FM Reception Report from Springfield, MA

[KML0224]

Compiling this list was awfully tough. I was at the Springfield Bus Terminal and was nearly done in with the massive overloading of WMAS-FM 94.7, since their transmitter is so close to this area. Oh, I am aware that there's a Massachusetts radio board. However, it gets little attention compared to this or the Boston board. Besides, I have a direct question about one of the stations that is licensed to the Connecticut side of the line, making this kind of relevant. OK, here's what I was able to get under the splatter of WMAS-FM:

(G) GOOD (F) FAIR (P) POOR

(P) 88.5-WFCR Amherst [???] University Of Massachusetts
(G) 90.7-WTCC Springfield [???] Springfield Technical Community College
(F) 93.1-WHYN Springfield [HOT AC] MIX 93.1
(F) 93.7-WZMX Hartford [URBAN] HOT 93.7
(G) 94.7-WMAS Springfield [AC]
(P) 95.7-WKSS Hartford/Meriden [CHR] KISS 95.7
(F) 96.5-WTIC Hartford [HOT AC] 96.5-TIC
(G) 97.9-WPKX Enfield [COUNTRY] KIX 97.9
(P) 99.3-WLZX Northampton [ROCK]
(F) 100.5-WRCH New Britain [AC] Lite 100.5
(P) 100.9-WRNX Northampton ? [PROGRESSIVE?]
(G) 102.1-WAQY Springfield [CLASSIC ROCK] ROCK 102
(F) 102.9-WDRC Hartford [CLASSIC HITS] 102.9-DRC FM
(P) 104.1-WURH Waterbury/Hartford [MODERN] FM 104.1
(F) 105.5-WVEI Easthampton [SPORTS] WEEI Radio Network
(F) 105.9-WHCN Hartford [AC] THE RIVER 105.9
(G) 106.9-WCCC Hartford [ACTIVE ROCK]
(P) 107.7-WACC Enfield [VARIETY] Asnuntuck Community College

NOTES: While heading to Springfield on I-91 south from Vermont, I left my Panasonic "Walkman" on 103.7 intentionally, to see how far the signal of WKNE-FM from Keene, NH would carry. It was quite good to about Northampton's Exit 18. I then started getting WEEI-FM of Westerly/Providence in spots. Somewhere in Holyoke, I received interference from a Spanish music station which was either on 103.5 or 103.9 FM. Could it have been a pirate?

I was completely surprised to pick up the station from Enfield's Asnuntuck Community College (which ID'd with a low-power "-LP" suffix). I left the tuner on this little station to see how far they'd carry. It was real good from Longmeadow, MA to around Exit 40 for Bradley Airport. It was spotty until I lost it completely around Mile Marker 44 in Windsor. Now keep in mind that I live in the south end of New Britain, which has WFCS-FM on that frequency from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The WFCS signal is never really good at my house. Also, when they're off the air, I may get WWRX-FM from Stonington a little ("Jam'n 107.7"), but never this Enfield station.

 

[kms575]

The other station what comes in pretty well down I-91 is WHDQ, Q-106 from Claremont, NH. I think their transmitter is atop Mt. Ascutney, VT. I've picked them up as far south as Northampton, MA before.
I'm suprised you didn't pick up WPLR 99.1 or WKCI 101.3.

 

[KML0224]

If it wasn't for the massive overload from WMAS and, to a lesser extent, WAQY, I probably would've.

 

[chris560]

The 103.5 frequency you heard is WCCH (Holyoke Community College) ... and there's a 103.3 just north of that is licensed to Northampton - WXOJ-LP (can you say TIGHT SPACING?) ...

 

[KML0224]

That close? Wow! Again, I got the interference on the hill by Exit 16 in Holyoke, where the southbound lanes are higher up and the nice view is to your left.

 

[kms575]

That Hill in Holyoke, would that be Mount Tom?

 

[KML0224]

No. Mount Tom is about a mile north with the transmitters on it, best viewed by Mile Marker 17 or so.

 

[necrat123]

That close? Wow! Again, I got the interference on the hill by Exit 16 in Holyoke, where the southbound lanes are higher up and the nice view is to your left.

That hill is where the Soldier's home is located that the WCCH 103.5 transmitter sits on top of.
Which explains why you heard the splatter from it clearest there...

 

[rcs]

I was involved with the construction of WACC-LP (107.7) in Enfield and you can't imagine how shocked we were when we realized how well the 100w ERP signal got out. Its not like the antenna is on top of a hill or a tall tower or anything. The antenna is just about 100' off the ground at one of the Enfield fire houses but the signal goes north and south surprisingly well, especially north. where they've received reports from as far as Northampton. The low terrain of the river valley helps greatly. I've actually heard WACC-LP on I-84 in Farmington when WFCS was off the air. WFCS's signal is hampered by interference from the co-channel station down state which their 36w ERP signal has trouble coping with. That signal is pretty weak up towards Enfield so WACC has a relatively clear frequency.

