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January 22, 2018 10:29 am  #1


Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Here some stuff from the past week or so. While I audio record everything I log, this report isn't everything I've logged. I try to keep reports like this to stuff that is new or otherwise, interesting.

Here's some details and comments and then the logs.

My location: Ridgway, Pennsylvania (2000 feet in elevation)
Equipment: Sangean HDT! and 5 element log periodic FM antenna
I just drew a line between me and London, Ontario and environs where most of my enhancement comes from. I looked at every town the line goes through.

With the exception of the Allegheny National forest 10 miles to my NW, I'm higher in elevation then everything on a line between me and London. I'm at one of the highest residential points in the county, if not this part of the state practically.

I'm at 2000 ft, the forest is at near 2400 ft.
Erie, PA and London, Ont are about 800 feet, give or take.

Some of the towns in or near the Allegheny National forest (Sheffield, Warren, Youngsville) are 1200-1400 ft in elevation.

So yeah, all that elevation I've got, line of site to Lake Erie and suchforth really helps out

Sat Jan 20
CJED-FM 105.1 Niagra Falls Ontario. 15KW at 419 feet at 118 miles.
105.1 Today FM showed up a few times over the course of about 90 minutes. The signal at times was good on fade ups, but those fade ups didn't always last long. There's some conflicting information online about this station, see my note at the end of the CJED audio clips for details

Here's a few sound bites:

Clip #1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1862QSQIU4g9mI_RrnL2mqP1os6_nsD4U/view?usp=sharing

Clip #2 (with station liner just after 3 minutes): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-FOHq0KDjgDzxH7l7AN7ShS2JuFsWtl5/view?usp=sharing

Clip #3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14e3h3cDQjO5A7ftkPK_-XUBzq3-RJ94m/view?usp=sharing

Clip#4: https://drive.google.com/file/d/143sUntaToA1FW9Y3CXTdbiao5ZCvWyW3/view?usp=sharing

There's conflicting data from this station online, wikipedia shows 705 Watts at 528 feet as does FCCData.org (which pulls data directly from Canada) but the CRTC Broadcasting Cerificate shows the station runs 15kw at 419 feet. I'm


Sun Jan 21
CKUE-FM 95.1 Chatam-Kent, Ontario 42KW at 438 feet at 191 miles
Not new, but I like hearing this as it has to overpower semi local willie 95.1 WYLE Grove City, PA to get to me Heard with Chatam-Kent weather forecast, station news website, liner and back into music. The signal was pretty good, it got a little noisy at times but held for like 90 minutes. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10vN7cF0FDUPV5LUPPLE2DjKYdehJmTNp/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21st
NEW! 94.3 CKSY Chatam-Kent, Ont 50kw at 438 feet at 191 miles
Usually, it's 94.3 WBXQ or 94.3 WUZZ here, neither is very strong though. The signal was about as good as CKUE's, maybe slightly noisier but not bad at all. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UJznVa1c_VTdOPxCgwRvN5d-VyLxHuCX/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21st
NEW!! 88.3 CJIQ Paris, Ontario 10.6KW at 721 feet at 150 miles
Ads for local supporting businesses and liner "88.3 CJIQ, The Tri cities alternative", back into music. Signal was very good at times, but would trade places with a semi local catholic formatted station which is what usually owned the channel. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ymGflLzHZRufhC65VAza8yAX3H_p5xtF/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21st
NEW!! CHRW-FM 94.9 London, Ontario 6KW at 340 feet at 160 miles
"The Freeway Show" with DJ Jukebox, mentioning his name and show and shout-outs to people in the local area. Signal was fair, getting real noisy and weak at times. Usually semi local WHKS is solidly in to my location. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oBq6CgObuuZV5S7tZAKKrBEZlhn9xT2J/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CKDK-FM 103.9 Woodstock, Ontario. 51kw at 454 feet at about 170 mile.s
Not new, but one of my more favorite stations to hear. It has to overtake semi local WAGL 103.9 with the same format to make it to my radio. Exceptional signal on this evening. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dzaGdl0j9vW2YyCKP1ixWMPmcP07i2Se/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CJBX-FM 92.7 London, Ontario 50kw at 396 feet at about 160 miles
Not the first or even 5th time I've heard the signal, but I like the station. It has to overtake semi local WCCR to show up on my radio. and sometimes, I get lucky and it shows up with RDS. Here's some audio and a fantastic signal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EJxQGRdrVhyjp08g1vVNOoX2XS1A5MrW/view?usp=sharing

Sat Jan 20
NEW!! CHST-FM 102.3 London, Ontario 100KW at about 375 feet at about 160 miles
Matched audio to webstream when I realized this wasn't Z102.3 WQHZ Erie. That small 6kw FM usually doesn't great out here from 80 miles away. CHST's signal was fairly good at times. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VygxQ3vn7XoNoBPjZF9Os-NT5MUolMSL/view?usp=sharing

Sat Jan 20th
CBLA-FM-2 89.1 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont 10.4kw at 816 feet at about 160-170 miles
"The Vinyl Tap" with Randy Bachman. Signal was fairly good at times, did get a little noisy here and there. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rsAChtPN5ZNH9Hh7gwtA1wh6IASpv32c/view?usp=sharing

