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Western MI FM Opening into Chicago Area

B

BRNout

Was just tuning around with my Eton E5 a couple of hours ago and was amazed to hear several stations from western MI, including WBCT 93.7 Grand Rapids, WLHT 95.7 Grand Rapids, WVGR 104.1 Grand Rapids, and WSNX 104.5 Muskegon. Also picked up faint traces of a signal at 103.7, which sounded like it was South Haven, MI.

A couple of interesting things about today's dx opening come to mind. For one thing, most of the stations were VERY stable with no fade for a very long period of time (> 1 hour). And, the signals at 93.7 and 95.7 overpowered the Milwaukee signals that I usually pick up (weakly) at my house. The strongest signals of the group were WBCT (no surprise with a whopping 320,000 watts!) and WSNX (which is surprising). Both are adjacent to Chicago locals, yet were perfectly listenable as was WLHT. WVGR was weaker, but there the whole time.

It's my first pickup of FM signals from Michigan from my locale in the Arlington Heights/Buffalo Grove area. Amazing to me that so many of those signals are on shared frequencies with Milwaukee FMs. Wouldn't they interfere with each other now and then, as MKE is right across the lake from GRR?
 
BRNout said:
Was just tuning around with my Eton E5 a couple of hours ago and was amazed to hear several stations from western MI, including WBCT 93.7 Grand Rapids, WLHT 95.7 Grand Rapids, WVGR 104.1 Grand Rapids, and WSNX 104.5 Muskegon. Also picked up faint traces of a signal at 103.7, which sounded like it was South Haven, MI.

A couple of interesting things about today's dx opening come to mind. For one thing, most of the stations were VERY stable with no fade for a very long period of time (> 1 hour). And, the signals at 93.7 and 95.7 overpowered the Milwaukee signals that I usually pick up (weakly) at my house. The strongest signals of the group were WBCT (no surprise with a whopping 320,000 watts!) and WSNX (which is surprising). Both are adjacent to Chicago locals, yet were perfectly listenable as was WLHT. WVGR was weaker, but there the whole time.

It's my first pickup of FM signals from Michigan from my locale in the Arlington Heights/Buffalo Grove area. Amazing to me that so many of those signals are on shared frequencies with Milwaukee FMs. Wouldn't they interfere with each other now and then, as MKE is right across the lake from GRR?
Click to expand...

FM signals can do strange things when propagation exists. I would also think you'd get the Milwaukee stations better.
 
radioman148 said:
FM signals can do strange things when propagation exists. I would also think you'd get the Milwaukee stations better.
Click to expand...

Normally, I can just get the Milwaukee market signals on 94.5, 95.7, 97.3 and sometimes 104.7 (all are weak) - and slightly stronger signals from 92.1 and 100.7 (both licensed to the Racine area). Have never, ever, gotten FMs from Michigan over here. But, this will be my first summer around here - so perhaps this isn't that rare. During warm, humid weather last August and September, the signals were booming in strongly from the Milwaukee market and nothing from across the lake. Clearly, yesterday's tropo duct was out over Lake Michigan. If I get time, I will try again today as similar weather conditions are setting up (warmer air over a cold lake).
 
Yes, lake enhancement is a huge part of the local tropo experience. An opening like the one you had this weekend seems a little rare for this time of year, but wait until the summer months. You'll swear you're on our side of the lake by how strong our signals are.

I was actually in Michigan City, Indiana during that freak lake enhancement last August. MC's translators were rendered useless by stronger lake enhanced signals. Milwaukee's WMYX was playing with class A WSMK (also at 99.1) as close as 10 miles to their transmitter. Even 50kw WBYT (100.7) was having problems holding up to WKKV. Unfortunately the lake enhancement is never that amazing as far inland as I am. Impressive? Yes. I still manage to get most Chicago and Milwaukee stations. Some of my local class A's still get wiped out, but nothing stronger.

On your side of the lake, you should be able to get strong Michigan signals. WOOD, WBCT and WSNX are usually the best ones. If it's a better opening, you might try for these stations..

Class A's
94.9 WSJM Benton Harbor, MI (News/Talk)
97.5 WYTZ Bridgman, MI (Y Country)
98.3 WCXT Hartford, MI (Hot AC- The Coast)
103.7 WCZY South Haven, MI (Oldies- Cozy FM)
107.1 WIRX St. Joseph, MI (Rock 107)

Class B's
90.7 WAUS Berrien Springs, MI (Classical)
99.9 WHFB Benton Harbor, MI (Cat Country)

And a little farther inland, but i've seen these on Wisconsin lake enhancement logs.
94.1- WVIC- Jackson, MI (AC)
98.5- WNWN- Coldwater, MI (Country- Win 98-5)
103.3- WKFR- Battle Creek, MI (CHR, so they say)
106.5- WVFM- Kalamazoo, MI (Adult Hits- FM 106.5)

I'm probably forgetting a couple, but this is a nice beginner's list.
 
Lawppy said:
Yes, lake enhancement is a huge part of the local tropo experience. An opening like the one you had this weekend seems a little rare for this time of year, but wait until the summer months. You'll swear you're on our side of the lake by how strong our signals are.

I was actually in Michigan City, Indiana during that freak lake enhancement last August. MC's translators were rendered useless by stronger lake enhanced signals. Milwaukee's WMYX was playing with class A WSMK (also at 99.1) as close as 10 miles to their transmitter. Even 50kw WBYT (100.7) was having problems holding up to WKKV. Unfortunately the lake enhancement is never that amazing as far inland as I am. Impressive? Yes. I still manage to get most Chicago and Milwaukee stations. Some of my local class A's still get wiped out, but nothing stronger.

On your side of the lake, you should be able to get strong Michigan signals. WOOD, WBCT and WSNX are usually the best ones. If it's a better opening, you might try for these stations..

Class A's
94.9 WSJM Benton Harbor, MI (News/Talk)
97.5 WYTZ Bridgman, MI (Y Country)
98.3 WCXT Hartford, MI (Hot AC- The Coast)
103.7 WCZY South Haven, MI (Oldies- Cozy FM)
107.1 WIRX St. Joseph, MI (Rock 107)

Class B's
90.7 WAUS Berrien Springs, MI (Classical)
99.9 WHFB Benton Harbor, MI (Cat Country)

And a little farther inland, but i've seen these on Wisconsin lake enhancement logs.
94.1- WVIC- Jackson, MI (AC)
98.5- WNWN- Coldwater, MI (Country- Win 98-5)
103.3- WKFR- Battle Creek, MI (CHR, so they say)
106.5- WVFM- Kalamazoo, MI (Adult Hits- FM 106.5)

I'm probably forgetting a couple, but this is a nice beginner's list.
Click to expand...

I've heard WOOD a few times in the past.
 
I am pretty certain that I was picking up a weak signal fro WCZY, fighting it out with WXSS from the Milwaukee market. Both were very weak and challenging to dig out from the space between locals Kiss 103.5 and Y 103.9.

No WOOD yesterday, but they would have to be putting a good signal in here to overcome some of the splatter that I get in that part of the FM band from a combination of Fresh, WOJO and WPPN. Not sure why, but WOJO seems to slather itself all over the 105.1 - 105.7 part of the dial. WOJO shouldn't be that strong here, but is. And WPPN blasts 50 kw from a stick 3 miles from my house. It interferes with my dxing from about 105.7 through 107.1 with WCFS's spot on 105.9 being an exception. All of the Spanish stations in this market sound over-modulated (to me) and seem louder than they should be, based on tx location and licensed power.
 
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