• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

FM Observations-Tacoma to Olympia 3/26/2012

Went over to Olympia, WA today. Here's an almost full bandscan of the dial in Tacoma, Lakewood, Dupont and Olympia. All in WA unless specified.

88.1 KWAO Ocean Park [huge signal!]
88.3
88.5 KPLU Tacoma
88.7
88.9 KSWS Centralia from Lakewood-Olympia [didn't check public FM that much]
89.1 weak K206DR Shelton
89.3 KAOS Olympia
89.5 KNHC Seattle [almost non-existant in Olympia]
89.7 KWFJ Roy
89.9 KGRG Auburn, then KGHP Gig Harbor, then nothing
90.1 KUPS Tacoma, then KPLI Olympia, 25 mi apart!
90.3 KEXP Seattle [non-existant after Lakewood or so]
90.5 KACS Centralia
90.7 KSER Everett
90.9 KVTI Tacoma
91.1 KYPL Yakima [heard in the Dupont area, a "pipeline" area for Yakima's, and NO it was not KTJC Kelso, as it is CSN]
91.3 KBCS Bellevue but wasn't listening much. How far can you guys hear KCED in Centralia?
91.5 KOPB Portland, OR [Olympia only]
91.7 KXOT Tacoma
91.9 weak station, likely K220HE Centralia [13w, in Olympia]
92.1 at first I had K201AB West Seattle [recent move from 88.1 due to KWAO] then it mixed with CBU-FM1 Victoria, BC, then K221FJ Tacoma [KNTB-1480] took over by Federal Way. In Olympia it was K221DV Delphi
92.3
92.5 KQMV Bellevue
92.7
92.9 KDBL Toppenish [full TOH ID at 1400 as "KDBL Toppenish-Yakima". HUGE signal at times! Heard in Dupont, 110 mi away. Also a "pipeline" signal, as it faded away within 2 miles.] KISM Bellingham and KYAO's Olympia xlator also heard
93.1 nothing [is that Spanish pirate in Tacoma still on?]
93.3 KUBE Seattle
93.5
93.7 KGHP's xlator in Gig Harbor, then KANY Ocean Shores as it faded away after Lakewood.
93.9
94.1 KMPS Seattle
94.3
94.5 KRXY Shelton after KMIH's xlator faded. Big signal through Tacoma, to Olympia.
94.7
94.9 KUOW Seattle
95.1 KITI Winlock starting around Fort Lewis. Only 380w.
95.3 KXXK Aberdeen. Didn't check this frequency enough! Could have heard KXLE or CKZZ.
95.5
95.7 KJR Seattle [sounded AWFUL in Olympia. Static-ridden and full of multipath.]
95.9
96.1 KXXO Olympia
96.3
96.5 KJAQ Seattle
96.7
96.9 KGY McCleary [recently switched to country, is not sat-fed like before with Real Country]
97.1
97.3 KIRO Tacoma
97.5
97.7 KOMO Oakville
97.9
98.1 KING Seattle
98.3
98.5 CIOC Victoria, BC, but starting in Lacey I heard an open carrier. Is this what used to be 101.1 Tumwater?
98.7
98.9 KLCK Seattle
99.1
99.3 KDDS Elma
99.5 KWJJ Portland, OR [starting in Lakewood]
99.7
99.9 KISW Seattle
100.1
100.3 CKKQ Victoria, BC [and no sign of KKRZ]
100.5
100.7 KKWF Seattle
100.9
101.1 Pirate in Tumwater off [I guess.] Heard was CFMI New Westminster [in OLYMPIA, over 160 mi away from its transmitter!! Listenable too!] and KXL Portland, OR [the whole Tacoma-Olympia route]
101.3 nothing, was looking for KLWA Westport
101.5 KPLZ Seattle
101.7 first station heard was KLES Prosser [Regional Mexican, and over 150 mi SSE!! Pipeline signal, heard in Dupont.], then K269FT in Aberdeen [KXRO] and K201GB Centralia [with K-LOVE, formerly 88.1 before KWAO increased power]
101.9 KINK Portland, OR [and sometimes a good signal]
102.1 KPQ Wenatchee and KSWW Aberdeen duking it out. KSWW won after Lacey. I heard KPQ and KSWW's TOH IDs at the same time at Dupont!
102.3
102.5 KZOK Seattle
102.7
102.9 KNBQ Centralia
103.1
103.3 KGHO translator in Olympia. May have mixed with KKCW Beaverton, OR but I couldn't confirm
103.5
103.7 KMTT Tacoma
103.9
104.1 KAFE Bellingham, mixing with K281AD Olympia [KMTT], dominating by Lacey
104.3 KMNT Centralia, heard for a long time N (Renton maybe?)
104.5 KMCQ Covington
104.7 KDUX Aberdeen
104.9 KKBW Eatonville
105.1
105.3 KCMS Edmonds
105.5
105.7 CBU Vancouver, BC mixing with KJET Raymond, WA
105.9
106.1 KBKS Tacoma
106.3
106.5 Radio U xlator, Enumclaw, WA and KWPZ Lynden
106.7
106.9 KRWM Bremerton
107.1 KRQT? Didn't fine tune but heard something on 107.2, 107.1 had nothing
107.3 CHBE Victoria [never heard KFFM Yakima however. They are 100kw! I could ID it in other areas because they have pitched-up 2% CHR, and CHBE does not.]
107.5
107.7 KNDD Seattle
107.9

-crainbebo
 
The open carrier you heard on 98.5 was most likely Free Radio Olympia, a pirate.

