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FM Frequency of the Week: 98.1

Carmichael, CA

Nothing

In Summertimes

K251CA (KJAY) West Sacramento with a Weak Signal
K251CE (KUBA) Yuba City with a Weak Signal
KISQ San Francisco

Vallejo, CA

KISQ San Francisco
 
A fair signal from rock station "98 Rocks" KTAL Texarkana, here in Tyler.
 
Melbourne FL

98.1 MHz WNUE - Deltona – Orlando FL - The Joy FM - Christian (ex-Salsa 98.1) - 2024

Distant FM

WCTK - New Bedford MA - Cat Country 98.1 - Country - 2012
 
Wilmington Delaware

Good HD signal from WOGL 'Big 98.1' Philadelphia with Hits from the 70's-90's. It has multiple HD channels with HD4 carrying the Phillies games 24/7.

WOCM 'Ocean 98' Ocean City MD can be heard in SE DE with Adult Alternative Music. During TROPO conditions it can override WOGL up here with a twist of the antenna. This morning the Ocean City/Salisbury stations are making the trip N to Wilmington on open frequencies like WQHQ 104.7 and WTDK 107.1 but I can't quite hear WOCM with WOGL in control of 98.1.
 
Kenosha, WI- Local translator W251BU, 250 watts from the WGTD tower on the north side; carries WRJN Racine. You don't have to get far west of town to have WMGN Madison come over the top of it.
Have also heard over the years WLKN Cleveland, WI and KHAK Cedar Rapids, IA.
 
East Tennessee (Knoxville/Sevierville): W251BR, translator for WFGW "106.7 The Light FM", which in turn simulcasts the monster Billy Graham outlet, WMIT (except for local ads and weather). A mystery to me is how WFGW runs 5 seconds ahead of WMIT when WMIT is the originating station.

The translator killed one of the best DX frequencies. Before it came on, it was a toss-up between the powerhouse WBUL,"98.1 The Bull" Lexington KY and Hot 98.1, WHZT, Williamson, SC. Less often was WLND, Signal Mountain, TN.

DX included ZNC, Bahamas, once in the car and about 15 seconds of a Radio Reloj in Cuba

Retro/other: Western Ohio. I can remember before much was on 98.1, and a good opening to the south would bring what was then WKQQ "Double Q" out of Lexington (now WBUL, with WKQQ exiled to 100.5). WDFM, Defiance, OH subsequently went on the air.
 
Denver, CO - K251CV, licensed to Golden, rebroadcasting KQKS-HD3, "Mile High Sports", in mono.
 
Clifton, New Jersey

No nearby licensed stations, but I have been able to receive WOGL "Big 98.1" Philadelphia, PA, WCTK "Cat Country 98.1" New Bedford, MA, and W251BY "Big 98.1" Patchogue, NY during tropo. W251BY is currently the farthest FM translator that I have received. The transmitter is 72 miles (116 km) away with a power of 250 watts.
 
With 50 kW of WPXY 97.9 IBOC less than a mile away, 98.1 isn't usable here in Rochester. On rare occasions with WPXY off or at low power, CHFI Toronto tends to be the usual.
 
East Tennessee (Knoxville/Sevierville): W251BR, translator for WFGW "106.7 The Light FM", which in turn simulcasts the monster Billy Graham outlet, WMIT (except for local ads and weather). A mystery to me is how WFGW runs 5 seconds ahead of WMIT when WMIT is the originating station.
The HD system used in America has a "digital delay" of several seconds (your time may vary). WMIT is digital according to radio-locator.
WMIT most likely has a "delay" on the analog audio to sync it up with the digital audio. WFGW is analog no delay, so no delay on 98.1 translator either.
 
In Jasper GA we are supposed to get W251CZ tied to WPGY in Ellijay. They have the antenna on a mountain at 3301 feet that looks good on paper but at least 30% of the time WLND-FM Signal Mountain (Chattanooga) covers them up. WLJA's HD2's 93.7 (also is WPGY's programing) is more reliable with only a rare incursion by 93.7 from Atlanta 680's translator.
 
Hartland, VT:

WJJR Rutland, adult contemporary.

Meriden, CT:

Freak reception: Only in the parking lot of my old apartment building, I could receive W251BY Patchogue, NY, a 250-watt translator for classic hits WPTY-HD2. This station never came in anywhere else I drove in the city, only that one spot. Weird. Driving south, I wouldn't hear it again until I reached North Haven, about 10 miles to the south.
 
North Iowa:
Mostly bleed over from adjacent channel KCMR/Mason City, though fairly frequent, weak reception from KHAK/Cedar Rapids or KBEW-FM/Blue Earth is pretty common.
 
Clifton, New Jersey

No nearby licensed stations, but I have been able to receive WOGL "Big 98.1" Philadelphia, PA, WCTK "Cat Country 98.1" New Bedford, MA, and W251BY "Big 98.1" Patchogue, NY during tropo. W251BY is currently the farthest FM translator that I have received. The transmitter is 72 miles (116 km) away with a power of 250 watts.
I'm curious of W251BY's range on the Jersey Shore during tropo. It likely exceeds 100 miles!
 
In Charleston it is WYBB Folly Beach, which has been a rock station for decades. Probably over 35 years as 98 Rock. It leans more active and modern rock now. It used to be more classic rock years ago.

They also have the Carolina Panthers games locally. Usually on a several second delay from whatever the TV broadcast is. You can tell when they play the Falcons, because the local Fox Sports station carries their games and it‘s usually close to a play ahead from the Panthers feed.
 
I'm curious of W251BY's range on the Jersey Shore during tropo. It likely exceeds 100 miles!
It seems to have incredible range for a 250-watter even without tropo. I suppose the flatness of Long Island combined with all that salt water accounts for that. I'm still amazed that it punches into Connecticut 20 miles from the Sound, though. In what used to be my part of Connecticut, it was WCTK New Bedford that dominated on 98.1 during tropo.
 
250 watts @ 500 feet above average terrain is line of site equal to class B. Of course lower power limits building penetration but a decent antenna on a car should give you surprising distances. They also don't have to deal with a lot of on powerful on channel stations. I don't think salt water helps FM as much as AM.
 
East Tennessee (Knoxville/Sevierville): W251BR, translator for WFGW "106.7 The Light FM", which in turn simulcasts the monster Billy Graham outlet, WMIT (except for local ads and weather). A mystery to me is how WFGW runs 5 seconds ahead of WMIT when WMIT is the originating station.

The translator killed one of the best DX frequencies. Before it came on, it was a toss-up between the powerhouse WBUL,"98.1 The Bull" Lexington KY and Hot 98.1, WHZT, Williamson, SC. Less often was WLND, Signal Mountain, TN.

DX included ZNC, Bahamas, once in the car and about 15 seconds of a Radio Reloj in Cuba

Retro/other: Western Ohio. I can remember before much was on 98.1, and a good opening to the south would bring what was then WKQQ "Double Q" out of Lexington (now WBUL, with WKQQ exiled to 100.5). WDFM, Defiance, OH subsequently went on the air.
In my earlier report I forgot about a pirate in my part of town that played 80s...like he'd stacked a bunch of 80s various artist compilations on a CD changer....with no announcements. He'd go Christmas at the appropriate time.
 
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