From Queens, NY
We've had quite the FM tropo opening for the past few hours here in NYC. Using a Radiosophy HD100 HD Radio, and through a crowded dial, countless local pirate stations, HD hash and even on top of local stations in a couple of instances, I've been able to pull in stations from almost every frequency, from Boston, Rhode Island, Western CT, as well as South Jersey and the Philly region.
I've been listening since around 10 PM on 4/29, now it's in the early morning hours of 4/30 and the opening is still quite strong. In fact, even with IBlock and the proliferation of pirate stations here in NYC, this is one of the better tropo openings that I can recall, and I caught some stations in NYC proper for the first time.
Here's what I've received - all stations confirmed either through station IDs or cross-checks with their live streams online, or both.
88.1 WMMR Monroe, CT - Coming in with a strong signal, almost like a local.
88.3 WLIU Southampton, NY - With some tweaking of the antenna, I was able to receive WLIU *over* local WBGO.
88.5 WEDW Stamford, CT - Not an unusual catch, but this was coming in as strong as the locals this evening.
88.5 WXPN Philadelphia, PA - By moving around the antenna a bit to null out WEDW, I was able to get a weak but listenable signal from WXPN.
WSIA 88.9 Staten Island, NY - Even though the station broadcasts from within the five boroughs, its 10 watt signal rarely makes its way up to Northern Queens. Received with moderate signal strength.
WBZC Z88.9 Pemberton, NJ - I was able to receive Z88.9 with a fairly weak signal with some tweaking of the antenna, underneath WSIA. First time I've received it in NYC.
WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport, CT - This is hardly a difficult catch either. However, this evening, it completely drowned out WSOU, which I usually receive with close to 100% signal strength and sometimes with its HD signal. This evening, I was only able to get WSOU with some careful aiming of the antenna, otherwise it was all WPKN.
WGBH 89.7 Boston, MA - This station was coming in with an absolutely incredible signal...almost 100% signal strength! Consistent reception all evening.
WRIT 90.1 Philadelphia, PA - 90.1 is home to a pirate station (Spanish-language religious) that seems to be fairly local to me, as I usually receive it with almost 100% signal strength. The pirate was operating this evening but it was very easy to null it out and to pull in WRIT.
WUSB 90.1 Stony Brook, NY - This station used to make its way into Queens more often in the past, before 90.1 became a favored frequency of pirates in NYC. This evening it also had WRIT to come in, but with careful aiming, I was able to receive it.
WPKT 90.5 Meridien, CT - This NPR affiliate was coming in all evening with a moderate but receivable signal, *over* the IBOC hash from local first-adjacent WFUV on 90.7. First time I've caught the station in NYC.
WSHU 91.1 Fairfield, CT - Not an unusual catch. However, I typically receive WFMU at my location with a fairly strong signal. This evening, not only was WSHU completely drowning out WFMU no matter which direction I pointed the antenna in, but I was able to lock in to WSHU's HD signal!
WNTI 91.9 Hackettstown, NJ - The first time I've received this station in Queens. It was battling it out all evening with a new local and fairly strong pirate on 91.9 playing Russian pop music.
WLNG 92.1 Sag Harbor, NY - Not an unusual catch in NYC. The fact that the station broadcasts in mono really helps the station put out a clear signal pretty far, and it's a common catch in NYC, though this has been less frequent since WXRK switched on the IBOC recently. Early in the evening, WLNG was blasting in as strong as a local, overcoming the IBOC hash of 92.3, but faded out to a weak signal after midnight.
WWYZ Country 92.5 Waterbury, CT - With the proper antenna alignment, I was able to get WWYZ in with a fairly strong signal, overcoming the IBOC hash from 92.3. A fairly rare catch for me in NYC.
WBOS Radio 92.9 Boston, MA - Came in with a weak but listenable signal despite first-adjacent 92.7 WQBU, whose transmitter is literally no more than two miles away from me, and first-adjacent WPAT 93.1...the signal was good enough to catch their TOH station ID! First time I've heard the station in NYC.
