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FM-OTA: Great Lakes Area DXing, Tropo, Atypical Reception

6K views 25 replies 7 participants last post by  haydenmatthews00 
#1 ·
We have a lot of DXing results on the TV side but not so much on the Radio side. In any case I was driving West of London (Mt Bridges) around 10am this morning and was just casually scanning the FM dial and I was getting CHUM FM - Toronto and 102.5 Star FM - Buffalo which usually fade just past Kitchener. Was also getting a couple Michigan stations WUOM - Ann Arbor and WDET from Detroit. 102.5 Star was rock solid even with 102.3 Bob FM just adjacent from London. These results were just with the car radio and no special antenna.

103.7 WRTS Erie was also booming in across the lake. A typical summer car station, I find, in the London area.
 
#2 ·
Driving into Waterloo this morning around 8am I was listening to 95.9 (CFPL London) Ooccasionally it would get a digital lock and would change to CJKX-HD (Oshawa). Only happened once in analog, when London was blocked by a hill.

Closer to home, I had Buffalo stations over powering local stations. 99.5 WDCX instead of CKKW Kitchener. 106.5 WYRK instead of CIXK Owen Sound.

I've got a few presets in the car radio that I normally used to check the conditions: 102.5 WTSS Buffalo, 103.7 WRTS Erie and 104.3 WOMC Detroit.
 
#3 ·
104.3 WOMC Detroit.
Did you know that 104.3 WOMC isn't "Oldies" anymore? It's more like 80's music or something. They call it "Classic Hits" but most of the 60's and 70's was dropped completely. Maybe all the "oldies" died off.

Windsor and Detroit stations usually drift off past Chatham, about 100 km or so. Pretty wild anyone that far away can pickup a Detroit station with specific environmental conditions.

I use a bare coax wire and pickup about 40 stations from Windsor and Detroit. I'm local of course. I can get a station from Chatham with that bare wire, which is about 80km away, reliably.

Wonder what I could get with a real FM antenna... I have a couple sets of old Sansui Tuners/Amps that I listen to FM Radio on.

I used to get WIOT 104.7 from Toledo, OH back in the day. Get nothing right now. It's between two very strong Detroit stations though.
 
#4 ·
E-skip action today. These are the stations which I identified.

88.3, WAPR, Selma Alabama, Alabama Public Radio
91.3, KUAF, Fayettville Arkansas
88.3, KWND, Springfield Mo, The Wind
88.3, KYFW, Wichita KS, Bible Broadcasting Network
89.1, KMUW, Wichita
89.5, KHCD, Salina KS, Radio Kansas
93.1, KHMY, Pratt KS, My 93-1
94.7, KNEN, Norfolk, Nebraska, 94 Rock
95.5, KAHE, Dodge City KS, Superhits
96.3, CJLS, Yarmouth NS, Y95
89.9, The Wave, Halifax NS
92.5, KKSE, Broomfield Colorado, Attitude Sports Radio
88.1, KVSC, Saint Cloud MN,
88.5, KEYA, Belcourt ND, Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation
88.9, Prairie Public Radio, Minot ND
88.9, Country 88.9, Winkler Manitoba, Pembina Valley Online
91.1, Minnesota Public Radio, St.Paul MN
 
#7 · (Edited)
E-skip update for July 24th:

100.1, KCLL, San Angelo TX, Cool FM, San Angelo's Greatest Hits
100.7, KOOL FM, Abilene TX
101.9, KWFR, San Angelo TX, The Fire
101.9, KWFI, Aberdeen Idaho? KWFR went out for about 5 seconds with the sounds of another station replacing it. Then the RDS switched to the KWFI call sign. According to the FM Database KWFI is on 102.1 and not 101.9. Did KWFI bleed over onto the 101.9 frequency? Can fm stations do to this from over 1000 miles away?
101.9, The Bull, 3 stations this could be according to the fm database, one in Idaho, Texas and Kansas. This occurred about a minute after KWFI showed up and vanished. A mystery.
102.7, Classic 102 The Bear, Abilene TX
104.1 CFQX Winnipeg
105.1, Kool 105 Denver, KXKL. Identified this when I heard the radio host say Kool 105 Denver.
102.7, KBIQ, Colorado Springs, Barely heard the station id.

