Tropospheric ducting on Saturday 2/3

[Mega Hertz]

Wow. I can't believe I was getting a translator from Holly in that area, and enough to fight with a Lansing station that generally comes in reliably in my area.

[k8jd]

Reading this thread makes me want to get an antenna back on the roof and get my semi-retired Fisher tuner back in service.
Had some roof work done and the people took down my big antenna tripod . Maybe this spring I will get the 3 Meter dipole back up.
Spending all my free time on the higher freq HF bands pounding Brass ! (who knows what that means ? ) I got a Nice report from Japan the other day!

[Turkeytop]

Spending all my free time on the higher freq HF bands pounding Brass ! (who knows what that means ? )

I know what it means and I admire you for being someone who still uses it.

[fairbankshockeypuck]

And Tuesday was crazy too...I was getting 97.1 Detroit like a local from Saginaw area at times...and my local 100.9 the MITT sports and low power 99.3 ME TV FM(which I generally get great all time) were getting splattered with all kinds of co channel interference. And after further from the weekend catches, a lot of Sarnia and London and Windsor FM's I was was getting...

[syntheticexctasy]

I had some notable catches yesterday:

105.9 WKHQ Charlevoix, MI, 238mi (cochannel to WDMK locally)
93.1 WIBC Indianapolis, IN, 189mi (cochannel to WUFL locally, found while pointing NW in WUFL null?)
106.7 WSRT Gaylord, MI, 225mi (cochannel to WLLZ locally)
105.1 WGFM Cheboygan, MI, 233mi (cochannel to WMGC locally)
88.7 WIAA Interlochen, MI, 194mi (cochannel to CIMX locally)

Fort Wayne, Angola and Cleveland area were hot on the dial.

Also had Fort Wayne (90mi) and Cleveland (110mi) both clobbering 45mi distant KEC63 on 162.55

Was able to carry on an hour long conversation on the Macomb GMRS repeater as well (65 air miles) using a 4w HT into my homemade scrap wire J-Pole 20' in the air. Interestingly enough, I wasn't able to make it into the taller, more sensitive Detroit repeater despite it being 20 miles closer (and hearing it fine)

[syntheticexctasy]

Wow. I can't believe I was getting a translator from Holly in that area, and enough to fight with a Lansing station that generally comes in reliably in my area.

The "Holly" translator is actually across US24 from Dixieland Flea Market on the Waterford/Pontiac border, NW of downtown Pontiac (last I knew)

I can occasionally pick it out in SW Wayne county when there.

[syntheticexctasy]

I was cruising around the north end of Grand Rapids yesterday listening to Q95 94.7 out of Indianapolis. Not being bothered at all by WKLQ on 94.5 or Jethro FM on 94.9, even though I was within a couple of miles of Jethro's transmitter site. Ya, I know they are only a 250 watt translator, but they usually bleed over on 94.7 when you are that close to their tower site.

Late morning today along I-96 in eastern Kent County, I received:
-94.3 CKSY
-94.5 WKLQ was impossible to receive cleanly for second straight day; interference rendered it unlistenable.
-95.1 WFBE
-98.1 WKCQ
-101.9 WDET
-102.1 WLEW-FM was battling WMUK
-104.3 WOMC (quite strong despite WVGR being next door)
-104.5: WILZ was utterly trashing reception of WSNX
-105.1 WMGC (almost crystal clear reception!)
-105.5 WWCK-FM (right next door to Star 105.7, no less!)
-106.1: something was causing a lot of crackling to Q106's reception in Portland. My guess would be the Hot AC in Tawas.
-106.7 WLLZ (second strongest of the Detroit signals)
-107.5 WGPR (third strongest of the Detroit signals; impressive feat with WTNR right next door)

Also heard WLAV quite well near Fowlerville again. WRKR was booming in over there

Back in 1980, in the middle of the night, in early September, WDZZ 92.7 was booming in in the center of Grand Rapids.

And in Genesee County, sometime in the mid 1970s, WOOD-FM 105.7 was coming in ALL OVER THE DIAL between stations, EXCEPT for 105.5 WWCK-FM.It was apparently a very strong temperature inversion and the 265000 watt grandfathered facility, mixing with local WFBE 95.1 to produce an IF Beat of 10.6 MHz. Apparently, CE Ed Rauch was playing a Classical recording with a very soft section at the time. He didn't use compression because of the large dynamic range of Classical symphonies. So you didn't hear WFBE in the IF Beat product.

Now THAT is cool. What an effort to track that down! Thanks for sharing!

