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June 22, 2025 12:57 am  #1


Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

So, I have a question regarding FM radio that transmits by vertical polarization, such as the case of CFMU FM Hamilton.

Does a station immediately adjacent in HD  interfere with an analog signal? (such as CFXJ 93.5 versus CFMU 93.3 FM)

CFMU recently added RDS to the signal, but I don't think that bares any reception issues on an analog system (which I use in my basement studio with a flat panel exterior antenna, hoping to change to a single dipole shortly)

I'm finding CFMU's sound has degraded over the past year or more.

Just needed to see if anyone here (an engineering type) could help me understand.

 

June 22, 2025 10:05 am  #2


Re: Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

Your question raises two different issues.
1) HD stations on first adjacent channels can cause interference.  The digital component of the signal is effectively co-channel white noise.  The rules specify the protection ratio which must be provided to 1st adjacent analog signals when implementing HD.
2) There is a lot of documentation (including the International Telecommunications Union)  that indicates that vertically polarized signals are more susceptible to multipath cancellation where there are high vertical reflecting surfaces (i.e. buildings) or rugged terrain. There are stations in Vancouver which abandoned circular polarization and reverted to horizontal-only because of multipath issues.  
That said, it is also a fact that once a signal of any polarization hits a reflecting surface, the resulting polarization is random.  Otherwise a pure horizontally-polarized signal would be difficult to receive with a vertical whip antenna, which is what automobiles utilized before the advent of windshield antennas.

 

June 22, 2025 10:15 am  #3


Re: Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

Yesterday CFMU was pushed out by WWSE Jamestown NY hear in Mississauga.It depends where you are located.Both CFMU and CFXJ are low powered.

 

June 22, 2025 6:41 pm  #4


Re: Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

rk12 wrote:

Yesterday CFMU was pushed out by WWSE Jamestown NY hear in Mississauga.It depends where you are located.Both CFMU and CFXJ are low powered.

I am surprised you could receive CFMU in Mississauga. I can rarely receive it if I am travelling in east Oakville.

 

June 26, 2025 9:47 pm  #5


Re: Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

mace wrote:

rk12 wrote:

Yesterday CFMU was pushed out by WWSE Jamestown NY hear in Mississauga.It depends where you are located.Both CFMU and CFXJ are low powered.

I am surprised you could receive CFMU in Mississauga. I can rarely receive it if I am travelling in east Oakville.

Find anything on the dial lately? Been quite quiet since earlier this year.

 

June 27, 2025 2:29 am  #6


Re: Vertically Polarized FM Radio Signals...

Is the CFMU transmitter still located at Mohawk College?