Eldon, WA/Hood Canal FM and Daytime AM Scan APRIL 2013

[crainbebo]

Eldon, WA is an unincorporated community on Hood Canal, about 35 miles W of Seattle. I stayed in a vacation cabin near there for a couple of days, and recorded a nice bandscan.

88.1 KWAO Ocean Park, WA
88.3 KBVM Portland, OR (a very nice catch since KBVM is rare in these parts)
88.5 KPLU Tacoma, WA
88.7
88.9 KSWS Centralia, WA/KMIH Mercer Island, WA
89.1 CSN xlator Shelton, WA/KMHD Gresham, OR
89.3 KAOS Olympia, WA
89.5 KNHC Seattle, WA
89.7 possible KWFJ Roy, WA but couldn't confirm
89.9 KGHP Gig Harbor, WA/KASB Bellevue, WA (60w, 40 mi) and KQAC Portland, OR
90.1 possible KUPS Tacoma, WA and another but couldn't confirm
90.3 KEXP Seattle, WA
90.5 KACS Chehalis, WA
90.7 KSER Everett, WA/KBOO Portland, OR
90.9 KVTI Tacoma, WA
91.1 possible KROH but could not confirm
91.3 KBCS Bellevue, WA
91.5 KOPB Portland, OR
91.7 KXOT Tacoma, WA (now broadcasting TVW simulcast from Gold Mountain in Bremerton)
91.9 KPTZ Port Townsend, WA
92.1 CBU-FM1 Victoria, BC
92.3 KGON Portland, OR (right next to strong KQMV and a good signal as well! 140 miles)
92.5 KQMV Bellevue, WA
92.7
92.9 KISM Bellingham, WA
93.1 KRYP Gladstone, OR (a very nice catch at only 1600 watts and 140 miles distance)
93.3 KUBE Seattle, WA
93.5 [tried hard for the K228ET and did not hear it]
93.7 KGHP xlator in Gig Harbor, WA/KANY Ocean Shores, WA
93.9 KPDQ Portland, OR
94.1 KMPS Seattle, WA
94.3
94.5 KRXY Shelton, WA/K233BU White Center, WA
94.7
94.9 KUOW Seattle, WA
95.1 KITI Winlock, WA (380 watts)
95.3 KXXK Aberdeen, WA/KXLE Ellensburg, WA (123 miles)
95.5 KBFF Portland, OR
95.7 KJR Seattle, WA
95.9
96.1 KXXO Olympia, WA
96.3 [tried hard for the K-LOVE in Portland and did not hear it]
96.5 KJAQ Seattle, WA
96.7
96.9 KGY McCleary, WA
97.1 KYCH Portland, OR (right next to very strong KGY!)
97.3 KIRO Seattle, WA
97.5
97.7 KOMO Oakville, WA
97.9
98.1 KING Seattle, WA
98.3 [tried hard for KPPK and alas, did not hear it]
99.5 CIOC Victoria, BC
98.7 KUPL Portland, OR
98.9 KLCK Seattle, WA
99.1
99.3 KDDS Elma, WA
99.5 KWJJ Portland, OR (next to very strong Elma)
99.7
99.9 KISW Seattle, WA
100.1
100.3 KKRZ Portland, OR very strong/CKKQ Victoria, BC
100.5
100.7 KKWF Seattle, WA
100.9
101.1 KXL Portland, OR
101.3 KLWA Westport, WA
101.5 KPLZ Seattle, WA
101.7 K-LOVE translator Centralia, WA
101.9 KINK Portland, OR
102.1 KSWW Montesano, WA/KPQ Wenatchee, WA sometimes very strong
102.3
102.5 KZOK Seattle, WA
102.7
102.9 KNBQ Centralia, WA
103.1
103.3 KKCW Portland, OR/K277AE Seattle, WA
103.5
103.7 KMTT Tacoma, WA
103.9
104.1 KAFE Bellingham, WA/K281BM Shelton, WA (KMAS)
104.3 KMNT Centralia, WA
104.5 KMCQ Covington, WA
104.7 KDUX Aberdeen, WA
104.9 KKBW Eatonville, WA
105.1 KRSK Molalla, OR
105.3 KCMS Edmonds, WA
105.5
105.7 KJET Raymond, WA/K289AK Orting, WA
105.9 KFBW Vancouver, WA
106.1 KBKS Tacoma, WA
106.3
106.5 KWPZ Lynden, WA
106.7 KLTH Portland, OR
106.9 KRWM Bremerton, WA
107.1 KRQT Castle Rock, WA
107.3 K297BD Greenwater, WA/KFFM Yakima, WA (136 miles distance)
107.5 KXJM Banks, OR
107.7 KNDD Seattle, WA
107.9 probable KHPE Albany, OR, would be 201 miles but never heard the ID

