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WKBR - WFEA Signals...what happenned?

J

JaneChristo

I remember back in the late 70's...I could listen to WKBR 1250AM and WFEA 1370AM all the way down I-93 into the Merrimack Valley.

Now both signals are unlistenable before I hit the Mass border in Salem. (No interference, just a very weak signal. I swear I could hear another station under WFEA battling it out...what station would that be? Rhode Island?)

I know there are those that bemoan all the extra spurious radiation in the world now....but I was in a car, and on the road...with a decent car radio.

I think some stations signals have degraded. I remember getting CKLW 800 AM with ease (almost every night) in Manchester back in the 70's.

Wondering what has happened to the signals of 1250 & 1370 from Manchester?

Any thoughts?
 
There is so much modern stuff that wreaks havoc with AM signals. WFEA @ 1370 is the better of the two, and most of that signal is aimed north / south from Manchester by day. WGAM (WKBR) @ 1250 is weaker, not sure how well the physical plant is up there in West ManchVegas. Both signals at night are tough, 1250 in particular is unlistenable north of the Hooksett toll booth, and points south/southwest of Manchester. 610 WGIR can be pretty tough get on low power if you are outside of their pattern. The WFEA Blaw-Knox still looks pretty impressive though.
 
Biff Bulky said:
WFEA @ 1370 is the better of the two, and most of that signal is aimed north / south from Manchester by day. WGAM (WKBR) @ 1250 is weaker, not sure how well the physical plant is up there in West ManchVegas.
Click to expand...

If you look at this for 1250AM

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WGAM&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

And this for 1370AM

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WFEA&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

I am having trouble getting them in the DAYTIME to the edge of the purple line....which during the day should be an easy catch!

I guess that's the key...how well have the transmitter facilities been kept up.

Is the ground systems still in shape? Is the transmitters up to specs?

(I assume they both are using the same tower/antenna since the late 70's.)

Anyone know?
 
Believe it or not WFEA trashes my local WDEA-1370 here at night, as I am in WDEA's night-time directional null. Very frustrating while trying to listen to the Red Sox.
 
rjoc said:
Believe it or not WFEA trashes my local WDEA-1370 here at night, as I am in WDEA's night-time directional null. Very frustrating while trying to listen to the Red Sox.
Click to expand...

WDEA, after sunset, has the tightest null to the south and west I've ever known of. On some nights I can be three miles from the transmitter --- even within viewing distance of it, if I'm traveling --- and not be able to pick up the signal. OTOH, if you live in Machias, sixty miles north and east, it comes in like a charm.
 
Just last week I was over in Blue Hill during the day and was amazed at just how awful the signal was....Tons of electrical interference along 172 headed into town from the FAirgrounds, and almost unlistennable in downtown and by the hoiospital...I wonder if they are stuck on night pattern??
 
WDEA has been running reduced power off and on during the day while some repairs and improvements are made. No major changes, just getting the place un-Cumulused.
 
rjoc said:
Believe it or not WFEA trashes my local WDEA-1370 here at night, as I am in WDEA's night-time directional null. Very frustrating while trying to listen to the Red Sox.
Click to expand...

Last winter I could receive WFEA at the Jersey Shore at night.
 
Many years ago, at this time of year, when I would drive up to Conway/North Conway from the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts, I would tune into the station that at that time was WWNH-AM 930 at night. A bit south of Rochester, it came in ok, then disappeared and WBEN in Buffalo covered it while I could see the blinking lights on the WWNH towers a short distance ahead. Right now, I would double check to see AM 930's pattern at at the FCC, except the FCC is down until further notice. Does anyone know if they've loosened up their nighttime pattern recently?
 
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