Favorite Boston FM stations of the past........

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

all walkman new and old
stations that don't come in at those cities are
93.7, 94.5, 97.7, 98.5, 101.7, 103.3. Those are the major stations that don't come in, those areas when I use (any) walkman, New and Old. Once outside the city, most of those stations come in good, except for 97.7, it's staticy in the Northshore area (I do have a RadioShack AM/FM Pocket Radio with an Antanna, most of all those stations come in good in those areas as well as outside the city)
Most major AM stations come in, but staticly because I'm on the train.

 

[raccoonradio]

I would recommend a good brand name one like Sony. I bought an Insignia AM-FM Walkman from
Best Buy which was a piece of crap, barely picked up anything. Curiously, the FM/HD portable I got has the Insignia name but is much much better. Of course Insignia is a name they put on,
and they contract out to different companies. Should have returned for a refund (think I threw
it away eventually)
Is THIS the one? Avoid!
http://www.emtcompany.com/style/images/products/ae8066c9389b046cdd231f45be59fa8d.jpg

If you're in downtown Boston walking around, or nearby, of course there will be splatter from
other stations on FM, etc.
When I was in Norfolk VA I attended a Norfolk Tides minor league game at Harbor Park. It was on
an "ESPN 94.1" station and I found I had trouble picking it up on an mp3 player which had an
FM radio in it (it did come in but had to hold it in a certain place; the cupholder of the empty seat next to me tended to work) and it wouldn't come in at all on a "Memorex" brand Walkman. I found
out later the station in question was actually licensed to, and broadcast from, Yorktown, to the
north. No doubt I was not far from another local FM station which was causing interference. Here not far from MIke 93.7's stick I find even on a half decent Sony Walkman, Mike's signal will butt in
on certain frequencies. It'll mix with 96.9...and pop up also on the non-commercial part of the band. You'll be among all the college stations and hear what is clearly an ad or a promo (with that
"Mike guy" voice...)

If you do have a half decent brand name one (not a cheap knockoff) and still have trouble receiving stations like these, it could be a defective one or you're just in spots where the signals
tend to mix.

Maybe being on a train can't guarantee good reception. Where I work, on the workroom floor,
FM and certainly AM stations are tough to get though it's better in the breakroom. A few days ago WBOQ 104.9 came in, in certain spots, but I had trouble with it last night. (Stick in Gloucester, I was in N. Reading in a building....and they are _not exactly 50kw_... )

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

yeah yeah, that's what it sounds like, the signals tend to mix. I did have a AM/FM Sony Digitnal walkman, I brought it new, it cost about $49.00, same thing, those stations can not get inside Boston, as well as a Panasonic AM/FM CD Portable Walkman, and an AM/FM Panasonic Walkman
On all those, and the one I have now (MPIO) MP Player with FM, it sounds like the signals mix.
The MPIO cost me ??? $120 (One Hundred)
When I had the Insignia HD Walkman, I also brought that at Best Buy, it cost about $40, I had that one for about a week. It only worked for three days. When the HD Channels didn't work, both the HD and the Regular channels had an aweful feedback, it sound like both LOUD NIGHTMERE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC AND LOUD NIGHTMERE CLASSICAL MUSIC put together in two.

Thank you for your advice.

(To all Boston FM Radio Program Management-Put all your towers the same place as Magic 106, Mix 104, Kiss 108, WZLX, WROR, 96.9, and WBOS) that way we can hear ANY radio station, anywhere

 

[Dusty Dale Brooks]

Boston was a town that really embraced FM right from the beginning. Hailing from Vermont I loved visiting Boston because the FM band was a radio Disneyland. The fidelity and clarity of the music was ear candy to me. I even loved the bells of Fisherman's Wharf in the TOH ID on 'JIB-FM.

Speaking of ear candy, someone mentioned the old Heller jingles that WVBF used in the early 70s. They were amazing--full sing and full orchestration with remarkable separation and range. Steree-ereo bouncing from ear to ear was very cool.

 

[raccoonradio]

In all honesty they can't move towers, because the FCC has restrictions about interference. The new Sports FM in Cle. at 92.3 has a lackluster signal compared to their 98.5, but that's because they have to "null" the signal due to stations nearby in Detroit and Columbus. Similar here--believe me, if you could move the FM towers then great but the FCC has to consider interference rules.

I think I know the one you mean, prob the one I have. Sony is a good name but they can't solve that problem. Maybe a "local-DX" switch which some radios have can help but who knows.

Oh, my mp3 players cost less than that...stuff like an RCA for $50, Sansa for $70 or so. I also have a Sony Walkman mp3 player but it can't do Audible audiobooks. All 3 have FM reception and the first two
can record off FM. And again that Insignia HD was prob defective.

