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What was different about your FM dial 15 years ago vs today (translators + tower locations)
- Thread starter Xale57
- Start date
In Vallejo, CA
There was no LPFM's like now on
93.7, 96.9, 106.5
There was no LPFM's like now on
93.7, 96.9, 106.5
The old KULE Ephrata was a satellite-fed country station, as I recall.
From visiting my family members in the Yakima valley prior to moving here permanently (so, prior to 2013), I recall two FM pirates in Yakima, both Spanish formats, 15 yrs. ago or so. One was on 100.5 with religious music. Another had Regional Mexican on 104.5. The 100.5 signal got out well - quite well as I recall. That may have been the predecessor to KBWN-LP in Buena/Toppenish, Monte De Sion Ministries.
In addition, KYXE-104.9 wasn't on yet. Very weak signals of K285FN Kennewick West (// KUJJ-101.9) and KNLX Prineville OR could be copied down in Wapato. 93.7, K229AD, had lower power back then, and the old KGSG Pasco (93.7 The Rockin' River) could be heard in the right spot. This signal later moved to 100.1, swapping with KQFM Hermiston, and became The Oasis, then Bob FM, and eventually went Spanish.
From visiting my family members in the Yakima valley prior to moving here permanently (so, prior to 2013), I recall two FM pirates in Yakima, both Spanish formats, 15 yrs. ago or so. One was on 100.5 with religious music. Another had Regional Mexican on 104.5. The 100.5 signal got out well - quite well as I recall. That may have been the predecessor to KBWN-LP in Buena/Toppenish, Monte De Sion Ministries.
In addition, KYXE-104.9 wasn't on yet. Very weak signals of K285FN Kennewick West (// KUJJ-101.9) and KNLX Prineville OR could be copied down in Wapato. 93.7, K229AD, had lower power back then, and the old KGSG Pasco (93.7 The Rockin' River) could be heard in the right spot. This signal later moved to 100.1, swapping with KQFM Hermiston, and became The Oasis, then Bob FM, and eventually went Spanish.
Around Columbus, Ohio, to the best of my knowledge since 2008 we have seen LPFMs or translators pop up on 92.7, 92.9, 94.1, 95.1, 95.9, 96.7, 98.3, 98.5, 98.7 (a Marysville translator since moved to 96.7), 102.1, 104.5 and 105.3. I think that's all of them anyway.
106.7 moved into the market in 2007 as a full-market signal.
92.7, 92.9, 96.7, 98.5 and 104.5 have or have had two stations on the frequency at some point in that span, making an already crowded dial sound even worse. The stations on 96.7, 98.5 and 104.5 do a good job of avoiding each other in large part. The two on 92.7 might, but I never listen to them.
92.9 on the other hand was a trash frequency across much of the area once Columbus' WVKO fired up on the frequency, which already was occupied by the WDLR translator in Delaware. Now, the two simulcast the same programming.
106.7 moved into the market in 2007 as a full-market signal.
92.7, 92.9, 96.7, 98.5 and 104.5 have or have had two stations on the frequency at some point in that span, making an already crowded dial sound even worse. The stations on 96.7, 98.5 and 104.5 do a good job of avoiding each other in large part. The two on 92.7 might, but I never listen to them.
92.9 on the other hand was a trash frequency across much of the area once Columbus' WVKO fired up on the frequency, which already was occupied by the WDLR translator in Delaware. Now, the two simulcast the same programming.
I knew you could relate! I’m not a professional dxer by any stretch of the imagination, but I always thought it was fun to scan through the radio dial when I was growing up in the 2000’s. My parents would go into a store and let me mess around with the radio and see if I could get anything. It was always fun to find out if anything was coming in from either Vancouver or Portland. Today, every frequency is taken.
That sounds like me. Interstate rest areas were places to not only relieve yourself...it was a place to check the radio. Or, of course, coastal spots. When my family vacationed at Pacific Beach/Copalis Beach in the '00s (and again in 2011), it shocked me that KCRF-96.7 Lincoln City OR was solid on the dial - most of the day in fact! I tried for Coos Bay FM both times that I was there (I knew about the smooth jazz station on 105.9, what was then KYSJ), but no luck. A little tropo enhancement would have done it, I'm sure.
Nowadays I look closely at the DXmaps in the summer and hit the 'hotspots' to take out some of the translators during Eskip openings. Now, when I have my own place (1), a large rooftop FM antenna (2) and an SDR with a phaser option (3) THEN I can call myself a professional VHF DXer. Why should I anyway? I picked up Beaumont TX on double-hop Es back in July, two stations, on a Pioneer car radio..
Nowadays I look closely at the DXmaps in the summer and hit the 'hotspots' to take out some of the translators during Eskip openings. Now, when I have my own place (1), a large rooftop FM antenna (2) and an SDR with a phaser option (3) THEN I can call myself a professional VHF DXer. Why should I anyway? I picked up Beaumont TX on double-hop Es back in July, two stations, on a Pioneer car radio..
@cyberdad @DavidEduardo could someone please unpin the half a dozen or so threads pinned here that are OLD?
