Honolulu FM stations transmitter

[e-dawg]

First time visiting Hawaii, now I can understand why some of Honolulu stations stayed in the downtown area vs Wiliwilinui transmitter site. The Wiliwilinu transmitter site is very static around downtown, Ala Mona Shopping center and Waikiki beach area. The FM stations that transmits in the downtown area (93.9 KHJZ, 94.7 KUMU, 97.5 KHCM, and 99.5 KGU-FM) sounds very clear vs stations transmits on Wiliwilinu Mtn. Try listening to 103.5 KHAI, it is very static around Waikiki beach area.

 

[SML]

Actually, most of the FM stations on Oahu are out at Palehua, on the west side of the island. Only 96.3 and 104.3 are at Wiliwilinui now (KHPR 88.1 moved off the mountain in late December, but left the 88.5 translator up there to help with coverage on the windward side). 103.5 is out west at Palehua, 25+ miles away from Waikiki.
It is a tough market to cover, given the limited choices for tower sites. I am biased, of course, but I think that the Tantalus site does a pretty good job of covering the most population. At least from Mililani and Ewa over to Kaimuki. Wiliwilinui is excellent from Pearl City and on around the windward side. And pretty good over on Maui as well, at least upcountry.

 

[ScottBurns]

For what it is worth, I always have found 104.3's signal to be outstanding in downtown and in Waikiki. Only way up on the North Shore - especially near Pupukea - was there much static. In fact, I remember 104.3 coming in nicely while in Lihue. I even picked it up in Paia, on Maui.

 

[SML]

Both 96.3 and 104.3 run about 70 kw from 2600 ft at Wili, and they do very well because of the height.