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Lake Superior Bandscan Series

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cckadlec
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Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:57 pm

The following maps and scans are from my Lake Superior radio study of this past summer. Instead of posting these many dial scans in separate posts, I will post them as comments below with commentary as necessary. For those who don't often get to this lake, I hope you can enjoy these. :o

Equipment is a Grundig G8 portable for all scans. Asterisks show stations received on seek. All signal levels are displayed in dBµ, which is different for each radio model and is used only to compare signals heard on the same radio across different conditions and scans. Stereo is triggered with a 10dB signal.

Image

[ To view this image without the forum-created distortion, click here. ]


[ 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
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:08 pm

MARATHON, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 25, 2018 1800-1825 & 1855-1950 / 15°C
Pebble Beach: 48°42'24.4"N 86°23'11.3"W (640 ft.)
Gchi-Waaswaaganing: 48°42'40.9"N 86°19'17.6"W (1030 ft.)
76 stations total / Average distance: 191 mi.

Here is a bandscan from Marathon, Ontario, monitored at Pebble Beach near beach level and at Gchi-Waaswaaganing 430 feet above beach level under dead conditions. With an average station distance of 191 miles, this scan and others nearby rank as the most distant regular reception on the Great Lakes. Stations with asterisks were received on seek. Click on the image below to enlarge it to full size.

Image

88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 2dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / faint, very good in car (226 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / weak in car (308 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 0dBµ, mono, very good (189 mi.)
89.1 -
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / good in car (130 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
*89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 15dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 1dBµ, mono (286 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (176 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 5dBµ, mono (263 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / good in car (267 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master / 9.3kw / good in car (224 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
90.9 WHRM WI Wausau / WPR News & Classical / 81kw / very good in car (304 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
91.3 -
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
*91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / RDS / very good in car (147 mi.)
92.1 -
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
92.5 WJJQ WI Tomahawk / Northwoods 92.5 / 25kw / very good in car (272 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
92.9 -
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //100.7 107.1 / 50kw / 70dBµ, stereo (9 mi.)
93.3 = 93.1
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (151 mi.)
93.7 -
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
94.7 -
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / good in car (259 mi.)
95.3 -
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 3dBµ, mono (304 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (160 mi.)
95.9 WMQA WI Minocqua / Kool 95.9 / 22kw / good in car (253 mi.)
96.1 -
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
96.5 -
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (155 mi.)
96.9 CBON-23 ON Manitouwadge / Ici Première / 143w / 10dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
97.5 -
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / faint (214 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock //92.7 / 2.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / good in car (292 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin' Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono (150 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
98.9 WEMP WI Two Rivers / Easy Listening / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (333 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (206 mi.)
99.3 -
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / very good in car (239 mi.)
99.7 WDKF WI Sturgeon Bay / Duke FM / 46kw / 0dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (255 mi.)
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 3dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
100.9 -
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / very good in car (187 mi.)
101.3 -
101.5 -
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / good in car (130 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (304 mi.)
102.1 -
*102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 60dBµ, mono (9 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
102.7 -
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono, strong (230 mi.)
103.1 WOGB WI Reedsville / Cl. Hits / 3.6kw / faint (310 mi.)
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
103.5 -
103.7 -
103.9 -
104.1 -
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, stereo (169 mi.)
104.5 -
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
104.9 -
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / faint (256 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
105.5 -
105.7 WCUP MI L'Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (150 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (251 mi.)
106.1 -
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (217 mi.)
106.5 -
106.7 -
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 1dBµ, mono (229 mi.)
107.1 -
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / faint (212 mi.)
*107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 60dBµ, mono (9 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 20dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / faint (290 mi.)

Inconclusive signals: 90.9, 92.1, 93.9, 96.1, 107.1

The scene at Pebble Beach, the main bandscan site (though not so great due to the low elevation):

Image

The scene at Gchi-Waaswaaganing, the initial highland site just outside of town:

Image
Last edited by cckadlec on Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:35 pm, edited 2 times 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. ]

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Turkeytop
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by Turkeytop » Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:23 pm

No photo this time? :(


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

cckadlec
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:37 pm

Good things come to those who ask! I have edited the post to include two photos, one from each site. I did not remember to take a photo with my radio at that site. Time was running low, the weather was growing iffy and was still rather cold, and just things were frazzled. I guess you can't remember everything.
Turkeytop wrote:
Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:23 pm
No photo this time? :(


[ 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. ]

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Turkeytop
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by Turkeytop » Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:42 pm

So, do you travel to these destinations for the purpose of DXing? Or, do you just take advantage of the DXing opportunity, while you're there for other purposes?


