Its getting harder and harder to DX Houston now.

[jras20]

I remember back in the day I use to have no problems getting Houston in Lavaca county. Now, KBAR upgraded in Victoria to 15kw and that is messing with KLOL (which I don't listen to any more) KGGB came on the air about a few weeks ago, that is messing around with Mix 96.5. And 97.7 KLTO messes with The box. I am using 2 different antennas one outdoors one in. Sometimes my dipole seems to pick up Houston better since I can put it in different positions than the outdoor.

 

[schmave]

You know, Houston is a city I hardly ever see listed in DX reports from halfway across the country, and now you're having problems 100 or so miles away. I see stations from other parts of Texas DXed in far-flung locations but rarely Houston. I know why the AMs don't get out, but not the FMs.
I'm not smart enough to explain why; just an observation.

 

[purpledevil]

I've noticed it too jras. Houston's 101.1 used to reach as far west as Schulenberg on a good day before KONO started taking over the frequency, but now Houston's 101.1 has trouble making it as far as Weimar, then the frequency goes quiet until KONO comes into reach. That used to never happen. Same holds true for KKRW/Houston and KLBJ/Austin. KLBJ is overpowering KKRW clear into Austin County more often than not, and there have been occasions when I kept KLBJ all the way into Cypress, before KKRW finally took hold of the frequency.

Kind of funny, I'm used to picking up San Antonio stations over here, and at least last week while I was there it was completely in reverse with The Buzz coming in very strong and others like KMJQ and KRBE making an appearance too.

 

[purpledevil]

Hey jras, what is KGGB doing to KIOX? Looking at the map for 96.3 it's basically laid right next door to KIOX. I'd imagine there'd be some slop from one to another in Victoria County itself. Poor KIOX, just when it was getting back to its glory.

 

[gr8oldies]

I have DXed Houston FM in Ohio with e skip including this past summer. No AMs

 

[jras20]

Hey jras, what is KGGB doing to KIOX? Looking at the map for 96.3 it's basically laid right next door to KIOX. I'd imagine there'd be some slop from one to another in Victoria County itself. Poor KIOX, just when it was getting back to its glory.

From where I am and the way I have my antenna setup KIOX blows away KGGB, the last time I was in downtown Victoria I never really noticed much on KGGB. I guess because its one up than KIOX. But KIOX was not that clear in Victoria the last time. Of course if I am in Shiner than KGGB blows away KIOX when I use to could get KIOX. I never understood how the FCC allows some of these move ins.

 

[schmave]

I have DXed Houston FM in Ohio with e skip including this past summer. No AMs

I am guessing - and this is purely a guess - that the only Houston AM Midwesterners will DX under normal conditions would be 1560 The Game before it switches to night pattern. The day pattern blasts NE over Houston; I've read reports here that it's heard in Memphis during winter days. That's more than 500 miles.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I am guessing - and this is purely a guess - that the only Houston AM Midwesterners will DX under normal conditions would be 1560 The Game before it switches to night pattern. The day pattern blasts NE over Houston; I've read reports here that it's heard in Memphis during winter days. That's more than 500 miles.

During the initial tests of 1560's 50kw transmitter a few years ago (when it was still KILE) the station was heard in Illinois and Wisconsin during critical hours. They are throwing a lot of power to the NNE in a fairly narrow beam.

All the other Houston AM's send their signals SW and/or East along the coast, or just shoot it over the metro area into the Gulf. I can't think of any AM facility that has much coverage to the north at night.

 

[purpledevil]

From where I am and the way I have my antenna setup KIOX blows away KGGB, the last time I was in downtown Victoria I never really noticed much on KGGB. I guess because its one up than KIOX. But KIOX was not that clear in Victoria the last time. Of course if I am in Shiner than KGGB blows away KIOX when I use to could get KIOX. I never understood how the FCC allows some of these move ins.

Me either. I noticed a 106.7 between Sealy and Columbus on the drive, and thought to myself "How the hell did they squeeze this in?" Apparently 1st and 2nd adj. doesn't mean anything anymore. That's obvious considering the fact the FCC approved the 99.9 Sugarland translator as mentioned in other thread, as well as the entertainment of that same translator moving to 97.3 now. simply put, wow.

 

[purpledevil]

I am guessing - and this is purely a guess - that the only Houston AM Midwesterners will DX under normal conditions would be 1560 The Game before it switches to night pattern. The day pattern blasts NE over Houston; I've read reports here that it's heard in Memphis during winter days. That's more than 500 miles.

During the initial tests of 1560's 50kw transmitter a few years ago (when it was still KILE) the station was heard in Illinois and Wisconsin during critical hours. They are throwing a lot of power to the NNE in a fairly narrow beam.