Also heard a couple of commercials advertising New Mexico businesses on 104.1. Unfortunately the signal was to weak to gather the RDS. There are only 2 stations in New Mexico on 104.1 by the way.
 
#8 ·
A little e-skip action today near the end of the season:

89.1, KGOU Clinton Oklahoma
89.7, House FM, Ponca City OK
95.3, WNLA, Indianaola MS, Delta Radio Network
96.9, KZMZ, Alexandria LA, 96.9 Rocks
99.1, WYMX, Greenwood MS, Max 99.1
94.7, La Mejor, Wells TX, Mexican Music
97.7, Atlanta Braves Baseball Network, W249DB-FM, Hiawasee Georgia
100.3, ESPN Radio New Orleans
 
#9 ·
Yesterday, driving near Quebec City, I tried to listen to CBF Montreal at 95.1. Instead I got Beach 95.1 from Panama City FL. My longest e-skip ever!
 
#10 · (Edited)
I remember driving to the Greater Toronto Area last summer was driving though Kitchener and picked up WOMC from Detroit and was solid though Guelph until I hit Milton and it cut out but sometime later in the morning I was sitting in a parking lot in Vaughan York Region and I picked up WOMC and other Stations from London such as 103.1 Fresh Radio, 97.5 Virgin Radio and 104.7 Heart FM from Woodstock. When I was in Niagara Falls New York in a Target parking lot I picked up "Country 104" 103.9 from Woodstock, 97.5 Virgin Radio again from London, and in Port Huron Michigan in a Walmart parking lot I picked stations from London, Kitchener, Brantford, 103.7 WRTS from Erie and even CING-FM from Hamilton.
 
#11 · (Edited)
In my area St Marys where I live we get London, Stratford and Kitchener radio stations except 106.7, 99.5 and 107.5. But on rare Occasions I get Toronto, Detroit sometimes Cleveland, and Buffalo. Here is my list of stations that I have picked up in the past while in my area during clear conditions.

Toronto: CIDC-FM (Z103.5), CKFM-FM (99.9 Virgin Radio), CFMX-FM 96.3, 98.1 CHFI, CFNY-FM (102.1 The Edge), CHUM 104.5, CKIS-FM (Kiss 92.5), CILQ-FM 107.1 (Q107) CJRT-FM Jazz-FM 91.1 and CBLA-FM 99.1

Detroit: 93.1 WDRQ, WCSX 94.7, WKQI 95.5, WDVD 96.3, 97.1 WXYT, 97.9 WJLB, WDZH 98.7, 99.5 WYCD, 100.3 WNIC, 101.1 WIRF, 101.9 WDET, WDKL 102.7, WUMZ 103.5, 104.3 WOMC, WMGC 105.1 WDMK 105.9, WLLZ 106.7 and WGPR 107.5

Windsor: CIMX-FM 88.7 (Pure Country 89) and CIDR-FM (93.9 Virgin Radio) those are the only 2 Windsor stations I get.

Buffalo: WBUF 92.9, WBLK 93.7, WMSX 96.1, WKSE (Kiss 98.5) sometimes, WDCX 99.5, WTSS (Star 102.5), WEDG (103.3 The Edge), WHTT 104.1 and 106.5 WYRK

St Catharines/Niagara: CHTZ-FM (97.7 HTZ-FM), CHRE-FM (Move 105.7) and CIXL-FM 91.7 Giant FM

Erie: WRTS 103.7 (Star 104), WTWF 93.9 (The Wolf), WXBB 94.7 (BOB-FM), WRKT 104.9 (Rocket 105), 91.3 WQLN-FM and WXTA (Nash 97.9)