[Ben Zonia]

I was cruising around the north end of Grand Rapids yesterday listening to Q95 94.7 out of Indianapolis. Not being bothered at all by WKLQ on 94.5 or Jethro FM on 94.9, even though I was within a couple of miles of Jethro's transmitter site. Ya, I know they are only a 250 watt translator, but they usually bleed over on 94.7 when you are that close to their tower site.

Late morning today along I-96 in eastern Kent County, I received:
-94.3 CKSY
-94.5 WKLQ was impossible to receive cleanly for second straight day; interference rendered it unlistenable.
-95.1 WFBE
-98.1 WKCQ
-101.9 WDET
-102.1 WLEW-FM was battling WMUK
-104.3 WOMC (quite strong despite WVGR being next door)
-104.5: WILZ was utterly trashing reception of WSNX
-105.1 WMGC (almost crystal clear reception!)
-105.5 WWCK-FM (right next door to Star 105.7, no less!)
-106.1: something was causing a lot of crackling to Q106's reception in Portland. My guess would be the Hot AC in Tawas.
-106.7 WLLZ (second strongest of the Detroit signals)
-107.5 WGPR (third strongest of the Detroit signals; impressive feat with WTNR right next door)

Also heard WLAV quite well near Fowlerville again. WRKR was booming in over there

Back in 1980, in the middle of the night, in early September, WDZZ 92.7 was booming in in the center of Grand Rapids.

And in Genesee County, sometime in the mid 1970s, WOOD-FM 105.7 was coming in ALL OVER THE DIAL between stations, EXCEPT for 105.5 WWCK-FM.It was apparently a very strong temperature inversion and the 265000 watt grandfathered facility, mixing with local WFBE 95.1 to produce an IF Beat of 10.6 MHz. Apparently, CE Ed Rauch was playing a Classical recording with a very soft section at the time. He didn't use compression because of the large dynamic range of Classical symphonies. So you didn't hear WFBE in the IF Beat product.

Now THAT is cool. What an effort to track that down! Thanks for sharing!

I have other fascinating IF Beat "DX" stories, including neighboring, mainly old tube FM receivers, with very strong radiating oscillators. These also happen when a strong tropospheric signal from a nearby market mixes with local signals on frequencies precluded by original FCC Section 73.207 rules, originally beyond 5 to 30 miles, depending on the classes of the two stations involved. Many people don't understand IF Beat and RITOIE, but they are real receiver issues to this day.

[Ben Zonia]

I had some notable catches yesterday:

105.9 WKHQ Charlevoix, MI, 238mi (cochannel to WDMK locally)
93.1 WIBC Indianapolis, IN, 189mi (cochannel to WUFL locally, found while pointing NW in WUFL null?)
106.7 WSRT Gaylord, MI, 225mi (cochannel to WLLZ locally)
105.1 WGFM Cheboygan, MI, 233mi (cochannel to WMGC locally)
88.7 WIAA Interlochen, MI, 194mi (cochannel to CIMX locally)

Fort Wayne, Angola and Cleveland area were hot on the dial.

Also had Fort Wayne (90mi) and Cleveland (110mi) both clobbering 45mi distant KEC63 on 162.55

Was able to carry on an hour long conversation on the Macomb GMRS repeater as well (65 air miles) using a 4w HT into my homemade scrap wire J-Pole 20' in the air. Interestingly enough, I wasn't able to make it into the taller, more sensitive Detroit repeater despite it being 20 miles closer (and hearing it fine)

If you don't mind, I'll cut and paste your post into an email to Del and Brian.

[Ben Zonia]

I was cruising around the north end of Grand Rapids yesterday listening to Q95 94.7 out of Indianapolis. Not being bothered at all by WKLQ on 94.5 or Jethro FM on 94.9, even though I was within a couple of miles of Jethro's transmitter site. Ya, I know they are only a 250 watt translator, but they usually bleed over on 94.7 when you are that close to their tower site.

Late morning today along I-96 in eastern Kent County, I received:
-94.3 CKSY
-94.5 WKLQ was impossible to receive cleanly for second straight day; interference rendered it unlistenable.
-95.1 WFBE
-98.1 WKCQ
-101.9 WDET
-102.1 WLEW-FM was battling WMUK
-104.3 WOMC (quite strong despite WVGR being next door)
-104.5: WILZ was utterly trashing reception of WSNX
-105.1 WMGC (almost crystal clear reception!)
-105.5 WWCK-FM (right next door to Star 105.7, no less!)
-106.1: something was causing a lot of crackling to Q106's reception in Portland. My guess would be the Hot AC in Tawas.
-106.7 WLLZ (second strongest of the Detroit signals)
-107.5 WGPR (third strongest of the Detroit signals; impressive feat with WTNR right next door)

Also heard WLAV quite well near Fowlerville again. WRKR was booming in over there

Back in 1980, in the middle of the night, in early September, WDZZ 92.7 was booming in in the center of Grand Rapids.

