How far do your local FM stations go?

[rbrucecarter5]

Most of the Cedar Hill sticks go out between 80-100 miles depending on terrain and atmospheric conditions, I can normaly loose the Dallas stations for good around Ardmore Oklahoma.

I get spotty reception of KLTY all over Houston. That is when a pirate isn't on the frequency. And, it used to work in reverse. Back in the late 80's, I frequently drove up to Dallas. KRBE would hang in there all the way to the South part of Dallas. I remember taking a friend to an apartment complex in South Dallas, I was listening to KRBE in the car. It took a little longer that I was expecting, so I needed to go up to the apartment and use their bathroom - they were listening to KRBE, too! It was on a decent receiver - their dipole was stapled to the wall behind it. I asked them about it - they told me KRBE was clearer than 106.1 from Denton - the local top-40 station for DFW at the time. So they listened to KRBE. They told me a lot of people did. I remember in college, I changed from Texas Tech to the University of Texas. I tuned around for new local stations. I found KRBE and pretty much didn't tune off of it. Almost like a local.

It isn't just KRBE and KLTY, either. When KFMK Houston went down for a week - because it went bankrupt or something as a Christian station, KZEW was strong and clear morning and afternoon commutes along the Southwest Freeway. I sure hated when KFMK came back on the air as an oldies station, because KZEW was a welcome addition to my commute time.

All of this with just a Pioneer aftermarket car radio and a 31 inch whip antenna. Nothing special.

 

[cyberdad]

Revisiting this for my part of the world....

I'd say the full-signal Chicago FMs have a usable range of about 55-60 miles under most conditions. I'm 44 miles from downtown (where the sticks are), and the signals are reliable on a good car radio as well as on a good indoor radio with an antenna.

I'm also about 60-65 miles from Milwaukee. Most of those signals are audible here, but not comfortably listenable (exception is WMYX/99.1 which is about ten miles closer to me than most of the other Milwaukee sticks).

My location is also about 40 miles from downtown Rockford, IL. Most of the signals from that DMA are class As and very weak here. Exception in that case is WZOK, a 50kw claass B, which produces a signal here comparable to the Chicago FMs.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Revisiting this for my part of the world....

I'd say the full-signal Chicago FMs have a usable range of about 55-60 miles under most conditions. I'm 44 miles from downtown (where the sticks are), and the signals are reliable on a good car radio as well as on a good indoor radio with an antenna.

I'm also about 60-65 miles from Milwaukee. Most of those signals are audible here, but not comfortably listenable (exception is WMYX/99.1 which is about ten miles closer to me than most of the other Milwaukee sticks).

My location is also about 40 miles from downtown Rockford, IL. Most of the signals from that DMA are class As and very weak here. Exception in that case is WZOK, a 50kw claass B, which produces a signal here comparable to the Chicago FMs.

I lived in Jackson, MI for three years. After my experience in Texas, I expected much better luck with Chicago FMs than I had. They started to make spotty appearances in Kalamazoo, but I had to be pretty close to the lake before they would really start coming in.

I had much better luck in my rental car radio coming into Milwaukee from Chicago. I pretty much left it on Chicago FM all the way in to the Southern suburbs, where my speaking engagement was. Going back, I checked the Milwaukee stations out, and was losing them about where that highway 68 traffic mess started.

 

[gr8oldies]

Adding the Knoxville area stations to the thread. The 91.1 Fulton High School station is replaced by WZTH, Tusculum in pretty short order in Sevierville.
The big dogs: 100.3 WCYQ makes it to somewhere between London and Lexington to the north, to just inside Georgia to the south, and until a translator signed on in Asheville, it got there. (The Asheville area's Kiss 99.9 and WMIT-106.9 make it to Sevierville and Knoxville. 97.5, 102.1 and 107.7 get past the state line in Kentucky and North Carolina. Smaller stations: 93.1 WNOX makes the trip to Sevierville in a reasonably listenable form. It does fine in Maryville and even caught a breath of it in the higher elevation area near Fontana Dam. News Talk 98.7. licensed to Oliver Springs has a good signal north about to the TN/KY border, and it's noisy, but listenable n Sevierville and pretty good in Maryville. WKZX Lenoir City (Spanish outlet) gets interference from WAZX in the SW tip of Virginia and loses to the VA station in Gatlinburg

 

[cyberdad]

I lived in Jackson, MI for three years. After my experience in Texas, I expected much better luck with Chicago FMs than I had. They started to make spotty appearances in Kalamazoo, but I had to be pretty close to the lake before they would really start coming in.