 

[KML0224]

For what it's worth, WFCS-FM used to be at 97.9 FM. However, that had to be moved in 1990 to make way for WPKX-FM (KIX 97.9) of Enfield/Springfield.

 

[rapking]

Compiling this list was awfully tough. I was at the Springfield Bus Terminal and was nearly done in with the massive overloading of WMAS-FM 94.7, since their transmitter is so close to this area. Oh, I am aware that there's a Massachusetts radio board. However, it gets little attention compared to this or the Boston board. Besides, I have a direct question about one of the stations that is licensed to the Connecticut side of the line, making this kind of relevant. OK, here's what I was able to get under the splatter of WMAS-FM:

(G) GOOD (F) FAIR (P) POOR

(P) 88.5-WFCR Amherst [???] University Of Massachusetts
(G) 90.7-WTCC Springfield [???] Springfield Technical Community College
(F) 93.1-WHYN Springfield [HOT AC] MIX 93.1
(F) 93.7-WZMX Hartford [URBAN] HOT 93.7
(G) 94.7-WMAS Springfield [AC]
(P) 95.7-WKSS Hartford/Meriden [CHR] KISS 95.7
(F) 96.5-WTIC Hartford [HOT AC] 96.5-TIC
(G) 97.9-WPKX Enfield [COUNTRY] KIX 97.9
(P) 99.3-WLZX Northampton [ROCK]
(F) 100.5-WRCH New Britain [AC] Lite 100.5
(P) 100.9-WRNX Northampton ? [PROGRESSIVE?]
(G) 102.1-WAQY Springfield [CLASSIC ROCK] ROCK 102
(F) 102.9-WDRC Hartford [CLASSIC HITS] 102.9-DRC FM
(P) 104.1-WURH Waterbury/Hartford [MODERN] FM 104.1
(F) 105.5-WVEI Easthampton [SPORTS] WEEI Radio Network
(F) 105.9-WHCN Hartford [AC] THE RIVER 105.9
(G) 106.9-WCCC Hartford [ACTIVE ROCK]
(P) 107.7-WACC Enfield [VARIETY] Asnuntuck Community College

NOTES: While heading to Springfield on I-91 south from Vermont, I left my Panasonic "Walkman" on 103.7 intentionally, to see how far the signal of WKNE-FM from Keene, NH would carry. It was quite good to about Northampton's Exit 18. I then started getting WEEI-FM of Westerly/Providence in spots. Somewhere in Holyoke, I received interference from a Spanish music station which was either on 103.5 or 103.9 FM. Could it have been a pirate?

I was completely surprised to pick up the station from Enfield's Asnuntuck Community College (which ID'd with a low-power "-LP" suffix). I left the tuner on this little station to see how far they'd carry. It was real good from Longmeadow, MA to around Exit 40 for Bradley Airport. It was spotty until I lost it completely around Mile Marker 44 in Windsor. Now keep in mind that I live in the south end of New Britain, which has WFCS-FM on that frequency from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The WFCS signal is never really good at my house. Also, when they're off the air, I may get WWRX-FM from Stonington a little ("Jam'n 107.7"), but never this Enfield station.

No Jazz ( 106.3) ?

 

[KML0224]

I didn't receive a trace of WEIB-FM at all. Even on the "CITY" mode of the "CITY/NORMAL" switch, I still couldn't get anything. Blame WMAS-FM and, to a lesser extent, WAQY-FM. Maybe the metal overhang of the roof for the bus gates didn't help either?

 

[BRNout]

Yeah, you should have been able to get WEIB-FM - at least weakly - in the Springfield area. Heck, I've even picked it up along I-84 in NE CT. Also, WKCI should come in marginally well too. At least it did for me when in West Springfield a few months ago. Does better east of the river, IIRC. I've gotten WPLR in Springfield/East Longmeadow too, but it's a lot tougher thanks to the first adjacent at 99.3.

The "hill" on I-91 is indeed part of Mount Tom; you're on the eastern slope of the mountain. From that area, Boston FM signals used to be very dependable. Now, they're less so thanks to lots of new local stations that have been shoehorned in. Case in point, WODS which used to boom in there at 103.3. That's long gone thanks to the aforementioned low-powered signals. However, WBMX should still come in along that stretch. This is also why WEEI-FM took over on 103.7, it's a straight shot from that elevated point to their tx site in southern RI.

Mount Tom is the dividing line between the portion of the CT Valley where you get lots of stations from Greenfield, Keene, etc. and the areas to the south where Hartford signals do well. Of course, most Springfield FM stations come in well on both sides.

 

[kms575]

I know we're getting geographically off-topic here and it's been mentioned before, but Haystack Mountain, on Route 9 in Vermont is a great place to catch distant stations. Many Boston and Hartford stations are like a local up there. IIRC, 95.7 (WKSS), 96.5 (WITC) and 101.3(WKCI) all came in very well from Hartford/New Haven. 94.5 (WJMN) and 106.7 (WMJX) came in well out of Boston. Obviuosly, Springfield area stations are pretty clear too.

