Presets

[MarcB]

I updated the presets on my car radio tonite.

FM 1:

1. HOT 93.7
2. 102.9 DRC-FM
*3. KIX 100.9 (I don't know if they're testing the new signal tonight, but they're coming in really strong and I usually can't pick them up. If the signal is lost in the AM, I'll switch this one to 97.9)
*4. Country 92.5
5. KC-101.3
6. KISS 95.7

* The old me never would've had KIX and 92.5 as presets. The old me hated Country Music. Now I enjoy it. It's amazing what hanging out at/working at a Night Club that mixes Country Music into their playlist can do.

FM2
1. I-95 (Really strong tonight. If I lose it I'll switch it to Rock 102)
2. Lite 100.5 (For when they switch to XMAS Music)
3. The River 105.9
4. Radio 104.1
5. 97.3 WZBG
6. 90.5 WNPR CT. Public Radio (for Car Talk)

AM

1. WTIC 1080 (For Clark Howard and Local Weather)
2. WCBS 880 (For NYC News and the NY Yankees)
3. WATR 1320
4. WSNG 610 (For Dr. Joy)
5. WICC 600 (For Clark Howard)
6. WLAT 910

 

[fybush]

C'mon Marc, we all know better...

AM

1. 990
2. 990
3. The former WNTY
4. WXCT
5. Something between WELI and WBZ
6. WDCX Rochester (after sunset)

;D

 

[CTListener]

FM 1:

1. WDRC-FM 102.9
2. WFCR 88.5 (developed an appreciation for my dad's music, classical, of late)
3. WPKN 89.5
4. WAQY 102.1
5. WYBC 94.3
6. 107.1 (for my classic Sirius XM heard-a-football-field-away FM modulator; I can fire it up on 107.9 and overpower WEBE, too.)

FM 2:

1. WWYZ 92.5
2. WPLR 99.1
3. WPPB 88.3 (a good community radio station for listening close to the shoreline, otherwise an SiriXM FM modulator frequency for trips to Boston.)
4. WUMB 91.9 (for Boston trips)
5. WODS 103.3 (ditto)
6. WBOQ 104.9 (ditto)

AM:

1. WFAN 660
2. WCBS 880
3. WEPN 1050
4. WPOP 1410
6. WTIC 1080

 

[MarcB]

C'mon Marc, we all know better...

AM

1. 990
2. 990
3. The former WNTY
4. WXCT
5. Something between WELI and WBZ
6. WDCX Rochester (after sunset)

;D

I can't get WDCX after sunset. WXCT doesn't power down any more and hasn't in months. I don't even know what I was getting at night when WXCT was off the air for 4 days during the blackout due to the blizzard. Whatever station I was getting was airing something that couldn't hold my attention long enough to ID the station. (Ah the joys of having ADD).

 

[DToTheJ]

Scott: You forgot the Canadian AM station that airs Dr. Joy Browne.

Marc: I'm surprised you don't have the ESPN "campus" feed at 98.1 FM on a preset... though if I recall, it hasn't been on the air the last few weeks, possibly due to the 97.9 move-in. You might want to put 97.9 on a preset just for the radio geek factor. :

 

[MarcB]

Scott: You forgot the Canadian AM station that airs Dr. Joy Browne.

900 CHML Hamilton, Ontario. 7 nights a week 2AM-5AM.

Marc: I'm surprised you don't have the ESPN "campus" feed at 98.1 FM on a preset... though if I recall, it hasn't been on the air the last few weeks, possibly due to the 97.9 move-in. You might want to put 97.9 on a preset just for the radio geek factor. :

98.1 Campus Radio is in fact off the air. This morning I replaced 100.9 with 97.9 because while KIX was coming in nearly crystal clear last night on 100.9, this morning I could only hear them faintly. (As mentioned I suspect the were testing the new signal last night). We'll see what happens December first when KIX says the new 100.9 signal should be operational.

 

[CTListener]

Scott: You forgot the Canadian AM station that airs Dr. Joy Browne.

900 CHML Hamilton, Ontario. 7 nights a week 2AM-5AM.

Marc: I'm surprised you don't have the ESPN "campus" feed at 98.1 FM on a preset... though if I recall, it hasn't been on the air the last few weeks, possibly due to the 97.9 move-in. You might want to put 97.9 on a preset just for the radio geek factor. :

98.1 Campus Radio is in fact off the air. This morning I replaced 100.9 with 97.9 because while KIX was coming in nearly crystal clear last night on 100.9, this morning I could only hear them faintly. (As mentioned I suspect the were testing the new signal last night). We'll see what happens December first when KIX says the new 100.9 signal should be operational.

