WEAKEST Commercial FM Signals in New England..

[NO DAG]

I thought that since so much time has been spent on finding the best of the best of FM signals, how about some of the worst or weakest FM signals that seem to go totally nowhere for distance. Not talking about any designated low-power FM's, ten watt college FM's, or non-commercials.. Talking about the weakest commercial class A to the most technically underperforming C.. You can tell these signals were easily stuffed into table of allotments like a shoehorn.. Any takers ??

 

[AckDX]

WHOU 100.1 Houlton. Yeah, last time I was up there, it seemed that the signal died out pretty quick.

 

[NO DAG]

My take locally would be the WJEN 94.5 Cat Country signal, the antenna is located well below average terrain, and is short spaced to many first adjacent channels that are geographically closeby. It doesn;t matter this station still enjoys top dog status for audience in Rutland county, even though the signal no way covers the entire county.

 

[necrat123]

This is a good one...
Jo Jo , I tend to agree with you on 94.5. It is a WEIRD signal coverage wise.

I want to add WJDF 97.3 in Orange. The antenna is on a hill surrounded by taller hills, and it's not even on the top of the hill! (It's more on the side). Plus I have never been convinced the old ERI is working properly.
(Based on listening reports).

Another to add to the list is WUBB York Center, ME. I know going south you lose it only 10 miles outside of Kittery, and those places were you can still hear 105.3 in Kittery, 95.3 just doesn't exsist. (or however you spell it). (Of course you can thank the directional antenna they use for that).

Honorable mention goes to WXXX, while good in metro Burlington, is basically non-existant anywhere east of the area. South it holds up almost to Brandon but not quite. North it doesn't make it to Canada (and IN Canada, you can't hear it for the most part).

 

[NO DAG]

Good call on WXXX, wonder if the signal worked better when it was an "A" on 95.3. Can hear co-channel 50kw WYJB from Albany blasting into parts of Middlebury, and VPR as a repeater on 95.3 in Middlebury as well.

 

[JustinT]

Another to add to the list is WUBB York Center, ME. I know going south you lose it only 10 miles outside of Kittery, and those places were you can still hear 105.3 in Kittery, 95.3 just doesn't exsist. (or however you spell it). (Of course you can thank the directional antenna they use for that).

With close proximity to 95.5 Topsham, 95.9 Saco, and a co-channel on 95.3 in Cambridge, the signal of WUBB is pretty disappointing. Perhaps the only thing worse than the signal is Clear Channel's execution of a mostly automated country station that tries to go head-to-head with 97.5 WOKQ. Are there even any live shifts on that station? I remember, before the market was embargoed, that WUBB pulled less than half a share 12+ in one book.

One station that I'm surprised exists is the 106.7 licensed to North Windham, ME... seems a bit too close to 106.3 Scarborough. Add that to the station co-channeling with 106.7 WMJX which comes in perfectly just north of the NH/ME line, and a signal that isn't even great in South Portland and drops out entirely by Saco. Simulcasting 106.7 on the old WQEZ was the best thing that Nassau could have ever done to that station... and with the station going to a talk format, 106.7 might find it's first successful format since the old WLAM.

 

[JAG]

Lest us not forget 92.1 WVTK-Port Henry. Good signal strength in Middlebury. But when you try to call it a Burlington station...yeah, not so much.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Here in Portland WUBB 95.3 comes in good for some reason.Can't get 105.3 the Shark at all.Also 96.7 in Rochester doesn"t reach very far.
Another poor signal WPHX 92.1 Sanford.Even in Biddeford in doesn't come in very well.Probobly can't improve the signal because of 92.3 WMME to the north in Augusta and 91.9 the BBN affiliate in Harpswell.

 

[MassMusicMan]

Lest us not forget 92.1 WVTK-Port Henry. Good signal strength in Middlebury. But when you try to call it a Burlington station...yeah, not so much.

Beat me to it.

