Has anyone done a recent Ottawa AM Band Scan?

[audioguy]

Just back from Ottawa and I had my Sony 10-band portable along... but I was just too tired to go outside the hotel by the time I got in last night. So, has anyone done a recent AM band scan from Ottawa? I am curious to see what I WOULD have heard if I had been able to listen!

I did pick up a few signals in my room... a couple of strong locals and some weaker stuff. There were a lot of stations on but the band didn't sound as garbled as it does in Chicago at night... but what I did hear was too weak and I was too tired.

 

[Tincap]

I'm 50mi/80km south of Ottawa, while member 'mimo' is in Ottawa itself. I've yet to post a proper AM band-scan from my location, though (at might in particular) it would differ somewhat from what one would hear in Ottawa.

~BG

 

[fybush]

Not much left by way of daytime locals - 580, 1200, 1310 and the low-power signals on 1350 and 1670, if memory serves. Montreal's still there on 690, 730 and 800. Everything else that was plausibly local or regional on AM on the Canadian side is gone now...no more AMs in Smiths Falls or Brockville or Cornwall or Pembroke.

With so few locals, nights should be a lot cleaner than they used to be. It's been almost 14 years since I've been in Ottawa for any nighttime listening, but my recollection was that even then, a lot of the US regional signals from the northeast that aimed their signals up north came in very nicely in Ottawa after dark.

 

[tomservo]

I want to visit because it looks like a beautiful city. Now I really wanna visit because it sounds good for AM DX.

 

[ftballfan]

Manistee, Michigan would be another good spot for AM DXing due to the lack of local stations. There is only one active AM station within 40 miles, and that one is a graveyard AM 25 miles away that is very weak by day and wiped out completely by night.

 

[cyberdad]

I used to get into Ottawa 3-4 times a year, but that started diminishing in 2002. My last visit was about a year and a half ago.

Most of the hotels I stayed were downtown and were horrible for AM reception, but occasionally I'd stay in Kanata....a western suburb, where DX on the AM band was indeed possible.

From memory, I can say the usual blowtorches east of the Mississippi river and were good. Less so for WSB, WWL, and KMOX. although WSM and WBT were usually good. WBAP was blown out by CHAM and WOAI impossible since CFGO came on 1200. Higher up on the dial, WWKB, WCKY, and WQEW were all reliable. 1010 was a mix of CFRB and WINS, 1050 a mix of CHUM and ESPN from New York. WTIC and WBAL were both good. The Chicago "big boys" were all usually strong, although WGN and WBBM would sometimes mix with CHTN and CFTR respectively.

Daytime was interesting in the winter because there'd often be daytime skywave. WQEW was the most reliable, but WBBR and WBZ were fairly common. I also have heard WBBM and WJR. You could also snag a few daytime stations from upstate NY including a very weak WHAM. CFZM could also make it in. But these last two usually required a good car radio situated in an open noise-free area.

A few upstate NY FMs also make it to the area...usually in weak condition. Some of the better of these signals are from New York's Northland Public Radio. (Usually if I was on the FM band, I was tuned to CBC-2 or the old CFMO before it flipped....and which was actually from Smith's Falls. I still miss it.

At least that's how I remember it. Mimo and Tincap can fill in the blanks and provide corrections.

 

[spunker88]

I used to get into Ottawa 3-4 times a year, but that started diminishing in 2002. My last visit was about a year and a half ago.

Most of the hotels I stayed were downtown and were horrible for AM reception, but occasionally I'd stay in Kanata....a western suburb, where DX on the AM band was indeed possible.

From memory, I can say the usual blowtorches east of the Mississippi river and were good. Less so for WSB, WWL, and KMOX. although WSM and WBT were usually good. WBAP was blown out by CHAM and WOAI impossible since CFGO came on 1200. Higher up on the dial, WWKB, WCKY, and WQEW were all reliable. 1010 was a mix of CFRB and WINS, 1050 a mix of CHUM and ESPN from New York. WTIC and WBAL were both good. The Chicago "big boys" were all usually strong, although WGN and WBBM would sometimes mix with CHTN and CFTR respectively.

Daytime was interesting in the winter because there'd often be daytime skywave. WQEW was the most reliable, but WBBR and WBZ were fairly common. I also have heard WBBM and WJR. You could also snag a few daytime stations from upstate NY including a very weak WHAM. CFZM could also make it in. But these last two usually required a good car radio situated in an open noise-free area.

A few upstate NY FMs also make it to the area...usually in weak condition. Some of the better of these signals are from New York's Northland Public Radio. (Usually if I was on the FM band, I was tuned to CBC-2 or the old CFMO before it flipped....and which was actually from Smith's Falls. I still miss it.

At least that's how I remember it. Mimo and Tincap can fill in the blanks and provide corrections.