On AM, this was the daytime scan.
550 KARI Blaine very weak
570 KVI Seattle
590 KUGN?
620 KPOJ Portland, OR
630 KCIS Edmonds
660 KAPS Mount Vernon
680 KBRD Lacey
690 CBU Vancouver, BC
710 KIRO Seattle
730 CHMJ Vancouver, BC
750 KXTG Portland OR
770 KTTH Seattle
810 KTBI Ephrata
820 KGNW Seattle
850 KHHO Tacoma
860 KPAM??
880 KIXI Bellevue
920 KGTK Olympia
950 KJR Seattle
1000 KOMO Seattle
1030 KMAS Shelton
1050 KBLE Kirkland
1090 KFNQ Seattle
1130 CKWX Vancouver
1150 KKNW Bellevue
1180 KLAY Tacoma
1190 KEX Portland
1210 KMIA Auburn
1230 KWYZ Everett + another station underneath
1240 KGY Olympia
1250 KKDZ Seattle
1280 KLDY Lacey
1300 KKOL Seattle
1320 KXRO Aberdeen threshold
1340 KUOW Tumwater very weak mixed with KWLE Anacortes
1360 KKMO Tacoma
1380 KRKO Everett
1400 KITZ Silverdale
1420 KRIZ Seattle/KITI Centralia
1450 KSUH Puyallup/probable KBKW or KONP underneath, talk program
1460 KARR Kirkland
1470 KELA Centralia
1480 KNTB Tacoma
1490 KBRO Bremerton
1520 KKXA Snohomish
1540 KXPA Bellevue
1550 KKAD Vancouver
1590 KLFE Seattle
1620 KYIZ Seattle
1680 KNTS Seattle
No TIS stations were heard at all during the day. An UNID NOAA (Pendleton, OR?) and WQBV569 Union Gap, WA (WSDOT) were on 1610 at night.

Our cabin used to have Dish Network, but due to paying too much $$$, it was taken off. The only TV channel we can receive at the cabin is KCPQ 13 from Gold Mountain in Bremerton. Hills block the Queen Anne stations like KOMO, KING, etc.

I could also hear the Boeing Field ATIS on 127.750 using my radio which has the air band. Probably 40 miles.

-crainbebo

 

[swhyde1980]

Surprised that you were able to pick up the KMTT translator over there. The Olympic Mountains love bouncing radio signals off themselves (how KPQ and KXLE come in here in Bremerton at times. KFFM not so much ever since CHBE in Victoria powered up years ago). On the TV side, KIRO has a translator in Kitsap County (K26IC-D) that sits up on top of a hill in Silverdale. Was wondering if that would ever reach the other side of the Hood Canal? You should have been able to receive KTBW as well, as they are also on Gold Mountain (Not like alot of us would watch TBN anyway...).

 

[crainbebo]

Lots of trees around our area, and the cabin is only 80 feet elevation with about 60 stairs (what a workout!) getting down to the Hood Canal water, full of oysters, clams, pile worms, and ghost shrimp (great for fish bait). We could not receive K26IC or KTBW due to the hills (up to 600 feet!) on the east side of Hood Canal.

Not a SIGN of CHBE, or any Vancouver stations. Guessing hills block the Vancouver stations like CFMI, CBU, etc.

-crainbebo

 

[crainbebo]

Bumped as I am leaving tomorrow for Eldon, again, to get oysters and clams. (Yum!)

In April, I took the Tecsun PL-660. This time I am taking the Grundig G5 and G8 (G5 since it is ARRL Field Day and I might want to listen to a few stations racking contacts...) Speaking of ARRL Field Day, here in Monroe, W7SKY (the Sky River radio club) is organizing a Field Day event at Sky River Park. Won't be there to see that antenna, but still....

-crainbebo

 

[fordranger797]

Nice. I am in the Gig Harbor area and drive around listening to CKKQ 100.3 from Victoria, its one of my favourite stations and I can usually get it clear at home and in the car. I have been trying to get CFMI 101.1 as I would like to listen to it without using the internet stream, but so far I have had no luck. Any tips?

By the by, this is an AM bandscan I did about four years ago from Queets, Washington on the Olympic peninsula
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK87a8EP2KE
please pardon the camerawork, I made this when I was about 13 years old and was ignorant to AM broadcasting physics.