WEHM 92.9 Southampton, NY - Later in the evening, WBOS faded out and I was able to pull in 92.9 'EHM from Eastern LI with a weak but listenable signal, allowing me to catch their TOH station ID as well. Only the second time I recall receiving this station anywhere in NYC (first time was in Coney Island Brooklyn, right by the water).
WSNE Coast FM 93.3 Taunton, MA - Despite having two strong local first-adjacent signals in 93.1 WPAT and 93.5 WVIP to contend with, I was able to get a consistently weak but steady signal all evening. First time I've heard it in NYC.
WMMR 93.3 Philadelphia, PA - Though WSNE was stronger, with some careful tweaking of the antenna, I was able to pull in WMMR from Philly.
WZMX Hot 93.7 Hartford, CT - The station was coming in almost like a local all evening, despite the IBOC hash from first-adjacent WNYC on 93.9. First time I recall hearing it in NYC.
WHJY 94.1 Providence, RI - Came in with a very weak signal under WNYC's IBOC hash.
94.3: A dogfight here between WJLK Asbury Park, NJ (94.3 The Point), which is what I usually receive, and WMJC Smithtown, NY, along with a pirate from Brooklyn on 94.3.
WPST 94.5 Trenton, NJ - 94.5 is home to a *very* strong Spanish-language pirate station on 94.5 going by the name of Maxima, but I was able to nullify the signal and pull in WPST. Normally WPST is not too difficult to catch in NYC, but not with this extremely strong (100% signal strength where I am) pirate in the way.
94.9 - my only unid of the evening...the faintest of faint signals behind the first-adjacent bleed from WFME on 94.7. I heard what sounded like country music but I could not positively identify the station at any point.
WAYV 95.1 Atlantic City, NJ - Usually I am able to receive WRKI I-95 from Connecticut, and/or one of our many local Caribbean pirates on 95.1, but WAYV was making its way up the coast this evening, battling it out with the other two stations.
WKSS 95.7 Hartford, CT - Very faint signal, just audible enough to identify, underneath the first-adjacent IBOC hash from 95.5 PLJ. First time I've caught it in NYC.
WCTO 96.1 Cat Country Easton, CT - We have a strong pirate on 96.1, which I receive with close to 100% signal strength at my location. The signal was strong enough to drown everything else out for most of the evening, but for a few moments the pirate went off the air, and in came booming in Cat Country 96.1 with an incredibly good signal, despite local first-adjacent WQXR (which does not broadcast an HD signal). After a few minutes the pirate returned with a somewhat weaker signal than before, and the two stations could be received depending on antenna alignment.
WTIC 96.5 Hartford, CT - This station was coming in with an incredibly strong signal all evening, despite first-adjacent WQXR. It's the first time I've received it in NYC proper, but tonight it was coming in almost as strong as a local.
WRDW Wired 96.5 Philadelphia, PA - With some careful antenna alignment, I was able to nullify WTIC and pull in Wired from Philly.
Streetz 96.5 Newark, NJ Pirate - Probably the most hilarious catch of the night...I caught this early on, before WTIC really started booming in. Streetz 96 is a pirate from Newark, NJ. I've previously received it as far away as at the entrance to the George Washington Bridge (NJ side), but never in NYC. Later on the signal was lost as WTIC blasted in, with Wired 96.5 from Philly underneath.
WFPG 96.9 Atlantic City, NJ - Was consistently coming in with a moderately strong signal all night, despite first-adjacent Hot 97 and its IBOC hash.
WJFD 97.3 New Bedford, MA - I was able to get a weak but audible signal of this station and its Portuguese-language programming with some careful antenna alignment, despite Hot 97's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WXKW 97.3 Millville, NJ - A bit easier to receive on 97.3 was WXKW, which rebroadcasts New Jersey 101.5 to Southern Jersey.
97.5 - Despite the presence of a local pirate on 97.5, WALK from Long Island (which otherwise would be a very easy catch with its huge signal) was able to be heard with a strong signal.
WCTY 97.7 Norwich, CT - Weak but audible signal of this country music station, despite first-adjacent Mega 97.9 (no IBOC). First time I've received it in NYC.