Why would CC want 100.9 to put a stronger signal into the Hartford area and south of the city? I thought the idea was to make Kix more of a Springfield-and-points-north station -- as WRNX was -- and leave Hartford (and Connecticut, outside the immediate Springfield suburbs) to WWYZ, while giving Hartford a new, competitive signal on 97.9 for some new format (Rush Radio Minus Rush? Spanish? classic rock?).

 

[kms575]

My FM 1's are locals. FM 2's are NYC stations for my frequent visits and for those signals that are picked up locally.

FM1:
1. Hot 93.7
2. Kiss 95.7
3. 96.5 TIC
4. KC 101
5. Radio 104.1
6. 102.9 DRC-FM

FM2:
1. 92.3 NOW (in and out in the New Haven area)
2. 103.5 KTU (strongest NYC signal in New Haven)
3. Z100 (in and out in the New Haven area)
4. 101.1 CBS-FM (non-existant until Milford)
5. Hot 97 (used to be a good signal in New Haven until La Bomba signed on at 97.1 - now clear from Milford and south)
6. Power 105.1 (decent signal in New Haven)

AM:
1. 660 WFAN
2. 880 WCBS
3. 1010 WINS
4. 1050 WEPN
5. 1080 WTIC
6. 1210 WPHT (for Phillies broadcasts - a decent night time signal on the CT shoreline)

 

[KML0224]

The following are presets on my Sony AM/FM/5 CD/Dual Cassette radio (Model LBT-XGR6) from Christmas 2002. Granted, The AM is entirely dependent on what angle I have the little AM coil antenna in AND if it's far enough away from my laptop. Sometimes, I have to intentionally find a null for WPOP-AM 1410. Even with that, I'll get almost no signal from WMMW-AM 1470 of Meriden in the daytime. (For reference, I'm in the south end of New Britain.)

AM

WHYN-AM 560 Springfield, MA
WPRO-AM 630 Providence, RI
WFAN-AM 660 New York City
WCBS-AM 880 New York City
WBZ-AM 1030 Boston
KYW-AM 1060 Philadelphia
WTIC-AM 1080 Hartford
WMRD-AM 1150 Middletown
WDRC-AM 1360 Hartford
WPOP-AM 1410 Hartford

FM

WESU-FM 88.1 Middletown
WRTC-FM 89.3 Hartford
WNPR-FM 90.5 Meriden
WWUH-FM 91.3 West Hartford
WHYN-FM 93.1 Springfield, MA
WZMX-FM 93.7 Hartford
WYBC-FM 94.3 New Haven
WRKI-FM 95.1 Brookfield
WKSS-FM 95.7 Hartford/Meriden
WTIC-FM 96.5 Hartford
WILI-FM 98.3 Willimantic
WPLR-FM 99.1 New Haven
WEZN-FM 99.9 Bridgeport
WKCI-FM 101.3 Hamden
WAQY-FM 102.1 Springfield, MA
WDRC-FM 102.9 Hartford
WMRQ-FM 104.1 Waterbury
WHCN-FM 105.9 Hartford
WCCC-FM 106.9 Hartford
WEBE-FM 107.9 Westport
WPOP-AM 1410 Hartford

 

[necrat123]

Why would CC want 100.9 to put a stronger signal into the Hartford area and south of the city? I thought the idea was to make Kix more of a Springfield-and-points-north station -- as WRNX was -- and leave Hartford (and Connecticut, outside the immediate Springfield suburbs) to WWYZ, while giving Hartford a new, competitive signal on 97.9 for some new format (Rush Radio Minus Rush? Spanish? classic rock?).

They don't. However the move of 100.9 down the range will result in a slight increase in the 100.9 signal down into the Hartford area, by default. It won't, however, be the flame thrower that 97.9A currently is. And long after 97.9A moves, it won't even come close to what 97.9's current signal is. The downtown Springfield building penetration will be less too, with the further, weaker signal.

And while the signal will slightly improve, the target audience won't be Enfield or any areas other than the Pioneer Valley.

 

[progressivetalk]

Scott: You forgot the Canadian AM station that airs Dr. Joy Browne.

