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Nighttime Signal in FLA for WBT

A

audiomusiclover

Guest
I just returned from south Fla (below St Pete) and while there, I listened in on the AM band several times at different times at night. I was both impressed and disappointed to what I could catch over the week's period. As a local disappointment, I noticed that WBT was not nearly as strong in the St Pete area as it was about 15 years ago when I last listened there. I know the radios were different but my radio was able to catch other 50k stations much farther away with no issue. The IBOC influence from WTAM in Cleveland may effect it some but WBT should be stronger than WTAM over an average of several nights in S Fla. WBT is roughly NNE/SSW directional, so they should be stronger than most other 50k stations further north, but this was not the case over several nights and at different times. I know the value of the long distance audience isn't what it once was, so couldn't help but wonder if WBT has possibly trimmed their output for cost savings possibly? How else can this be since this occurred over several nights and different times at night? I was just wondering if anyone knows the situation. By the way, not a scientific study but while listening was impressed with the signals of some of these while down there... WBZ Boston, WCBS NY, WLW Cinc, WWL NO, sometimes WABC NY, WBAP Dal.
Thx
 
Have always gotten WBT quite well just before sunrise in Sarasota.
 
I live near Miami, and I have made a post or two about WBT not being what it once was, signal-wise.

There is now a Cuban station on 1110 I think, and also for a short while there was the 1110 out of Dallas running nighttime when it wasn't supposed to. I couldn't get an ID, but I ran an mp3 of the signal and was told it was KVTT (or whatever the calls were).

Definitely not what it was in the 70s....the WTAM IBOC I don't think is the issue, as WTAM's signal isn't all-that either here!

cd
 
I think WBT is now running a Nautel transmitter with the new technology that reduces signal power when modulation is low. I don't know if studies were made on long-distance reception when they approved this technology, but I wonder if this may be some of the reason why folks in Florida aren't getting it like they used to.

Later . . . .
 
When I am in E. central FL WBT does a good job but like earlier posts have said, the IBOC from 1100 WTAM and 1120 KMOX (especially in the winter) make WBT sound hissy at times. Also the 1110s in Cuba and Columbia also cause chatter. I had issues with one particular daytimer a few years ago that stayed on at night, contacted WBT and they took care of it...
 
For what it's worth I hit WBT on the car radio this afternoon and it sounded distorted. I don't have the best AM section in my car radio so I'm not sure, but it did sound bad.
 
I find that temperature variations and the time of the year have a lot more to do with recieving a good sky-wave signal then anything else.

I have noticed lately that WBT FM (99.3) has been coming in a lot better in the Charlotte metro. Not sure what they've done, but I can now scan the station solid on Idependence Blvd.
 
I still remember someone complaining about WPTF's signal quality north of Raleigh, to which the host replied they pick us up real well in Cuba.

I wonder if that's still true?
 
vchimpanzee said:
I still remember someone complaining about WPTF's signal quality north of Raleigh, to which the host replied they pick us up real well in Cuba.

I wonder if that's still true?
Click to expand...

Well when I started seriously DXn in south FL in the 70s, WPTF dominated 680, with possible WMPS (Memphis) & KKYX underneath. We have a 670 in Miami now, and St. Pete's 680 added nights with 125w in the last 10-20 years; so 680 is not really on my to-work list. :)

However, with so many 680's operating at night north of Raleigh, I suppose that (1) the WPTF array was indeed heard well in Cuba in the past, and (2) north of Raleigh could well pose an issue. I think Cuba has a 680 now as well---dunno where.

cd
 
mp3RadioGuy said:
I find that temperature variations and the time of the year have a lot more to do with recieving a good sky-wave signal then anything else.

I have noticed lately that WBT FM (99.3) has been coming in a lot better in the Charlotte metro. Not sure what they've done, but I can now scan the station solid on Idependence Blvd.
Click to expand...

Interesting that WBT is promoting 99.3 FM.
 
WBT is promoting 99.3 to fill that horrible null to the west. I have to use it down here in Newberry, SC as the IBOC from WTAM and KMOX completely obliterate WBT down here at night!
 
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