XM on 90.7

[Runrigger]

So I'm tooling around today on Rts 195 & 95 & the seek button stops on 90.7. Signal keeps fading but I'm hearing a quintessential 60s/70s type power jock whose every break starts low & builds up to a scream. It's all 60s music with retro jingles, but I can't really make out what it is. Turns out the signal is strongest in my driveway & it's 60s On 6, which is an XM channel. I can't figure out what's on 90.7 though, as there's nothing on radio-locator.com & I'm not into the DX thing to know what I could be picking up or why they're airing an XM channel. I'll see if they're still there tomorrow. If this continues for any length of time, the summer of love is alive & well in my driveway.

 

[Skynet74]

Do you actually subscribe to XM Radio? I have Sirius Radio and the tuner has a built in transmitter. Any Radio in my house can receive my Sirius radio signal. I designated a vacant frequency that provided the clearest reception. In my case that is 102.9. My signal travels for about 150 feet from the unit. So my neighbors are gettting a free ride. I think that this is what's happnening in your case. Either you or one of your neighbors has an XM unit with a built in transmitter.

 

[jockitch]

90.7 is RIC's station WXIN. Oddly they're not listed on radio-locator.com. That doesn't explain why they're airing an XM show but it's summertime & maybe there isn't much of a live staff around so Skynet's explanation of someone with XM radio at the college could be the answer.

 

[necrat123]

It is not on radio-locator because it is not a true "broadcast" station, it is only a "closed circuit" station within the buildings at Rhode Island College.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

It is not on radio-locator because it is not a true "broadcast" station, it is only a "closed circuit" station within the buildings at Rhode Island College.

Are you serious? How is a closed circuit station within the walls of RIC be heard at the intersection of 95/195?
With all the interference over there you can lose powerhouse signals.Get noises in your radio.etc.This has been a topic of discussion here about the Hospital Zone on 95.

 

[radiodizzy]

90.7 from RIC is NOT a closed signal, I live about a mile from the college and get the station at home. Also... the topic of XM showing up on lower frequencies has been discussed in the past... when people are driving down the highway and such. XM has always denied there's some crossover but too many people have had this experience. I personally have draftet off cars driving on the highway to keep an XM station playing on my radio... where I do not subscribe.

 

[riradio02842]

It is not on radio-locator because it is not a true "broadcast" station, it is only a "closed circuit" station within the buildings at Rhode Island College.

Are you serious? How is a closed circuit station within the walls of RIC be heard at the intersection of 95/195?
With all the interference over there you can lose powerhouse signals.Get noises in your radio.etc.This has been a topic of discussion here about the Hospital Zone on 95.

Kenwood,

I wasn't sure of the context of your comment, on whether you were disputing the fact that WXIN is closed circuit, or, that anyone could seriously think they were receiving WXIN at the 95 split.

Regardless, I really doubt that was WXIN the original poster was hearing on the highway. There's no reason for WXIN to rebroadcast satellite radio, considering they have an automation system for when students are not on the air. More than likely, it was some type of fm transmitter used for getting the XM signal to the customers car radio. They are getting more and more powerful these days. Do a scan on the highway when your in traffic and I'm sure you'll pick up a few of these, along with iPod transmitters. I had an iPod transmitter that was sending signal over 200 feet from my car, so, it can definitely be someone who was driving near you...

For those who deny that WXIN is closed circuit, well, they are correct. It's been many years since they were carrier current. I believe they have a very small FM transmitter to cover the campus. The antenna points towards the dorms, so, there is some extended coverage in the north/south direction. However, sometimes you can't pick it up at the entrance at Mt. Pleasant Ave (and I have a Pioneer SuperTuner III in the car). The extended reception is very variable, depending on which way the wind is blowing, and how many people have flushed the toilet in the student union to give that extra burst of "power" ;D.

 

[Runrigger]

It isn't WXIN. In fact there was a power outage there today & I live less than a mile from the campus but XM is still on 90.7. Signal is variable. It seems strong on 195 west going towards 95 north, but touch & go in Providence. My driveway continues to be an XM magnet though. The channel sounds good with lots of familiar 60s music but songs that don't get any more airplay mixed in. They play some news clips from that decade. I heard an Ed Sullivan drop-in & even an episode of CHICKENMAN (He's everywhere...he's everywhere) but especially in my driveway.

 

[Moonstruck]

I gave it a listen today after reading this and it's obviously a pirate transmitting XM. Since it's always on the same frequency I doubt that it's anything but intentional rather than a case of picking it up from passing cars. By the way the signal is also strong in East Providence on route 44. Today they were airing XM's Deep Tracks. Low key conversational jock but good deeper AOR music by Clapton, Marley, Cream, British blues. I heard Warren Zevon's Mohammed's Radio for the first time in a long time on the radio.

 

[Skynet74]

One night about 6 Months ago I was driving from Warwick to East Providence. Someone was broadcasting Sirius Radio on 103.1. I had a decent signal for the whole ride. Somebody on this board later confirmed that it was their friend transmitting it from East Providence. So it's a crazy world out there. Sell a guy a transmitter and he'll broadcast anything he can feed through it.