach house in Misquamicut there's a good chance I might never hear PRO FM again?

 

[Ozman]

Take the ferries out to block island!
Its amazing what you get on the water.
I have fun listening to nyc radio clearly when I take the hi-speed ferry from new london to block island.
I can only imagine what you can clock in sitting in your car on the ferry from pt judith to block island
anyone try?
now if only I can find the best portable walkman to modify so I don't get cross channel interference...

Misquamicut Beach Area in Westerly I picked up 92.3 K-Rock in New York City several years ago. I was listening to 92 Pro-FM one moment and then right underneath a stop light 92.3 New York came in. It was very clear too. So I pulled over to make sure of the station. Right along the water is the sweet spot. I'm fairly certain that those beach houses in the area can pick up both Pro-Fm and Free-Fm New York by a simple turn of their Stereo antenna.

So if I move to a beach house in Misquamicut there's a good chance I might never hear PRO FM again?

 

[ssetta]

I go to Easton's Beach in Newport a lot, and I can pick up stations from Boston and Connecticut. I don't think I can pick up 92-3 in NYC because Pro FM is too close. But I have been able to pick up WeBe 108 there, and on Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA. See, I seemed to have been getting a lot of Connecticut and Long Island stations, and I tuned into 107.9, and I thought it MIGHT be Kiss 108, but they were playing the song "Father Figure" by George Michael. So, that kind of told me that it wasn't Kiss, but it was WeBe. I also remember another time on Horseneck Beach about 10 years ago, I was able to receive 106.7 Lite FM from NYC. I was listening to the radio as I was carrying it to the beach, and when I was in the parking lot, I was listening to Magic 106.7, but then all of a sudden it turned into the one out of NYC. Do you think this would happen with TV reception as well?

 

[ScottBurns]

I have found the Block Island Ferry, as well as most locations on Block Island, to be pretty tough for DX'ing. Perhaps it is the poor quality of radios I have employed, but the bleed from the strong stations makes DX'ing a near impossibility. For example, WEEI-FM's strong signal bleeds to many nearby stations. The same is true of 99.3.

The area in and around the Mount Hope Bridge is fantastic for DX'ing. Believe it or not, several Hartford-area stations can be picked up from that area, including WKSS and Rock 102 out of Springfield.

 

[Ozman]

I used to love listening to 103.7 on block island on the coast. otherwise on the island theirs bleed from that station on block island. try a sangean pocket radio or the d-fj61 which is hard to find (sony am-fm cd player) which has not only an audio output, but a headphone output. you can use headphone output as an antenna and the audio out as use for headphones it works great!

I have found the Block Island Ferry, as well as most locations on Block Island, to be pretty tough for DX'ing. Perhaps it is the poor quality of radios I have employed, but the bleed from the strong stations makes DX'ing a near impossibility. For example, WEEI-FM's strong signal bleeds to many nearby stations. The same is true of 99.3.

The area in and around the Mount Hope Bridge is fantastic for DX'ing. Believe it or not, several Hartford-area stations can be picked up from that area, including WKSS and Rock 102 out of Springfield.

 

[ScottBurns]

Thanks for the tips, Jamie. Today was an outstanding DX'ing day, especially in the Newport area. I clearly picked up both Q 104-3 and WKTU out of New York City, as well as Citadel's Q 97.9 out of Portland, Maine. Hopefully tonight has some more good DX'ing in store!

 

[vibe]

We had a summer home for about 30 years in Stonington CT (but right on the RI border) but right on the water. AM radio was very strong due to the salt water path particularly NYC and New Jersey Even 1210 Philly came in during the day. NYC FM and TV stations would come in occasionally; they were not something one could rely on (they came in about 30% of the time in summer)but there were nights where we got everything from 2 to 13 by rotating the antenna. Sometimes we would get both Providnce and Phila on 6 and 10. And the stations like 9, 11, 13 were really clear but I think it had to be a light tropo because we would get both NYC and Philly UHF's. On those nights NYC FM's were strong.
What's funny is we rarely got the Boston VHF's (2,4, 5, 7) very well. It was almost always NY. But they had the independents on 9 and 11 and we would watch those because of the ballgames and movies.
We didn't have cable for many years because it was a seasonal home.
In answer to the post, I think the best place to DX in RI would be anywhere right next to the salt water.

 

[radiojay1]

Jerimoth Hill

I would say definitely Jerimoth Hill in Foster, the state's highest point, on Route 101. There isn't much of a place to park, but you can get Boston, Springfield, Cape Cod, Hartford, New London, and some of Long Island on a regular basis. Try it on a day when tropo and e-skip are happening. I haven't had the chance but I bet it's awesome.

 

[ScottBurns]

Re: Jerimoth Hill

I have heard that Jerimoth Hill is a great spot for DX'ing. However, isn't access to the Hill severely restricted? I remember reading that much of the land surrounding the Hill is privately owned, and that hikers often find themselves at the mercy of the police. I am hoping that this is no longer the case, as I would love to visit Rhode Island's highest point.

 

[DG02816]

I'd say tht the area near the RI south coast is great for DX'ing. I can remember hearing the then WNBC-660 with a monster signal in Kingston. 1050 in New York, as WHN, sused to slam in in Newport. When I worked at the old WHIM-1110, a lot of listeners would tune to 1050 after WHIM went off at sunset. On a visit back home a couple of years ago, I happened to hear WGIR-610 Manchester NH with a signal equal to WPRO's, while driving over the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge.
I've also heard one of my stations, WNWR, give a clear legal ID thru a pause on WADK, while driving thru Stonington CT.


Dave Gardiner

WVCH 740/WNWR 1540

Philadelphia

 

[vibe]

In the last issue of Yankee Magazine, there was mention of a 4 min walk to the top of the hill; nothing about it being privately owned. Just happened to see the magazine in a doctor's office.