WCTK 98.1 New Bedford, MA & WOGL 98.1 Philadelphia, PA - Both stations were coming in with almost equal signal strength....moving the antenna around resulted in very good signals from both stations. First time receiving WCTK in NYC.
WPLR 99.1 New Haven, CT - Not a difficult catch in NYC and a station that I am usually able to receive with some careful antenna positioning to null out the station I usually receive on 99.1, WAWZ (Star 99.1) from Zarepath, NJ. However, WPLR was obliterating WAWZ this evening, in HD, no less (first-time reception in HD). I've had the station's HD signal locked in for at least a half hour now without any interruption.
WPRO 99.7 Wakefield, RI - Coming in with a moderate signal all evening despite first-adjacent WBAI on 99.5.
99.9 - WEZN (Star 99.9) from Bridgeport, CT is hardly a DX catch in Queens, though lately a pirate on 99.9 has been making reception difficult. However, tonight I was able to pull in Star 99.9 in HD for the first time.
WRCH Lite 100.5 Hartford, CT - With proper antenna positioning, I was able to pull it in with a strong, almost local signal, and with RDS, despite the IBOC hash from first-adjacent Z100! First time I've caught WRCH in NYC.
WZXL 100.7 Wildwood, NJ - On 100.7 I usually receive WHUD (Peekskill, NY) with a strong signal. Tonight, WZXL almost completely blanketed WHUD, however. First time reception for me.
WKCI KC101.3 New Haven, CT - Used to be a pretty common catch before first-adjacent WCBS switched on the IBOC. I was able to get KC101 this evening after some careful tweaking of the antenna.
WIOQ Q102 102.1 Philadelphia, PA - Was coming in with a moderately strong signal despite first-adjacent WRXP and its IBOC hash.
102.3 - WBAB from Long Island always comes in for me here in Queens, but tonight it was coming in as strong as a local.
WDRC 102.9 Hartford, CT - With careful antenna alignment, it was coming in with a pretty good signal, despite first-adjacent Fresh 102.7 and its IBOC. First-time reception for me in NYC.
103.1 - A dogfight here between WBZO (Bay Shore, NY - which I usually receive with a weak to moderate signal), W276AQ from Fort Lee, NJ (whose 10 watts rarely make their way to Central Queens), and a pirate. As the evening progressed, WBZO came in stronger, almost like a local, and drowned out the others.
WPRB 103.3 Princeton, NJ - This used to be a very easy catch for me, until 103.5 'KTU switched on the IBOC. Tonight I was able to catch WPRB with a weak signal after careful positioning of the antenna.
WEEI 103.7 Boston, MA - Was coming in consistently with a moderate signal all evening despite 'KTU's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WURH Radio 104.1 Waterbury, CT - As the evening progressed, was coming in stronger and stronger, eventually coming in almost like a local, despite first-adjacent Q104.3's IBOC! First-time reception for me in NYC.
WRFF Radio 104.5 Philadelphia, PA - Came in moderately well all evening despite the IBOC hash from Q104.3.
WXLM 104.7 New London, CT - I'm usually able to receive WSPK (K104) from Poughkeepsie, but WXLM and WSPK were fighting it out this evening. The last time I received 104.7 in NYC, it was several years ago, when it was broadcasting as "Beach Radio."
WDRE Party 105.3 Calverton-Roanoke, NY - Surprisingly infrequent catch in NYC, at least for me, but I was able to pull it in faintly underneath Power 105.1's IBOC hash with some very careful antenna positioning.
WDAS 105.3 Philadelphia, PA - Continuing with the careful antenna positioning on this frequency, I was able to eventually pull in WDAS with a weak signal.
WDBY Y105 105.5 Danbury, CT - On 105.5 I usually receive a very strong gospel pirate on 105.5, and when the pirate is off the air, WDHA from New Jersey. Tonight, I was able to nullify the pirate and was able to pull in Y105. After midnight or so, the pirate went off the air, and Y105 blasted in like a local, with no sign of WDHA.