 

[Ozman]

I am suprised no one has Mentioned 97.7 WGMT. ( do they count on this list?) they are not LP but there signal north and on burke itself where they transmit is CHOM 97.7! WWLR 91.5 ( Lyndon State College ) goes further out on all 4 sides east north, west & south and we are in the valley. if magic were on say 98.3 or 98.5 fm they would go a lot further wouldn't they? plus CHOM would kick ass. From what I have heard didn't Magic used to be on 98.3 or 98.5?
-OZ

 

[NO DAG]

WGMT started out as an "A" on 98.3. The move to 97.7 allowed WLNH 98.3 in Laconia to go to a C3 and WEBB in Waterville, Maine to go to a C1.. (I think..) Here's one, WPLY 96.3 in Walpole NH, that's an A that goes hardly anywhere outside of Bellows Falls..

 

[Ozman]

WGMT imagine if they were on 98.5 they would kick some ass. I think they want to stay on 97.7 because then they don't have to worry about CHOM in the ratings market and let 106.3 be rated higher. would any of you agree? disagree?

 

[NO DAG]

I don't think WGMT could move to 98.5 due to the WEBB 98.5 in Waterville ME. power increase.

 

[Oldbones]

WGMT started out as an "A" on 98.3. The move to 97.7 allowed WLNH 98.3 in Laconia to go to a C3 and WEBB in Waterville, Maine to go to a C1..

That explains why 98.3 is listed as one of the "travel info" frequencies on a sign on I-91 near St. J. Someone ought to clue in the Vt. Highway dept. so they can update their signs. I wondered why that frequency was there since there was nothing listenable on it.
When did the frequency change happen? Did WGMT get some sort of incentive for moving?

 

[NO DAG]

WGMT was able to go to up to C3 from an A by going to 97.7. It's directional towards Montreal since CHOM-FM is on 97.7 as well.

 

[BRNout]

WNNH (Oldies 99.1), licensed to Henniker, NH, is supposed to serve the Concord market. I lived in central Concord and it was staticky there, as was WTPL 107.7 (Hillsborough). Manchester stations came in much better.

In fact, I can't think of a place where "Oldies 99.1" was actually strong or clear. Same seems to be true of 107.7 (though its a little better). Both stations can be picked up at points all over southern NH, and yet neither not come in well anywhere.

In the case of 99.1, you actually get interference from WPLM as far north as Bow, NH....the next town south of Concord. Bad transmitter placement and a mandated directional signal seem to be the culprits here. WNNH is directional away from the southeast to protect WPLM, yet the surrounding topography to the north, west and southwest is higher than the tx site - so the signal gets no advantage in those directions either.

 

[necrat123]

One station that I'm surprised exists is the 106.7 licensed to North Windham, ME...

It doesn't help that WHXR 106.7 is a very tightly directional signal with a large null due facing due east.

I am surprised about the writings about 92.1. I was in Burlington (I go every year) and have never had any issues picking up 92.1. I've always thought for the distance and location it has a killer signal. But not too far south is a horrible signal of 103.9 in Ticonderoga.

 

[NO DAG]

The 92.1 WVTK signal is an odd one, since the tower is on the Lake Champlain side of a hill, it does go deep into Vermont fairly well, yet not clear in Ticonderga just down the street, and non-existant as you make your way to the Northway. 92.1 also gets into Rutland, yet will not pass the 'tableradio test' except north of the city. It has been marketed as a "Burlington signal" yet Port Henry is 40 miles south.. It is also short spaced to WCEL 91.9 in Plattsburgh. Good call on 103.9 in Ti, it's a similar signal to WVTK, yet only located south, and a lot less power than WVTK. Anyone remember when 103.9 was top 40. "X 104" before being sold to Public radio WAMC ?

 

[djjim6629]

Got to disagree on 97.7 WGMT. It seems like this was the only station besides WHOM and WPKQ I could get driving route 3 from Littleton up to Colebrook. Always seemed like a strong signal. 99.1 WNNH was always good too. I have to disagree with the previous poster on that one. I picked it up up I-93 all the way to Franconia Notch.

OK, How about 101.3 WYKR in Haverhill/Woodsville, NH? Dismal signal! I always thought 96.7 WLTN Lisbon was always pretty sad too. and 94.3 WBEN in Bennington, VT.

 

[THE_VIKING]

While not as weak a signal as the aforementioned WJDF, 99.9 WNYN (the former WCAT-FM) Athol/Gardner is pretty limited. Even north of Wachusett Mountain, it's a staticy catch in most parts of Westminster.

Let's not forget the former 97.7 WINQ when it was a Winchendon station, either...