900 CHML Hamilton, Ontario. 7 nights a week 2AM-5AM.

Marc: I'm surprised you don't have the ESPN "campus" feed at 98.1 FM on a preset... though if I recall, it hasn't been on the air the last few weeks, possibly due to the 97.9 move-in. You might want to put 97.9 on a preset just for the radio geek factor. :

98.1 Campus Radio is in fact off the air. This morning I replaced 100.9 with 97.9 because while KIX was coming in nearly crystal clear last night on 100.9, this morning I could only hear them faintly. (As mentioned I suspect the were testing the new signal last night). We'll see what happens December first when KIX says the new 100.9 signal should be operational.

Why would CC want 100.9 to put a stronger signal into the Hartford area and south of the city? I thought the idea was to make Kix more of a Springfield-and-points-north station -- as WRNX was -- and leave Hartford (and Connecticut, outside the immediate Springfield suburbs) to WWYZ, while giving Hartford a new, competitive signal on 97.9 for some new format (Rush Radio Minus Rush? Spanish? classic rock?).

Once again, let's speculate on the arrival of 97.9. Why would CC bother with another Spanish station, with four already in the market (one on FM)? Classic rock? I believe CC already owns WHCN which does well enough ratings wise as a classic rocker (although it might be better classified as classic hits, its close enough). Also WPLR and WAQY are well-established classic rockers which can be heard in the Hartford market.

Now, why would CC take rush off WTIC and their 50,000 watt signal? Whom would they add to the station to augment elRushblow? Hannity? Boortz? Putting a real live human being in place of Rush would be an improvement.The B-list lineup of conservative retreads is already on WDRC, so why bring these losers to FM? Sports? What about WPOP, owned by Guess Who? (I suppose it might make sense to move ESPN/Yankees games to the cleaner sounding 97.9, but that leaves a programming hole for WPOP.) Classical music is the domain of public/college type stations and has very limited appeal commercially. I also believe that CC owns 93.7 and would be loathe to program another hip-hop/urban station in the same market. However, older R&B/ (so-called "black music" currently on WKND might have a place in some sort of urban lineup.) Alt. rock? Two already in the market (Yes I know about WCCC's reported change to a more classic rock format, which hearing the station these days is still news to me.) Religious? Why???

The only format that I can see that isn't currently on in the Hartford market is either all-news or a hybrid all news-progressive talk station. There are many markets which are now going to all news FM's. Is Hartford next?

 

[KML0224]

CBS Radio owns WZMX-FM, a.k.a. HOT 93.7.

 

[progressivetalk]

You're right, my mistake. However, the Hartford market doesn't need another hip-hop/rap crap station.

 

[CTListener]

I don't think of WHCN as a classic rocker. Too many '90s, '00s and currents in the playlist. And the numbers for PLR and AQY in the Hartford-New Britain book aren't that great. I think a straight-ahead, '60s-through-'80s classic rocker on 97.9 makes more sense ratings- and billing-wise than any of the other possibilities. It would certainly differentiate itself from HCN.

CC running religion (leased???) on 97.9 would be a real longshot. I think CC runs black gospel music stations in the South, but leased-time charlatan preachers preying on the feeble-minded? I don't think they want to be part of that racket. Maybe they move 1410 to 97.9 and sell off 1410, giving up on the doomed AM band.

 

[reelyreal]

Why would CC want 100.9 to put a stronger signal into the Hartford area and south of the city? I thought the idea was to make Kix more of a Springfield-and-points-north station -- as WRNX was -- and leave Hartford (and Connecticut, outside the immediate Springfield suburbs) to WWYZ, while giving Hartford a new, competitive signal on 97.9 for some new format (Rush Radio Minus Rush? Spanish? classic rock?).

The better signal in the Hartford area is just a side effect of moving WRNX to put a better signal over Springfield.

You're right, my mistake. However, the Hartford market doesn't need another hip-hop/rap crap station.

That's very true, CC already had a swing and a miss with Power 104.1 before they sold it off.

 

[progressivetalk]

I don't think of WHCN as a classic rocker. Too many '90s, '00s and currents in the playlist. And the numbers for PLR and AQY in the Hartford-New Britain book aren't that great. I think a straight-ahead, '60s-through-'80s classic rocker on 97.9 makes more sense ratings- and billing-wise than any of the other possibilities. It would certainly differentiate itself from HCN.

CC running religion (leased???) on 97.9 would be a real longshot. I think CC runs black gospel music stations in the South, but leased-time charlatan preachers preying on the feeble-minded? I don't think they want to be part of that racket. Maybe they move 1410 to 97.9 and sell off 1410, giving up on the doomed AM band.

