How far do your local FM's go?

[AckDX]

From Nantucket:

89.5 WNCK: barely hear it on the other side of the island
91.1 WNAN: I've heard this in Hyannis, but it disappeared shortly thereafter.
92.7 WMVY: I've heard it as far away as Hanover,MA
95.1 WXTK: Heard as far as Hingham
96.3 WRZE: now that they've moved to Dennis, you can't really get them here any more.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Good question/topic...it varies quite a bit in different parts of the country. Here in the Indiana flat lands, the Class B's at 1000' are good on a car radio to about 60 miles. The B's at 500', maybe 55 miles. The A's at greater than 328', about 40 miles. The few A's at 450-550' sometimes eek out 50 miles. The A's at lower height, maybe 35 miles. This is all assuming nothing interferes with their reception. With IBOC hissing on adjacent signals & two A's at 65-70 miles on the same channel, these numbers often aren't met...sad.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Good question/topic...it varies quite a bit in different parts of the country. Here in the Indiana flat lands, the Class B's at 1000' are good on a car radio to about 60 miles. The B's at 500', maybe 55 miles. The A's at greater than 328', about 40 miles. The few A's at 450-550' sometimes eek out 50 miles. The A's at lower height, maybe 35 miles. This is all assuming nothing interferes with their reception. With IBOC hissing on adjacent signals & two A's at 65-70 miles on the same channel, these numbers often aren't met...sad.

The FMs on a 2000' tower and 100 kW last from 100 to 140 miles, depending on terrain and whether they are running HD or not. HD seems to really limit their range. Some pockets of reception out to 200 miles or more. I've documented a couple of 300 mile pockets of reception - dependable but not very useful if you are in the car. I suppose if you lived in one of those nodes, you would have dependable reception of the distant signal even with a dipole. One example is 97.1 Gainesville GA on I-10 just East of Lake City, FL. I pulled in a Texaco station on the outskirts of town, there was 97.1. Every time, different times of the year. I did seem to be a node for a Mississippi FM about 300 miles away when I lived for a short time in Atlanta - no outdoor antenna allowed - so I was on a dipole. It really surprised me to have dependable 300 mile reception on a dipole - if only on one station.

 

[crainbebo]

Here in Seattle, you can't beat the signal of KPQ 102.1 in Wenatchee. The height above average terrain at over 2,600 feet has a signal that can reach us on certain days, mostly weak, and can reach Pentiction, BC under the right conditions. THEY ROCK EASTERN WASHINGTON!

-crainbebo

 

[charlestondxman]

In my market, Charleston, the FM's have many different ranges, depending on how much power they have. The translators the religious stations have usually go about ten miles in every direction.

Our weakest FM's (100.5, 106.3, 88.5, 100.9) have trouble maybe 30-35 miles out. 100.5 goes out about 5 miles before you get to I-95 on I-26, less than 40 miles out, as there is a 100.3 in the Orangeburg area (WORG). 88.5 has a weaker signal to the south and west because of the 88.7 in Beaufort, and 106.3 is weaker because of a nearby 106.1.

The next tier (includes 105.5, 107.3, 98.1, 93.3) can be heard about 50 miles away with some signal, but 105.5 and 98.1 have worse signals in the upper Berkeley County area, because their transmitters are only about 5 miles from the ocean.

The upper tier (including 104.5, 102.5, 103.5) can be heard all the way into the Myrtle Beach area with some interference, and as far south as Bluffton/Hilton Head, and sometimes they can be heard up I-95 until you get about 10 miles out of Florence.

Our best signals in the area (92.5, 96.9, 95.1, 101.7) have huge footprints. Almost all of SC east of I-95 can get these four stations (and beyond). They come in well most of the way to Columbia, but you lose them as you get close to I-77 on 26.

I've received 96.9 (on a normal car radio) all the way past South of the Border, into NC, and during the summer, you can hear many of the Charleston FM's as far north as Lumberton and Fayetteville, and they carry south into the Savannah area (before Jacksonville starts interfering).

