WBZ-Loud and Clear plus UNID

[Schroedingers Cat]

The "38 States" thing is something that has been used on many Class A stations over the years. Thinking about it logically though, wouldn't a coastal station reach less states than one in the central US? Years ago, I counted states on a map and could not figure out what the basis of this was. Wouldn't some reach more or less than 38? I think it probably started in the 1930s and just spread and was repeated on other stations.

I'm sure WBZ has been heard not only in Alaska and Hawaii, but in all fifty states.

 

[radioman148]

I didn't want to start a brand new thread to ask a question about WBZ so I'll ask this question here. I've always heard on here and elsewhere that WBZ used to be audible in 38 states but I can't find with google which states are among those 38. Also has anyone on here ever received WBZ in Alaska or Hawaii?

Back in the 60s they were audible in the lower 48 as I heard WBZ numerous times on the west coast in the days before KTWO.
There was someone on this board who once heard WBZ in Alaska, but I don't remember who it was.

 

[cyberdad]

The geographic center of the contiguous 48 states is in North Central Kansas. So on paper, the station having the best chance of covering all of them (48 or 50) would theoretically be WHO (or maybe also KMOX). As a practical matter, I'd guess that every one of the former 1-A clears has been heard in all 50 states, although perhaps not recently.

 

[radioman148]

The geographic center of the contiguous 48 states is in North Central Kansas. So on paper, the station having the best chance of covering all of them (48 or 50) would theoretically be WHO (or maybe also KMOX). As a practical matter, I'd guess that every one of the former 1-A clears has been heard in all 50 states, although perhaps not recently.

I know in the 60s the four Chicago clears could be heard basically in all of North America at night.
I for one heard them in every corner of the US & deep into Mexico back in the 60s & early 70s with WLS having the best signal most of the time.
WMAQ & WGN were the first to get stations on their frequencies at night & lose west coast & Caribbean coverage.
WLS & WBBM were still heard over most of those distances until the 80s. It wasn't until the late 80s that I couldn't hear WLS on my west coast travels anymore.

 

[cyberdad]

Just doing a little quick math....

My travels so far have taken me to 47 states. I did some quick math and calculate that I've heard a Chicago "1-A clear" in 42 of them (plus three Canadian provinces). At least 40...if not all 42...of the states, plus Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec involve WLS.

The five states where I've been but haven't heard WLS or a Chicago clear would be Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. British Columbia would also be on my list. My guess is that with a determined effort, at least one Chicago signal would be do-able in each of these....even given today's crowded and noisy conditions.

 

[radioman148]

Just doing a little quick math....

My travels so far have taken me to 47 states. I did some quick math and calculate that I've heard a Chicago "1-A clear" in 42 of them (plus three Canadian provinces). At least 40...if not all 42...of the states, plus Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec involve WLS.

The five states where I've been but haven't heard WLS or a Chicago clear would be Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. British Columbia would also be on my list. My guess is that with a determined effort, at least one Chicago signal would be do-able in each of these....even given today's crowded and noisy conditions.

I'll bet that the states you didn't hear WLS in were states you visited in more recent times, such as the last 20 years. In 1963 I heard all the Chicago clears in Oregon, Washington & British Columbia.
One specific & very memorable DX night for me was in Seattle in August 1963. I heard all the Chicago clears, plus lots of east coast stations.
That night I heard WNBC, WABC, & WCBS NYC, plus WCAU, WBZ, & WHAM all in Seattle on a Sunday night in August.
My only regret is I didn't have a tape recorder available.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

Two of my favorite memories of WLS:

1) The announcement, given at night, as I recall, "From Chicago, to the North American continent, WLS." This was around 1969 because they had just played "25 Miles".

2) The xylophone/vibraphone device used before the weather forecasts, again usually at night. Every once in a while, a DJ would drag it out in the middle of the night. Like many sound effects at the time, I suspect that it was an actual xylophone/vibraphone type device with several bars, and a mechanical "player piano" type device to play the tones and chords, perhaps with a crank. Anyone ever see this device?

 

[radioman148]

>>1) The announcement, given at night, as I recall, "From Chicago, to the North American continent, WLS." This was around 1969 because they had just played "25 Miles".>>

I loved that ID. Perfect for the time because WLS did cover The North American continent at night.

 

[vibe]

In central mass, when the NYC clears are strong at nite, the Chi clears are weak. But last nite the NYC clears were really weak and the Chi clears were very strong. This happens more so in winter. Once in awhile WHO comes in. Bt I got WBZ quite well in IA about this time of year (several years back).
If gar and I could p/u KSL and KOA more than once from SW fla and crainbo get the Chi stations from the West coast I imagine the 38 state claim of WBZ was not unreasonable with a much less cluttered band.

 

[radioman148]

In central mass, when the NYC clears are strong at nite, the Chi clears are weak. But last nite the NYC clears were really weak and the Chi clears were very strong. This happens more so in winter. Once in awhile WHO comes in. Bt I got WBZ quite well in IA about this time of year (several years back).
If gar and I could p/u KSL and KOA more than once from SW fla and crainbo get the Chi stations from the West coast I imagine the 38 state claim of WBZ was not unreasonable with a much less cluttered band.

WBZ still puts a big signal into Northern Illinois almost every night.

 

[jd]

WBZ still puts a big signal into Northern Illinois almost every night.

Not surprising at all, so what's the deal with WNVR Vernon Hills--do they get slammed?

 

[cyberdad]

Just doing a little quick math....