 

[Ozman]

no 107.3 WAAF?
KML-
I do exacacly what you do however,
if you would like to get rid of a 1 station overload,
a sangean walkmen will really kick ass... I have had to live under the 96.7 WCTZ stamford CT my whole life to know.. I do Like the panasonic and sony walkmens they are good however the sangeans block out the overload. now if only they put better filter in those things for the sideband interference.
P.S Taking the train is better than the bus plus cheaper. with the power strips on the train you can connect up a radio tuner
-OZ

Compiling this list was awfully tough. I was at the Springfield Bus Terminal and was nearly done in with the massive overloading of WMAS-FM 94.7, since their transmitter is so close to this area. Oh, I am aware that there's a Massachusetts radio board. However, it gets little attention compared to this or the Boston board. Besides, I have a direct question about one of the stations that is licensed to the Connecticut side of the line, making this kind of relevant. OK, here's what I was able to get under the splatter of WMAS-FM:

(G) GOOD (F) FAIR (P) POOR

(P) 88.5-WFCR Amherst [???] University Of Massachusetts
(G) 90.7-WTCC Springfield [???] Springfield Technical Community College
(F) 93.1-WHYN Springfield [HOT AC] MIX 93.1
(F) 93.7-WZMX Hartford [URBAN] HOT 93.7
(G) 94.7-WMAS Springfield [AC]
(P) 95.7-WKSS Hartford/Meriden [CHR] KISS 95.7
(F) 96.5-WTIC Hartford [HOT AC] 96.5-TIC
(G) 97.9-WPKX Enfield [COUNTRY] KIX 97.9
(P) 99.3-WLZX Northampton [ROCK]
(F) 100.5-WRCH New Britain [AC] Lite 100.5
(P) 100.9-WRNX Northampton ? [PROGRESSIVE?]
(G) 102.1-WAQY Springfield [CLASSIC ROCK] ROCK 102
(F) 102.9-WDRC Hartford [CLASSIC HITS] 102.9-DRC FM
(P) 104.1-WURH Waterbury/Hartford [MODERN] FM 104.1
(F) 105.5-WVEI Easthampton [SPORTS] WEEI Radio Network
(F) 105.9-WHCN Hartford [AC] THE RIVER 105.9
(G) 106.9-WCCC Hartford [ACTIVE ROCK]
(P) 107.7-WACC Enfield [VARIETY] Asnuntuck Community College

NOTES: While heading to Springfield on I-91 south from Vermont, I left my Panasonic "Walkman" on 103.7 intentionally, to see how far the signal of WKNE-FM from Keene, NH would carry. It was quite good to about Northampton's Exit 18. I then started getting WEEI-FM of Westerly/Providence in spots. Somewhere in Holyoke, I received interference from a Spanish music station which was either on 103.5 or 103.9 FM. Could it have been a pirate?

I was completely surprised to pick up the station from Enfield's Asnuntuck Community College (which ID'd with a low-power "-LP" suffix). I left the tuner on this little station to see how far they'd carry. It was real good from Longmeadow, MA to around Exit 40 for Bradley Airport. It was spotty until I lost it completely around Mile Marker 44 in Windsor. Now keep in mind that I live in the south end of New Britain, which has WFCS-FM on that frequency from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The WFCS signal is never really good at my house. Also, when they're off the air, I may get WWRX-FM from Stonington a little ("Jam'n 107.7"), but never this Enfield station.

 

[KML0224]

Maybe so, but with the WMAS-FM 94.7 transmitter being so close to the Springfield bus terminal and Amtrak train terminal a block and change away, I doubt any Walkman or "Walkman", even on the "CITY" or "LOCAL" side of the switch, is gonna have much success.

 

[necrat123]

I have had to live under the 96.7 WCTZ stamford CT my whole life to know.. I do Like the panasonic and sony walkmens they are good however the sangeans

The problem is , Jamie, that WCTZ is 3kW, whereas WMAS, is 50kW. WMAS's tower is pretty low and the FM antenna isn't much higher than the buildings downtown. It's a ball-buster for FM listening in Downtown Springfield, always has been.

 

[BRNout]

Yes, WMAS often overloads smaller radios in and near Springfield thanks to all that juice. It may not get quite as far out as WHYN-FM, but it sure packs a punch!

About WAAF, it is a much tougher catch in the Springfield area now that they moved the tx site eastward. It used to come in reasonably well in the Springfield area and garnered some decent ratings there. But Entercom doesn't care. They moved it to be "closer" to Boston, only to see their Boston ratings sag further and reception diminish in most places....despite also wasting electricity on a simulcast at 97.7.

 

[vibe]

Like John Wayne Bobbitt's lament "I'm not half the man I used to be," WAAF's signal in the Springfield area is about half what it could/should be. Even west of town by 20 mi or so on the Pike where ALL the Boston stations are real strong, AAF pales by comparison.
There really isn't much on the dial around there (worth listening to). Any suggestions?