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Boston FM Dial, a mess?
- Thread starter e-dawg
- Start date
K
keyjock
Guest
> How did Boston FM dial become a mess? There aren't a lot of
> radio stations in the Boston area.
>
Would you mind being more specific!
At last check there where a few that can be heard in the Boston area: (in no particular order)
WJMN-FM
WMJX-FM
WXKS-FM
WODS-FM
WKLB-FM
WROR-FM
WBMX-FM
WBCN-FM
WCRB-FM
WTKK-FM
WZLX-FM
WILD-FM
WMKK-FM
WBOS-FM
WAAF-FM
WPLM-FM
WXRV-FM/WVFM-FM
WXLO-FM
WFNQ-FM
WGIR-FM
WFNX-FM/WFEX-FM
WCTK-FM
WOKQ-FM
WBOQ-FM
WZID-FM
WHJY-FM
WSNE-FM
> radio stations in the Boston area.
>
Would you mind being more specific!
At last check there where a few that can be heard in the Boston area: (in no particular order)
WJMN-FM
WMJX-FM
WXKS-FM
WODS-FM
WKLB-FM
WROR-FM
WBMX-FM
WBCN-FM
WCRB-FM
WTKK-FM
WZLX-FM
WILD-FM
WMKK-FM
WBOS-FM
WAAF-FM
WPLM-FM
WXRV-FM/WVFM-FM
WXLO-FM
WFNQ-FM
WGIR-FM
WFNX-FM/WFEX-FM
WCTK-FM
WOKQ-FM
WBOQ-FM
WZID-FM
WHJY-FM
WSNE-FM
P
Power91
Guest
Geography from way back when...the fact that Boston has a number of other "markets" around it, like much of the northeast, limits how many stations are truly identified with Boston, and how many are still able to be heard from other areas....
The opposite would be a market like Dallas/Ft. Worth, where everything is identified around one general area...
Following the typical 0.8 signal frequency separation, which a decent chunk of Boston does, we can see where what station's are and where some should be
92.1 - Blank (WFEX Peterborough NH)
92.9 - WBOS
93.7 - WMKK
94.5 - WJMN
95.3 - WHRB
96.1 - Blank (WSRS Worcester)
96.9 - WTKK
97.7 - WILD
98.5 - WBMX
99.3 - Blank (99.1 WPLM & 99.5 WKLB)
100.1 - WBRS Waltham (Brandeis LP) (also WWFX Worcester)
100.9 - Blank (100.7 WZLX)
101.7 - WFNX
102.5 - WCRB
103.3 - WODS
104.1 - WBCN
104.9 - WRBB (Northeastern LP) (also WBOQ Gloucester)
105.7 - WROR
106.5 - Blank (WMJX 106.7)
107.3 - Blank (WAAF Worcester)
As you can see there's a few places where it got screwed up, but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks (where they are designed too), including NH and Providence: 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7, 104.5.
Kiss 108 isn't on this list at any particular place, but with WXKS-FM being at the end of the dial on 107.9, it seems that is negligible...
~RM
The opposite would be a market like Dallas/Ft. Worth, where everything is identified around one general area...
Following the typical 0.8 signal frequency separation, which a decent chunk of Boston does, we can see where what station's are and where some should be
92.1 - Blank (WFEX Peterborough NH)
92.9 - WBOS
93.7 - WMKK
94.5 - WJMN
95.3 - WHRB
96.1 - Blank (WSRS Worcester)
96.9 - WTKK
97.7 - WILD
98.5 - WBMX
99.3 - Blank (99.1 WPLM & 99.5 WKLB)
100.1 - WBRS Waltham (Brandeis LP) (also WWFX Worcester)
100.9 - Blank (100.7 WZLX)
101.7 - WFNX
102.5 - WCRB
103.3 - WODS
104.1 - WBCN
104.9 - WRBB (Northeastern LP) (also WBOQ Gloucester)
105.7 - WROR
106.5 - Blank (WMJX 106.7)
107.3 - Blank (WAAF Worcester)
As you can see there's a few places where it got screwed up, but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks (where they are designed too), including NH and Providence: 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7, 104.5.
Kiss 108 isn't on this list at any particular place, but with WXKS-FM being at the end of the dial on 107.9, it seems that is negligible...
~RM
a densely populated area
This is what results when you have a densely populated area.
If you go out West, for example, you will find stations running tons of power,
with insanely tall towers, covering 27 counties in 3 states -- and the total potential audience is about the size of Newton,MA. And alot of cows...
This is what results when you have a densely populated area.