WCHR The Hawk 105.7 Manahawkin, NJ - Was coming in with a moderately strong signal all evening despite first adjacent WCAA on 105.9 and its IBOC hash.
W289AD 105.7 Selden, NY - With careful antenna positioning it was possible to get a faint signal from this translator of WSUF in Long Island...just audible enough to catch its rebroadcast of the BBC World Service.
106.1 WBLI Patchogue, NY - This was actually very easy to receive in NYC until 105.9 switched on the IBOC...I've even been able to receive it on a car radio, with RDS, while driving in Manhattan without any tropo enhancement. Tonight, however, WBLI was coming in like a local...100% signal strength.
WBMW Soft Rock 106.5 Ledyard, CT - With careful antenna positioning, I was able to pull the station in despite 106.7 Lite FM's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WPUR Cat Country 107.3 Atlantic City, NJ - This station was booming in like a local all evening, helped in part by the lack of IBOC hash from WBLS on 107.5.
WWRX Jammin 107.7 Pawcatuck, CT - The station was coming in with a fairly strong signal all evening.
107.9 WEBE Westport, CT - Nothing unusual about receiving WEBE in NYC, but tonight I was able to lock in to its HD signal for the first time.
I'm sure others in NYC have received many of my "first time" stations in the past, but my past experience with FM tropo openings in NYC that I recall have usually resulted in stations coming in exclusively from South Jersey/Philly, or exclusively Providence or Eastern LI. I have had luck with receiving tropo from Boston and elsewhere in New England while on Long Island (Suffolk County) and recall receiving stations like WGBH on several occasions, and many of the above stations from CT consistently come in as locals there as well, but to date, I have not been able to receive many of these stations in NYC, with only a couple of exceptions.
Indeed, its been several years since I had such a good opening towards Philadelphia (Atlantic City and South Jersey is more common, particularly 95.1 and 105.7), while most of these stations from the Boston area and Eastern CT were new catches for me. This was also one of the better openings I've had from Eastern LI, though I was surprised not to pull in stations like WRCN or 101.7 The Beach, which are usually part of any tropo reception from LI.
We've had quite the FM tropo opening for the past few hours here in NYC. Using a Radiosophy HD100 HD Radio, and through a crowded dial, countless local pirate stations, HD hash and even on top of local stations in a couple of instances, I've been able to pull in stations from almost every frequency, from Boston, Rhode Island, Western CT, as well as South Jersey and the Philly region.
I've been listening since around 10 PM on 4/29, now it's in the early morning hours of 4/30 and the opening is still quite strong. In fact, even with IBlock and the proliferation of pirate stations here in NYC, this is one of the better tropo openings that I can recall, and I caught some stations in NYC proper for the first time.
Here's what I've received - all stations confirmed either through station IDs or cross-checks with their live streams online, or both.
88.1 WMMR Monroe, CT - Coming in with a strong signal, almost like a local.
88.3 WLIU Southampton, NY - With some tweaking of the antenna, I was able to receive WLIU *over* local WBGO.
88.5 WEDW Stamford, CT - Not an unusual catch, but this was coming in as strong as the locals this evening.
88.5 WXPN Philadelphia, PA - By moving around the antenna a bit to null out WEDW, I was able to get a weak but listenable signal from WXPN.
WSIA 88.9 Staten Island, NY - Even though the station broadcasts from within the five boroughs, its 10 watt signal rarely makes its way up to Northern Queens. Received with moderate signal strength.
WBZC Z88.9 Pemberton, NJ - I was able to receive Z88.9 with a fairly weak signal with some tweaking of the antenna, underneath WSIA. First time I've received it in NYC.
WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport, CT - This is hardly a difficult catch either. However, this evening, it completely drowned out WSOU, which I usually receive with close to 100% signal strength and sometimes with its HD signal. This evening, I was only able to get WSOU with some careful aiming of the antenna, otherwise it was all WPKN.
WGBH 89.7 Boston, MA - This station was coming in with an absolutely incredible signal...almost 100% signal strength! Consistent reception all evening.