I had much better luck in my rental car radio coming into Milwaukee from Chicago. I pretty much left it on Chicago FM all the way in to the Southern suburbs, where my speaking engagement was. Going back, I checked the Milwaukee stations out, and was losing them about where that highway 68 traffic mess started.

I'd have to double-check, but I'm pretty sure the Milwaukee FMs run at considerably higher ERP than their Chicago counterparts, although the antenna farm a few miles north of downtown Milwaukee, contains towers not all that much lower than those on the downtown Chicago buildings. I'm also not sure if there's any connection, but the Chicago signals also to me seem unusually susceptible around here to tropo and e-skip events.

 

[charlestondxman]

Chicago FMs run lower power because of the height of the buildings, as none are grandfathered in. Generally between 4 and 6 KW. WJMK (104.3) runs 4,100 watts, while others on lower parts of Willis and John Hancock run as much as 6kw. WKQX (101.1) runs 5,700. WLIT only runs 4kw.

WMYX (99.1) runs 50kw from 142m. I was thinking of the time that I was on Sears Tower about 10 years ago (on a very clear day), and you could see all the way to the Wind Point lighthouse (less than 20 miles from downtown Milwaukee), about 63 miles away, and across Lake Michigan. Still, downtown Milwaukee is about 81-82 miles from the Willis Tower, and that is a long way for a 4-6kw FM to travel.

The FMs on the Empire State Building run a little more power (usually about 6-7kw), but they struggle when you get more than 55-60 miles away, even with no co-channel from Philly and other markets.

 

[cyberdad]

Chicago FMs run lower power because of the height of the buildings, as none are grandfathered in. Generally between 4 and 6 KW. WJMK (104.3) runs 4,100 watts, while others on lower parts of Willis and John Hancock run as much as 6kw. WKQX (101.1) runs 5,700. WLIT only runs 4kw.

WMYX (99.1) runs 50kw from 142m.

I knew that the reason for the lower power on the Chicago FMs was because of the tall buildings. But I thought WFMT (98.7) was grandfathered at a slightly higher power. Or more correctly, perhaps at some point in the past, they used to be. As for WMYX They're southwest of town near the I-43/I-894 split. The antenna farm I referred to earlier is on the other side of downtown by about 5 miles near Capitol Drive, east of I-43/94. Those towers (which include TV) are taller than what WMYX is using. Perhaps because the WMYX tower is closer to the airport. WOKY's towers (920am) are nearby.

 

[radioman148]

At my location in the near north Chicago burbs, WMYX has the best signal of any Milwaukee FM. I'm guessing their tower is about 70 miles from me. Usually to hear the other Milwaukee signals I need a little bit of tropo. It helps that WMYX is not immediately adjacent to any of the Chicago FMs.

 

[schmave]

Columbus FMs are usually dependable for about 65 miles in every direction, sometimes more. The big signals (92.3, 93.3, 94.7, 96.3, 97.1, 97.9) carry well to the west and northwest, even with some hills to traverse about 45 miles northwest around Bellefontaine. Strangely, they do not carry all that well to the north across very flat country. Some of them bump into co-channel problems with Detroit stations.
There is an FM translator of WATH-AM in Athens, Ohio on 97.1, considerably cutting into our 97.1's range. Co-channel interference begins not far southeast of Logan, only about 50 miles from Columbus. 97.1 used to be quite listenable almost all the way to Athens.

 

[gr8oldies]

Even the Columbus stations with decent signals have virtually no listenership in Springfield. 96.3 (unless a translator has signed on since I left) was about the best overall signal there. 97.1 runs into 96.9, and 97.9 has issues with some 97.7s).

