Washington DC stations strong in Newark, Delaware!

[nd2023]

This morning, I went to visit the University of Delaware, and I was listening to the radio. I looked for stations from Baltimore and Washington, and they were booming in at Newark, DE. I could get Hot 99.5 despite WJBR just a few miles away. I even got 93.9 WKYS with WSTW 93.7 right next door. WPGC, WHUR, WMZQ, and WAVA were strong enough to splatter onto the Philly stations. WASH obliterated one of WXHL's relays at 97.1. I could even hear the IBOC hash on 96.3 WHUR. WBIG 100.3 and DC101.1 fought with 100.3 The Beat and B101 from Philly.

I only noticed a weak to medium tropo opening at home. <P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471</P>

 

[luckenbg]

This is not at all uncommon for the summer months in Newark DE. When I was going to school at the University of Delaware in the late 70s you could pick up the Washington stations almost every summer night. I suspect it has something to do with the Chesapeake Bay causing an inversion layer between Newark and Washington.

I used to listen to WRQX regularly, but I bet that is no longer possible with the new LP station on 107.3 between Newark and Wash.

By the way, if you are considering going to Delware for Electrical Engineering, it is a great school!!

Gary



> This morning, I went to visit the University of Delaware,
> and I was listening to the radio. I looked for stations
> from Baltimore and Washington, and they were booming in at
> Newark, DE. I could get Hot 99.5 despite WJBR just a few
> miles away. I even got 93.9 WKYS with WSTW 93.7 right next
> door. WPGC, WHUR, WMZQ, and WAVA were strong enough to
> splatter onto the Philly stations. WASH obliterated one of
> WXHL's relays at 97.1. I could even hear the IBOC hash on
> 96.3 WHUR. WBIG 100.3 and DC101.1 fought with 100.3 The
> Beat and B101 from Philly.
>
> I only noticed a weak to medium tropo opening at home.
>

 

[vaboi83]

Re: Washington DC stations strong in Richmond, VA also

I was coming home from Norfolk to Richmond on I 64 the other day and DC stations were coming in just as loud as Richmond station. I thought I was in DC or on I 95 not 64, cause Hot 995,971 Wash FM, 939, 955, and 1077. Also WFLS 933, and B105 but you can get those in Richmond alot, especially just north and west of the city limits, but lately they have been booming south of the city 2.

> This is not at all uncommon for the summer months in Newark
> DE. When I was going to school at the University of
> Delaware in the late 70s you could pick up the Washington
> stations almost every summer night. I suspect it has
> something to do with the Chesapeake Bay causing an inversion
> layer between Newark and Washington.
>
> I used to listen to WRQX regularly, but I bet that is no
> longer possible with the new LP station on 107.3 between
> Newark and Wash.
>
> By the way, if you are considering going to Delware for
> Electrical Engineering, it is a great school!!
>
> Gary
>
>
>
> > This morning, I went to visit the University of Delaware,
> > and I was listening to the radio. I looked for stations
> > from Baltimore and Washington, and they were booming in at
>
> > Newark, DE. I could get Hot 99.5 despite WJBR just a few
> > miles away. I even got 93.9 WKYS with WSTW 93.7 right
> next
> > door. WPGC, WHUR, WMZQ, and WAVA were strong enough to
> > splatter onto the Philly stations. WASH obliterated one
> of
> > WXHL's relays at 97.1. I could even hear the IBOC hash on
>
> > 96.3 WHUR. WBIG 100.3 and DC101.1 fought with 100.3 The
> > Beat and B101 from Philly.
> >
> > I only noticed a weak to medium tropo opening at home.
> >
>

 

[Radio-X]

Re: Washington DC stations strong in Richmond, VA also

> I was coming home from Norfolk to Richmond on I 64 the other
> day and DC stations were coming in just as loud as Richmond
> station. I thought I was in DC or on I 95 not 64, cause Hot
> 995,971 Wash FM, 939, 955, and 1077. Also WFLS 933, and
> B105 but you can get those in Richmond alot, especially just
> north and west of the city limits, but lately they have been
> booming south of the city 2.


I live in Farmville, VA...about mid-way between Lynchburg and Richmond. With my antenna pointed towards Charlottesville (NNW), I can pick up most of the D.C. stations with regularity day and night...not bad for the towers being 120 miles away!

My setup's pretty decent, however...mostly to get all the interference out from WFLO 95.7: A Fisher Studio Standard reciever and a 12 element telly antenna with a 12 dB booster

 

[Jim_Hicks]

The side of Newark where I live favors Baltimore/DC over Philadelphia. Baltimore and Phillie often have side-by-side frequencies. I have trouble hearing WXTU because of the Balitmore Rap station. Back in the 60's/70's, WSID/WLPL wiped out WIFI. WIYY is stronger. WPGC-FM has always had a great signal here. I use to listen to them in the 60's when they carried the AM's Top 40 format. Always loud and clear. There are days WGMS downs out the locals.
Back when WIYY was WBAL-FM playing classical, classical fans in western Newark (the rich side of town) had to listen to BAL because you could not hear WFLN-FM.

Iron Hill, just outside Newark, is the reason. It is really an "iron hill" with iron deposits. That's why before FM took over, our town was called "Radio Free Newark." You could hardly hear AM stations except Wilmington, in many parts of town. In my section of town-eastern Newark, miles away from Iron Hill, AM was great for DXing. If you lived in western Newark, forget it! On FM, it seems to act like a beam antenna, enhancing Baltimore/DC signals.


> This morning, I went to visit the University of Delaware,
> and I was listening to the radio. I looked for stations
> from Baltimore and Washington, and they were booming in at
> Newark, DE. I could get Hot 99.5 despite WJBR just a few
> miles away. I even got 93.9 WKYS with WSTW 93.7 right next
> door. WPGC, WHUR, WMZQ, and WAVA were strong enough to
> splatter onto the Philly stations. WASH obliterated one of
> WXHL's relays at 97.1. I could even hear the IBOC hash on
> 96.3 WHUR. WBIG 100.3 and DC101.1 fought with 100.3 The
> Beat and B101 from Philly.
>
> I only noticed a weak to medium tropo opening at home.
>