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White Cloud Bandscan

The technical side of broadcasting. Think IBOC is a sham? Talk about it here! How about HDTV? Post DX reports here as well.
cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
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White Cloud Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Fri May 10, 2019 3:51 pm

I decided to do a brief basic bandscan this afternoon in White Cloud, which is typical similar to my home location 14 miles away in Fremont (my Fremont content can be found here).

The biggest differences are slightly weaker stations toward Holland and stronger stations from Mid-Michigan, but very little difference otherwise.

Conditions were quite usual. The only thing that stood out was Mix 106 with Mansfield ads. Not the first time this one has come in (it comes in now and then in Wisconsin along the beaches).

As usual, the weaker Big Rapids stations are barely audible in White Cloud. 103.9 is buried under IBOC as it is everywhere else in the area, 107.7 basically totally inaudible under IBOC (and they turned their parallel 96.5 translator from the same tower off in January too), and 99.1 is also barely audible under The Mix (but will come in if you park the car in just the right spot, just as 103.9 will).

The bandscan was taken just on the car radio in downtown White Cloud.

* indicates station was received on seek / shown in bold

88.1 WYCE MI Wyoming (44 mi.)
88.3 WSMZ MI Crystal Valley (25 mi.)
88.5 WGVU MI Allendale / RDS (35 mi.)
*88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / RDS (50 mi.)
88.9 WBLU MI Grand Rapids (40 mi.)
89.1 WLKB MI Bay City (90 mi.)
89.3 WGNB MI Zeeland / RDS (51 mi.)
89.5 WCMU MI Mt. Pleasant (50 mi.)
89.7 WNHG MI Grand Rapids (41 mi.)
89.9 -
90.1 WMBI IL Chicago (159 mi.)
*90.3 WBLV MI Twin Lake / RDS (14 mi.)
90.5 = 90.3
90.7 WHAD WI Delafield / RDS (137 mi.)
*90.9 WSLI MI Belding (39 mi.)
*91.1 WOLW MI Cadillac / RDS (50 mi.)
*91.3 WCSG MI Grand Rapids / RDS (53 mi.)
91.5 WMHW MI Mt. Pleasant (50 mi.)
*91.7 WMCQ MI Muskegon (18 mi.)
91.9 WGCP MI Cadillac (50 mi.)
92.1 WGHN MI Grand Haven (42 mi.)
92.3 WPWX IN Hammond (160 mi.)
*92.5 WWSN MI Newaygo / RDS (18 mi.)
92.7 WYVN MI Saugatuck (63 mi.)
92.9 W225BL MI Grand Rapids (41 mi.) [dominant]
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac (78 mi.) [behind]
93.1 WMPA MI Ferrysburg (42 mi.)
93.3 W227CG MI Grand Rapids (41 mi.)
93.5 IBOC (WBCT)
*93.7 WBCT MI Grand Rapids / RDS (65 mi.)
93.9 IBOC (WBCT)
*94.1 WWKR MI Hart (25 mi.)
94.3 IBOC (WKLQ)
*94.5 WKLQ MI Holland / RDS (49 mi.)
94.7 IBOC (WKLQ)
94.9 WKZC MI Scottville (47 mi.)
*95.1 WIIL WI Union Grove / RDS (127 mi.)
*95.3 WGVS MI Whitehall / RDS (31 mi.)

95.5 IBOC (WLHT)
*95.7 WLHT MI Grand Rapids / RDS (36 mi.)
96.1 WMAX MI Holland (51 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey (130 mi.)
96.5 -
96.7 WLXV MI Cadillac (58 mi.)
*96.9 WLAV MI Grand Rapids / RDS (38 mi.)
97.1 -
*97.3 WDEE MI Reed City (18 mi.)
*97.5 WLAW MI Whitehall / RDS (30 mi.)

