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Strongest radio signals in Seattle, and distant catches

F

fordranger797

I am a new to these discussion boards, so I would like to thank you all for having me. ;D

I was wondering what some of you folks have determined to be the strongest radio signals here in the Seattle area. Although it sometime is easy to get an idea from seeing what wattage each radio transmitter is using, sometimes all of that information is useless when it comes to trying to figure out what radio stations actually have the best coverage. From my experiences, as a general rule, it seems most radio stations broadcasting on Cougar Mountain enjoy better coverage in a more centralized area, while stations broadcasting from Tiger Mountain enjoy longer range reception.

I happened to be parked in a Downtown Seattle parking garage last weekend while attending my high school junior prom, luckily I ran through some of my radio presets to see what would happen five floors below ground, surrounded by concrete. KZOK 102.5, KMTT 103.7, CKKQ 100.3 and KISW 99.9 were degraded to white noise, while KJR 95.7 (the only station from Cougar Mountain) came booming in.

My typical listening area consists of the Tacoma vicinity, and I usually enjoy a pretty strong signal quality on my most frequented station, KZOK 102.5, though the reception still suffers from fluttering (as do most tiger mountain stations). What have you folks experienced?
 
I just did an analysis of this -- based on a full class "C" equivalent (100kw @ 600m HAAT) Here's how the Tiger Mtn transmitters stack up. All are stronger than the Cougar Mountain xmitters. For instance 94.1 is at 69,000 watts. That's 98.57% of the maximum permitted for that HAAT - or the equivalent of 98,571 watts @ 600m. 96.5 is the weakest at only 49,000 watts - but it is still more potent than the cougar mountain site.

FRE HAAT ERP Act ERP Max @ HAAT % max Equiv @ 600
94.1 698 69,000 70,000 98.57% 98,571
99.9 707 67,000 68,000 98.53% 98,529
100.7 707 67,000 68,000 98.53% 98,529
103.7 707 67,000 68,000 98.53% 98,529
107.7 707 67,000 68,000 98.53% 98,529
102.5 698 68,000 70,000 97.14% 97,143
106.1 698 68,000 70,000 97.14% 97,143
98.1 707 66,000 68,000 97.06% 97,059
88.5 707 64,000 68,000 94.12% 94,118
98.9 698 63,900 70,000 91.29% 91,286
97.3 729 52,000 63,000 82.54% 82,540
92.5 698 56,800 70,000 81.14% 81,143
96.5 696 49,000 70,000 70.00% 70,000
 
100.7 is GONE by Snoqualmie Pass. White noise. Then KHSS Athena, OR takes over with their religious programming by the Indian John Hill rest area near Cle Elum (130 miles+).

94.1 and 98.9 do well, but the Elk Heights mountains kills them. Can't hear a thing in Ellensburg until you get back up on the Manastash Ridge on 82 heading toward Yakima. Stop at the viewpoint, and 98.9 should come in as well as 106.1.

-crainbebo
 
If I remember correctly, I believe I heard the antenna's up on Tiger Mountain are directional with only about 3kw put out towards the mountains.
 
BurntOutRadio said:
If I remember correctly, I believe I heard the antenna's up on Tiger Mountain are directional with only about 3kw put out towards the mountains.
Click to expand...

Except for KMPS 94.1, KJAQ 96.5, KIRO-FM 97.3, KZOK 102.5, and KBKS-FM 106.1.
 
KPQ "The Quake" 102.1 from Wenatchee is a common station that comes in over the mountains to the western side of this state, as it's transmitter is parked on top of Mission Ridge. It's signal gets bounced off the Olympics, and usually competes here where i'm at in Kitsap County with KSWW from Aberdeen.
 
I got KZOK in the Yakima Valley around Mabton once. Ducting, decent front end sens on the radio? KOPB does well all the way up to Olympia. On the am side, KONA 610 comes in somewhat listenable at times.
 
Once went into the UW Medical Center parking garage (2 floors below ground). NOTHING on FM except for a fluttery KEXP and KUOW.

-crainbebo
 
KUBE has a terrible signal for its location. There is lots of multipath and whatnot in town and slightly to the north where I am. I wonder how much processing has to do with this? KBKS changed their processing a year and a half or so ago when they moved studios, and they haven't sounded the same since. Before they were over-modulated but had a solid signal with very little static in it. Now it's a bit worse. KPLZ has a very clean sound. KCMS can be pretty bad in some areas as well. KNHC also does not have a very good signal, though I forget what ERP they run, isn't it something like 8 kw? KMCQ has a weaker signal than most, but still covers the market pretty well.
 
bobdavcav said:
KUBE has a terrible signal for its location. There is lots of multipath and whatnot in town and slightly to the north where I am. I wonder how much processing has to do with this? KBKS changed their processing a year and a half or so ago when they moved studios, and they haven't sounded the same since. Before they were over-modulated but had a solid signal with very little static in it. Now it's a bit worse. KPLZ has a very clean sound. KCMS can be pretty bad in some areas as well. KNHC also does not have a very good signal, though I forget what ERP they run, isn't it something like 8 kw? KMCQ has a weaker signal than most, but still covers the market pretty well.
Click to expand...
KUBE 93....ever since they replace their transmitter in 2003 or 2002? KUBE has been weaker than normal.

KNHC 89.5......The station is very directional....they have to protect the station in Auburn KGRG 89.9, KAOS 89.3 in Olympia, KGHP 89.9 Gig Harbor, and the station in Roy WA on 89.7 KWFJ.

KCMS 105.3... Use to be a horrible signal around Puget sound area....even it lost it grandfather status of 115kw, but their antenna height is very low from their old location in Edmonds, WA. It use to have lots of multipaths around Tacoma, and inner Seattle area.
 
Strongest AMs in Puget Sound are KIRO and KOMO. Both could be heard as far east as Spokane and Pullman/Moscow during daylight hours with a very good AM radio.

Strongest FM in Puget Sound is (was) KXXO. Before CHKG signed on, I heard them over most of Lower Mainland BC clear down to Portland, OR.
 
Hmm E-Dog, from what you're saying about KNHC, their signal should be aimed right at me, yet they don't have a very good signal where I live in Edmonds. What about the Kiss signal? I don't think KQMV has a great signal either, but it's better than Kiss and they have some other issues to deal with.
 
I think KNHC uses an east-west pattern--I've heard them as far east as Snoqualmie Pass but not that far N. or S. Surprised KPLU doesn't rank higher in ERP--I've heard them on 88.5 along I-5 from Centralia/Chehalis to near Bellingham. KIRO and KOMO on day power can be heard over much of the state.
 
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