My travels so far have taken me to 47 states. I did some quick math and calculate that I've heard a Chicago "1-A clear" in 42 of them (plus three Canadian provinces). At least 40...if not all 42...of the states, plus Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec involve WLS.

The five states where I've been but haven't heard WLS or a Chicago clear would be Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. British Columbia would also be on my list. My guess is that with a determined effort, at least one Chicago signal would be do-able in each of these....even given today's crowded and noisy conditions.

I'll bet that the states you didn't hear WLS in were states you visited in more recent times, such as the last 20 years. In 1963 I heard all the Chicago clears in Oregon, Washington & British Columbia.
One specific & very memorable DX night for me was in Seattle in August 1963. I heard all the Chicago clears, plus lots of east coast stations.
That night I heard WNBC, WABC, & WCBS NYC, plus WCAU, WBZ, & WHAM all in Seattle on a Sunday night in August.
My only regret is I didn't have a tape recorder available.

Those conditions would've left me "sleepless in Seattle" fer sure!

And yes, most of my Chicago catches in the west were back when things were less crowded/noisy. Some of it, however, has to do with logistics and lack of a dedicated effort on my part. One place where I have made a few attempts at the Chicago big boys is Burlington, WA....a handy place to spend the night about midway between Seattle and Vancouver. Except for local pest KAPS on 660 a couple of miles up the road from my hotel, the location is a pretty good DX spot....relatively noise free.

And I don't recall the xylophone/vibraphone weather sounder or the ID on the WLS overnight show....although both vaguely ring a bell. (no pun intended!). In the late 60s, I'd have been in college in Iowa....where after midnight I'd probably have been either spending quality time with my girlfriend, DXing, or hanging out on the high end of the dial flipping between KOMA, WLAC, and XERF (if not sleeping). I didn't listen to WLS very much at night because we were in a convergence zone and it sounded awful.

 

[cyberdad]

WBZ still puts a big signal into Northern Illinois almost every night.

Not surprising at all, so what's the deal with WNVR Vernon Hills--do they get slammed?

Where Radioman is, WNVR is probably invisible on their night pattern. I'm about two miles from their stick, but they're not on all night. In fact, they sign off pretty early which opens the door for what's usually a very good signal from WBZ

 

[radioman148]

WBZ still puts a big signal into Northern Illinois almost every night.

Not surprising at all, so what's the deal with WNVR Vernon Hills--do they get slammed?

Where Radioman is, WNVR is probably invisible on their night pattern. I'm about two miles from their stick, but they're not on all night. In fact, they sign off pretty early which opens the door for what's usually a very good signal from WBZ

Cyberdad is right. Where I am WNVR is not usually an issue. Sometimes in the early evening I can hear it mixing with WBZ, but most often it's just WBZ.

 

[BRNout]

A bigger problem for midwest reception of WBZ is the IBOC jamming from adjacent WHO - at times it can render WBZ unlistenable.

 

[radioman148]

A bigger problem for midwest reception of WBZ is the IBOC jamming from adjacent WHO - at times it can render WBZ unlistenable.

That's true & it's hard to null WHO when listening to WBZ from the midwest.

 

[vibe]

I have a Bose Wave Radio-not the highest of hi tech; but in the summer of 2006 or was it 2007, I had a stronger WBZ than WHO in eastern IA on night 1 and an equal WBZ and WHO in SE IA the next few nites. Off topic-that was sightseeing heaven: one could play 18H of golf w cart, eat a full blown ribeye dinner, drink 75 cent drafts at her bar AND get a room that was safe for LESS than $60. That was the time I got KFI from just outside Richmond IA on I-70. Is it possible that some radios are better with "blocking" IBOC or am I all wet 9from Hurricane Irene)?
I do believe I had WHO last nite here in Central Mass but was too sleepy to ID it. Gotten it numerous times when conditions to the W were favorable. After all it was round midnight.
I tried for WBZ in western KS (near garden City) but there was a strong 1030 in the area.

 

[radioman148]

I have a Bose Wave Radio-not the highest of hi tech; but in the summer of 2006 or was it 2007, I had a stronger WBZ than WHO in eastern IA on night 1 and an equal WBZ and WHO in SE IA the next few nites. Off topic-that was sightseeing heaven: one could play 18H of golf w cart, eat a full blown ribeye dinner, drink 75 cent drafts at her bar AND get a room that was safe for LESS than $60. That was the time I got KFI from just outside Richmond IA on I-70. Is it possible that some radios are better with "blocking" IBOC or am I all wet 9from Hurricane Irene)?
I do believe I had WHO last nite here in Central Mass but was too sleepy to ID it. Gotten it numerous times when conditions to the W were favorable. After all it was round midnight.
I tried for WBZ in western KS (near garden City) but there was a strong 1030 in the area.

You might have been in WHO's cancellation zone when you were in Eastern Iowa.

 

[vibe]

Probably the case.

 

[cyberdad]

I went to college in Eastern Iowa, and two of my kids are University of Iowa graduates.

Okay...I'll go off topic for a moment myself... Mt. Hamil Tap, Huffton, IA (not on most maps)...Late 60s-early 70s...Half a fried chicken, fries, slaw, AND a pitcher of PBR all for less than five bucks. Plus live entertainment. (Chix was $3.50...and always excellent. Pitcher was $1.35)

Anyway, what I can report from all my experience there, is that Eastern Iowa is indeed in WHO's nighttime convergence zone. The result is WBZ usually had (and probably still has) a better nighttime signal.