One time, I picked up 102.5 all the way in Daytona Beach (with just a Walkman) during the summer, almost as clear as a bell.

 

[gr8oldies]

Dayton, OH area...Class As like WROU (92.1), WDKF (94.5) and WXEG (103.9) get to about the Indiana border to the west and Springfield to the East, Sidney tops to the north (WROU fights whatever WZOQ is now out of Wapakoneta around there. To the south about Middletown or Waynesville. Haven't DXed these stations outside their normal areas, all suffer from out of town interference not too far out.

The grandaddy of Dayton FMs, WHKO (99.1), goes to east of Indianapolis at times, north to just south of Lima and I've heard them in Columbus as well as past Cincinnati. I've DXed WHKO north of Lafayette, IN.

The other Dayton-based FMs, WTUE (104.7), WMMX (107.7), and WLQT (99.9) go to about Sidney with strong signals and weakly to Lima and Celina. I pulled WMMX once in Ft. Wayne (before 107.9 signed on there).All go east to about London.OH. Rimshots: 102.9 WDHT goes to Columbus and beyond to the east (tower is in Springfield), Lima and even sometimes Ft. Wayne to the north but is clipped to the south by WEBN. I have listened to 102.9 almost full queiting on I-465 in Indianapolis, and before WNJY (now WXXB) signed on, it wasn't unheard of to hear them in Lafayette. 95.7, WHIO-FM, Findlay to North of Cincy, and I've heard them on I-71 north of Columbus as well. I have heard them on US421 north of Indianapolis. 92.9 WGTZ (Eaton) west to about Rt. 3 oln I-70 before they get wiped out by 93.1 WIBC, north to a little past Sidney. Celina area I would hear either them or South Bend. I'm not sure but I may have heard them weakly on the Lake Erie shoreline. They get clipped to the south by Lexington.

106.5 in Greenville (WDSJ) really gets out. They're a local in Celina and I've gotten them to Indianapolis to the west and before 106.5 signed on in Chillicothe, even weakly in Waverly, OH 95.3 in Xenia? Never heard them out of the area...Piqua's about as far north.

 

[kd8hho]

i used to get WHKO 99.1 all the time in anderson, untill the bible banging LPFM started up in muncie

 

[Lawppy]

This is a great thread! Here are mine..

Coldwater, MI:

90.1- WCWB- .250kw, 19m- This one only makes it out about 5 miles with a strong signal and 10 with a listenable signal. I've been able to sniff them out of the static as far away as I-94 near Battle Creek (25 miles)

97.1- W246AU- .170kw, 31m- Despite being a translator with less power, this one literally does better than WCWB. I can regularly hear this station with a good signal from 10 miles out. It's a little iffy beyond 10 miles, but i've heard them as far away as Charlotte (40 miles).

98.5- WNWN- 50kw, 143m- The only full powered station in the area, this one serves Battle Creek more than local Coldwater. I've heard them from Lansing to Fort Wayne on I-69 and even into the far western Detroit suburbs on I-94. I once sniffed them out of the static while doing car stereo DX on Lake Michigan. This is a big signal.

101.1- W266AE- .027kw, 67m- Height really helps this translator. Despite using considerably less power than crosstown W246AU, this one makes it out just as far. I've carried this one as far away as Kalamazoo (almost 40 miles).

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I think the biggest powerhouse near me is AAA WTTS 92.3 Indianapolis indiana,,,, they can easily make it into and past Louisville.