Cleveland: WAZK 93.1, WAKS Kiss 96.5, WFHM 95.5 (The Fish), WMMS 100.7 (The Buzzard), WGAR 99.5, WDOK (Star 102), WQAL 104.1 (Q104), WMJI 105.7 and WENZ (Z107.9)

Sarnia: CFGX-FM 99.9 (The Fox) and CHKS-FM (COOL 106.3)

Chatham: CKUE-FM (COOL 95.1) and 94.3 CKSY-FM

Owen Sound: CKYC-FM 93.7, CJOS-FM 92.3, CBCB-FM 98.7 (repeater of CBLA-FM in Toronto) and CIKX-FM 106.5

Barrie: CHAY-FM (93.1 Fresh Radio)

That is my list so far I will update of what Station I will get next.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Today while in the east end of London near the airport I picked up stations from Erie, Hamilton, some from Detroit, Toronto and Buffalo. Here are the list Stations that I got today.

FM
Toronto: 91.1 CJRT CFMX-FM 96.3 and CIDC-FM (Z103.5)
Hamilton: CHKX-FM (KX94.7) and CING-FM (Energy 95.3)
Erie: WQLN-FM 91.3, WTWF (93.9 The Wolf) and WRTS 103.7 (Star 104)
Buffalo: 99.5 WDCX and possibly WKSE (Kiss 98.5)
Detroit: 96.3 WDVD (which came in first but CFMX from Toronto came in later) and 104.3 WOMC
Chatham: CKUE-FM (COOL 95.1)
Kitchener: CJDV-FM (107.5 Dave Rocks)
Guelph CIMJ-FM (Magic 106.1)

AM
Toronto: CFZM 740 CFTR 680, CFRB 1010 and CFMJ 640
Buffalo: WGR 550 and 930 WBEN
Erie: 1330 WFNN and WJET 1400
Detroit: 760 WJR and WDFN 1130
Windsor 800 CKLW and 580 CKWW
Hamilton: 900 CHML and 1150 CKOC
Cleveland: WTAM 1100
Rochester New York: WHAM 1180


UPDATE: I picked up a radio station near my home tonight from Oshawa CKGE-FM 94.9 The Rock which blocked CHRW-FM Radio Western's frequency.
 
#13 ·
Tonight's list:
CKDX-FM 88.5 Newmarket ON
CJRT-FM 91.1 Toronto ON
CIXL-FM 91.7 Welland ON
CHAY-FM 93.1 Barrie ON
CIDR-FM 93.9 Windsor ON
CBL-FM 94.1 Toronto ON
CKSY-FM 94.3 Chatham-Kent ON
CHKX-FM 94.7 Hamilton ON
CKUE-FM 95.1 Chatham-Kent ON
CING-FM 95.3 Hamilton ON
CFMZ-FM 96.3 Toronto ON
WBTI 96.9 Port Huron MI
CHBM-FM 97.3 Toronto ON
CHTZ-FM 97.7 St Catharines-Niagara Falls ON
WXTA-FM 97.9 Nash Erie PA
WDZH-FM 98.7 Detroit MI
WDCX-FM 99.5 Buffalo NY but later Bounce 99.5 CKKW-FM from Kitchener ON came in. I never can get that station to come in where I live.
101.9 WDET Detroit MI
WDMK-FM 102.7 Detroit MI
CKLH-FM 102.9 Hamilton ON
CIDC-FM 103.5 Toronto ON
WRTS-FM 103.7 Erie PA
WHTT-FM 104.1 Buffalo NY
WOMC-FM 104.3 Detroit MI
CHKS-FM 106.3 Sarnia ON
 
#14 ·
Haven't posted this in a while yesterday while doing errands near the airport in London some stations were coming in rainy cloudy weather. such as: WQLN 91.3 Erie PA, WDRQ Nash 93.1 Detroit MI, WTWF 93.9 The Wolf Erie PA, CHKX-FM KX 94.7 Hamilton ON, CING-FM Energy 95.3 Hamilton ON, CFMZ-FM 96.3 Toronto ON, WBTI 96.9 Port Huron MI CHBM Boom 97.3 Toronto ON, (Which is rare to reach London) WKSE Kiss 98.5 Niagara Falls/Buffalo NY, WDCX 99.5 Buffalo NY, WRTS Star 104 103.7 Erie PA and WOMC 104.3 Detroit MI.
 