WRIT 90.1 Philadelphia, PA - 90.1 is home to a pirate station (Spanish-language religious) that seems to be fairly local to me, as I usually receive it with almost 100% signal strength. The pirate was operating this evening but it was very easy to null it out and to pull in WRIT.
WUSB 90.1 Stony Brook, NY - This station used to make its way into Queens more often in the past, before 90.1 became a favored frequency of pirates in NYC. This evening it also had WRIT to come in, but with careful aiming, I was able to receive it.
WPKT 90.5 Meridien, CT - This NPR affiliate was coming in all evening with a moderate but receivable signal, *over* the IBOC hash from local first-adjacent WFUV on 90.7. First time I've caught the station in NYC.
WSHU 91.1 Fairfield, CT - Not an unusual catch. However, I typically receive WFMU at my location with a fairly strong signal. This evening, not only was WSHU completely drowning out WFMU no matter which direction I pointed the antenna in, but I was able to lock in to WSHU's HD signal!
WNTI 91.9 Hackettstown, NJ - The first time I've received this station in Queens. It was battling it out all evening with a new local and fairly strong pirate on 91.9 playing Russian pop music.
WLNG 92.1 Sag Harbor, NY - Not an unusual catch in NYC. The fact that the station broadcasts in mono really helps the station put out a clear signal pretty far, and it's a common catch in NYC, though this has been less frequent since WXRK switched on the IBOC recently. Early in the evening, WLNG was blasting in as strong as a local, overcoming the IBOC hash of 92.3, but faded out to a weak signal after midnight.
WWYZ Country 92.5 Waterbury, CT - With the proper antenna alignment, I was able to get WWYZ in with a fairly strong signal, overcoming the IBOC hash from 92.3. A fairly rare catch for me in NYC.
WBOS Radio 92.9 Boston, MA - Came in with a weak but listenable signal despite first-adjacent 92.7 WQBU, whose transmitter is literally no more than two miles away from me, and first-adjacent WPAT 93.1...the signal was good enough to catch their TOH station ID! First time I've heard the station in NYC.
WEHM 92.9 Southampton, NY - Later in the evening, WBOS faded out and I was able to pull in 92.9 'EHM from Eastern LI with a weak but listenable signal, allowing me to catch their TOH station ID as well. Only the second time I recall receiving this station anywhere in NYC (first time was in Coney Island Brooklyn, right by the water).
WSNE Coast FM 93.3 Taunton, MA - Despite having two strong local first-adjacent signals in 93.1 WPAT and 93.5 WVIP to contend with, I was able to get a consistently weak but steady signal all evening. First time I've heard it in NYC.
WMMR 93.3 Philadelphia, PA - Though WSNE was stronger, with some careful tweaking of the antenna, I was able to pull in WMMR from Philly.
WZMX Hot 93.7 Hartford, CT - The station was coming in almost like a local all evening, despite the IBOC hash from first-adjacent WNYC on 93.9. First time I recall hearing it in NYC.
WHJY 94.1 Providence, RI - Came in with a very weak signal under WNYC's IBOC hash.
94.3: A dogfight here between WJLK Asbury Park, NJ (94.3 The Point), which is what I usually receive, and WMJC Smithtown, NY, along with a pirate from Brooklyn on 94.3.
WPST 94.5 Trenton, NJ - 94.5 is home to a *very* strong Spanish-language pirate station on 94.5 going by the name of Maxima, but I was able to nullify the signal and pull in WPST. Normally WPST is not too difficult to catch in NYC, but not with this extremely strong (100% signal strength where I am) pirate in the way.
94.9 - my only unid of the evening...the faintest of faint signals behind the first-adjacent bleed from WFME on 94.7. I heard what sounded like country music but I could not positively identify the station at any point.
WAYV 95.1 Atlantic City, NJ - Usually I am able to receive WRKI I-95 from Connecticut, and/or one of our many local Caribbean pirates on 95.1, but WAYV was making its way up the coast this evening, battling it out with the other two stations.
WKSS 95.7 Hartford, CT - Very faint signal, just audible enough to identify, underneath the first-adjacent IBOC hash from 95.5 PLJ. First time I've caught it in NYC.
