I was down at my grandparent's house over the weekend, we got back last night. This question has been in my mind for a while and now I can ask it. They live 15 miles east of Raymond, and you can't get any fm signals out of Portland there, but some signals out of Seattle are quite strong. What's up with this? Also, it seems like KNBQ, rated at a 4 down there by radiolocator, comes in better here at home, where it is rated a 2. Again, what's up here?
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Seattle fms vs. Portland fms
- Thread starter bobdavcav
- Start date
If they live directly due east of Raymond, looking at a Google "terrain" map, I'd guess that the Seattle (and especially South Sound) signals would bounce into that area over the mountains a bit better than the Portland, Ore. signals. Most Portland signals are on "Sylvan Hill" or in a multiplexed tower nicknamed "Stonehenge" also in the west hills by downtown. Neither is really all that high, but it has a good clear shot at the main population areas.bobdavcav said:
Looking at where Raymond is, there are a heck of a lot of mountains in the way to block those signals. The towers aren't very high.
I guess that explains how KCMS can have a translator in Astoria. Next time I'm down there I'll have to try the Seattle stations. BTW, here's one that's also puzzled me for a while, only under the right conditions do Vancouver stations come in down here, but it seems like Seattle stations come in quite well up there. If the terrain is the same no matter which way you are going, then why does it very so much?
I
IndigoCoyote
Guest
Bobdavcav-
Noticed that as well. Think about it like this...FM has more to do with height (and angle of attack) than anything else. While most of the Canadian stations are 100kw- they are considerably lower in elevation than at least our Tiger Mt. transmitters. I believe they are lower than even our Cougar Mt. ones. ALSO- keep in mind that these engineers are most certainly not idiots- they are trying to get the best signal to the most people in their market. The Vancouver market runs largely East to West if you look at the population and the lay of the land. Those stations are engineered (and located) to best serve that E-W market. We are basically North-South...the Puget Sound basin. So our engineers try to best cover that basin with engineering and location, which happens in one direction to point to Vancouver.
Also, for the terrain to truly match- you would have to be in a straight line between, say 96.5s tower on Tiger Mt. and 101.1s tower on Mt. Seymour. It may be that the angle into Vancouver has fewer bumps in the way than the angle into Seattle.
And, finally...there are not a lot of stations north of Vancouver to cause co-channel interference on a lot of these Seattle stations- because north of Vancouver is pretty much wilderness for 1000 miles. But sandwiched as we are here- we have LOTS of co-channel interference from Portland and SW Washington etc.
Plus- we can't stand Bryan Adams and we run massive Cold War era jammers in Blaine to keep him out. Bongwater on this board is in charge of jammer maint.- and he's doing a swell job!
Noticed that as well. Think about it like this...FM has more to do with height (and angle of attack) than anything else. While most of the Canadian stations are 100kw- they are considerably lower in elevation than at least our Tiger Mt. transmitters. I believe they are lower than even our Cougar Mt. ones. ALSO- keep in mind that these engineers are most certainly not idiots- they are trying to get the best signal to the most people in their market. The Vancouver market runs largely East to West if you look at the population and the lay of the land. Those stations are engineered (and located) to best serve that E-W market. We are basically North-South...the Puget Sound basin. So our engineers try to best cover that basin with engineering and location, which happens in one direction to point to Vancouver.
Also, for the terrain to truly match- you would have to be in a straight line between, say 96.5s tower on Tiger Mt. and 101.1s tower on Mt. Seymour. It may be that the angle into Vancouver has fewer bumps in the way than the angle into Seattle.
And, finally...there are not a lot of stations north of Vancouver to cause co-channel interference on a lot of these Seattle stations- because north of Vancouver is pretty much wilderness for 1000 miles. But sandwiched as we are here- we have LOTS of co-channel interference from Portland and SW Washington etc.
Plus- we can't stand Bryan Adams and we run massive Cold War era jammers in Blaine to keep him out. Bongwater on this board is in charge of jammer maint.- and he's doing a swell job!
I
IndigoCoyote
Guest
BTW, I am NOT an engineer. SO if I am wrong on any of these assumptions please advise.
And I am sure you will. ;D
And I am sure you will. ;D
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