If you go out West, for example, you will find stations running tons of power,
with insanely tall towers, covering 27 counties in 3 states -- and the total potential audience is about the size of Newton,MA. And alot of cows...
> As you can see there's a few places where it got screwed up,
> but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of
> the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks
> (where they are designed too), including NH and Providence:
> 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7,
> 104.5.
Odd you mentioned 93.3 & 94.1 which are essentially Laconia stations & barely reach Manchester let alone the Boston area, then missed 101.1 which often shows in the Boston book. What's on 102.1?
> but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of
> the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks
> (where they are designed too), including NH and Providence:
> 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7,
> 104.5.
Odd you mentioned 93.3 & 94.1 which are essentially Laconia stations & barely reach Manchester let alone the Boston area, then missed 101.1 which often shows in the Boston book. What's on 102.1?
> > As you can see there's a few places where it got screwed
> up,
> > but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of
> > the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks
> > (where they are designed too), including NH and
> Providence:
> > 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7,
> > 104.5.
>
> Odd you mentioned 93.3 & 94.1 which are essentially Laconia
> stations & barely reach Manchester let alone the Boston
> area, then missed 101.1 which often shows in the Boston
> book. What's on 102.1?
>
I think he was talking about WSNE and WHJY from Providence. Both of those cover the southern part of the Boston market very well.
> up,
> > but there's still a majority of the slots filled. Some of
> > the stations in the Boston area fall on the half marks
> > (where they are designed too), including NH and
> Providence:
> > 92.5, 93.3, 94.1, 94.9, 95.7, 96.5, 98.1, 102.1, 103.7,
> > 104.5.
>
> Odd you mentioned 93.3 & 94.1 which are essentially Laconia
> stations & barely reach Manchester let alone the Boston
> area, then missed 101.1 which often shows in the Boston
> book. What's on 102.1?
>
I think he was talking about WSNE and WHJY from Providence. Both of those cover the southern part of the Boston market very well.
D
DidYouKnow
Guest
What's on 102.1? Not sure of the call letters,but it's The Shark in Hampton N.H.
> What's on 102.1? Not sure of the call letters,but it's The
> Shark in Hampton N.H.
>
WSAK. The station throws a good signal into Essex County, but it would have no chance at moving in due to WFNX on 101.7 and the powerful 101.9 WCIB which blankets Southeastern Mass and beyond during the summer.
> Shark in Hampton N.H.
>
WSAK. The station throws a good signal into Essex County, but it would have no chance at moving in due to WFNX on 101.7 and the powerful 101.9 WCIB which blankets Southeastern Mass and beyond during the summer.
Re: a densely populated area
> This is what results when you have a densely populated area.
>
> If you go out West, for example, you will find stations
> running tons of power,
> with insanely tall towers, covering 27 counties in 3 states
> -- and the total potential audience is about the size of
> Newton,MA. And alot of cows...
>
Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a Bostonian's view of the world!
Although what you said is true in a few cases, the big sticks out west (and down south too) tend to reach more people than the population of Newton. At least 150,000 in most cases.
Stations in smaller communities that are isolated often don't use as much juice unless the economics are there for them to do so (like reaching other communities where they can get ad dollars). Both stations in Price, UT (for example) are class A's and use translators to serve surrounding communities. Nearby (well, 200 miles) Grand Junction, CO has several 100,000 watters but they serve a lot more people - at least 250,000. They have translators too, for mountain towns.
The south is the prime 100,000 watt area because the population is spread around and you can have a lot of rural listeners when you cover 1/4 of a state like Alabama. A whole lot more than live in Newton.
Some of these stations have also become rimshotters into cities like Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta and Salt Lake. I know of a station licensed to Sotuh Boston, VA that rimshots (well) into Raleigh, NC. Another licensed to Crewe, VA rimshots to Richmond. Each is more than 50 miles from their target market. That concept really took hold with the dawn of corporate conglomeration.
Back to Boston...
As said before here, it's Boston's proximity to so many other markets that limits the number of dial choices within the market. And, those other communities (e.g. Providence, Manchester, Worcester, Hartford, etc.) are big enough in their own right that it's tough to find any move-ins as you have in other parts of the US (see above). So, we're pretty much stuck with what we have.
If and when WILD-FM goes non-directional, it will represent a big deal for this market. A *new* station for many of us, which doesn't happen often here (unless there's tropo).
> This is what results when you have a densely populated area.
>
> If you go out West, for example, you will find stations
> running tons of power,
> with insanely tall towers, covering 27 counties in 3 states
> -- and the total potential audience is about the size of
> Newton,MA. And alot of cows...
