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FM Transmitter and "Empty" FM Frequencies

S

SgtPepper9876

I am having my plug and play Sirius unit installed later in the week. In the meantime, I have been scanning the local FM dial to find frequencies I can use. What I am finding is that I can get something faint on almost all frequencies or potential frequencies that are adjacent to 50K signals. That is even the non-comm range. Just how "empty" does a frequency have to be to be usable? (By the way, the default 88.1 hosts a signal I can receive quite well.)

Along the same line, there is a low-power 100-watt station in New Castle, IN, on 107.5. I live about 10 miles away, but I work in New Castle.... is it possible that the signal from 107.5 can be "overriden" while in New Castle due to the proximity of the Sirius unit to the car radio? Here is a link to the signal pattern for the station if needed:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WHHC&service=FL&status=L&hours=U

Thanks for any advice.
 
It's been my experience that the FM modulator will completely override typical faint signals. I really haven't had a problem finding usable frequencies and I'm in the Northeast Corridor, inside the contour for two major markets. One additional tip: If you have a telescoping antenna on the car, put it down. You'll have even fewer interference problems, esp. on long trips when the freq you're usually using might be occupied as you travel near new towns.



> I am having my plug and play Sirius unit installed later in
> the week. In the meantime, I have been scanning the local
> FM dial to find frequencies I can use. What I am finding is
> that I can get something faint on almost all frequencies or
> potential frequencies that are adjacent to 50K signals.
> That is even the non-comm range. Just how "empty" does a
> frequency have to be to be usable? (By the way, the default
> 88.1 hosts a signal I can receive quite well.)
>
> Along the same line, there is a low-power 100-watt station
> in New Castle, IN, on 107.5. I live about 10 miles away, but
> I work in New Castle.... is it possible that the signal from
> 107.5 can be "overriden" while in New Castle due to the
> proximity of the Sirius unit to the car radio? Here is a
> link to the signal pattern for the station if needed:
>
http://www.radio-l> ocator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WHHC&service=FL&status=L&hours=U
>
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
 
Try 87.7, most of the Sirius radios will allow use of that frequency which does not appear to be used by radio stations in the US.



> It's been my experience that the FM modulator will
> completely override typical faint signals. I really haven't
> had a problem finding usable frequencies and I'm in the
> Northeast Corridor, inside the contour for two major
> markets. One additional tip: If you have a telescoping
> antenna on the car, put it down. You'll have even fewer
> interference problems, esp. on long trips when the freq
> you're usually using might be occupied as you travel near
> new towns.
>
>
>
> > I am having my plug and play Sirius unit installed later
> in
> > the week. In the meantime, I have been scanning the local
>
> > FM dial to find frequencies I can use. What I am finding
> is
> > that I can get something faint on almost all frequencies
> or
> > potential frequencies that are adjacent to 50K signals.
> > That is even the non-comm range. Just how "empty" does a
> > frequency have to be to be usable? (By the way, the
> default
> > 88.1 hosts a signal I can receive quite well.)
> >
> > Along the same line, there is a low-power 100-watt station
>
> > in New Castle, IN, on 107.5. I live about 10 miles away,
> but
> > I work in New Castle.... is it possible that the signal
> from
> > 107.5 can be "overriden" while in New Castle due to the
> > proximity of the Sirius unit to the car radio? Here is a
> > link to the signal pattern for the station if needed:
> >
> http://www.radio-l>
> ocator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WHHC&service=FL&status=L&hours=U
>
> >
> >
> > Thanks for any advice.
> >
>
 
> Try 87.7, most of the Sirius radios will allow use of that
> frequency which does not appear to be used by radio stations
> in the US.

That's a good tip.

But, if one lives near a TV station on VHF channel 6, the TV audio might be an issue. It's worth a try, though.

DE
 
> > Try 87.7, most of the Sirius radios will allow use of that
>
> > frequency which does not appear to be used by radio
> stations
> > in the US.
>
> That's a good tip.
>
> But, if one lives near a TV station on VHF channel 6, the TV
> audio might be an issue. It's worth a try, though.
>
> DE


Which I do. Well, 50 miles from one: WRTV-6 (ABC) in Indianapolis. I can get the WRTV audio pretty clearly on 87.7, albeit at a low volume. I was considering trying 87.9 since there is no bleedover to speak of there.

Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice and tips. :)
 
> Which I do. Well, 50 miles from one: WRTV-6 (ABC) in
> Indianapolis. I can get the WRTV audio pretty clearly on
> 87.7, albeit at a low volume. I was considering trying 87.9
> since there is no bleedover to speak of there.
>
> Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice and tips. :)
>
Milwaukee also has a Ch 6, for when I'm in the Milwaukee area, and can get it on the car radio. As for my Sanyo unit with the built-in FM transmitter, the lowest frequency is 88.1. I so far haven't had any problems using the transmitter on frequencies that you hear faint broadcasts. I get plenty of faint broadcasts on most open frequencies, but I usually have mine on 88.1 since it's completely open where I live. Since you said you work in New Castle, and I think you said 88.1 is primary coverage for New Castle, then that can be a problem. I say pick the frequency that is open for both at home & where you work. That way you don't have to change the settings all the time. Faint signals mean nothing as some stations get out farther than the contours the FCC draws up, especially if there are no first adjacents nearby, which is the case with numerous stations in the Chicago market.
 
> I am having my plug and play Sirius unit installed later in
> the week. In the meantime, I have been scanning the local
> FM dial to find frequencies I can use. What I am finding is
> that I can get something faint on almost all frequencies or
> potential frequencies that are adjacent to 50K signals.
> That is even the non-comm range. Just how "empty" does a
> frequency have to be to be usable? (By the way, the default
> 88.1 hosts a signal I can receive quite well.)
>
> Along the same line, there is a low-power 100-watt station
> in New Castle, IN, on 107.5. I live about 10 miles away, but
> I work in New Castle.... is it possible that the signal from
> 107.5 can be "overriden" while in New Castle due to the
> proximity of the Sirius unit to the car radio? Here is a
> link to the signal pattern for the station if needed:
>
http://www.radio-l> ocator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WHHC&service=FL&status=L&hours=U
>
>
> Thanks for any advice.


Spring for an extra $15 - $20 and buy an AudioVox inline signal injector. (OK, the name is probably wrong, but that's what it does.) In goes in line between your antenna and your radio and sends the SIRIUS signal directly to your reciever on the frequency you select. It will block out EVERYTHING! You'll never have to worry about looking for a new frequency when you travel. The only possible down side, you will need to turn your SIRIUS reciever off to listen to terestrial radio, but I'm rarely there so it hasn't been a problem. I have one on each of my two SIRIUS equiped vehicles.
>
 
> Which I do. Well, 50 miles from one: WRTV-6 (ABC) in
> Indianapolis. I can get the WRTV audio pretty clearly on
> 87.7, albeit at a low volume. I was considering trying 87.9
> since there is no bleedover to speak of there.
>
> Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice and tips. :)

I feel your pain here in Northeast Ohio, where we're within listening distance of four markets of decent size (Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown).

Here, 87.7 and even 87.9 work for me on my Sirius Sportster, though the latter can be subject to adjacent channel splatter from WZIP/88.1 (Akron U.). And for whatever reason, my boombox upstairs in the house doesn't work with those frequency, probably because the splatter is more evident.

88.5 works here, usually, overriding a faint signal from WYSU/Youngstown. And oddly enough, 96.9 FM on the commercial band works even on this upstairs radio. It's squeezing between 96.5/Akron and 97.5/Akron. There's a religious FM about 40 miles west of here that could pose problems driving west on that frequency.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
> Try 87.7, most of the Sirius radios will allow use of that
> frequency which does not appear to be used by radio stations
> in the US.

Yes, except if you have a TV channel 6 in the market. Just a word to the wise.<P ID="signature">______________
If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything...</P>
 
> > Try 87.7, most of the Sirius radios will allow use of that
>
> > frequency which does not appear to be used by radio
> stations
> > in the US.
>
> Yes, except if you have a TV channel 6 in the market. Just
> a word to the wise.
>

I am surprised that the FCC is allowing these transmitters on 87.7 ... My read of Part 15 is that ANY fundemental emmissions in the television spectrum (Channel 6 is 82-88 MHz) is prohibited.

In past rulemakings, I have asked the FCC to allow Part 15 FM transmitters in the 82-88 MHz band.

ec
http://www.fmfind.info
 
Since I don't listen to broadcast radio anymore, I just unscrewed the antenna off the car and stuck it inside. No more problems. When I plan on listening to broadcast radio, I just put it back on.
 
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