Never happened before til now, very strong tropo this morning bringing in WCON 99.3 all the way to Gaffney SC (130 miles away) completely wiping out 99.3 WBT (only 30 miles away) which normally has a strong signal here. For now, both are about equal strength it seems this morning, I can hear either one moving the radio a few feet (similar to trying to hear 104.7 WNOK or WKQC halfway between Columbia and Charlotte). This WCON station seems to have gotten stronger, WBT used to make it all the way to Greenville, now WBT barely seems to make it past Spartanburg before WCON starts to come in, and past Greenville and Anderson WCON has a listenable signal now. Kinda shocked it's gotten a lot different I've noticed. We'll see how long this lasts...I love tropo nights/mornings.
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WCON Interference From Georgia
- Thread starter KyleSmith1988
- Start date
Kinda shocked how strong their signal was and made it this far, WBT at 99.3 usually has a strong signal in Gaffney with only a little static as you get closer to Spartanburg. West Spartanburg to Greer seems to be the drop off point where WCON starts to interfere. I remember WBT used to make it to Greenville with little to no trouble, but no more. Reminds me of when 97.1 WSRV used to make it this far a few years ago...That tropo is gone for now but that was the furthest I heard their signal, a few weeks ago they were interferring in North Spartanburg too...
This happened a few years ago and was very frustrating. Wiped out most reception of WBT on 99.3 in Greenville, including the HD Radio signal which used to lock on. Looks like they should have been restricted to a directional signal when they increased power to avoid interference with WBT. Also still annoyed with the low power signal interfering with WLNK on 107.9 in Greenville, and this seems to have gotten worse in the past year.
Yes when you get to the western side of Spartanburg, WCON indeed interferes with WBT on 99.3. But you can get WBT on WLNK-HD2, and the legacy 11.10 AM signal during daytime hours.
Also in Gaffney, 102.5 is a batteground between 102.5 the Lake from Greenville and 102.5-WFNZ Sports Talk translator from Charlotte.
You're kidding. Back when it first started I could hear what is now The Lake north of Salisbury. In fact, I was listening to The Lake when it switched to its current format, and only getting some interference from the translator, farther south.
I live in Gaffney, Both "Lakes" at 102.5 & 102.9 are solid here for the most part, no issues with 102.5 until getting out of town to the east, no issues for me with the new Charlotte 102.5 until about Blacksburg SC...
Similar Issue at times with 103.3 Translator from Charlotte interference at times east of Gaffney overpowering Earth FM with their rap music.
The 99.3 in NE Georgia is so strong is sends it's non directional signal definitely capable of reaching our area, overpowering WBT on Tropo events.
107.9 and WBT have no issues here most of the time, I need to get a new HD Radio to hear 99.3 better near Spartanburg. I think Mix 107.9 has a better variety than The Lake, I remember hearing them with no issues as far as Mauldin, I know its not that way now...Biggest issue is that Low Power 107.7 WGWY near Simpsonville.
Also I remember 97.1 from the same area as WCON was just as good reaching Atlanta and most of Greenville before ESPN Upstate took over 97.1 in Spartanburg, definitely annoying (who's even listening?)
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Yes I used to live in Mauldin and 107.9 from Charlotte used to have a clear signal before these low power stations signed on and began to interfere. But the main problem was car reception, as my indoor rabbit ears would still lock on to 107.9 from Charlotte, and the HD would also lock on. Same with 99.3. Used to be clear but now interference from the Georgia station. Looks like that Georgia station should have a directional signal when they increased power so it would drop off in Greenville County and not interfere with WBT. But you can get 107.9 from Charlotte driving south on 85 till Woodruff Rd. exit. The interference begins between Woodruff Rd. and Laurens Rd. going down 85. And now there is a new low power signal interfering with 105.3 from Charlotte. Perhaps Radio One should look into this interference on their stations which previously came in more clear.
btw WCON-FM and WBT-FM are fully-spaced with a margin of 12 Kilometers. WCON-FM applied for the Class C1 facility in July 2014, and the FCC granted the license to cover in January 2016.
May look good on paper but too much overlap and interference, especially with WCON reaching as far as Spartanburg County where WBT-FM was otherwise strong and clear.
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