All the other Houston AM's send their signals SW and/or East along the coast, or just shoot it over the metro area into the Gulf. I can't think of any AM facility that has much coverage to the north at night.

I've caught 700 KSEV up in Madisonville before, but that's kind of cheating since it's technically a Tomball station. You are right though, once your past the North Belt, Houston AM's start fading fast.

 

[schmave]

I am guessing - and this is purely a guess - that the only Houston AM Midwesterners will DX under normal conditions would be 1560 The Game before it switches to night pattern. The day pattern blasts NE over Houston; I've read reports here that it's heard in Memphis during winter days. That's more than 500 miles.

During the initial tests of 1560's 50kw transmitter a few years ago (when it was still KILE) the station was heard in Illinois and Wisconsin during critical hours. They are throwing a lot of power to the NNE in a fairly narrow beam.

All the other Houston AM's send their signals SW and/or East along the coast, or just shoot it over the metro area into the Gulf. I can't think of any AM facility that has much coverage to the north at night.

I've caught 700 KSEV up in Madisonville before, but that's kind of cheating since it's technically a Tomball station. You are right though, once your past the North Belt, Houston AM's start fading fast.

In my experience you still can hear most Houston stations during the day in Madisonville. 610 fades fast, but 740 and 790 are still very much present in that area. At night, KTRH might be listenable there but I don't know. I highly, highly doubt anything else is.

 

[purpledevil]

This was at night, coming home from Corsicana. You are absolutely right, during the day Houston AM's reach pretty far in all directions. I've had KTRH as far west as Schertz, north to Buffalo, and east to at least Lake Charles. (Never drove further east than LC on 10.) Nighttime is a whole different story. Most Houston AMs can barely make it to the Woodlands.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

This was at night, coming home from Corsicana. You are absolutely right, during the day Houston AM's reach pretty far in all directions. I've had KTRH as far west as Schertz, north to Buffalo, and east to at least Lake Charles. (Never drove further east than LC on 10.) Nighttime is a whole different story. Most Houston AMs can barely make it to the Woodlands.

I had KTRH in Plano, TX during the daytime, by nulling KRMG. It got some crosstalk from local KKDA, but fortunately the same direction nulled both KKDA and KRMG for me. The signal was weak, but listenable. The receiver was hardly typical - it was a GE Superadio (1).

In a car, I can usually get KTRH very well into the southern suburbs of Dallas, until KKDA splatter wipes it out.

The only other Houston area station that makes it that far North is KGOW - in the winter time its 50kW signal occasionally makes it sound almost like a local - but it fades deeply to non-existence. Amazing the range of signal strength!

 

[WA5JML]

A few weeks ago I was driving east on I 94 between Chicago and Detroit and while in search the radio stopped and I recognized "Mattress Mac". I thought he opened a store in the Midwest. It was KGOW.

 

[schmave]

A few weeks ago I was driving east on I 94 between Chicago and Detroit and while in search the radio stopped and I recognized "Mattress Mac". I thought he opened a store in the Midwest. It was KGOW.

At critical hours? I live not far east of Columbus, Ohio now and might try for KGOW tonight around 4:30-5 our time. The sun sets here shortly after 5 p.m.

 

[WA5JML]

i think it was about 7:00 EST. InNovember 2009.
J

 

[Mediafrog+]

At critical hours? I live not far east of Columbus, Ohio now and might try for KGOW tonight around 4:30-5 our time. The sun sets here shortly after 5 p.m.

Houston stations switch to night power/patterns at 5:45 CST during January, so were I in Ohio I would try for KGOW between 6:00 and 6:45pm EST. Don't know how much of an issue co-channel WQEW in NYC is at your location.

 

[schmave]

WQEW dominated here last night. Will try for KGOW again tomorrow.

 

[DJboutit3]

I have posted this before I will post it again back in 03 goning to school in Waco winter one night about 12am I was able to get 97.9 kbxx like a local for a good 5 min see weird thing I was able to get 979 from dallas no problem so 979 from Houston over 979 dallas was amazing

Another time I was in Midland summer time about 7pm I was able to get 740 ktrh listenable but weak even though there are 740 stations in New Mexico & Tulsa

I have heard 740 ktrk close to Lano daytime

Trip to Courpus Christy heard 104 krbe daytime

About 25 miles east of Lake Charles got 975 back whe it was R&B that is chetting a little beacase there tower is in Winnie & there signal is stronger to the east or it was

Trip to Austin got 1037 back when they played rock daytime close to La Grange

 

[RonParker]

Back in the 80's I easily can remember in the daytime keeping the 790 in my car as far East as Lafayette, La. and as far West as Johnson City, T.X. Probably a distance of over 400 miles. Not bad for 5000 watts of AM with 4 Tower directional!



Ron