 

[crainbebo]

I've gotten CFMI in Olympia before. (160 mi) You'd probably have to go up on the Kitsap Peninsula, most of the time to get CFMI. I think swhyde can get CFMI at his Bremerton QTH.

-crainbebo

 

[fordranger797]

Out of curiosity, if you aimed a directional TV antenna up towards Vancouver or Victoria, do you think you could pick up anything from Mount Seymour or Malanhat ridge?
I used to get a fuzzy, but watchable reception from CBUT-2 and CHEK-6 when I aimed my directional antenna up that way from my place in Gig Harbor

 

[crainbebo]

Updated bandscan JUNE 2013 Eldon, WA. Not as much Portland tropo as before, but a good scan.

88.1 KWAO Ocean Park
88.3
88.5 KPLU Tacoma
88.7
88.9 KSWS Chehalis/KMIH Mercer Island
89.1 CSN Bremerton
89.3 KAOS Olympia
89.5 KNHC Seattle
89.7 K209FQ Shelton (KAWZ) + UNID u/ very weak, KWFJ?
89.9 KGHP Gig Harbor/KASB Bellevue 60w
90.1 KPLI Olympia 100w/prob KUPS Tacoma 100w with rock music
90.3 KEXP Seattle
90.5 KACS Chehalis
90.7 KSER Everett
90.9 KVTI Tacoma
91.1 KROH Port Townsend
91.3 KBCS Bellevue
91.5 KOPB Portland OR
91.7 KXOT Bremerton
91.9 KPTZ Port Townsend + UNID (K220HD?)
92.1 CBU-FM1 Victoria BC + UNID Christian music (Delphi xlator?)
92.3 KGON Portland OR
92.5 KQMV Bellevue
92.7
92.9 KISM Bellingham/K225AX Des Moines (KGHO)
93.1
93.3 KUBE Seattle
93.5
93.7 K229BL Gig Harbor (KGHP)
93.9 KPDQ Portland OR
94.1 KMPS Seattle
94.3
94.5 KRXY Shelton
94.7
94.9 KUOW Seattle
95.1 KITI Winlock
95.3 KXXK Aberdeen/KXLE Ellensburg
95.5 KBFF Portland OR
95.7 KJR Seattle
95.9
96.1 KXXO Olympia
96.3
96.5 KJAQ Seattle
96.7
96.9 KGY McCleary
97.1 KYCH Portland OR
97.3 KIRO Tacoma
97.5
97.7 KOMO Oakville
97.9
98.1 KING Seattle
98.3
98.5 CIOC Victoria BC/KEYG Grand Coulee heard on and off with IDs and classic rock. 189 miles (!!)
98.7 KUPL Portland OR
98.9 KLCK Seattle
99.1
99.3 KDDS Elma
99.5 KWJJ Portland OR
99.7
99.9 KISW Seattle
100.1
100.3 KKRZ Portland OR/CKKQ Victoria BC/KWIQ Moses Lake heard a couple times, once with ID. 178 miles (!!) Never heard west of the Cascades!
100.5
100.7 KKWF Seattle
100.9
101.1 K266BM Olympia (KGHO)/KXL Portland OR
101.3 KLWA Westport
101.5 KPLZ Seattle
101.7 K269FS Centralia (K-LOVE)
101.9 KINK Portland OR
102.1 KSWW Montesano/KPQ Wenatchee
102.3 K272EP Chehalis (KACS) why do they need this waste of electricity when 90.5 reaches Chehalis fine?
102.5 KZOK Seattle
102.7
102.9 KNBQ Centralia
103.1
103.3 KKCW Beaverton OR/K277AE Downtown Seattle (KMTT)
103.5
103.7 KMTT Tacoma
103.9
104.1 KAFE Bellingham/K281BM Shelton (KMAS)
104.3 KMNT Centralia
104.5 KMCQ Covington
104.7 KDUK Aberdeen
104.9 KKBW Eatonville
105.1 KRSK Molalla OR
105.3 KCMS Edmonds
105.5
105.7 KJET Raymond/K289AK Orting (KAWZ)
105.9 KFBW Vancouver
106.1 KBKS Tacoma
106.3
106.5 KWPZ Lynden
106.7 KLTH Portland OR
106.9 KRWM Bremerton
107.1 KRQT Castle Rock
107.3 K297AY Greenwater (KAWZ)/KFFM Yakima
107.5 KXJM Banks OR
107.7 KNDD Seattle
107.9 KHPE Albany OR 201 miles, farthest heard here, with website mention.