The second best would be WJJK 104.5 Indianapolis Formerly Jack... Ive heard this station rip apart WLKY Lexington only 30 miles west of Lexington,, not really listenable, but enough to be a nuisance for the local WLKT listeners,,, On the other hand, its not hard to use a directional and Null out WJJK just 30 miles south of indy to get WLKT Lexington to come in up here.. But Bob on the Job is about right,,, all the Indianapolis, Louisville, Even Chicago and Fortwayne Class Bs, are good to about 60 miles on a good car radio,, and maybe up to 75 miles to a DXer who isnt annoyed by static... I know of one 5oo FT Class B here... WFBQ Q-95 in Indianapolis really gets out a good ways though.... as does B-102.7 in terre Haute at 70 miles and listenable and usuable here at 28kw at 700 some feet. WMGI 100.7 which was and still is a 50kw at 500 ft gets out a good 70-80 miles as well. On the other hand, alot of the Indianapolis stations are short spaced to local translators in Bloomington, those stations only get out about 45 miles,,, their life is cut short buy LPFM and translators spreading the word of god.

 

[nd2023]

I live between New York City and Philadelphia. The NYC FMs go pretty far, from New Haven, CT to Trenton, NJ on I-95 for the stations that don't have adjacents in the aforementioned cities. The Philly FMs go from Bel Air, MD to New Brunswick, NJ on I-95 before adjacents beat them up or they get lost in the static. There was one time in the summer I drove to Virginia Beach, and could hear the Philly stations all the way, even interfering with the locals 30 miles away. 96.9 WFPG has the best signal in the state in the summer. A 50000 watt blowtorch just a mile from the Atlantic City boardwalk, it is routinely heard 80 miles away with a good signal in the car. Its coverage map looks bad, with half its signal over water, but the signal over the water helps a lot. During tropo, it's been heard from North Carolina to Boston.
I've noticed those 100000 watt class C's down south go very far. For example, WRAL 101.5 in Raleigh, NC spills into Virginia and South Carolina along I-95.

 

[gr8oldies]

Lawwpy, when I was living in the Celina, OH area, WNWN (known as "Stereo Country 98" at the time) was a frequent visitor. How does WLKI get out on 100.3?

As far as some of our low power and translators here in Dayton, OH, on 98.7 with have a Radio U translator in Springfield but go a few miles west we have an Air One translator, that basically covers East Dayton and Riverside. WSWO-LP, "Ultimate Oldies Radio" where I volunteer has the main station on 97.7 which has very poor coverage and lots of interference from Oxford. The translator on 101.1 has good coverage from the Air Force base to Englewood, Riverside and Beavercreek, and can be in and out in Kettering depending on interference from 101.1 from Cincy. I can get it in Xenia and actually fairly well between Xenia and Wilmington. The Springfield K-LOve translators generally reach Springfield only, but when the band opens up sometimes the originating 96.9 transmitter is overpowered by Lexington's 96.9.

 

[Lawppy]

gr8,

WNWN (Win 98-5 as they're called now) should still make it into the Celina area. There aren't many new stations on 98.5 that would interfere.

WLKI 100.3 has amazing coverage for a 4kw signal. I think it's a combination of open freq and high terrain. Their tower is perched upon some of the highest land in the area (elevation rises over 1100'). I've easily heard them from 50-60 miles out and they even give much stronger signals a fight. For instance, driving east on US-12, WLKI fights with WNIC within 60 miles of COL Dearborn, MI. Compare this to another local class A on a Detroit frequency (94.7 WCVM) that is long gone by this same point

 

[kc0ltv]

Cool thread. I've done a lot of "range-checking" (what else do you call it?) in my car by simply programming locals into the presets and switching between them as I drive. Probably not that distracting as I have the positions of the buttons more or less memorized so I can keep my eyes on the road.