Columbus FMs are usually dependable for about 65 miles in every direction, sometimes more. The big signals (92.3, 93.3, 94.7, 96.3, 97.1, 97.9) carry well to the west and northwest, even with some hills to traverse about 45 miles northwest around Bellefontaine. Strangely, they do not carry all that well to the north across very flat country. Some of them bump into co-channel problems with Detroit stations.
There is an FM translator of WATH-AM in Athens, Ohio on 97.1, considerably cutting into our 97.1's range. Co-channel interference begins not far southeast of Logan, only about 50 miles from Columbus. 97.1 used to be quite listenable almost all the way to Athens.

 

[Huff]

I get spotty reception of KLTY all over Houston. That is when a pirate isn't on the frequency. And, it used to work in reverse. Back in the late 80's, I frequently drove up to Dallas. KRBE would hang in there all the way to the South part of Dallas. I remember taking a friend to an apartment complex in South Dallas, I was listening to KRBE in the car. It took a little longer that I was expecting, so I needed to go up to the apartment and use their bathroom - they were listening to KRBE, too! It was on a decent receiver - their dipole was stapled to the wall behind it. I asked them about it - they told me KRBE was clearer than 106.1 from Denton - the local top-40 station for DFW at the time. So they listened to KRBE. They told me a lot of people did. I remember in college, I changed from Texas Tech to the University of Texas. I tuned around for new local stations. I found KRBE and pretty much didn't tune off of it. Almost like a local.

It isn't just KRBE and KLTY, either. When KFMK Houston went down for a week - because it went bankrupt or something as a Christian station, KZEW was strong and clear morning and afternoon commutes along the Southwest Freeway. I sure hated when KFMK came back on the air as an oldies station, because KZEW was a welcome addition to my commute time.

All of this with just a Pioneer aftermarket car radio and a 31 inch whip antenna. Nothing special.

I have NEVER received a Dallas station in Houston - and I've tried. A lot. I have caught skips from Austin, Corpus, Lufkin, Tyler, RGV, Lafayette LA, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

I did occasionally catch KRBE and KKBQ in the 80s and 90s in Dallas before move-ins covered up those frequencies, but those skips were not regular at all. To paint a picture that either market is regularly receivable in the other without specialized equipment is a bit misleading.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I have NEVER received a Dallas station in Houston - and I've tried. A lot. I have caught skips from Austin, Corpus, Lufkin, Tyler, RGV, Lafayette LA, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

I did occasionally catch KRBE and KKBQ in the 80s and 90s in Dallas before move-ins covered up those frequencies, but those skips were not regular at all. To paint a picture that either market is regularly receivable in the other without specialized equipment is a bit misleading.

Drive your car to the Walgreens at Spring Cypress and Barker Cypress. Park on the Barker Cypress side. KLTY will be there. I get it no matter what car, time of day, time of year. There are dozens of additional places all over town.

My observations are what they are. My friends in South Dallas weren't DX'ers. They just had problems with 106.1. They didn't with 104.1. The didn't care that the station that came in on the frequency was from Houston instead of Dallas, it played music clearly, 106.1 didn't. End of story for them. No novelty factor for them, just music. People listen to what works. They don't listen to what doesn't work.

I am using an aftermarket Pioneer Supertuner 3D with a 31 inch whip. In an era when whip antennas on cars are considered ugly or uncool or whatever it is, I guess you could call a REAL antenna "specialized equipment". In Home reception of Dallas from Houston or vice-versa with a good tuner and a ten element outdoor yagi is hardly a challenge at all. The biggest issue is to find an open frequency. 94.9 is (or was) in Houston, 92.9 is in Dallas (again). Reception with an outdoor antenna is reliable and regular. I don't even have that good of a tuner. But - KLTY was a regular from the second story of a house along 290 in Cypress, with nothing but a dipole. I lived there 5 months. Day in, day out - reliable with a dipole. I don't know what equipment you are using, but it really isn't hard to do.

 

[schmave]

Even the Columbus stations with decent signals have virtually no listenership in Springfield. 96.3 (unless a translator has signed on since I left) was about the best overall signal there. 97.1 runs into 96.9, and 97.9 has issues with some 97.7s).