97.7 WMLQ MI Manistee (53 mi.)
*97.9 WGRD MI Grand Rapids / RDS (53 mi.)
98.1 -
*98.3 WLCS MI North Muskegon / RDS (25 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison (72 mi.)
*98.7 WFGR MI Grand Rapids / RDS (36 mi.)
98.9 IBOC (WMYX)
*99.1 WMYX WI Milwaukee / RDS (122 mi.) [dominant]
99.1 W256CC MI Big Rapids (17 mi.) [far behind]
99.3 WJQK MI Zeeland (52 mi.) + IBOC (WMYX)
99.5 W258DF MI Lowell (43 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland (61 mi.)
99.7 WDKF WI Sturgeon Bay (119 mi.)
99.9 -
*100.1 WVIB MI Holton / RDS (25 mi.)
100.3 = 100.1
100.5 WTRV MI Walker (37 mi.) + IBOC (WKKV)
*100.7 WKKV WI Racine / RDS (126 mi.)
100.9 WWBR MI Big Rapids / RDS (17 mi.)
101.1 WIXX WI Green Bay (126 mi.) + IBOC (WWBR)
*101.3 WBFX MI Grand Rapids / RDS (41 mi.)
101.5 IBOC (WBFX / WMRR)
*101.7 WMRR MI Muskegon Hts. / RDS (34 mi.)
101.9 IBOC (WMRR)
102.1 WMUK MI Kalamazoo (79 mi.)
*102.3 WYBR MI Big Rapids / RDS (13 mi.)
102.5 WIOG MI Bay City (97 mi.) + 102.3
102.7 WRVM WI Suring (164 mi.)
102.7 WDKF MI Mt. Clemens (161 mi.)
*102.9 WFUR MI Grand Rapids (41 mi.)
103.1 -
103.3 WKFR MI Battle Creek (85 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City (63 mi.)
103.7 -
103.9 WBZX MI Big Rapids (23 mi.) [behind WVGR IBOC]
*104.1 WVGR MI Grand Rapids / RDS (63 mi.)
104.3 IBOC (WVGR / WSNX)
*104.5 WSNX MI Muskegon / RDS (27 mi.)
104.7 IBOC (WSNX)
104.9 W285FO MI Grand Rapids (41 mi.)
105.1 -
*105.3 WHTS MI Coopersville / RDS (18 mi.)
105.5 IBOC (WSRW)
*105.7 WSRW MI Grand Rapids (63 mi.)
105.9 IBOC (WSRW)
106.1 WJXQ MI Charlotte (99 mi.)
106.1 WTZM MI Tawas City (116 mi.)
106.1 WVNO OH Mansfield (251 mi.)
*106.3 WGLM MI Lakeview (27 mi.)
106.5 WVFM MI Kalamazoo (76 mi.)
106.7 IBOC (WOOD)
*106.9 WOOD MI Muskegon / RDS (27 mi.)
107.1 IBOC (WOOD / WTNR)
*107.3 WTNR MI Greenville / RDS (42 mi.)
107.5 -
107.7 W299BE MI Big Rapids (17 mi.) [behind WMUS IBOC]
*107.9 WMUS MI Muskegon / RDS (34 mi.)
Last edited by cckadlec on Sat May 11, 2019 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.


[ Radio and weather geeks, beware! Coastal tropo studies, the 3-hr. Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, 6-hr. 500 Top-of-Hour IDs, and Chinese FM at www.chriskadlec.comTuner: Grundig G8 • Location: Fremont, Mich. ]

User avatar
Turkeytop
Posts: 8854
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by Turkeytop » Fri May 10, 2019 4:39 pm

No photos? I'm disappointed.


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
Contact:

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Fri May 10, 2019 5:36 pm

Turkeytop wrote:
Fri May 10, 2019 4:39 pm
No photos? I'm disappointed.
Ha :razz .

White Cloud isn't a real bandscan. Just an offshoot of my home scans. I've finished most of the Lake Huron maps and Lake Michigan coming up next, so soon enough, the scans with their maps and photos will be posted. It's more interesting than White Cloud for sure.


[ Radio and weather geeks, beware! Coastal tropo studies, the 3-hr. Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, 6-hr. 500 Top-of-Hour IDs, and Chinese FM at www.chriskadlec.comTuner: Grundig G8 • Location: Fremont, Mich. ]

ftballfan
Posts: 875
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:38 pm

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by ftballfan » Sat May 11, 2019 12:30 pm

WKLQ and WTNR don't run IBOC as far as I know (unless they turned it back on recently)



cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
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Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Sat May 11, 2019 4:44 pm

ftballfan wrote:
Sat May 11, 2019 12:30 pm
WKLQ and WTNR don't run IBOC as far as I know (unless they turned it back on recently)
94.5 has always run IBOC, though among the weaker signals. I've had 94.3 and 94.7 covered in light IBOC hash for enough years that I can't recall when they turned it on. It's enough to notice it (like 96.1's) but not enough to block out Z94.3 or Razor when they come in strong.

As for 107.3, you're correct. That's a typo. I typed this scan up in a half hour just from memory as it's so similar to home and didn't put much care into it. Thank god they don't have IBOC. 107.1 is thoroughly trashed by IBOC already to the point it's one of the harder frequencies to tune at all, much like 104.3 with its double IBOC that creates a wall that is difficult to penetrate (104.1 and 104.5 both have strong IBOC signals). 107.5 is indeed an open frequency with GCI, The Fan, and Hot all very common here.

And as always, thanks for reading my content enough to find an error. :blink I appreciate it.