Duluth, Minnesota has several class C1 stations, running 100,000 watts ERP from an antenna farm overlooking the city. The bases of the towers themselves are a good 600 feet above the central business district and many of the "low-lying" neighborhoods, and the antennas themselves are at about 800 feet "above average terrain" according to the FCC. These stations, in my experience, can be heard under "normal" conditions with decent (if not spotty in a moving car) reception in my car (stock A/C Delco Radio and standard car whip):

South on I-35: South of Hinckley, Minnesota, about 70-75 miles from the transmitter site. Inside Hinckley itself, about 68 miles, they are good in most places; beyond Pine County, they're either gone or just about gone

West on MN 210: Where 210 merges with 169, about 70 miles away. Right around Aitkin (75 miles) they're getting weak IIRC

North on US 53: Not sure where they fade completely out, but they're still strong in Virginia, MN (around 55-60 miles to the north)

Northeast on MN 61: This one's more confusing. Somewhere past (maybe around?) Silver Bay 50 mi away they begin to get weak, but they never completely fade out, at least not as far as I've gone. Even in Grand Marais, about 105 miles to the northeast as the crow flies, right at lake elevation (600 feet), I have heard the Duluth stations easily if I remember right. On top of a hill, they were very strong.

East on WI 13 or US 2: Can't remember where they faded out exactly, but they're spotty around Bayfield / Ashland (60 miles), probably due more to local topography than anything. I think I heard them also in Ironwood, MI (about 95 miles out). I can often hear WIMI 99.7 Ironwood, MI very well at home 100 miles to the west, even on my car radio, and it seems to be very rare when I can't hear them.

So basically, you have a normal (maybe somewhat fringish) listenable range of about 50 - 70 miles for the 100 kw'ers, though areas with good topography beyond that will naturally produce better ranges. However, except for Ironwood and Grand Marais, which have lake / near-lake paths, I've never heard the Duluth stations beyond about 90-100 miles. Compare this to the Minneapolis Class C stations, which easily produce weak but identifiable fringe signals across much of the state - I've heard KZJK 104.1 (pretty sure it was that one), for example, right next to the lake in Grand Marais - a 230+ mile land path.

 

[KML0224]

How can you hear 96.9 FM in Boston when they already have WTKK-FM 96.9?

 

[Tom Wells]

How can you hear 96.9 FM in Boston when they already have WTKK-FM 96.9?

Sure enough depends on where you're listening, whether or not you're using a yagi, how much gain/rejection it has, and the
angles between you and the intended/unintended signals.

Here in Chicago I can hear Michigan FMs often. In the car parked in front of the house. Or on the Sansui in the basement, hooked to
the Winegard 1980s Super-fringe FM only yagi on a rotor in the attic.

I recall being amazed by Lafeyette, IN coming in on my car radio in Valparaiso, IN. That was about 95 miles, and while I can't recall the freq
or call, I do remember finding out they had a really tall antenna.

When I lived at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, 100 watt WZRD (88.3) with low, low antenna was regular reception due to the overwater path.

 

[vibe]

In Mass, you don't see any 100kw sticks. Most of the stronger FM['s get out to 40-60 mi but hilltop locations will easily double that number. Therefore transmitter location REALLY matters as evidenced by WAAF-107.3 moving from a great location in Paxton, MA to another location in Boyslton , MA (maybe 15 mi) and losing a HUGE coverage area and a lot of listeners in multiple markets.
Therefore, I'm amazed how far FM's go in other areas of the country with level terrain and much higher power levels and improved car receivers/tuners...

 

[Mid West Clubber]

A couple of the most powerful stations ive ever heard are WKSF Asheville NC, and WNOX-Formerly WOKI 100.3 in Knoxville TN... WKSF is regularly heard in south east Kentucky, and 100.3 in knoxville used to make it almost to the Ohio state line....

Also Out west,, In denver KYGO and KXPK both get out nearly 200 miles.

In LA.... KBIG 104.3 seems to be able to be heard well into mexico, and up almost to San Francisco,, Even the lower powered LA stations like KIIS and KPWR get out about 100 miles do the extreme TX Height on MT Wilson...

 

[charlestondxman]

I definitely agree with WKSF and WNOX. WKSF, from Mt. Pigsah in the NC mountains, can be heard often all the way down on I-20 in the Augusta area, about 140 miles away, and have a listenable signal in Athens, and anywhere NE of Atlanta as you get away from the 99.7 there. WNOX is one of the few stations that can be heard through the mountains into Cherokee, NC.

