I took a trip across Southern Michigan yesterday and turned it into kind of an impromptu 'DX'pedition' with emphasis on translators in my area. These translators are flea powered, but with just the right terrain, line of sight, open frequency, etc. they can really get out! My trip took me through Barry County, which has some of the highest terrain in this area of the state. It's also a prime spot for most of the West Michigan TV and several Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids radio station transmitters. As such, there's a lot of IBOC and bleed that dampers what would otherwise be a GREAT DX spot.
Here's a look at what I heard and how distant!
95.5- W238BH- Kendallville, IN- //1140 WAWK- Heard in Marshall, MI- 250w, 57 miles. I've been in contact with these guys, but they pretty much claim that my reception from such a long distance is unfounded. Their FM station 'only makes it out 15 miles' and I 'must be hearing another oldies/classic hits station'. They point to a station in Traverse City and say it's them. I definitely understand the frustration of DX'ers trying to verify reception reports.
101.1- W266AE- Coldwater, MI- //104.7 WFRN- Heard 2 miles west of Richland, MI- 27w, 42 miles. This is one of my local translators. It can be heard up to Battle Creek and Marshall without a problem, but all bets are off with anything beyond that. There was a particularly clear line-of-sight to Coldwater at this point. However, just a couple miles up the road, the signal was overtaken by WQXC (100.9- Allegan) slop and WBFX (101.3- Grand Rapids) I-BLOC hash. I think 42 miles may be it for this one!
97.1- W246BW- Three Rivers, MI- //1520 WRCI- Heard between Richland and Plainwell, MI- Was trying for my other local translator here, but got this one instead. 170 watts from a less impressive, but still respectable 35 miles.
92.3- W222BB- Battle Creek, MI- //106.9 WSAE- Heard in Bradley, MI- 80 watts, 30 miles. WSAE is nowhere to be found on the parent frequency in this area, making this one harder to ID. I could only go by the 'Home dot FM' mention I heard here to positively ID this one.
99.9- W260BX- Lansing, MI- //99.7 WUGN- Heard five miles west of Hastings- 180 watts, 42 miles. The distance isn't as impressive as the signal here. It was a fairly good signal that i'm disappointed I didn't try farther west! I've heard this one on my sophisticated home rig (59 miles).
97.1- W246AU- Coldwater, MI- //106.9 WSAE- Heard between Hastings and Dowling- 120w, 45 miles. The aforementioned 92.3 translator was stronger by this point, allowing for a better program match. I was on a high hill and could see for miles around. I knew I had a chance with this one and there it was. At 45 miles, it's the farthest confirmed reception of this one for me.
92.7- W224BY- Angola, IN- //100.3 WLKI-HD3- Heard in Bedford, MI- 250w, 51 miles. This almost doesn't belong on a translator DX thread. They are at the maximum allowed wattage for a translator, but they are also on a 400 foot tower atop terrain that is nearly 1200 feet above sea level (and 200-300 feet higher than most of the terrain around it!) on a very open frequency. It would be very interesting to hear just how far you can hear this station.
Here's a look at what I heard and how distant!
95.5- W238BH- Kendallville, IN- //1140 WAWK- Heard in Marshall, MI- 250w, 57 miles. I've been in contact with these guys, but they pretty much claim that my reception from such a long distance is unfounded. Their FM station 'only makes it out 15 miles' and I 'must be hearing another oldies/classic hits station'. They point to a station in Traverse City and say it's them. I definitely understand the frustration of DX'ers trying to verify reception reports.
101.1- W266AE- Coldwater, MI- //104.7 WFRN- Heard 2 miles west of Richland, MI- 27w, 42 miles. This is one of my local translators. It can be heard up to Battle Creek and Marshall without a problem, but all bets are off with anything beyond that. There was a particularly clear line-of-sight to Coldwater at this point. However, just a couple miles up the road, the signal was overtaken by WQXC (100.9- Allegan) slop and WBFX (101.3- Grand Rapids) I-BLOC hash. I think 42 miles may be it for this one!
97.1- W246BW- Three Rivers, MI- //1520 WRCI- Heard between Richland and Plainwell, MI- Was trying for my other local translator here, but got this one instead. 170 watts from a less impressive, but still respectable 35 miles.
92.3- W222BB- Battle Creek, MI- //106.9 WSAE- Heard in Bradley, MI- 80 watts, 30 miles. WSAE is nowhere to be found on the parent frequency in this area, making this one harder to ID. I could only go by the 'Home dot FM' mention I heard here to positively ID this one.
99.9- W260BX- Lansing, MI- //99.7 WUGN- Heard five miles west of Hastings- 180 watts, 42 miles. The distance isn't as impressive as the signal here. It was a fairly good signal that i'm disappointed I didn't try farther west! I've heard this one on my sophisticated home rig (59 miles).
97.1- W246AU- Coldwater, MI- //106.9 WSAE- Heard between Hastings and Dowling- 120w, 45 miles. The aforementioned 92.3 translator was stronger by this point, allowing for a better program match. I was on a high hill and could see for miles around. I knew I had a chance with this one and there it was. At 45 miles, it's the farthest confirmed reception of this one for me.
92.7- W224BY- Angola, IN- //100.3 WLKI-HD3- Heard in Bedford, MI- 250w, 51 miles. This almost doesn't belong on a translator DX thread. They are at the maximum allowed wattage for a translator, but they are also on a 400 foot tower atop terrain that is nearly 1200 feet above sea level (and 200-300 feet higher than most of the terrain around it!) on a very open frequency. It would be very interesting to hear just how far you can hear this station.