[ Radio and weather geeks, beware! Coastal tropo studies, the 3-hr. Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, 6-hr. 500 Top-of-Hour IDs, and Chinese FM at www.chriskadlec.comTuner: Grundig G8 • Location: Fremont, Mich. ]

originalzzmfmjock
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:37 pm
Location: west michigan

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by originalzzmfmjock » Sat May 11, 2019 10:26 pm

I've got a HD-FM radio and 94.5 does not transmit an HD signal. The stations in Grand Rapids that do transmit an HD signal are:

Main Frequecy - HD-2
88.5 WGVU - Real Oldies 1480
93.7 WBCT - Country
95.7 WLHT - Urban AM 1410/104.9 FM
96.1 WMAX - Talk AM 1230
101.3 The Brew - Rock
104.1 WVGR - Nothing
104.5 WSNX - Urban Comedy
105.7 WSRW - Smooth Jazz
106.9 WOOD - Talk AM1090 WKBZ Muskegon
107.9 WMUS - Hot AC or something close to it (Muskegon)

So far HD radio is the biggest bust since 4 channel Quadra sonic sound



cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
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Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Sat May 11, 2019 10:42 pm

originalzzmfmjock wrote:
Sat May 11, 2019 10:26 pm
I've got a HD-FM radio and 94.5 does not transmit an HD signal. The stations in Grand Rapids that do transmit an HD signal are:

Main Frequecy - HD-2
88.5 WGVU - Real Oldies 1480
93.7 WBCT - Country
95.7 WLHT - Urban AM 1410/104.9 FM
96.1 WMAX - Talk AM 1230
101.3 The Brew - Rock
104.1 WVGR - Nothing
104.5 WSNX - Urban Comedy
105.7 WSRW - Smooth Jazz
106.9 WOOD - Talk AM1090 WKBZ Muskegon
107.9 WMUS - Hot AC or something close to it (Muskegon)

So far HD radio is the biggest bust since 4 channel Quadra sonic sound
Thanks! I guess the best question is: when did 94.5 shut off their IBOC? I know they are authorized to transmit in digital. . I checked earlier today and there was just enough noise that it was hard for me to tell if it was light IBOC or just an empty frequency, so I was a bit on the bubble on it and assumed it was just being weak.

Perhaps they turned it off when they switched formats recently?? There is evidence that they were HD as recent as their Thunder format, but I don't have any for Nash yet (though as far as I can recall, they did have it).


[ Radio and weather geeks, beware! Coastal tropo studies, the 3-hr. Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, 6-hr. 500 Top-of-Hour IDs, and Chinese FM at www.chriskadlec.comTuner: Grundig G8 • Location: Fremont, Mich. ]

cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
Contact:

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Sat May 11, 2019 10:48 pm

originalzzmfmjock wrote:
Sat May 11, 2019 10:26 pm
I've got a HD-FM radio and 94.5 does not transmit an HD signal. The stations in Grand Rapids that do transmit an HD signal are:

Main Frequecy - HD-2
88.5 WGVU - Real Oldies 1480
93.7 WBCT - Country
95.7 WLHT - Urban AM 1410/104.9 FM
96.1 WMAX - Talk AM 1230
101.3 The Brew - Rock
104.1 WVGR - Nothing
104.5 WSNX - Urban Comedy
105.7 WSRW - Smooth Jazz
106.9 WOOD - Talk AM1090 WKBZ Muskegon
107.9 WMUS - Hot AC or something close to it (Muskegon)

So far HD radio is the biggest bust since 4 channel Quadra sonic sound
Thanks! I guess the best question is: when did 94.5 shut off their IBOC? I know they are authorized to transmit in digital. . I checked earlier today and there was just enough noise that it was hard for me to tell if it was light IBOC or just an empty frequency, so I was a bit on the bubble on it and assumed it was just being weak.

Perhaps they turned it off when they switched formats recently?? There is evidence that they were HD as recent as their Thunder format, but I don't have any for Nash yet and their TOH ID from late 2016 does not mention HD. While stations are required to ID their signal with "HD" or a mention that they broadcast in digital during their legal ID, I note listening to my TOH IDs that 96.1 doesn't, 101.3 and 107.9 don't, etc., so that's not a good method to determine it apparently.


[ Radio and weather geeks, beware! Coastal tropo studies, the 3-hr. Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, 6-hr. 500 Top-of-Hour IDs, and Chinese FM at www.chriskadlec.comTuner: Grundig G8 • Location: Fremont, Mich. ]

originalzzmfmjock
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:37 pm
Location: west michigan

Re: White Cloud Bandscan

Post by originalzzmfmjock » Sun May 12, 2019 10:44 pm

I don't believe you are required to ID your HD station on the main frequency, unless you are simulcasting the main frequency on the HD channel too. I've heard the HD station on 107.9 ID as WMUS-HD2 Muskegon. While listening to the Grand Valley stations, the FM's ID as WGVU-FM/Allendale and WGVS-FM/Whitehall, while the AM's ID as WGVU-AM/Kentwood, WGVS-AM/Muskegon and WGVU-HD2/Allendale.



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