What Distant AM Radio Stations Can Be Received in New York

[Cincinnati Kid]

Although New York City has numerous radio stations, I'm just wondering if area residents ever tune in to distant AM stations and what they might be? Being from Cincinnati, I've took the occasion to try and pick up the two local 50,000 watt AM stations from here - WLW-700 and WCKY-1530 when I was in New York. Getting WLW wasn't successful due to WOR on 710-AM. I did pick up WCKY on a portable radio on the roof of a motel in Queens. Just wondering how long-distance listening might be there for local listeners.

 

[abonita]

Although New York City has numerous radio stations, I'm just wondering if area residents ever tune in to distant AM stations and what they might be? Being from Cincinnati, I've took the occasion to try and pick up the two local 50,000 watt AM stations from here - WLW-700 and WCKY-1530 when I was in New York. Getting WLW wasn't successful due to WOR on 710-AM. I did pick up WCKY on a portable radio on the roof of a motel in Queens. Just wondering how long-distance listening might be there for local listeners.

At one point, WCKY took the WSAI call letters and played oldies? We used to pick it up loud and clear on the way back to New York City from Westchester.

Anita

 

[Time Traveler]

Being a long ago resident of Cincinnati, I can tell you that WLW and WCKY are very clearly receivable 150 miles north of NYC in the Albany area, which is even further from Cincinnati. I have even pulled in 1360-WSAI in the Albany area on occasion as well, even though it is nulled in this direction. I also used to be able to listen to WLW and WCKY in Portland, Me on a regular basis as well.

 

[DToTheJ]

At one point, WCKY took the WSAI call letters and played oldies?

Anita

Yes and 'round midnight they would always air a brokered religious/under-the-guise-of-news program "Newswatch" based in Texas. Not sure if they still do... Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if we can hear these blowtorches these days due to that thing called IBOC.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

I can still pick up CHML (AM 9) from Hamilton.

They used to have a cool music format back when I was a kid. Now they're all talk, and play radio dramas at night.

 

[Ozman]

can any rock am stations be picked up in the NYC area? wasn't there one from canada?
WCBS 880 Am is clearer than anything on the band up here in Northern Vt (canadian border I-91)
it comes in during the morning light hours and evening light hours with static as well.
1010 AM dies out as i go north of my school getting closer to canada
-OZ

I can still pick up CHML (AM 9) from Hamilton.

They used to have a cool music format back when I was a kid. Now they're all talk, and play radio dramas at night.

 

[NO DAG]

I'm sure you can pick up these up in between all the local stations....
1030 WBZ Boston
810 WGY Schenectady
1080 WTIC Hartford
1070 CBA Moncton, New Brunswick
730 CKAC Montreal (In French)
740 CHWO Toronto
1170 WWVA Wheeling, WV
1210 WPHT Philly
690 CINF Montreal (French)
940 CINW Montreal
1110 WBT Charlotte..
1100 WTAM Cleveland
860 CJBC Toronto (In French)
840 WHAS Louisvile
680 and 850 ?
750 WSB Atlanta
800 CKLW Windsor (Detroit)
How's that fer yah ??

 

[KML0224]

WTIC-AM 1080 Hartford and WBZ-AM 1030 were always a no-go if I was in Manhattan in the evening. In both cases, WEPN-AM 1050 overpowered them. WINS-AM 1010 makes the chances of WBZ reception next to impossible.

 

[Knowsnews2]

WSB, out of Atlanta, comes in loud and clear when you're driving over the Whitestone Bridge after sunset. Never tried to listen for KMOX, but I wouldn't bet against it.

 

[WiseguyNJ]

Lots of them can...

WHAS out of Louisville
CHML Hamilton, ON
WGY Schenectady NY
WSB Atlanta
CFRA Montreal
WLW Detroit
etc...

It depends, of course, on many factors.. weather and atmospheric conditions, your location, the radio you're using..etc...

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

As a teeener I used to pick up AM 95 WPEN out of Philly. And sometimes WNLK-1350 Norwalk. During the daytime. In Queens. On a cheap stereo. Back when they were good and played music.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Never tried to listen for KMOX, but I wouldn't bet against it.

I have heard Bob Costas say that he could pick up KMOX in his dad's car parked next to the house while growing up on Long Island. He said he heard Harry Caray and Jack Buck broadcasting the Cardinals games that way.

 

[KML0224]

Sorry to nitpick, but WLW-AM 700 is out of Cincinnati. Maybe you meant WJR-AM 760 for Detroit?

 

[rjrodrig]

Here in the Poughkeepsie and Kingston area, I've logged over 700 AMs, with at least 2 on each 10khz frequency slot, With a good loop antenna and being a little bit away from NYC, I don't have much trouble with adjacent local stations, except when IBOC is on. I regularly get Cuba and occasionally Venezuela, Jamaica and Colombia. My longest ones were 1314-Norway and 1630 in Wyoming.

There aren't many rock stations left, but a top 40 that I used to get is KCJJ-1630 in Iowa, and there are a bunch of rock oldies stations.

 

[MarcB]

I can still pick up CHML (AM 9) from Hamilton. They used to have a cool music format back when I was a kid. Now they're all talk, and play radio dramas at night.

Those old school radio dramas that CHML carry are awesome. I live in the Hartford market and we don't have a full-power affiliate that carries "When Radio Was." It's on 1150 in Middletown, CT which is a whopping 46 watts at night. I can only get them at night if they stay on day pattern.

 

[KML0224]

I get a decent signal of 1150 at night here in New Britain (CT) actually.

 

[icybluelake]

Picking up strong out-of-town AMs in the city is often tough, but a bit easier from the NY burbs. To the list above, I'd add:

1520 -- I think this is WWKB Buffalo
1090 WBAL Baltimore
1500 -- the former WTOP Washington

800 -- isn't this usually CJAD Montreal? I'm not sure we can hear CKLW here in the NY area.

Have also pulled in 1120 KMOX recently, and once WHLI shuts down in the evening, WTAM from Cleveland comes in very strong sometimes.

Farther out in the burbs, WBZ 1030 from Boston is an ok signal both day and night.

 

[NO DAG]

CJAD 800 in Montreal is very directional at night dropping to 10,000 watts and shooting a signal northwest and southeast of Montreal. CJAD not only has to protect CLKW it also has to protect CHRC in Quebec City, a very directional fulltime 50,000 watt signal only 150 miles away from Montreal.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

I've always picked up The Big 8 (CKLW) here in New York without a problem.

 

[Ozman]

is there still an AM rock station out there making it to NYC?