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K-LOVE interference in Altoona

S

stevewillett

I get 107.9 WKVB (K-LOVE) very well around the Altoona area except for one noticeable void around Altoona High School. The station goes blank on 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. When I turn left on 6th Avenue the signal fights with another signal until just past the High School. That's when I noticed a blank crystal clear signal coming over 107.9 and the stereo pilot light is on. K-LOVE starts getting better as soon as you get over the railroad tracks toward the hospital. It's obvious that something is broadcasting around the high school on 107.9. Any ideas?
 
That's pretty close to 107.7 WMES-LP's tower site. Could be 1st adjacent interference. Just curious why you would listen to K-Love's signal out of Port Matilda when there is a locally owned contemporary Christian station on 89.1 that has an Altoona translator on 102.7 FM?
 
It's not 107.7. There is a very strong carrier around the Altoona school district building with a stereo pilot that knocks out K-LOVE completely. At one point it comes in crystal clear with no noise. As for K-LOVE, our whole family listens to the station. My wife and kids have the K-LOVE ap on their i-phones. K-LOVE comes in great except of course when we take the kids to school.
 
There is also a powerful Christian radio signal from Family Life at 93.5.
 
Then invest in a better tuner and a better antenna. If the classical and jazz fans can do this, why can't Christian fans do it? There has been many a public radio fan who will make the investment to hear their station.
 
I pick up the station great at the house and reasonably well around the Altoona area. My point was a signal broadcasting locally on 107.9 is causing interference around the high school. I wasn't sure if there was something in that area that uses the 107.9 frequency. My wife has an iphone and she has the K-LOVE ap that she plugs into an ipod port. However that same ipod/FM picks up the terrestrial signal just fine.
 
I just tried picking up the stations everybody suggested and surprisingly over here by Keith Jr. High field, K-LOVE comes in the strongest. 102.7 comes in fuzzy but listenable, while 93.5 is weak and 89.1 just barely comes in. This is one of those ipod/FM radio docking stations.
 
93.5 is clearly the best signal in the Altoona area as far as Christian stations go. I listen all over the place. I also feel it is the best Christian station as they play good music and some teaching.
 
Where I live in Altoona, for some reason, gets State College radio stations really well. I live in one of the few places that picks up B94.5 like a local station. WOWY 97.1 is clear as day. Go a half mile from my house and you get interference. I also pick up WHVL My 29 with an outdoor antenna. I live 4 miles from Wopse lookout and if my antenna is off by a hair I can't get 10 or 6. But WHVL keeps coming in. I live in a State College-friendly zone in Altoona. BTW, one of the 2 transmitters by the high school was off the other day and K-LOVE came in loud and clear as I drove past the high school building. No interference whatsoever. There is a transmitter on 107.9 somewhere near 17th Street and 6th Avenue that just totally blocks it out. So it wasn't an antenna issue. Someone is using a low powered transmitter on 107.9.
 
I think your interference question has to do with LP 107.5 in Altoona. Whenever I'm in the area I like to listen to 91.9 from Houtzdale for Christian music.
 
K-LOVE doesn't come in well near I99 until you get past Bellwood. But for some reason it comes in great from downtown Altoona to Keith Jr High over to the Penn State Altoona campus. I get it great until I get to the traffic light at 17th Street and 6th Avenue then it just disappears. It sounds like a staticy carrier on that frequency. I can't figure out where that is coming from. Then there's another carrier which I've narrowed down to the Altoona School District office. The silent signal booms in when in front of the building with a stereo pilot. When the signal is not broadcasting from that building vicinity, K-LOVE comes in loud and clear by the high school (except down by the 17th St/6th Ave intersection). 107.5 and 107.7 still come in but that's not what's interfering with 107.9. This is my route taking the kids to school so I know where every drop out is. Otherwise it would seem like I have a lot of time on my hands.
 
Buy Compact Discs then. I don't get to hear too much of some musics I like unless I buy vinyl, fine tonearms, and turntables and spend money on their upkeep. Or buy a bigger data limit on your PC or smartphone.
 
stevewillett said:
I get 107.9 WKVB (K-LOVE) very well around the Altoona area except for one noticeable void around Altoona High School. The station goes blank on 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. When I turn left on 6th Avenue the signal fights with another signal until just past the High School. That's when I noticed a blank crystal clear signal coming over 107.9 and the stereo pilot light is on. K-LOVE starts getting better as soon as you get over the railroad tracks toward the hospital. It's obvious that something is broadcasting around the high school on 107.9. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

My guess is someone has a low powered FM Transmitter on 107.9 broadcasting a dead carrier in that area.. That would cause what your seeing happen..
 
We just kind of accepted that's what's happening. I know that 107.9 is usually the "default" frequency for low power transmitters. It was that way for satellite radio in cars. I remember in Binghamton, NY getting behind a vehicle with the kids in the car and the station I was listening to was suddenly replaced by Howard Stern. The uncensored Howard Stern show. And did I mention a van load of little kids? K-LOVE has a funny signal in Altoona. It comes in perfectly Northwest of the downtown railroad tracks. Once you get to the top of the bridge on the 8th Street or at the intersection of 17th Street and 7th Avenue that quickly changes. And the station is weak all the way up to I99 where you can't really get it clearly until you pass Tyrone. But for some reason it comes in perfectly on my side of town. It even comes in perfectly on our cheap clock radios which really surprises me. But we have iphone apps if we want to listen outside of the radio.
 
Turns out I can get K-LOVE on 105.7 out of Portage in the places where 107.9 doesn't come in. It gets stronger down towards Hollidaysburg. Just an update for those of you keeping track.
 
stevewillett said:
Turns out I can get K-LOVE on 105.7 out of Portage in the places where 107.9 doesn't come in. It gets stronger down towards Hollidaysburg. Just an update for those of you keeping track.
Click to expand...

A better signal with great music at 91.9 - The Compass from Houtzdale.
 
91.9 Houtzdale? They say they are local, but I visited the Altoona address they have listed on their website. I wanted to stop in and see the studios. Turned out to be a mail forwarding service. The people at the mail service say any donations they collect for them at the Altoona address is forwarded to the owners in Williamsport, MD. Anyway, not too many people listen to 91.9. Most of the christians I talk to in Altoona listen to RevFM 102.7 in State College. I have heard RevFM on in several businesses in Altoona, too.
 
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