How well does WIIL go into Chicago?

[avtosalon]

Yes, Dex Card used to own WLIP and WJZQ. He was the owner when call letters were changed from WLIP-FM to WJZQ.

Not too far from the WIIL/WLIP studios in a somewhat rural area is a HUGE plant. I'm not sure if it's a power plant or what, but the building looks like it is about 15 stories tall with a massive smokestack. Looks like something from Gary, Indiana. Could this effect WIIL's signal?

All of the Class B's outside of Chicago have very good signals:
90.1 WMBI-FM Chicago (tower in Addison)
92.3 WPWX Hammond
95.1 WIIL Kenosha
99.9 WCPQ Park Forest (formerly Kankakee)
106.7 WPPN Des Plaines (tower in Arlington Heights)
107.9 WLEY-FM Aurora (tower in Blomingdale)

 

[ERP50kW]

Ah, yes... WJZQ... "Rock 95" back in the day! "This is Paul Kern, on Rock 95..." Was this station always rock in it's early days? Always 50kW output?

Those studios and the one tower for both stations are indeed very close to a power plant! Probably part of WI Energy Corp. Looks like a coal fired plant according to what I see on Google Maps. Not the best of places to be it would appear... especially with shifts in the wind direction.

Did they have a taller tower in years past? They should think about it if they want to help their signal... but it appears to be a combination of things over the years that has diminished their signal quality.

...or WVLI should trim their tower or their power output... who ever wants to DX "The Valley"?!?

;-)

Yes, Dex Card used to own WLIP and WJZQ. He was the owner when call letters were changed from WLIP-FM to WJZQ.

Not too far from the WIIL/WLIP studios in a somewhat rural area is a HUGE plant. I'm not sure if it's a power plant or what, but the building looks like it is about 15 stories tall with a massive smokestack. Looks like something from Gary, Indiana. Could this effect WIIL's signal?

All of the Class B's outside of Chicago have very good signals:
90.1 WMBI-FM Chicago (tower in Addison)
92.3 WPWX Hammond
95.1 WIIL Kenosha
99.9 WCPQ Park Forest (formerly Kankakee)
106.7 WPPN Des Plaines (tower in Arlington Heights)
107.9 WLEY-FM Aurora (tower in Blomingdale)

 

[the golden boy]

I was on the south side of Chicago three weeks ago (near 95th and Jeffrey) and managed to pick up WIIL at night on a Sony Walkman. I was also able to pick up WXLC for a short while, drowning out the South Side's WYCA.

 

[radioman148]

Ah, yes... WJZQ... "Rock 95" back in the day! "This is Paul Kern, on Rock 95..." Was this station always rock in it's early days? Always 50kW output?

Those studios and the one tower for both stations are indeed very close to a power plant! Probably part of WI Energy Corp. Looks like a coal fired plant according to what I see on Google Maps. Not the best of places to be it would appear... especially with shifts in the wind direction.

Did they have a taller tower in years past? They should think about it if they want to help their signal... but it appears to be a combination of things over the years that has diminished their signal quality.

...or WVLI should trim their tower or their power output... who ever wants to DX "The Valley"?!?

;-)

Yes, Dex Card used to own WLIP and WJZQ. He was the owner when call letters were changed from WLIP-FM to WJZQ.

Not too far from the WIIL/WLIP studios in a somewhat rural area is a HUGE plant. I'm not sure if it's a power plant or what, but the building looks like it is about 15 stories tall with a massive smokestack. Looks like something from Gary, Indiana. Could this effect WIIL's signal?

All of the Class B's outside of Chicago have very good signals:
90.1 WMBI-FM Chicago (tower in Addison)
92.3 WPWX Hammond
95.1 WIIL Kenosha
99.9 WCPQ Park Forest (formerly Kankakee)
106.7 WPPN Des Plaines (tower in Arlington Heights)
107.9 WLEY-FM Aurora (tower in Blomingdale)

What years did Dex Card own the station?

 

[avtosalon]

I don't know the exact dates, but for sure it was from the late 70's to mid 80's. Perhaps someone who worked there can provide the correct timeframe.

By the way, the 'JZQ call letters did not stand for anything. I was told that the letters just sounded nice together for an album rock station. Similar to WKQX which began in 1977.

I remember in the mid 70's when WLIP-FM used to flip formats at 6:00 PM. The station was Easy Listening during the day and Album Rock at night. You don't hear stations with dual-formats anymore.

 

[radioman148]

I don't know the exact dates, but for sure it was from the late 70's to mid 80's. Perhaps someone who worked there can provide the correct timeframe.

By the way, the 'JZQ call letters did not stand for anything. I was told that the letters just sounded nice together for an album rock station. Similar to WKQX which began in 1977.

I remember in the mid 70's when WLIP-FM used to flip formats at 6:00 PM. The station was Easy Listening during the day and Album Rock at night. You don't hear stations with dual-formats anymore.

I thought that was about the time frame for Card. I remember when WKQX took those calls that the explanation was hard letters instead of vowels sound better for a rock station.

 

[vforest76]

I remember in the mid 70's when WLIP-FM used to flip formats at 6:00 PM. The station was Easy Listening during the day and Album Rock at night. You don't hear stations with dual-formats anymore.

now there's WNTD, Relevant Radio by day and The Avenue at night.