WCTO 96.1 Cat Country Easton, CT - We have a strong pirate on 96.1, which I receive with close to 100% signal strength at my location. The signal was strong enough to drown everything else out for most of the evening, but for a few moments the pirate went off the air, and in came booming in Cat Country 96.1 with an incredibly good signal, despite local first-adjacent WQXR (which does not broadcast an HD signal). After a few minutes the pirate returned with a somewhat weaker signal than before, and the two stations could be received depending on antenna alignment.
WTIC 96.5 Hartford, CT - This station was coming in with an incredibly strong signal all evening, despite first-adjacent WQXR. It's the first time I've received it in NYC proper, but tonight it was coming in almost as strong as a local.
WRDW Wired 96.5 Philadelphia, PA - With some careful antenna alignment, I was able to nullify WTIC and pull in Wired from Philly.
Streetz 96.5 Newark, NJ Pirate - Probably the most hilarious catch of the night...I caught this early on, before WTIC really started booming in. Streetz 96 is a pirate from Newark, NJ. I've previously received it as far away as at the entrance to the George Washington Bridge (NJ side), but never in NYC. Later on the signal was lost as WTIC blasted in, with Wired 96.5 from Philly underneath.
WFPG 96.9 Atlantic City, NJ - Was consistently coming in with a moderately strong signal all night, despite first-adjacent Hot 97 and its IBOC hash.
WJFD 97.3 New Bedford, MA - I was able to get a weak but audible signal of this station and its Portuguese-language programming with some careful antenna alignment, despite Hot 97's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WXKW 97.3 Millville, NJ - A bit easier to receive on 97.3 was WXKW, which rebroadcasts New Jersey 101.5 to Southern Jersey.
97.5 - Despite the presence of a local pirate on 97.5, WALK from Long Island (which otherwise would be a very easy catch with its huge signal) was able to be heard with a strong signal.
WCTY 97.7 Norwich, CT - Weak but audible signal of this country music station, despite first-adjacent Mega 97.9 (no IBOC). First time I've received it in NYC.
WCTK 98.1 New Bedford, MA & WOGL 98.1 Philadelphia, PA - Both stations were coming in with almost equal signal strength....moving the antenna around resulted in very good signals from both stations. First time receiving WCTK in NYC.
WPLR 99.1 New Haven, CT - Not a difficult catch in NYC and a station that I am usually able to receive with some careful antenna positioning to null out the station I usually receive on 99.1, WAWZ (Star 99.1) from Zarepath, NJ. However, WPLR was obliterating WAWZ this evening, in HD, no less (first-time reception in HD). I've had the station's HD signal locked in for at least a half hour now without any interruption.
WPRO 99.7 Wakefield, RI - Coming in with a moderate signal all evening despite first-adjacent WBAI on 99.5.
99.9 - WEZN (Star 99.9) from Bridgeport, CT is hardly a DX catch in Queens, though lately a pirate on 99.9 has been making reception difficult. However, tonight I was able to pull in Star 99.9 in HD for the first time.
WRCH Lite 100.5 Hartford, CT - With proper antenna positioning, I was able to pull it in with a strong, almost local signal, and with RDS, despite the IBOC hash from first-adjacent Z100! First time I've caught WRCH in NYC.
WZXL 100.7 Wildwood, NJ - On 100.7 I usually receive WHUD (Peekskill, NY) with a strong signal. Tonight, WZXL almost completely blanketed WHUD, however. First time reception for me.
WKCI KC101.3 New Haven, CT - Used to be a pretty common catch before first-adjacent WCBS switched on the IBOC. I was able to get KC101 this evening after some careful tweaking of the antenna.
WIOQ Q102 102.1 Philadelphia, PA - Was coming in with a moderately strong signal despite first-adjacent WRXP and its IBOC hash.
102.3 - WBAB from Long Island always comes in for me here in Queens, but tonight it was coming in as strong as a local.
WDRC 102.9 Hartford, CT - With careful antenna alignment, it was coming in with a pretty good signal, despite first-adjacent Fresh 102.7 and its IBOC. First-time reception for me in NYC.