First, the numbers for both WPLR and WAQY may not be great, but both are classic rockers and register ratings in Ct. WHCH may not be a true classic rocker in the conventional sense, but for most people it comes close enough. Most people think of classic rock by the artists, not by the year the song comes out. AC/DC had a new album last year and a new single and they're as classic rock as it gets. I've always thought of acts such as the Beach Boys, Elvis, Chuck Barry, etc, as classic rock, but few classic rock stations do. I also consider Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Metallica etc, as classic rock. I do agree 10,000% on your comments about the religious station.

 

[DToTheJ]

Don't forget, Motley Crue is also classic rock, according to Bowling For Soup - which one day will themselves be considered "classic alternative"... :

... the Hartford market doesn't need another hip-hop/rap crap station.

That's very true, CC already had a swing and a miss with Power 104.1 before they sold it off.

And had they not sold 104.1, then we wouldn't be having the 97.9 - er, nevermind... :-X

 

[WPHA]

My presets:

AM
1 - 600 WICC (Yankees and traffic updates)
2 - 660 WFAN (Just to have it there if needed.)
3 - 880 WCBS (News)
4 - 1010 WINS (News)
5 - 1500 WFIF (My former employer. I like some of their programs.)
6 - 1670 (TIS)

FM1
1 - 96.7 (K-Love)
2 - 104.9 (WIHS, now my current employer, but it was there well before that.)
3 - 107.3 (For MP3 player RF modulator)
4-6 (blank)

FM2 repeat above.

Hartford has WIHS on FM, and WSDK (1550) now, carrying Christian programming and some music. I would suspect that a K-Love station would do well in Hartford.

Soo... what's with all this hate against "religion", anyway?

 

[MarcB]

Hartford has WIHS on FM, and WSDK (1550) now, carrying Christian programming and some music. I would suspect that a K-Love station would do well in Hartford.

I agree with you, but it needs to not take over a commercial station. There's only 9 in the market. (10 if you count the future 97.9 FM). In the past I would've said for K-LOVE to buy out 88.9 WJMJ from St. Thomas Seminary, but now they play a lot of secular music and I would hate for that to go away.

On another note during two different management/ownership regimes there were 2 different brokered Contemporary Christian Music shows that aired on WXCT AM 990. Both were pretty good. One was "Play it Again God". (A co-worker of mine at Shoprite in Southington named Dave Brown co-hosted it). And there was another that I can't remember the name of right now.

 

[WPHA]

I would suspect that a K-Love station would do well in Hartford.

I agree with you, but it needs to not take over a commercial station. There's only 9 in the market. (10 if you count the future 97.9 FM).

"Only" NINE??

Now, with an average radio, scan the dial. How many stations come in with LISTENABLE signals? Probably several DOZEN. (I get 50 AM and 50 FM here, for a grand total of ONE HUNDRED!)

In the past I would've said for K-LOVE to buy out 88.9 WJMJ from St. Thomas Seminary, but now they play a lot of secular music and I would hate for that to go away.

With literally DOZENS of stations playing "secular music"... why would the loss of that ONE station even be noticed? (Serious question.)

On another note during two different management/ownership regimes there were 2 different brokered Contemporary Christian Music shows that aired on WXCT AM 990. Both were pretty good. One was "Play it Again God". (A co-worker of mine at Shoprite in Southington named Dave Brown co-hosted it). And there was another that I can't remember the name of right now.

Wow, that's great! Sounds like you're talking about "Classic Inspo" there. (Randy Stonehill, Twila Paris, Steve Green, Leon Patillo, Larnelle Harris, etc.)

Sadly, those shows were islands in a sea of "whatever" on that station... and it's really difficult to keep and HOLD listeners that way. Plus, MUSIC ON AM is already a struggle! You're basically coming to bat with two strikes against you, and facing Randy Johnson in his prime!

Don't get me wrong, music on AM COULD WORK, but it would take a GOOD SIGNAL 24/7, good audio, a dedicated, full-time LOCAL staff, presenting it in a compelling, engaging, FUN way. Make it something nobody else is doing in the market, and do it well... that would be about the only way to make music on AM survive, nowadays.

If, now, you were able to put those shows onto the "new" WSDK 1550, I would suspect they would have a measure of success. For one reason, the station is already serving that target audience 24/7 with mostly talk programming. Your shows would stand out (in a GOOD way), and have enough listenership to be self-sustaining.