OUTER BANKS RADIO RECEPTION

[Cincinnati Kid]

This goes to the far section of Eastern North Carolina - the Outer Banks. Could someone from there or someone who has experienced radio reception there advise how long-distance radio reception is after dark? My wife and I plan to spend a week there in mid-September. I particularly am interested if Cincinnati radio stations WLW - 700-AM and WCKY - 1530-AM come in there on any kind of regular basis after dark during that time of the year. Those are probably the only two stations from Cincinnati that could be received in that area. In addition, what other out-of-town stations are usually received there? Thanks for any information.

 

[w00t]

Can't help you on the Cincy stations, but I can tell you that you can get the NYC 50kw stations (WABC, WOR, WCBS, etc) there all day long due to the fact that there is nothing but salt water between the two. I've sat on the beach and listened to Rush on 770 WABC before.

 

[midatlanticengineer]

Basically it isn't uncommon to be able to listen to any high powered station from New England to Florida during the day at Cape Hatteras. While on the northern beaches (Nags Head and points north) expect to hear most if not all of NYC's 50kw AM stations. You can hear other lower powered stations up and down the dial from Maryland, Delaware, NJ, Va and Pa. Night-time expect to be able to hear most of the 50kw clear channel (*not the broadcast company, but the FCC channel designations) stations from east of the Mississippi. Night-time reception I found on the Outer Banks to be more prone to reception of spanish formated radio stations.....if I had to guess since I do not understand spanish, most of these stations are probably out of the Caribbean region. So on OBX, what might be clear reception of a 50 kw station say in Elizabeth City NC, might be over run by some spanish formated station from who knows where ...all of this in a span of 20 to 30 miles near/away from the ocean. If I remember correctly, 700 WLW and WCKL 1530 come in at night fairly well. You won't be able to get WCKL 1530 until after sunset as there is a local 1kw daytimer on 1530 licensed to Wanchese (WOBX-AM, broadcast hours are basically from sunrise to around sunset)

I used to work for one of eastern NC's more powerful AM stations from 1994 until 2005, then I moved to NY. I must say, The Outer Banks is the best place for AM radio, daytime long distance reception. Night-time is about as average as any other place in the country.

 

[Bbabybear02]

Not only can the Outer Banks get good AM reception, FM Reception isn't bad either. You can get all of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Stations and Most Richmond Virginia FM Stations pretty I also have gotten New Jersey, Maryland, and New York FM Stations down there. Mostly at night though is when you get the FM signals very good.

 

[RFGuy]

In the next few weeks, I am taking my boat out for a few days past Cape Lookout. I am taking my inverter and my carver tuner as well as a 10' pole and an am loop and a yagi. I also will carry my mini-disc recorder and see what I can snag. Won't have to worry about terrain! Just wish I had a sailboat, Think about how much DXing could be done with a yagi and a rotor up about 30'. I will take a noch filter to take care of the locals.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

This is overdue - but I found reception in the Outer Banks last October quite interesting most particularly in what could be heard during the daylight hours. We stayed in Kitty Hawk. As was noted in a previous post, the New York City stations can be heard during the day almost as though you are 50 miles from NYC. The same was true at night. In only trying for a short time one night, I was unable to hear either of the Cincinnati 50,000 watt stations - WLW and WCKY. Perhaps they would have come in better on other nights or other times of the year.

I was only able to listen to the radio while out in the car I was using. I didn't take along a portable and there was only one radio in the house I was in and that was subject to interference from cable TV and the usual indoor lights, appliances, etc.

 

[cd637299]

I went to Cape Hatteras in Nov of 1997 with my Superadio II & III + Select-a-Tenna.

Great stuff....In the daytime, WBZ to the north, WIOD to the south....even WWL over land at 1pm. True, it wasn't June, but whatever.

Also at night, I think I heard a het on 585, maybe some other frequencies as well. Odd Canadians came in too, to my surprise, including Oldies 1150 Hamilton. The former CKVL was there, and maybe C-whatever 1430 Toronto.

I think I heard Reading PA when they used 850. Also the former 920 CJCH with 1997 Grey Cup coverage....

I have a tape, but I have to review it again.

cd