Spring 2026 'conditions'

[hb2]

Very strange tropo tonight. 3 instances of being able to use my antenna and semi drifty tuner (this one not quite as bad as the usual one I use in terms of driftiness) and catch a far away signal, and then turn around and use my handheld HD radio tuner and pick up another completely different station indoors.

Call it Double dipping DXing?
Location: Rochester Hills/ on my typical home setup
88.1 CBEE clear
88.5 Smile FM weak (WCTP/WJOM/WYOR?), with interference from CIMX
88.9 WDTR (amplified from conditions, interference from CIMX)
90.1 WUCX (w/ RDS as identifier) clear
90.7 WNFR clear
91.3 CFCO clear and comparable strength to locals indoors (quite strong)
91.5 WVMV getting blasted out by CFCO
93.5 CBCL like a local
94.3 CKSY strong
95.1 CKUE max indoor strength
95.9 CFPL replacing CJWF and strong indoor strength
96.7 CHYM Interfering with CHYR with a trace signal but lots of static
98.1 CKLO recieved very weak on 98.3, WJLB only audible on 98.1 (*drifty equipment*)
98.5 indoor handheld radio WNCX low signal but clear
98.5 on antenna WUPS very weak and lots of static (likely WDZH HD sideband getting overamped on my end)
99.9 CFGX clear on antenna, W260CB indoors like usual
100.7 indoors/handheld WMMS
100.7 antenna WITL
101.5 CBEF-3-FM replacing W268CN
102.3 CHST also WGRT indoors, WGRT only on antenna
103.7 WRTS faint with WMUZ interfering
103.9 CKDK
104.7 WIOT
107.1 WSAQ clear

I think my issue is I'm overamplifying my antenna given how close (relatively speaking) I am to the Detroit full power FM's, most of which have HD sidebands. However since there's around 50 feet of coax between the antenna and the tuner, (not to mention splitters etc) it is necessary to amplify the signal just so I can get the locals in reliably. It's an evil cycle, but just wished I wasn't so close to the Detroit FM's and could really cash in on tropo events. Antenna is aimed to the SE (probably very close if not directly aimed toward the WADL tower in Mt. Clemens for a reference point).

Edit: turned on both stereos (very drifty and not so drifty) to 90.3, the driftier one is eeking out CBEG-FM on 90.3 behind KDTI, the other is just KDTI, better yet, this is the cherry on top, turned on the handheld and got a blip of presumably WCLV in analog (classical). The 2 stereos are split off one another from a shared coax line

[MWmetalhead]

Big FM band opening this morning. Getting WIOT well on a $20 portable radio. That's never happened before.

98.5 WNCX from Cleveland also heard! Strong enough to overcome WDZH's HD sideband. Brand new catch. Have never picked them up before.

90.1 WUCX from Bay City is coming in like a local.

[MWmetalhead]

Getting FM96 from London clearly! It's walking all over Big Country from Windsor.

[MegaHertz]

Getting FM96 from London clearly! It's walking all over Big Country from Windsor.

Holy shit! So am I! I have a LOT of Canada coming in strong. I had 91.9 in like a local, even living miles from WUOM's flamethrower and HD sidebands. Been a good morning

Flint/Saginaw is in strong, too.

[ChrisWL1980]

Very strange tropo tonight. 3 instances of being able to use my antenna and semi drifty tuner (this one not quite as bad as the usual one I use in terms of driftiness) and catch a far away signal, and then turn around and use my handheld HD radio tuner and pick up another completely different station indoors.

Call it Double dipping DXing?
Location: Rochester Hills/ on my typical home setup
88.1 CBEE clear
88.5 Smile FM weak (WCTP/WJOM/WYOR?), with interference from CIMX
88.9 WDTR (amplified from conditions, interference from CIMX)
90.1 WUCX (w/ RDS as identifier) clear
90.7 WNFR clear
91.3 CFCO clear and comparable strength to locals indoors (quite strong)
91.5 WVMV getting blasted out by CFCO
93.5 CBCL like a local
94.3 CKSY strong
95.1 CKUE max indoor strength
95.9 CFPL replacing CJWF and strong indoor strength
96.7 CHYM Interfering with CHYR with a trace signal but lots of static
98.1 CKLO recieved very weak on 98.3, WJLB only audible on 98.1 (*drifty equipment*)
98.5 indoor handheld radio WNCX low signal but clear
98.5 on antenna WUPS very weak and lots of static (likely WDZH HD sideband getting overamped on my end)
99.9 CFGX clear on antenna, W260CB indoors like usual
100.7 indoors/handheld WMMS
100.7 antenna WITL
101.5 CBEF-3-FM replacing W268CN
102.3 CHST also WGRT indoors, WGRT only on antenna
103.7 WRTS faint with WMUZ interfering
103.9 CKDK
104.7 WIOT
107.1 WSAQ clear

I think my issue is I'm overamplifying my antenna given how close (relatively speaking) I am to the Detroit full power FM's, most of which have HD sidebands. However since there's around 50 feet of coax between the antenna and the tuner, (not to mention splitters etc) it is necessary to amplify the signal just so I can get the locals in reliably. It's an evil cycle, but just wished I wasn't so close to the Detroit FM's and could really cash in on tropo events. Antenna is aimed to the SE (probably very close if not directly aimed toward the WADL tower in Mt. Clemens for a reference point).

Edit: turned on both stereos (very drifty and not so drifty) to 90.3, the driftier one is eeking out CBEG-FM on 90.3 behind KDTI, the other is just KDTI, better yet, this is the cherry on top, turned on the handheld and got a blip of presumably WCLV in analog (classical). The 2 stereos are split off one another from a shared coax line

You can rule out WJOM for 88.5. It's off the air and has been for some time.

[ChrisWL1980]

90.3 was solidly CBEG here in Whitmore Lake, even triggering RDS. Also had 96.9 WBTI in (RDS partial) and perhaps my strongest signal ever from 99.9 CFGX.
It's funny how I can receive CBC Radio One from Sarnia, Chatham-Kent and even London (and of course Winnipeg on 990 AM) more easily than I can from Windsor. There's just no getting around WJIM-FM most of the time to get CBEW.

[MegaHertz]

WKFR has been happening a lot for me lately. I had RDS on 96 all the way from 23 to Kent Lake.

[hb2]

Had a slight band opening from Canada this morning 8/21. Was outside cutting grass at home (Rochester Hills) on the hearing protectors again. Did not do a complete bandscan, just the middle to lower part of the FM "commercial band" in the US.

93.5 CBBL weak
95.9 had CFPL (FM96) punching in over CJWF in spots, CFPL was getting less spotty and easier to receive over CJWF as time went on
98.1 CKLO very spotty over WJLB's HD sideband

[ChrisWL1980]

I retract my comment about WJOM. I was just in the area and it is back on the air.