KSER....in OLYMPIA?? Now THAT'S a catch!

I thought 106.5 in Olympia was KOWA-LP
 
90.7 was super weak and was adjacent to KACS and KVTI, but the G8 still amazes me with it's DSP chip, allowing for little or no bleed on first-adjacents. I don't think it was KNWR as I only heard KXXK on 95.3, and the Yakima pipeline happened further NE on 5.

106.5-thanks Bongwater, must have not been listening too much. 98.5 was an open carrier in the morning, and afternoon. I heard it clear up to Lacey before it faded.

The former 103.5 pirate in Olympia, Silent Radio, was forced off last October by the FCC (probably some complaints from KGHO listeners in Olympia?)

-crainbebo
 
crainbebo said:
90.7 was super weak and was adjacent to KACS and KVTI, but the G8 still amazes me with it's DSP chip, allowing for little or no bleed on first-adjacents. I don't think it was KNWR as I only heard KXXK on 95.3, and the Yakima pipeline happened further NE on 5.

106.5-thanks Bongwater, must have not been listening too much. 98.5 was an open carrier in the morning, and afternoon. I heard it clear up to Lacey before it faded.

The former 103.5 pirate in Olympia, Silent Radio, was forced off last October by the FCC (probably some complaints from KGHO listeners in Olympia?)

-crainbebo

http://www.frolympia.org/

I HATE to rat them out. But people with radios are going to find them anyway.

I actually LIKE them.......
 
http://www.frolympia.org/
Quote from their website "Free Radio Olympia is an unlicensed, direct action micropower radio station broadcasting at 100 watts"

Like how his definition of Micropower is 100 watts. I remember using Micropower light bulbs in the ATU to keep it warm and cozy.
 
We didn't pressure them; we did request that they move to a more open frequency, which they did.
 
I take it you didn't have a recorder with you to catch the KSWW and KPQ-FM IDs at the same time, did you? I would be interested to hear that. 101.1 was a pirate? When I picked it up in November it sounded like they were running CNN's AC format.
 
bobdavcav said:
I take it you didn't have a recorder with you to catch the KSWW and KPQ-FM IDs at the same time, did you? I would be interested to hear that. 101.1 was a pirate? When I picked it up in November it sounded like they were running CNN's AC format.

The vehicle was in motion, at 2pm TOH I heard on 102.1 "KPQ-FM...the Harbor's Locally Owned Media Group (cue Sunny 102.1 ID)...Moses Lake (KPQ, it's from Wenatchee but it can be heard in Moses Lake)...(ABC news sounder)...102.1 The Quake". Both were in and out and at that point they were both in, one better than the other, then swapping.

-crainbebo
 
Forgot to say, there was (or is still) an oldies pirate on 101.1 in Tumwater. I wasn't able to pick it up where I was in Olympia, I heard CFMI (160 mi) and sometimes KXL (105 mi) instead.

My Grundig G8 does not have a line-out jack for a recorder.

-crainbebo
 
Hmm, could you pick something like that up on a car radio? KPQ has an enormous signal. I wonder how it does in Spokane on that radio? When I was going to summer camp about 6 years ago, we carried it from about Ellensburg all the way to east of Mosis Lake, actually it was pretty clear for Mosis Lake. I remember 4 years ago when I went over to Idaho I got KPQ-FM with city-grade coverage in Ellensburg. BTW, for those who record stations, what kind of equipment do you use? I have the following equipment,
The radio on my BrailleNote, which if you are wondering is a PDA for the blind, has an fm radio in it with recorder. The problem is it records only in mono.
The IPod has a headphone jack that I could, with the purchase of a cable, plug into my computer and record from the radio on that into Audasity.
I am also planning on gettin an hd radio for my phone, IPhone 4s. What do others use?
 
bobdavcav said:
Hmm, could you pick something like that up on a car radio? KPQ has an enormous signal. I wonder how it does in Spokane on that radio? When I was going to summer camp about 6 years ago, we carried it from about Ellensburg all the way to east of Mosis Lake, actually it was pretty clear for Mosis Lake. I remember 4 years ago when I went over to Idaho I got KPQ-FM with city-grade coverage in Ellensburg. BTW, for those who record stations, what kind of equipment do you use? I have the following equipment,
The radio on my BrailleNote, which if you are wondering is a PDA for the blind, has an fm radio in it with recorder. The problem is it records only in mono.
The IPod has a headphone jack that I could, with the purchase of a cable, plug into my computer and record from the radio on that into Audasity.
I am also planning on gettin an hd radio for my phone, IPhone 4s. What do others use?