>
Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a Bostonian's view of the world!
Although what you said is true in a few cases, the big sticks out west (and down south too) tend to reach more people than the population of Newton. At least 150,000 in most cases.
Stations in smaller communities that are isolated often don't use as much juice unless the economics are there for them to do so (like reaching other communities where they can get ad dollars). Both stations in Price, UT (for example) are class A's and use translators to serve surrounding communities. Nearby (well, 200 miles) Grand Junction, CO has several 100,000 watters but they serve a lot more people - at least 250,000. They have translators too, for mountain towns.
The south is the prime 100,000 watt area because the population is spread around and you can have a lot of rural listeners when you cover 1/4 of a state like Alabama. A whole lot more than live in Newton.
Some of these stations have also become rimshotters into cities like Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta and Salt Lake. I know of a station licensed to Sotuh Boston, VA that rimshots (well) into Raleigh, NC. Another licensed to Crewe, VA rimshots to Richmond. Each is more than 50 miles from their target market. That concept really took hold with the dawn of corporate conglomeration.
Back to Boston...
As said before here, it's Boston's proximity to so many other markets that limits the number of dial choices within the market. And, those other communities (e.g. Providence, Manchester, Worcester, Hartford, etc.) are big enough in their own right that it's tough to find any move-ins as you have in other parts of the US (see above). So, we're pretty much stuck with what we have.
If and when WILD-FM goes non-directional, it will represent a big deal for this market. A *new* station for many of us, which doesn't happen often here (unless there's tropo).
Boston = the Hub
> Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a
> Bostonian's view of the world!
Pretty much anything one really needs is within a 3 hour drive of downtown Boston - mountains, colleges, cities, ocean, rural, etc. If it is NOT, do you really need it??
:0)
> Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a
> Bostonian's view of the world!
Pretty much anything one really needs is within a 3 hour drive of downtown Boston - mountains, colleges, cities, ocean, rural, etc. If it is NOT, do you really need it??
:0)
Re: Boston = the Hub
> > Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a
> > Bostonian's view of the world!
>
> Pretty much anything one really needs is within a 3 hour
> drive of downtown Boston - mountains, colleges, cities,
> ocean, rural, etc. If it is NOT, do you really need it??
>
> :0)
>
How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or warm seas?? LOL!
> > Gee, this appears to be the literary version of a
> > Bostonian's view of the world!
>
> Pretty much anything one really needs is within a 3 hour
> drive of downtown Boston - mountains, colleges, cities,
> ocean, rural, etc. If it is NOT, do you really need it??
>
> :0)
>
How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or warm seas?? LOL!
Re: Boston = the Hub
> How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or
> warm seas?? LOL!
Glaciers - cold. solid ice
palm trees - no shade
decent weather - no challenge to that. at least we appreciate good weather here when we get some!
Big Ben - wrong time zone, and it rains there too much of the time anyway
warm seas - hurricanes and tropical storms (Katrina? Wilma anybody?)
> How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or
> warm seas?? LOL!
Glaciers - cold. solid ice
palm trees - no shade
decent weather - no challenge to that. at least we appreciate good weather here when we get some!
Big Ben - wrong time zone, and it rains there too much of the time anyway
warm seas - hurricanes and tropical storms (Katrina? Wilma anybody?)
Re: Boston = the Hub
> > How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or
>
> > warm seas?? LOL!
>
>
> Glaciers - cold. solid ice
>
> palm trees - no shade
>
> decent weather - no challenge to that. at least we
> appreciate good weather here when we get some!
>
> Big Ben - wrong time zone, and it rains there too much of
> the time anyway
>
> warm seas - hurricanes and tropical storms (Katrina? Wilma
> anybody?)
>
I stand corrected! It turns out that we do get cold, solid ice, places without shade, clocks that are wrong, and hurricanes (once in a while). Now, we have an urban/AC - so I guess there is evetything!!
> > How about glaciers, palm trees, decent weather, Big Ben or
>
> > warm seas?? LOL!
>
>
> Glaciers - cold. solid ice
>
> palm trees - no shade
>
> decent weather - no challenge to that. at least we
> appreciate good weather here when we get some!
>
> Big Ben - wrong time zone, and it rains there too much of
> the time anyway
>
> warm seas - hurricanes and tropical storms (Katrina? Wilma
> anybody?)
>
I stand corrected! It turns out that we do get cold, solid ice, places without shade, clocks that are wrong, and hurricanes (once in a while). Now, we have an urban/AC - so I guess there is evetything!!
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