Thanks for your suggestion. I presume you are not talking specifically about this thread. It's less than three weeks old as I write this. At the moment, my role regarding pinning and unpinning threads is more or less with simply the FOTW threads. Whenever Mario or I pos t a thread, it automatically replaces a previous version of the exact same topic Which means it's it encourages new discussion that, among other things, we can explore changes that may have taken within the last two years or so. There can often be more a few of those. And we're always some new members of our group seeing topics for the first time.
I'm pretty much neutral on the subject of OLD threads outside of FOTW. I'll go so far as to say I don't see any reason for these to be pinned. I personally have never pinned any of them. But what I will try to do over the coming few days is comb through a few pages of the old threads and remove any and all "dinosaurs" that are pinned and haven't shown any recent activity, If I encounter any sentiment for doing otherwise, I'll act accordingly,
I strive to serve at the pleasure and consensus of everyone here.
Nice recollection. Probably better than I could do. Since my time here goes back to 2006, I’ll add a few memories.
92.5 was so open that I’d use it for my XM modulator, but yeah I would hear a faint WESC sometimes.
96.7 WMYL didn’t exist when I got here, but I don’t remember hearing anything on the frequency before then.
98.1 was a fairly strong pirate in South Knoxville. I always thought it sounded like they were relaying Music Choice’s ‘80s channel, but could not verify.
99.1 WNML had a tower at a different location.
99.3 WNRX was stronger.
99.9 WKSF Old Fort, NC was listenable before the Farragut LPFM.
100.7 I used to get WUSY more often than WBGQ.
101.1 I want to say WIAM-LP was on a different frequency, but I can’t remember for sure.
102.5 WOWF Crossville was listenable here before the WRJZ translator.
102.9 was one of two translators for WDVX.
104.9 I’m sure you know, but just for the sake of being complete, I’ll mention here it was a LaFollette signal, and is now in Greenback with reduced power.
105.7 WIHG now locally blocked by that ridiculous WKGN translator. I’m still not over that move!
105.9 was a downtown translator for WDVX before 106.1 signed on.
106.1 didn’t exist when I got here and I don’t remember hearing anything here.
106.3 WPFT Pigeon Forge didn’t exist. But it signed on before 106.1 and the signal was listenable well into Knoxville until 106.1 signed on.
I remember the South Knox pirate, just sounding he had stacked Greatest Hits of the 80s CDs on a changer with no announcements or IDs. I can still get WKSF except at one spot on Fort Dickerson Park, where I get the Farragat church LPFM. Only thing different I remember about 101.1 was WIAN still being there. Still, WJXB's Sevier County translator was also on 101.1, clashing around Seymour. Now Gatlinburg has a Church of Christ LPFM from Gatlinburg as well. 107.3 became a WIJV translator shortly after I got here. Eventually, it became the WJXB translator, never doing a different format fed from an HD2. I neglected to mention 104.1 (translator for WSEV-AM) which covers South Knoxville pretty well. Thanks for the info!
106.7 of course being the former 106.9, Marion. 93.3 was originally in Chillicothe.
Ah yes, I forgot about the 101.1 WJXB translator. I think it broadcast from where 104.1 is now. I also forgot about 107.3 being a translator for 92.7. Before that it was a translator for Rockwood’s 105.7, which was WLSQ, a great high-energy ‘70s hits station with shotgun jingles. It was nice having them on 107.3 transmitting from Sharps Ridge at the time.
In Manistee, MI, there have been some small changes, but not as drastic as some other markets.
New full-power stations
88.3 WSMZ Crystal Valley (CCM // Smile FM) - signed on around 2010
89.7 WLMN Manistee (NPR news // Interlochen Public Radio)
91.9 WGCP Cadillac (Strong Tower Radio (3ABN)) - was inaudible in Manistee before a 2017 upgrade from 2.1kW on a puny tower near Cadillac to 2.65kW (and around 940' HAAT) from Caberfae Peaks
98.7 WLDN Ludington (news/talk) - signed on in 2012
99.9 WHCH Custer (country) - just signed on this year
Relocated full-power stations
96.3 WKLA Ludington (hot AC) - moved from 106.3 in 2016; moving from 106.3 to 96.3 was a big downgrade, but it allowed a 106.3 to be dropped in near Traverse City
New or relocated translators
91.5 W218CY Manistee (Radio by Grace) - originally on 91.7; moved to 91.5 to make room for upgraded WGCP
106.3 W292FE Ludington (classic hits // WKLA (AM)) - one of two WKLA (AM) translators (along with 92.7, which has been around for years) broadcasting from the same tower
107.7 W299CB Manistee (Smile FM) - originally on 107.9 and rebroadcasting WKLA (AM)'s translator on 92.7, but would occasionally rebroadcast the 92.7 in Kewaunee, WI (then WAUN, but changes call signs like underwear now)