103.1 - A dogfight here between WBZO (Bay Shore, NY - which I usually receive with a weak to moderate signal), W276AQ from Fort Lee, NJ (whose 10 watts rarely make their way to Central Queens), and a pirate. As the evening progressed, WBZO came in stronger, almost like a local, and drowned out the others.
WPRB 103.3 Princeton, NJ - This used to be a very easy catch for me, until 103.5 'KTU switched on the IBOC. Tonight I was able to catch WPRB with a weak signal after careful positioning of the antenna.
WEEI 103.7 Boston, MA - Was coming in consistently with a moderate signal all evening despite 'KTU's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WURH Radio 104.1 Waterbury, CT - As the evening progressed, was coming in stronger and stronger, eventually coming in almost like a local, despite first-adjacent Q104.3's IBOC! First-time reception for me in NYC.
WRFF Radio 104.5 Philadelphia, PA - Came in moderately well all evening despite the IBOC hash from Q104.3.
WXLM 104.7 New London, CT - I'm usually able to receive WSPK (K104) from Poughkeepsie, but WXLM and WSPK were fighting it out this evening. The last time I received 104.7 in NYC, it was several years ago, when it was broadcasting as "Beach Radio."
WDRE Party 105.3 Calverton-Roanoke, NY - Surprisingly infrequent catch in NYC, at least for me, but I was able to pull it in faintly underneath Power 105.1's IBOC hash with some very careful antenna positioning.
WDAS 105.3 Philadelphia, PA - Continuing with the careful antenna positioning on this frequency, I was able to eventually pull in WDAS with a weak signal.
WDBY Y105 105.5 Danbury, CT - On 105.5 I usually receive a very strong gospel pirate on 105.5, and when the pirate is off the air, WDHA from New Jersey. Tonight, I was able to nullify the pirate and was able to pull in Y105. After midnight or so, the pirate went off the air, and Y105 blasted in like a local, with no sign of WDHA.
WCHR The Hawk 105.7 Manahawkin, NJ - Was coming in with a moderately strong signal all evening despite first adjacent WCAA on 105.9 and its IBOC hash.
W289AD 105.7 Selden, NY - With careful antenna positioning it was possible to get a faint signal from this translator of WSUF in Long Island...just audible enough to catch its rebroadcast of the BBC World Service.
106.1 WBLI Patchogue, NY - This was actually very easy to receive in NYC until 105.9 switched on the IBOC...I've even been able to receive it on a car radio, with RDS, while driving in Manhattan without any tropo enhancement. Tonight, however, WBLI was coming in like a local...100% signal strength.
WBMW Soft Rock 106.5 Ledyard, CT - With careful antenna positioning, I was able to pull the station in despite 106.7 Lite FM's IBOC hash. First-time reception for me in NYC.
WPUR Cat Country 107.3 Atlantic City, NJ - This station was booming in like a local all evening, helped in part by the lack of IBOC hash from WBLS on 107.5.
WWRX Jammin 107.7 Pawcatuck, CT - The station was coming in with a fairly strong signal all evening.
107.9 WEBE Westport, CT - Nothing unusual about receiving WEBE in NYC, but tonight I was able to lock in to its HD signal for the first time.
I'm sure others in NYC have received many of my "first time" stations in the past, but my past experience with FM tropo openings in NYC that I recall have usually resulted in stations coming in exclusively from South Jersey/Philly, or exclusively Providence or Eastern LI. I have had luck with receiving tropo from Boston and elsewhere in New England while on Long Island (Suffolk County) and recall receiving stations like WGBH on several occasions, and many of the above stations from CT consistently come in as locals there as well, but to date, I have not been able to receive many of these stations in NYC, with only a couple of exceptions.
Indeed, its been several years since I had such a good opening towards Philadelphia (Atlantic City and South Jersey is more common, particularly 95.1 and 105.7), while most of these stations from the Boston area and Eastern CT were new catches for me. This was also one of the better openings I've had from Eastern LI, though I was surprised not to pull in stations like WRCN or 101.7 The Beach, which are usually part of any tropo reception from LI.