Nightime AM probably isn't a whole lot different there than where I am. WSB may be a little harder to catch since they are further north, but they are a pretty easy catch here. KMOX is usually in here but there is sometimes a Spanish station that interferes. WWL is hard to get here thanks WCHU and more recently WCBS running IBOC.

As far as FMs I know many Ottawa FMs have decent coverage in Northern NY. Driving Route 11 its usually possible to listen to Ottawa FMs all the way from about Gouverneur to Malone. So its possible some of the higher powered local signals from that area make it into Ottawa.

 

[Tincap]

I used to get into Ottawa 3-4 times a year, but that started diminishing in 2002. My last visit was about a year and a half ago.

Most of the hotels I stayed were downtown and were horrible for AM reception, but occasionally I'd stay in Kanata....a western suburb, where DX on the AM band was indeed possible.

From memory, I can say the usual blowtorches east of the Mississippi river and were good. Less so for WSB, WWL, and KMOX. although WSM and WBT were usually good. WBAP was blown out by CHAM and WOAI impossible since CFGO came on 1200. Higher up on the dial, WWKB, WCKY, and WQEW were all reliable. 1010 was a mix of CFRB and WINS, 1050 a mix of CHUM and ESPN from New York. WTIC and WBAL were both good. The Chicago "big boys" were all usually strong, although WGN and WBBM would sometimes mix with CHTN and CFTR respectively.

Daytime was interesting in the winter because there'd often be daytime skywave. WQEW was the most reliable, but WBBR and WBZ were fairly common. I also have heard WBBM and WJR. You could also snag a few daytime stations from upstate NY including a very weak WHAM. CFZM could also make it in. But these last two usually required a good car radio situated in an open noise-free area.

A few upstate NY FMs also make it to the area...usually in weak condition. Some of the better of these signals are from New York's Northland Public Radio. (Usually if I was on the FM band, I was tuned to CBC-2 or the old CFMO before it flipped....and which was actually from Smith's Falls. I still miss it.

At least that's how I remember it. Mimo and Tincap can fill in the blanks and provide corrections.

I think you've pretty much covered it. Being south of Ottawa, CHAM doesn't seem to bother me as much, perhaps its beam is more northerly, catching Ottawa in its clutches. I've been able to get WBAP on a number of occasions.

I fondly remember the original CFMO (93.9), though the Smiths Falls based 101.1 version was also quite nice, while it lasted. Speaking of fond memories Cyberdad, I'm sure you're quite aware of what's been done to CBC Radio 2. At least down here I can receive 90.9 WJNY Classic FM, though the moment I head north, the Ottawa based adjacent CBOF 90.7, ensures that no one up there is able to receive 24/7 classical music. Brutal, for a nation's capital...when you think about it.

~BG

 

[mimo]

The AM dial varies greatly depending on where you are in the city. The further west, the less you hear, the further east, as in Orleans, the better. The daytime dial in Ottawa as of today includes Local 580, 690 from Montreal, 730 (barely during the warm months) from Montreal. 800 Montreal, 1050 Massena New York, local 1200, 1280 Montreal, local 1310, local 1350 and local 1670. The latter 2 have go0d signals in the city despite the lower power. In Orleans you can add 620 from Burlington, 790 Watertown, 1040 Montreal, 1070 Plattsburg, 1340 Massena, 1400 Ogdensburg, 1410 Montreal, 1450 Montreal, 1470 Pottsdam. Those are the easy ones to hear. Also out there, you can add Montreal's 1570, 1650 and 1690 to the mix as well as 1490 Malone, NY.

With my cc plus I can add the Toronto/Hamilton/Niagra stations at 530, 550 610 640 680 740 820 860 1010 at any time of the year. 1180 is not a factor in the city daytime due to 1200, maybe on the extreme west edge of the city.

At night the usual suspects at 650, 660, 670, 710, 720, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 810, 820 (Cham) 830, 840, 850, 860, 880, 890, 900, 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030, 1060, 1080, 1090, 1100, 11110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1170, 1180, 1500, 1520, 1530, 1540, 1550 (Windsor) 1560, and 1580 that you would expect to hear are in. Some surprises. 600 if you hear anything is CKAT from North Bay. 610 is WIP, 630 is usually WMAL but WPRO and CFCO can be heard underneath. 830 is from Boston, 850 from Cleveland. 1430 from Toronto is very strong. Rochester comes in at 1180, 1370 and 1460 with decent night signals. The x band is 1610 Toronto, 1620 Indiana, 1630 Iowa city (unless you're on the south side where it's the airport station, 1640 Pewaukee, 1650 is mostly Mississauga with Cedar falls underneath and occasionally Virginia, 1660 is NewYork, 1680 from just outside of Philly, 1690 Toronto or WVON...rarely Montreal at night unless conditions are right. 1700 is hit or miss, never knowing what you'll hear. At night local 1350 has a lot of noise underneath downtown on somenights, the modulation is quite low, but some nights it's crystal clear downtown, despite being only 180 watts. Truthfully that's the station I listen to most besides 1310 and 800.