#15 ·
The other night near home stations that came in were: WQLN 91.3 Erie PA, CHAY-FM Fresh 93.1 Barrie ON, WTWF 93.9 The Wolf Erie PA, WXBB 94.7 BOB-FM Erie PA, CING-FM Energy 95.3 Hamilton ON, CFMZ-FM 96.3 Toronto ON, WAKS Kiss 96.5 Cleveland OH, WBTI 96.9 Port Huron MI, CHBM Boom 97.3 Toronto ON, CHTZ-FM 97.7 St Catharines-Niagara Falls ON, WXTA-FM 97.9 Nash Erie PA (later 97.9 WJLB from Detroit came in), WDCX-FM 99.5 Buffalo NY, 101.9 WDET Detroit MI, WTSS Star 102.5 Buffalo NY, WRTS Star 104 103.7 Erie PA, WOMC 104.3 Detroit MI CHRE-FM Move 105.7 St Catharines-Niagara Falls ON, (CHRE's signal blocked 105.7 MyFM from Strathroy) and CIXK-FM Mix 106.5 Owen Sound ON.
 
#18 ·
May 18th,
FM e skip action tonight in rainy St.Thomas Ontario.
90.1 KAMY Lubbock TX 1283 miles
88.1 KGNZ Abiline TX 1238 miles
91.9 Air One - Probably Amarillo or the Morton TX station. Could also be Saint Joseph Mo, Wingate NC, Minot ND. I'll automatically disregard the Alaska Air One station on this frequency
88.5 KTZH Piedmont OK
 
#24 ·
While driving in Perth County tonight near the town of St. Marys. Many Detroit/Windsor were booming in like: CIMX-FM 88.7, WDRQ 93.1, CIDR-FM 93.9 Virgin Radio, 94.7 WCSX, WKQI Channel 95.5, 96.3 WDVD, WJLB 97.9, WNIC 100.3, 104.3 WOMC and 106.7 WLLZ. This was pretty unusual as sometimes the Toronto, Cleveland or Erie stations usually come in at clear night where I am.
 
#25 ·
During the cold clear sunny frosty morning many stations were coming in clear some had a bit of static but listenable.
Here are the stations that I got to listen to this morning: WQLN-FM 91.3 Erie PA, CIDR-FM 93.9 Virgin Radio Windsor, 94.3 CKSY-FM Chatham-Kent, 95.1 CKUE-FM also from Chatham, Channel 95.5 WKQI Detroit MI, sadly this one came in for a bit but it vanished into static. 96.3 WDVD Detroit, WAKS Kiss 96.5 Cleveland OH, CHBM-FM Boom 97.3 Toronto, CHTZ-FM 97.7 HITZ-FM St. Catharines ON, 99.5 WDCX Buffalo NY, 100.3 WNIC Dearborn/Detroit, WTSS Star 102.5 Buffalo NY, WRTS 103.7 Star 104 Erie PA, 104.1 WHTT Buffalo NY 104.3 WOMC Detroit, CHUM-FM 104.5, This station is hard to get because of 104.7 Heart FM's HD Signal which it blocks it from getting it. And 106.5 WYRK Buffalo NY.

It was pretty cool to listen to a bit of the morning shows like Elvis Duran and the Morning Show that was heard on WRTS 103.7 Erie PA and WAKS 96.5 Cleveland OH. Hannah and Johnny from 93.9 Virgin Radio in Windsor. And Rob Lucas from Star 102.5 in Buffalo. It was much better for a change than listening to local morning shows like Jeff Laura and Backstage Ben In The Morning heard on 97.5 Virgin London and 105.3 Virgin in K-W, and Taz and Jim on FM96 London and 103.1 Fresh Mornings with Kim Mark and Ian.
 
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