Also included is a bandscan from Shelton, WA showing lots of Mt. Rainier-Eastern WA "pipeline" action.
88.1 KWAO Ocean Park
88.5 KPLU Tacoma
88.9 KSWS Chehalis
89.1 possible KFAE Richland. NPR "All Things Considered"
89.3 KAOS Olympia
89.5 KNHC Seattle
89.7 local CSN xlator
89.9 unid (KQAC?)
90.1 K211FH Shelton (KEFX)
90.5 KACS Chehalis
90.9 KVTI Tacoma
91.1 KYPL Yakima (pipeline)
91.3 KBCS Bellevue
91.5 KOPB Portland OR
91.7 KXOT Tacoma
91.9 unid
92.1 unid (Delphi?)
92.3 KGON Portland OR
92.5 KQMV Bellevue
92.9 KDBL Toppenish strong at times, pipeline again
93.3 KUBE Seattle
93.7 KANY Ocean Shores
94.1 KMPS Seattle
94.5 KRXY Shelton
94.9 KUOW Seattle
95.1 KITI Winlock
95.3 KXXK Aberdeen
95.7 KJR Seattle
96.1 KXXO Olympia
96.5 KJAQ Seattle
96.9 KGY McCleary (on dead air for hours 6/25 - possibly from squall line T-storm?)
97.1 KYCH Portland OR
97.3 KIRO Tacoma
97.7 KOMO Oakville
98.1 KING Seattle
98.3 KEYW Pasco (IDed with 509 area code and Pasco commercials)
98.9 KLCK Seattle
99.1 KUJ Walla Walla (IDed with 509 area code - thought it was KODZ Eugene at first)
99.3 KDDS Elma
99.5 KWJJ Portland OR
99.9 KISW Seattle
100.3 KKRZ Portland OR
100.7 KKWF Seattle
101.1 Olympia KGHO translator
101.3 KLWA Westport
101.5 KPLZ Seattle
101.7 K269FS Centralia
101.9 KINK Portland OR
102.1 KSWW Montesano
102.5 KZOK Seattle
102.9 KNBQ Centralia
103.3 KKCW Beaverton
103.7 KMTT Tacoma
104.1 KMAS translator
104.3 KMNT Centralia
104.5 KMCQ Covington
104.7 KDUX Aberdeen
104.9 KKBW Eatonville
105.3 KCMS Edmonds
105.7 KJET Raymond
106.1 KBKS Tacoma
106.5 KEGX Richland (very strong with 106.5 The Eagle IDs and classic rock)
106.7 KLTH Portland OR
106.9 KRWM Bremerton
107.1 KRQT Castle Rock
107.3 Greenwater CSN xlator
107.5 KXJM Banks OR
107.7 KNDD Seattle

-crainbebo

 

[bobdavcav]

Have you ever gotten KXDD over here since KAFE moved to that frequency? I think we might have heard it on Saturday over KAFE on Saturday as we came up the Southcenter Hill, thought it was KMNT splatter at first, but the more I think about it, the more likely it was KXDD. We couldn't get an ID, just country music.

 

[crainbebo]

I may have gotten bits and pieces of KXDD in Auburn, but I've never gotten an ID. They are a huge station and if not for KAFE on 104.1 they would probably be heard in many parts of Western WA. I was hearing KFFM 107.3 over the CSN xlator once I got toward the Capitol Mall in Olympia (Cooper Point Rd etc) on 101, but surprisingly, I had loads of E-SKIP fading in as well! Last night was a huge opening, first to NE, then to SD, WY, CO and finally Northern California. Logged 13 new ones and you can see which stations on the DX and Reception board.

-crainbebo

 

[bobdavcav]

Really? How the heck did I miss that? Are there certain weather conditions favorable for E-skip or do you just have to turn on the radio and hope for the best? When I turn on the Eugene node on GT, I usually check for E-skip, but the one time I experienced an opening was purely by accident, as someone else was controlling the tuner. I figured maybe later today into tomorrow and through the weekend would be more favorable for DX since the weather is changing.

 

[crainbebo]

You need to check the TVFM Skip Log. DXworld.com/tvfmlog.html. Put that in your bookmarks.
I am "Seattle CN97" on there since I live in the CN97 grid (CN97AU, Monroe, WA). Also, if there's E-skip in the area, watch for FM logs from KB7WOX in CN85 (Oregon), Dave in CN94 (Central OR), Rick N6KCR (in Seattle) and K7KA (CN86, SW WA). I just checked the log after getting a couple of new logs in the car coming back from Hood Canal, and another E-skip opening began which got up to 105.1!

-crainbebo