I know we've had that Dayton-Springfield chat before. Columbus media is readily available there, but Dayton put such a stranglehold on that area years ago. It's been "Dayton-Springfield" ever since I can remember, but you can get to the west side of Columbus from downtown Springfield almost as quickly as you can get to downtown Dayton.

 

[gr8oldies]

Dayton was trying desperately to remain in the top 50 TV markets in the 80s (they failed) and I think "Dayton-Springfield" was part of it. There are folks who commute to work in Columbus (there's even a fleet of commuter vans) and a Columbus bus stop on the east side of Clark County, but media habits are all Dayton. Springfield seems to be more of a bedroom community to Dayton these days...folks making the relatively short trip to Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek instead of their struggling Upper Valley Mall.

I know we've had that Dayton-Springfield chat before. Columbus media is readily available there, but Dayton put such a stranglehold on that area years ago. It's been "Dayton-Springfield" ever since I can remember, but you can get to the west side of Columbus from downtown Springfield almost as quickly as you can get to downtown Dayton.

 

[icybluelake]

All of our strongest locals are C1s, except for KSUI Iowa City, a C. Without any terrain issues to speak of, the signals are good up to about 60 miles, and maybe choppy but listenable up to 80 or 90 miles away. We have a few smaller signals as well, but they are kind of rim shot signals, and I am not really sure about their radius.

 

[Sonic37]

10 miles west of New York City. A lot of the NYC FM's make it to Forked River to the South 65 miles, Exit 19 on 80 to the West, around 45 miles. and to Middlebury, CT to the North east around 65 miles. Nash FM in West Orange makes it to Mount Laurel, outside Philly before WDSD takes over completely, around 70 miles.

 

[Emartz91]

Philadelphia FM stations go for about 60-70 miles usually. I can pick up the stations as far north as Woodbridge, NJ. My most southern shore point reception is Wildwood. As far west as Havre De Grace, MD. Adjacent channel interference can limit the range a little bit as the radio dial is crowded.

 

[charlestondxman]

New York and Philly stations come in well in Manasquan, NJ, even though Manasquan is 43.6 miles from the Empire State Building, and almost 65 from Roxborough (where most of the Philly FMs transmitters are). Most of the NY FMs come in strong except for a few of the non-commercials, while Philly comes in well on the frequencies that don't conflict with New York (I heard all the big FMs except 95.7 which had 95.9 in Point Pleasant conflicting).

This was the recent bandscan I did from there: https://youtu.be/4oojOOrMmfo

 

[rbrucecarter5]

New York and Philly stations come in well in Manasquan, NJ, even though Manasquan is 43.6 miles from the Empire State Building, and almost 65 from Roxborough (where most of the Philly FMs transmitters are). Most of the NY FMs come in strong except for a few of the non-commercials, while Philly comes in well on the frequencies that don't conflict with New York (I heard all the big FMs except 95.7 which had 95.9 in Point Pleasant conflicting).

This was the recent bandscan I did from there: https://youtu.be/4oojOOrMmfo

About 20 years ago, I drove a rent car from NYC to Boston. Most of the NYC FM stations were gone about Hartford, by which time I was starting to get some of the Boston stations. This was when the NYC stations were still on World Trade. I don't know what the range would be like now. Good old Delco in the rent car with a 31 inch whip. AM was impressive, too.

In 2001 summer, I was in Philly for my book tour, I remember having spotty reception on NYC FM's. Not as clear as Jacksonville in Daytona Beach which is a similar distance, but enough I could listen to them with a few dropouts.

 

[davideduardo]

About 20 years ago, I drove a rent car from NYC to Boston. Most of the NYC FM stations were gone about Hartford, by which time I was starting to get some of the Boston stations. This was when the NYC stations were still on World Trade.

The vast majority of NYC FM stations were not on the WTC. Never were. At the time of the 9/11 attack there were just 4 FMs located there. The stations there were WNYC (City of New York) and WPAT (Spanish Broadcasting System) WKTU (Clear Channel) and WKCR (Columbia University).

There rest of the major NYC stations were and are on the ESB.