Stations that left the air
92.3 WBNZ Frankfort - has been mostly silent the last few years; originally on 92.1 and licensed to Beulah [most common 92.3 now is WJPD Ishpeming]
99.3 WLLS Beulah - see 92.3, and was originally licensed to Frankfort [most common 99.3 now is WOWN Shawano, WI or WATZ Alpena]
100.1 WOUF Bear Lake - see 92.3; this one actually had its license yanked and the allocation was split into two (the aforementioned WHCH being one part and the other being a vacant 100.7 allocated to Bear Lake) [most common 100.1 now is WVIB Holton or WSJP Port Washington, WI]
101.9 WLDR Traverse City - has been silent for close to a year and has been low power for years before [most common 101.9 now is WDEZ Wausau, WI]
New full-power stations
88.3 WSMZ Crystal Valley (CCM // Smile FM) - signed on around 2010
89.7 WLMN Manistee (NPR news // Interlochen Public Radio)
91.9 WGCP Cadillac (Strong Tower Radio (3ABN)) - was inaudible in Manistee before a 2017 upgrade from 2.1kW on a puny tower near Cadillac to 2.65kW (and around 940' HAAT) from Caberfae Peaks
98.7 WLDN Ludington (news/talk) - signed on in 2012
99.9 WHCH Custer (country) - just signed on this year
Relocated full-power stations
96.3 WKLA Ludington (hot AC) - moved from 106.3 in 2016; moving from 106.3 to 96.3 was a big downgrade, but it allowed a 106.3 to be dropped in near Traverse City
New or relocated translators
91.5 W218CY Manistee (Radio by Grace) - originally on 91.7; moved to 91.5 to make room for upgraded WGCP
106.3 W292FE Ludington (classic hits // WKLA (AM)) - one of two WKLA (AM) translators (along with 92.7, which has been around for years) broadcasting from the same tower
107.7 W299CB Manistee (Smile FM) - originally on 107.9 and rebroadcasting WKLA (AM)'s translator on 92.7, but would occasionally rebroadcast the 92.7 in Kewaunee, WI (then WAUN, but changes call signs like underwear now)
Stations that left the air
92.3 WBNZ Frankfort - has been mostly silent the last few years; originally on 92.1 and licensed to Beulah [most common 92.3 now is WJPD Ishpeming]
99.3 WLLS Beulah - see 92.3, and was originally licensed to Frankfort [most common 99.3 now is WOWN Shawano, WI or WATZ Alpena]
100.1 WOUF Bear Lake - see 92.3; this one actually had its license yanked and the allocation was split into two (the aforementioned WHCH being one part and the other being a vacant 100.7 allocated to Bear Lake) [most common 100.1 now is WVIB Holton or WSJP Port Washington, WI]
101.9 WLDR Traverse City - has been silent for close to a year and has been low power for years before [most common 101.9 now is WDEZ Wausau, WI]
Charleston, SC… I could go through at least 25 frequencies with changes from 2008 until now.
88.9, 90.3, 91.1, 92.1, 92.9, 94.7, 95.5, 96.3, 97.5, 98.5, 99.3, 100.1, 101.3, 102.1, 102.9, 103.9, 104.9, 105.1, 106.7, 107.7 all are now translators or LPFMs which were open frequencies.
95.9 (WMXZ now) signed on in 2009 as WIOP after it was added into the market with WKZQ Myrtle Beach moving to 96.1.
Plus nine stations (89.3, 94.3, 96.9, 99.7, 100.5, 102.5, 103.5, 104.5) added HD. 95.9 added HD then dropped it. This took away first adjacents on those frequencies, except during major tropo.
Savannah, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville, Wilmington would come in on the open frequencies. Charlotte even used to be pretty routine, at least 103.7 and 101.9.
Probably the most reliable was 101.3. It was either WWDM Sumter, SC, a heritage urban in the Midlands of SC, or WWQQ Wilmington, NC with country.
92.9 is still pretty open since the translator on that frequency is not on the air all the time. 97.5 had an LPFM, now it is replaced with a part 15 from some guy’s house that comes in anywhere within a couple of miles of the house.
88.9, 90.3, 91.1, 92.1, 92.9, 94.7, 95.5, 96.3, 97.5, 98.5, 99.3, 100.1, 101.3, 102.1, 102.9, 103.9, 104.9, 105.1, 106.7, 107.7 all are now translators or LPFMs which were open frequencies.
95.9 (WMXZ now) signed on in 2009 as WIOP after it was added into the market with WKZQ Myrtle Beach moving to 96.1.
Plus nine stations (89.3, 94.3, 96.9, 99.7, 100.5, 102.5, 103.5, 104.5) added HD. 95.9 added HD then dropped it. This took away first adjacents on those frequencies, except during major tropo.
Savannah, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville, Wilmington would come in on the open frequencies. Charlotte even used to be pretty routine, at least 103.7 and 101.9.
Probably the most reliable was 101.3. It was either WWDM Sumter, SC, a heritage urban in the Midlands of SC, or WWQQ Wilmington, NC with country.
92.9 is still pretty open since the translator on that frequency is not on the air all the time. 97.5 had an LPFM, now it is replaced with a part 15 from some guy’s house that comes in anywhere within a couple of miles of the house.
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