Wed Jan 17
CBL-FM-2 90.7 Paris, Ontario 8.237KW at 816 feet
"Reclaimed" program with some pretty neat music. Signal was pretty good at times, did get a little noisy and staticy at times, but when it was "in", it was pretty listenable. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zg3abXkIszpmIY5_mtuP3Ei49QRScdOO/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CHAY-FM 93.1 Barrie, Ontario 100kw at 992 feet at 212 miles
Not the first time I've heard CHAY, only the second or third time but the previous times were very quick, fleeting and kind of weak fade ups. Heard it this time with public service announcements, ads and station liners. By far, the best signal I've had from CHAY. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QfgHqbbUUpCHfqgJ8bTFT3p7mDfTK2-2/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CHKX-FM 94.7 Hamilton, Ontario 100KW at 460 feet at about 170 miles
Not the first time I've heard this signal, but by far the best and most longest lasting signal I've had. I do have a 250 watt translator on 94.5 about 1 mile up the road to contend with, which is where some of the "Grunge" in the CHKX signal comes from. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXvNFdFomVC9Lp7HksvGbv2QwoL0GtYa/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CHFI-FM 98.1 Toronto, Ontario 44KW at about 1350 feet at about 170 miles
Not the best or longest lasting signal I've had form CHFI, but this one is a bit rare. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cl63eRvuH8TyG3IxK3_MzP5_LR0oYcto/view?usp=sharing

Sun Jan 21
CBLA-FM 99.1 Toronto, Ontario 98KW at about 1350 feet at about 170 miles.
I've heard this signal a few times, but it's usually a fairly quick and weak catch. This signal didn't last long but the overall quality was ok. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjEaAJQZxRj-bDWUfcyUOuqJLUv-W0Zr/view?usp=sharing

Sat Jan 20
CBL-FM 94.1 Toronto, Ontario 38KW at about 1450 feet at about 170 miles
This one is a toughie, as I have WKBI 93.9 with it's 25KW about 1 1/2 miles away from me. The signal is good this time, but like usual, it gets a bit squashed by WKBI splatter. Here's some audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YL4dul5JTD3F4f9yiBOQ7dROQVXW19Cs/view?usp=sharing

Wed Ja n17th
CJBC-FM-4 99.3 London, Ontario 22.5kw at 460 feet at about 160 miles
This CJBC 860 rebroadcasting carrying the Ici Radio-Canada Premièr has been heard here but has to overtake a 7kw semi local that usually lights up RDS. On this date it was pretty strong and like a local at times. Here's audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QEIVYvYA-2s-pKysNWeITY-7OkOojPyo/view?usp=sharing

 

January 22, 2018 12:15 pm  #2


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Hey "RadioPaulPA", I, for one, find what you're doing to be pretty cool.

 

January 22, 2018 8:14 pm  #3


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Yes.  Thank you.  I've been able to cut down on my sleeping medication.  

 

January 22, 2018 8:30 pm  #4


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Pretty cool scans!

 

January 22, 2018 8:40 pm  #5


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

markow202 wrote:

Pretty cool scans!

I find it kind of interesting what I can do even in the dead of winter when FM DXing is at its lowest

I did hear a 100kw FM from Montana about 2 weeks ago.
 

     Thread Starter
 

January 23, 2018 4:38 pm  #6


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

cGrant wrote:

Yes.  Thank you.  I've been able to cut down on my sleeping medication.  

LOL Glad I can help

     Thread Starter
 

January 23, 2018 5:30 pm  #7


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Two decades ago I drove west from Buffalo on Interstate 90 to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the strongest signals were AM 740 and 1010 CFRB.   

Worst vacation ever.

Last edited by geo (January 23, 2018 5:34 pm)

 

January 23, 2018 5:56 pm  #8


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

geo wrote:

Two decades ago I drove west from Buffalo on Interstate 90 to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the strongest signals were AM 740 and 1010 CFRB.   

Worst vacation ever.

Imagine how much worse it would be if AM 640 was in the mix. 🤭😳

Last edited by cGrant (January 23, 2018 5:56 pm)

 

January 23, 2018 6:11 pm  #9


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

geo wrote:

Two decades ago I drove west from Buffalo on Interstate 90 to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the strongest signals were AM 740 and 1010 CFRB.   

Worst vacation ever.

Was the Rock n Roll hall of fame worth it though? Always wanted to go check it out. 

 

January 23, 2018 6:14 pm  #10


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

recommend you check it out & also catch the Tribe while in Cleveland

 

January 23, 2018 11:57 pm  #11


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

I like to send an email to stations with the audio clips and details of my reception, where I am and etc cuse If I get a kick out of it, I figure they might.

CKUE/CKSY responded within 2 hours.
KX94.7 CHKX responded in 17 minutes!

Only other station I sent an email to was 105.1 2Day FM,CJED and that was well after business hours tonight

Last edited by RadioPaulPA (January 23, 2018 11:58 pm)

     Thread Starter
 

January 24, 2018 2:57 am  #12


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

Great reports. Other than 88.3 CJIQ Paris (which I have not heard), how does the unimaginative, highly automated programming that must contain 33 percent or more Canadian music content impress you? I used to enjoy DXing too; but it almost all sounds the same.

Last edited by darcyh (January 24, 2018 2:59 am)

 

January 24, 2018 6:57 am  #13


Re: Ontario FM's heard in NW Pennsylvania

darcyh wrote:

Great reports. Other than 88.3 CJIQ Paris (which I have not heard), how does the unimaginative, highly automated programming that must contain 33 percent or more Canadian music content impress you? I used to enjoy DXing too; but it almost all sounds the same.

I enjoy DXing and hearing stuff regardless of format or content, especially if its a new log.   I've heard a few bombs on otherwise good stations... like Oldies 99.7 CKNC was doing an 80s weekend and played a song by some crappy Canadian band from 1990! (I forget who, dont ask)

Some of the programming doesn't impress me, some is ok.  But one could say that about US radio too

     Thread Starter