 

[robotique]

I want to visit because it looks like a beautiful city. Now I really wanna visit because it sounds good for AM DX.

O-town is cool. It was sort of a second home for me for a bit. Never had a radio with me....plus was too busy out at bars and clubs

 

[audioguy]

If you visit Ottawa, I can recommend the "Whalesbone" restaurant. Besides excellent seafood, they have a great vintage LP collection. I also liked the canal (I hope that is the correct name for it). It is quite beautiful.

Thanks for all of the interesting reception reports. On my next visit, I hope I'll have a little more time to do some listening. I could not hear too much inside the hotel, as might be expected.

 

[Tincap]

At night local 1350 has a lot of noise underneath downtown on somenights, the modulation is quite low, but some nights it's crystal clear downtown, despite being only 180 watts. Truthfully that's the station I listen to most besides 1310 and 800.

Alas...wasn't CIRA-5 Radio Ville-Marie (RVM) supposed to be operating on higher power (no pun intended)? Having said that, on a good day, I can pick up Radio Ville-Marie (just barely above the audio threshold) from home, here 80km south of town. While in Ottawa, work related activity, usually keeps in the south (Algonquin College & Hunt Club/Prince Of Wales), where -at least in my car- The Team 1200 usually seems to be underneath Radio Ville-Marie. mimo, do you have that problem?

O-town is cool. It was sort of a second home for me for a bit. Never had a radio with me....plus was too busy out at bars and clubs

Lol! Yes, hanging out in 'The Market' area would indeed affect your DXing opportunities!

~BG

 

[mimo]

Radio Ville Marie does operate at 1000 watts daytime but only 180 at night. I don't have the problem of a station underneath them during the day. I live in Chinatown/Little Italy and 1350 has a stronger signal on the G8 Meter than 1670 does during the day. 53Dbu vst 1670's 49. 1310 News sends more signal towards me than any other AM and at night, it's even more. At my office on Kent and Gilmour, they max out the signal meter.

The market is not a bad place to DX in some spots and is dreadfully awful at others. Generally while walking around with the G8 with headphones, I'm usually on the way to one restaurant or another. Great fo0d in the market, and the Canal is always great place to be. I've lived in New Orleans, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Iowa City and Toronto, It's definitely a world class city that's becoming a foodie destination. It's very easy to find an outstanding restaurant in the city, and a very diverse radio dial.

 

[cyberdad]

Radio Ville Marie does operate at 1000 watts daytime but only 180 at night. I don't have the problem of a station underneath them during the day. I live in Chinatown/Little Italy and 1350 has a stronger signal on the G8 Meter than 1670 does during the day. 53Dbu vst 1670's 49. 1310 News sends more signal towards me than any other AM and at night, it's even more. At my office on Kent and Gilmour, they max out the signal meter.

The market is not a bad place to DX in some spots and is dreadfully awful at others. Generally while walking around with the G8 with headphones, I'm usually on the way to one restaurant or another. Great fo0d in the market, and the Canal is always great place to be. I've lived in New Orleans, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Iowa City and Toronto, It's definitely a world class city that's becoming a foodie destination. It's very easy to find an outstanding restaurant in the city, and a very diverse radio dial.

 

[cyberdad]

Oops....phone rang and response time for editing my last post ran out. Sorry.

Was just going to say I also noticed the difference in what DX is like east side of town versus west. And that the Ottawa AMs....at least 580 and 1310 also make it to Montreal.

And yes, I've been known to spend some time hanging out in the Market. Does this mean nobody is buying my story about not doing much DXing on account of "hotel noise"? ;D

 

[mimo]

1200 also makes it to Montreal and I assume 1150 did as well when it was on. I've read accounts of it being listenable during the day. I can't imagine any one in Montreal wants to listen to sens talk all day, (nor would any one not from Ottawa or not a hockey fan).

 

[cyberdad]

1200 also makes it to Montreal and I assume 1150 did as well when it was on. I've read accounts of it being listenable during the day. I can't imagine any one in Montreal wants to listen to sens talk all day, (nor would any one not from Ottawa or not a hockey fan).

I couldn't remember if 1200 made the hop. But I agree with you about nobody in Montreal wanting to hear Sens talk. But I personally could see 1310 having a following for oldies after CIGM flipped. When my daughter was studying in French for a semester at Laval University in Quebec City, I regularly was able to keep the 1310 signal on a good car radio for a half hour or 45 minutes beyond Montreal on autoroute 40....losing it a ways before getting to Three Rivers. Pretty impressive stuff, IMHO.