Who was interferring?

[johnbasalla]

From Cleveland, Ohio.
An interesting morning commute on Monday. Some local stations were being “bothered” by out-of-towners on the same frequency. First up AM930 WEOL in Elyria, Ohio. I heard snippets of what sounded like a station with the call letters of WM (something). It was definitely not WBEN.

1260AM in Cleveland is a Radio Disney affiliate. In the morning I heard underneath the Disney fare “Bill Bennett’s Morning In America” usually associated with Salem Radio Network stations. I knew it was Bennett’s program because Cleveland’s WHK AM1420 has it on, and over at WHK, I heard Oldies pop music underneath them for a short time.

Specifically, I heard all this while driving through streets in Berea towards I-71, and through the "Berea Freeway", past Hopkins International Airport, and onto I-71 heading towards downtown Cleveland. I was bouncing from one station to another, including stops at a couple of FMs. No problems on FM.

Who might these interfering stations be? THANKS!

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

I'd say that the 1420 is probably WIMS Michigan City Indiana. The day pattern opens up to the East, and it would change patterns probably 15 or 30 minutes after sunrise in Cleveland.

 

[Icangelp]

My guess on 1260 would be WWRC from Washington DC.

Their day pattern favors your direction, and they carry Bill Bennett from 6 AM till 9 PM.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

WFMD Frederick, MD 930, as the day pattern goes in that direction with a maximum probably equivalent to at least two times to five times the rated power of 5000 watts, depending on exact direction and reference efficiency. I think I have heard it in Michigan during critical hours.

 

[johnbasalla]

Thank you Cat and Icangelp. I wonder a bit about WIMS, as they are listed as a talk station. However, they do play some music in some dayparts. On their website, music is not specifically listed as part of the morning show, whereas it is listed as part of the local shows that come after it.