And in Genesee County, sometime in the mid 1970s, WOOD-FM 105.7 was coming in ALL OVER THE DIAL between stations, EXCEPT for 105.5 WWCK-FM.It was apparently a very strong temperature inversion and the 265000 watt grandfathered facility, mixing with local WFBE 95.1 to produce an IF Beat of 10.6 MHz. Apparently, CE Ed Rauch was playing a Classical recording with a very soft section at the time. He didn't use compression because of the large dynamic range of Classical symphonies. So you didn't hear WFBE in the IF Beat product.

Now THAT is cool. What an effort to track that down! Thanks for sharing!

I have other fascinating IF Beat "DX" stories, including neighboring, mainly old tube FM receivers, with very strong radiating oscillators. These also happen when a strong tropospheric signal from a nearby market mixes with local signals on frequencies precluded by original FCC Section 73.207 rules, originally beyond 5 to 30 miles, depending on the classes of the two stations involved. Many people don't understand IF Beat and RITOIE, but they are real receiver issues to this day. I'll start a new thread on this.

[ChrisWL1980]

Nothing new received in Whitmore Lake but it was still nice to have a tropo opening so early in the year.

Some highlights:
88.5 Smile FM (WCTP) from the Thumb
90.3 WBLV Twin Lake
91.3 WCSG
94.1 WHST from the Thumb
95.7 WLHT
95.9 FM96 London
97.3 WMEE Fort Wayne
100.5 WSGW-FM
100.9 CBC Radio 1 Wingham
101.7 The One Wingham
103.5 WTCM in WMUZ null
Positive Country 103.7 from the Thumb
104.1 WVGR
104.7 WFRN
104.9 CHWC Goderich
105.3 Hot FM fighting with K105.3
Mix 106.5 Owen Sound
106.9 WOOD

[k8jd]

Wow. I can't believe I was getting a translator from Holly in that area, and enough to fight with a Lansing station that generally comes in reliably in my area.

The "Holly" translator is actually across US24 from Dixieland Flea Market on the Waterford/Pontiac border, NW of downtown Pontiac (last I knew)

I can occasionally pick it out in SW Wayne county when there.

Is this translator the 94.1 MHz W231CN. I recently found it to be on Collier Rd, just East of Baldwin just north of Pontiac city limits.
Looks like it was relocated a few times.

[syntheticexctasy]

I had some notable catches yesterday:

105.9 WKHQ Charlevoix, MI, 238mi (cochannel to WDMK locally)
93.1 WIBC Indianapolis, IN, 189mi (cochannel to WUFL locally, found while pointing NW in WUFL null?)
106.7 WSRT Gaylord, MI, 225mi (cochannel to WLLZ locally)
105.1 WGFM Cheboygan, MI, 233mi (cochannel to WMGC locally)
88.7 WIAA Interlochen, MI, 194mi (cochannel to CIMX locally)

Fort Wayne, Angola and Cleveland area were hot on the dial.

Also had Fort Wayne (90mi) and Cleveland (110mi) both clobbering 45mi distant KEC63 on 162.55

Was able to carry on an hour long conversation on the Macomb GMRS repeater as well (65 air miles) using a 4w HT into my homemade scrap wire J-Pole 20' in the air. Interestingly enough, I wasn't able to make it into the taller, more sensitive Detroit repeater despite it being 20 miles closer (and hearing it fine)

If you don't mind, I'll cut and paste your post into an email to Del and Brian.

Sure, no problem. If I've posted it here, it's public data

[paul8539]

I saw 1 report above regarding pulling in WWTV from Cadillac. Any more TV DX receptions anybody can report?

[mtburb]

I saw 1 report above regarding pulling in WWTV from Cadillac. Any more TV DX receptions anybody can report?

I managed to make my antenna stop receiving the Toledo VHFs and pull in WMFD from Mansfield, Ohio instead:

It's continuing into tonight, quite possibly thanks to this heavy fog that showed up out of nowhere over the Downriver suburbs. I managed to break a personal digital TV VHF DX record around 15 minutes ago when WMFD-TV (VHF 12 from Mansfield, OH) came in clearly for a couple minutes in Wyandotte. Their transmitter is 103 miles from my house, and until tonight I literally never picked up this station with any of my antennas, which makes this impressive.

As of this edit (11:17), after several rescans, even though I managed to lose both Toledo VHFs, WMFD is still coming in, albeit rather glitchy.