Of course I have an advantage in living in Beverly near the coast and on a third floor and my recep is usually pretty good.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

same with me, I live in Salem, Ma near the hospital. Sometimes I visit my Uncle in Revere where I pick up my favorite radio station (Mia 1430am) better than in Salem, Ma. That's the station I listen to most on my free time as well as 850am, 680am, sometimes I do like to see what's playing on 93.7, and WBOS, I don't like Rock and Roll music very much, but I'll still listen just to see how it is.
I also liked WBOS when it was (Soft Adult Alternitive) before they became Radio 92.9 and disregarded most of their radio hosts.
My weekday job (Medical Center) Dorchester/Mattapan area have on Magic 106.7. The speaker in each department have the same station on in the whole hospital. It's not by my choice. It's what's on. They're ok. They could add more New Charlie Wilson music, New Freddie Jackson music, new El DeBarge music. but other than that, they're ok. I choose Mix 104.1 better than Magic 106.7.

Did you hear the commercial about the new AM/FM MP3 Recordable Walkmans (CCRADIO.COM) also (CCRANE.COM) is the website of course WWW before that. I heard it on WRKO. I might get that when I have more $$$ They said the signal suppose to be good. They also have a AM/FM Recordable Table Top radios.

 

[carmen]

FCC has restrictions about interference.

too bad theres no restrictions of high-power overload

on 4th floor of HOliday Inn in brookline, the SONY "dream machine" clock radio simply couldnt pick up anything.. spin the dial and the same cacaphony was present anywhere. on SiLabs there were a few orientations of antenna where i could null down the cacophony enough to hear WHRB with interference still bubbling underneath audibly. ive experienced same results on Corey Hill which is even further from the Pru.

walking through a grove of Beech trees parallel to Beacon street near longwood, building and tree attenuation were just enough that i could recieve WZBC (which was impossible on the 4th floor in brookline). once out of the woods near Fenway, it was a lost cause again. pretty much no station was audible here. WHRB was a barely, peeking thru the cacaphony in that garden, past the reeds and into Northeastern's campus

if people in Back Bay really couldnt get WGBH, i believe it now.


on Dudley street, things were good, didnt have any issues in roxbury, out from behind a line of metal-sided buildings at the southern corner of Newmarket near Speeds, i'm greeted with a perfect panoramic visual lineofsight to the pru and the devilish reception-destroying noise returned.

so yeah. boston stations are a thing of the past. just go to Boston

 

[Eli Polonsky]

When I had the Insignia HD Walkman, I also brought that at Best Buy, it cost about $40, I had that one for about a week. It only worked for three days. When the HD Channels didn't work, both the HD and the Regular channels had an aweful feedback, it sound like both LOUD NIGHTMERE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC AND LOUD NIGHTMERE CLASSICAL MUSIC put together in two.

It was obviously defective. You should have exchanged it for one that worked properly. You would have been surprised.

I bought two of them. One still works great. The other was defective and died. Quality control is poor, but when you get one that works like it's supposed to, the (analog) reception is better than any other Walkman-style portable I've ever heard, except maybe the very first analog-tuning Sony FM stereo Walkman that came out in the early '80s. The Sony Walkman gradually but steadily went three decades of downhill from there.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

yeah, that's true about Sony

 

[Kevin Goodwin]

I have to agree I loved WHTT 103.3 back in the day. It indeed was one of the best CHR stations Boston ever had. I forgot who the jocks were. The only two I remember were Alex Stone nights and Doug Lou Allen Does anybody remember the Jock schedule for WHTT. Also does anybody remember how far back in years WHTT's playlist went back maybe late 78 or 79. I can't remember. Didn't Lisa Karlin work for WHTT as well? I remember a female jock working there, but I forget who. I wish they would bring the 80's WHTT back it would be fun to hear it.
Also I loved George Taylor Morris have to agree he did have a great set of pipes on ZLX. Loved him on mornings on ZLX. Also loved his show Reelin in The Years. He was a genius knew his stuff. Learned a lot from him by listening to his shows

 

[Oldbones]

I have to agree I loved WHTT 103.3 back in the day. It indeed was one of the best CHR stations Boston ever had. I forgot who the jocks were. The only two I remember were Alex Stone nights and Doug Lou Allen Does anybody remember the Jock schedule for WHTT. Also does anybody remember how far back in years WHTT's playlist went back maybe late 78 or 79. I can't remember. Didn't Lisa Karlin work for WHTT as well? I remember a female jock working there, but I forget who.

Lisa Karlin did work there, carried over from the old WEEI-FM. I don't recall her as a solo jock though, I think she did news/sidekick on the morning show with Bill Smith. Don't recall if she stayed on when Paul Connor took over mornings in early '83. The only female jock I can think of was Cindy Bailen. ISTR the airstaff being kind of a revolving door. I agree they were a great CHR at a time when CHR music really cooked! I don't ever remember them playing any gold at all, if they did it didn't pre-date their switch to CHR (which was in the autumn of '82).

 

[VoiceofWayne]

Bruce Kelly, later of KZZP Phoenix, and XM 80s on 8 PD worked there for awhile as well.

 

[DavidZ]

IIRC, Hilary Stevens also stayed on at WHTT (post WEEI-FM). I believe she was on overnights back in the days when radio was live and local 24 hours a day with just a few exceptions.