Columbia's major FM's (WCOS and WTCB) have a huge range, as 97.5 and 106.7 can be heard throughout most of the state. I've heard them in North Myrtle Beach (nearly 140 miles away), in downtown Savannah (during the summer), and out in Dillon (near the NC line on I-95).

Several times, I've picked up WSPA at 98.9 (from Spartanburg, SC) all the way down in the Charleston area (over 210 miles) through my semi-local 98.9, and during the summer, many of the Orlando FM's are blasters all the way up to Charleston (for some stations, nearly 300 miles), and at least once a week during the summer, I can get WPCV in Winter Haven, FL (97 Country), over 330 miles away.

Q-99 in Roanoke has another amazing signal, as I heard it one night this fall (with no DX going on), just a pull of the antenna, for almost an hour in Charleston, 308 miles away.

 

[radiorob2.0]

I definitely agree with WKSF and WNOX. WKSF, from Mt. Pigsah in the NC mountains, can be heard often all the way down on I-20 in the Augusta area, about 140 miles away, and have a listenable signal in Athens, and anywhere NE of Atlanta as you get away from the 99.7 there. WNOX is one of the few stations that can be heard through the mountains into Cherokee, NC.

You forgot about the Mt. Mitchell stations, WNCW and WMIT.

I worked for both Owensboro, KY Class C's, 92.5 WBKR (1100 feet HAAT) and 96.1 WSTO (1001 HAAT). Each have signals that go for what seems forever. They were more impressive before the 80/90 clutter.

Another in KY worth mentioning is WSGS Hazard.

 

[schmave]

Dayton, OH area...Class As like WROU (92.1), WDKF (94.5) and WXEG (103.9) get to about the Indiana border to the west and Springfield to the East, Sidney tops to the north (WROU fights whatever WZOQ is now out of Wapakoneta around there. To the south about Middletown or Waynesville. Haven't DXed these stations outside their normal areas, all suffer from out of town interference not too far out.

The grandaddy of Dayton FMs, WHKO (99.1), goes to east of Indianapolis at times, north to just south of Lima and I've heard them in Columbus as well as past Cincinnati. I've DXed WHKO north of Lafayette, IN.

The other Dayton-based FMs, WTUE (104.7), WMMX (107.7), and WLQT (99.9) go to about Sidney with strong signals and weakly to Lima and Celina. I pulled WMMX once in Ft. Wayne (before 107.9 signed on there).All go east to about London.OH. Rimshots: 102.9 WDHT goes to Columbus and beyond to the east (tower is in Springfield), Lima and even sometimes Ft. Wayne to the north but is clipped to the south by WEBN. I have listened to 102.9 almost full queiting on I-465 in Indianapolis, and before WNJY (now WXXB) signed on, it wasn't unheard of to hear them in Lafayette. 95.7, WHIO-FM, Findlay to North of Cincy, and I've heard them on I-71 north of Columbus as well. I have heard them on US421 north of Indianapolis. 92.9 WGTZ (Eaton) west to about Rt. 3 oln I-70 before they get wiped out by 93.1 WIBC, north to a little past Sidney. Celina area I would hear either them or South Bend. I'm not sure but I may have heard them weakly on the Lake Erie shoreline. They get clipped to the south by Lexington.

106.5 in Greenville (WDSJ) really gets out. They're a local in Celina and I've gotten them to Indianapolis to the west and before 106.5 signed on in Chillicothe, even weakly in Waverly, OH 95.3 in Xenia? Never heard them out of the area...Piqua's about as far north.

I've heard WTUE solid into western Franklin County before WCVO (104.9) from New Albany starts to overtake them. It's an easy catch down in Pickaway County as well and almost to Chillicothe.
95.3 from Xenia has a terrible signal. It's tough to pick them out around Washington C.H., only 25-30 miles from Xenia. Get much farther than Springfield or the north side of Dayton and they're not easy to hear.