CBS-FM received in Trenton...

[JoeyDee_WOGL]

Hello everyone...this is pretty much my first post here and hope this is in the right forum. Right now as I type this I am currentrly receiving CBS-FM loud and clear in Trenton, NJ. This in my view is strange due to the fact that B-101.1 usually is the dominant signal being from Philly.
Is this a new opening or just some DX from weather conditions or sun spots?

 

[BRNout]

It's probably tropospheric enhancement that is favoring signals from the east over those from the west. So, CBS-FM is getting just enough bounce this morning to knock off WBEB in your area. As the day wears on, the moisture layer will rise and weaken and CBS-FM will almost certainly fade enough to be lost.

The channel allotments permitting shared frequencies at 101.1 in Philly and NY is absurd.

To give an idea, WKTU 103.5 (clear in most of the PHL market) gets into Bucks County on a typical day and WOGL 98.1 (clear in much of the NY market) is perfectly received as far northeast as Metuchen or Iselin, NJ. Meanwhile, 101.1 is a mish-mash as far N as Woodbridge, NJ and the SW tip of Staten Island all the way S to Princeton and Ewing, NJ (where B101 dominates).

I was trying to listen to CBS-FM while driving along I-287 near Piscataway and I still had quite a bit of co-channel interference from WBEB. It's abject stupidity.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

This is just an educated guess, but it seems possible that both 101.1's were originally licensed at much lower power where they didn't interfere with each other. As time (and FM popularity) marched forward, it may have made sense for each station to allow the other to operate at full Class B facilities. Judging from the ratings over the years, I'd says it's worked out well for them both in spite of the interference.

 

[jd]

This is just an educated guess, but it seems possible that both 101.1's were originally licensed at much lower power where they didn't interfere with each other.

Good guess, but they were licensed as co-channel stations before the FCC designated station classes and adopted the spacing table. (Of course, those were later modified as a result of Docket 80-90.) As Class B stations WCBS-FM and WBEB retain their "grandfathered status," allowing them to operate at full power or its equivalent; their antenna height and relatively low power correspond with the maximum facilities for any other Class B station. WCBS-FM is also short-spaced and "grandfathered" with WHUD 100.7 Peekskill NY, WKCI-FM 101.3 Hamden CT and WGGY 101.3 Scranton PA.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

This is just an educated guess, but it seems possible that both 101.1's were originally licensed at much lower power where they didn't interfere with each other.

Good guess, but they were licensed as co-channel stations before the FCC designated station classes and adopted the spacing table. (Of course, those were later modified as a result of Docket 80-90.) As Class B stations WCBS-FM and WBEB retain their "grandfathered status," allowing them to operate at full power or its equivalent; their antenna height and relatively low power correspond with the maximum facilities for any other Class B station. WCBS-FM is also short-spaced and "grandfathered" with WHUD 100.7 Peekskill NY, WKCI-FM 101.3 Hamden CT and WGGY 101.3 Scranton PA.

As one from Indiana, I speak with a total lack of knowledge on the NYC-Philly markets. I am curious to know if these stations both signed on with their present full Class B facilities? We have a somewhat similar situation in central Indiana where a Class B on 95.5 is less than 20 miles from a Class A on 95.9. They were both at much lower power & antenna height 45 years ago, but eventually they cross-waivered each other to go to their full class allowance in spite of the short spacing. I'm curious to know what the actual power & antenna heights of WBEB & WCBS-FM were the day they signed on. My guess is that won't be easy to scrounge up, but if anyone has access to that info, at least one inquiring mind wants to know...

 

[Phillies Fan]

I believe, and I could be wrong by a couple watts, that WBEB 101.1 in Philly (then WDVR), signed on at 4,200 watts from an antenna height of 250 feet above terrain. WCBS-FM was always a full power class B FM, and was already in operation when WDVR in Philly came on the air. Of course, in those days, full power meant the equivilant of 20,000 watts at 500 feet.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I believe, and I could be wrong by a couple watts, that WBEB 101.1 in Philly (then WDVR), signed on at 4,200 watts from an antenna height of 250 feet above terrain. WCBS-FM was always a full power class B FM, and was already in operation when WDVR in Philly came on the air. Of course, in those days, full power meant the equivilant of 20,000 watts at 500 feet.

I'm learning new stuff every day! When did the definition of a full B go from 20KW to 50KW? I started in radio 40 years ago yesterday & 50K at 500' was the standard then. Happen to know further history on that 'standard'?

 

[Phillies Fan]

I'm talking about the early 60's here. By 1965 or so, most of those 20,000 watters were increased to 50,000 max power allowable.

 

[nd2023]

It's no big deal to get CBS-FM in Trenton, you get it in spots all the time without tropo. Same thing with B101 in Edison. The same can be said about the 100.3's.