I was using a Grundig G8 portable radio next to the window, and using headphones. Yes I did hear both IDs at the same time. If I had a recorder that would probably be a cool DX clip. ;)

-crainbebo
 
Mt. Rainier acts as a "passive" repeater of sorts, when it comes to Yakima stations coming off of Ahtanum Ridge and making their way to the west side of the mountains. I am impressed that you were able to get KPQ-FM though, since it's alot farther north than Yakima.
 
Mt Adams seems to facilitate reception of Portland FM stations just north of Yakima, just like Mt Rainier does for Yakima signals received west of the mountains. Before the FM band got so cluttered east of the Cascades you could listen to just about all the Portland FMs on I-82 as soon as you cleared the ridge between Yakima and Selah and north quite a ways on the way to Ellensburg. Gotta be knife edge refraction over Mt Adams, which is in the path and halfway between Selah and Portland. Years ago before I-82 was finished there was a two story tavern right along the old highway in Selah that had a deep fringe TV antenna on a tall mast aimed right at Mt Adams, I'm sure to receive Portland TV. I was way under age at the time but I would loved to have stopped in there to have a look at how good the reception was!
 
Scott1 said:
Mt Adams seems to facilitate reception of Portland FM stations just north of Yakima, just like Mt Rainier does for Yakima signals received west of the mountains. Before the FM band got so cluttered east of the Cascades you could listen to just about all the Portland FMs on I-82 as soon as you cleared the ridge between Yakima and Selah and north quite a ways on the way to Ellensburg. Gotta be knife edge refraction over Mt Adams, which is in the path and halfway between Selah and Portland. Years ago before I-82 was finished there was a two story tavern right along the old highway in Selah that had a deep fringe TV antenna on a tall mast aimed right at Mt Adams, I'm sure to receive Portland TV. I was way under age at the time but I would loved to have stopped in there to have a look at how good the reception was!

I had KKRZ, KUFO (before the KXL switch), KRSK and KLTH from Portland pretty good right around the Selah Creek Rest Area (when you can see Adams and Rainier at the same time) back in September 2010. Never anything from Eugene. I also could get KWJZ (now KLCK) and KBKS on the Manastash, as well as a weak signal of KNCW 92.7 Omak (never got KZBE 104.3). I just wonder how good the reception was of KPTV, KGW, etc. in that tavern!

swhyde1980 said:
Mt. Rainier acts as a "passive" repeater of sorts, when it comes to Yakima stations coming off of Ahtanum Ridge and making their way to the west side of the mountains. I am impressed that you were able to get KPQ-FM though, since it's alot farther north than Yakima.

I had KPQ all the way to the Marvin Rd/510 exit before KSWW won. Farthest I've heard KPQ? A little park right near Hoodsport, WA very close to the IGA and gas station. Distance? 130 miles. Amazing.

-crainbebo
 
In the 1980s and 1990s on regular trips along I-84 through Eastern Oregon toward Boise, KPQ-FM blasted in around LaGrande, OR, then again from about North Powder, OR, to the main freeway access at Baker, OR, believe it was exit 300 or so. Stereo signal, no less. Haven't been down there for years so don't know about now. Also, KPQ-FM was a regular north of Seattle as was the 100.3 in Moses Lake before Victoria showed up, both with fine stereo signals. Within a quarter mile of the Baker exit southbound KPQ-FM totally disappeared.
 
redvarmit said:
In the 1980s and 1990s on regular trips along I-84 through Eastern Oregon toward Boise, KPQ-FM blasted in around LaGrande, OR, then again from about North Powder, OR, to the main freeway access at Baker, OR, believe it was exit 300 or so. Stereo signal, no less. Haven't been down there for years so don't know about now. Also, KPQ-FM was a regular north of Seattle as was the 100.3 in Moses Lake before Victoria showed up, both with fine stereo signals. Within a quarter mile of the Baker exit southbound KPQ-FM totally disappeared.

I tried so hard for KWIQ on 100.3 when the Yakima pipeline showed up around exit 118 on I-5 3/26, but I couldn't get it...only Victoria. KKRZ may have popped in too.

-crainbebo
 
Having your tower almost 8000 feet above sea level doesn't hurt! I assume KPQ FM has the highest elevation of any FM in WA, correct?
 
Speaking of La Grande, I could pick up KCMB 104.7 (Country) from that area in Wapato, WA-over 150 miles. Farthest station I've heard from there was Power 94 KXIX from Bend, OR, over 180 mi.

-crainbebo
 
Last summer, I had 95.3 KXLE from Ellensburg coming in and out at my Mom's place here in Bremerton, where usually CKZZ from Vancouver would come in. I was fortunate enough to get a couple audio clips from that with ID.
 
You should have experienced my house in Bothell! If I pointed SE, in a certain part of the deck, I could get KXLE sounding like a local station. Walk a couple steps and CKZZ would come in. KXXK was extremely rare however (only caught it once or twice). Never was able to hear KFFM or KXDD there however.

-crainbebo
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom