WICK/WABC reception

[Paulk]

I have a question concerning 770 WABC in the West Scranton Area. I like listening to WABC and can pick it up over the air with my Radio Shack DX-396. It is the only AM receiver I have that can pick it up. On all other receivers, including my car, I hear a blend of WICK and WABC. This is not true when I go to my mothers in South Scranton. I am sure there is a simple reason for this but I have no idea what it is.

On a side note I have been receiving a Spanish Station on 1660 as of late. Closest 1660 I can find on radio locator is Jersey City. Is this just skip or something else.

 

[TomCarten]

>>>On all other receivers, including my car, I hear a blend of WICK and WABC.<<<

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that your radios are picking up a combination of WICK, WABC and WEJL (you subtract WABC from WICK and you get WEJL) and that might be why you get the first two together. Just a guess.

>>>On a side note I have been receiving a Spanish Station on 1660 as of late. Closest 1660 I can find on radio locator is Jersey City. Is this just skip or something else.<<<

I think NYRMB mentioned that NJ 1660 went Spanish. Again, just a guess.

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[NEPA_RadioGuy]

1660 was originally WJDM Elizabeth, NJ...It was one of the original broadcasters on the expanded band. It was originally a mix of 60s and 70s, then went to Radio AAHS (until AAHS folded) in the mid 90's and has since been spanish radio and I guess now licensed to Jersey City. I am guessing the calls have since changed as well since the original WJDM is still on 1540(?)am
I have laying around here a DX of 1660 WJDM from the early 1990's with oldies and Jingles and "this is WJDM Elizabeth, 1660, on the new expanded band"

> I have a question concerning 770 WABC in the West Scranton
> Area. I like listening to WABC and can pick it up over the
> air with my Radio Shack DX-396. It is the only AM receiver I
> have that can pick it up. On all other receivers, including
> my car, I hear a blend of WICK and WABC. This is not true
> when I go to my mothers in South Scranton. I am sure there
> is a simple reason for this but I have no idea what it is.
>
> On a side note I have been receiving a Spanish Station on
> 1660 as of late. Closest 1660 I can find on radio locator
> is Jersey City. Is this just skip or something else.
>

 

[DG02816]

WJDM is on 1530, and the WABC/WICK mix you hear is called intermodulation. It happens with cheap receivers in high RF areas.




Dave Gardiner


WVCH 740


Chester/Philadelphia

 

[TomCarten]

>>>The WABC/WICK mix you hear is called intermodulation. It happens with cheap receivers in high RF areas.<<<

I think the fact that WEJL is right there adds to the mix. Or the intermodulation. What's called the "front end" of the radio [described here for regular listeners], the part that picks up all the signals in the air, may be hearing those three stations which are, together, related in frequency. 1400 minus 770 = 630. So the radio is sitting there scratching its head because two locals and the desired "tuned to" station are all mixing together. It figures, "Well, I'll pass the desired station and the strongest secondary." Have either WICK or WEJL drop in strength a bit and the problem goes away.

Hey, Dave: Up here in NEPA, we get a 740 from Canada (can't remember exactly where) that plays Adult Standards. When I have trouble picking up our local 730, with the same format, I just slide up and listen to them.
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[DG02816]

Hi Tom!

The 740 you hear with a Standards format is CHWO, Toronto, formerly the CBC's CBL. They are 50 kW out of a half wave(660')tower. WVCH has to drop power from 1 kW to 6 WATTS at night to protect them. WNAK-730 has to protect CKAC Montreal, also a 50 kW operation. Hence their reduction to 12 watts at night.


Dave Gardiner

WVCH 740

Chester/Philadelphia