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

cckadlec
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Wed Nov 21, 2018 8:15 pm

These locations are very much pre-selected and fit a series of guidelines from elevation to coastal orientation and site spacing. The days are planned with (hopefully) enough time to complete scheduled bandscans and see all the sights along the way. I can't always say it works out as I planned. It mostly didn't and I was constantly trying to see sights from the previous day on the next day, which then put me a half-day behind and was seriously causing issues with my bandscan scheduling, which needs to take place during lake breeze circulation from about 11am-8pm.

But in the end, aside from having to skip one site on Lake Superior and another on Erie, it's all good. I did my 2,500-mile Lake Superior trip in July and then my trip around Lake Michigan, through the UP, redoing a Lake Huron site, over through North Bay to Ottawa, re-doing a Lake Ontario site, then did Cape Cod and two sites near my hometown, then came back and did multiple sites along Lake Ontario, the south side of Erie, the north side of Erie, and then returned home. All in all, about 8,500 miles on the road. I'm not even done typing the bandscans yet.

The whole idea behind it was, 1) I had time; 2) AM translators are rampant and coming to invade soon. And they've started going on the air already near me (96.5 Big Rapids two months ago, 98.9 Zeeland this month, 107.3 Sheboygan this month), so the timing was good. But I was doing my 500 TOH ID project at the same time, and there was just as much of a rush, if not more, for that. Lake tropo season ends the first or second week of September, so I had a clear deadline for the scans, and the AM translators started coming on then too, and conditions turned from summer straight to winter in September, so the TOH ID project hit a brick wall in September too. Now I'm just spending the next... forever... finishing the projects.


[ 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. ]

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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by ftballfan » Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:20 pm

Getting WEMP up on the northern shore of Lake Superior is very impressive. I would have expected WKLZ on 98.9 before WEMP



cckadlec
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:36 pm

KLZ's primary coverage is on the east shore of Lake Superior, the north and west shore of Lake Huron, and the north and east shore of Lake Michigan. Keep in mind also that stations to the southwest are more likely and more intense at this location due to the shoreline facing southwest.

But fear not, it will make plenty of appearances in my other Lake Superior scans.
ftballfan wrote:
Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:20 pm
Getting WEMP up on the northern shore of Lake Superior is very impressive. I would have expected WKLZ on 98.9 before WEMP


[ 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. ]

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Terrace Bay, Ont. Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:03 pm

TERRACE BAY, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 26, 2018 0935-1035 & 1055-1145 / 13°C
Terrace Bay Beach: 48°46'17.0"N 87°06'58.9"W (615 ft.)
Pumphouse Beach: 48°46'34.9"N 87°05'16.6"W (645 ft.)
81 stations total / Average distance: 202 mi.

Heading counter-clockwise around Lake Superior, here is a bandscan from Terrace Bay, Ont., the second bandscan atop Lake Superior and 35 miles to the west of the first. Conditions - cold in the mid-50s with light rain - were especially dead at this location with an hour spent on the beach and another hour for comparison on the east side of town 45 feet above the water. In comparison to the scan of the day before, take a dozen stations from the southwest (Wisconsin) and move them to the southeast (Michigan) and you've got this scan.

Due to the orientation of the coastline, Marathon favors the southwest while Terrace Bay favors the south, even the Lake Michigan stations, allowing my 7-mile local back home to be heard at 364 miles. The average distance of all 81 known stations is 202 miles, the most distant of all Great Lakes scans to date. Equipment was my Grundig G8 and stations with asterisks were received on seek.

Listen to the 93.1 CFNO top-of-hour ID (the only non-CBC local)

Image

Click on the above image to view it more clearly.

88.1 -
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 3dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (241 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (318 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
89.1 -
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / brief (199 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian / 100kw / faint (284 mi.)
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 3dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
90.3 WBLV MI Twin Lake / Blue Lake Public R. / 100kw / faint (364 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / in null (268 mi.)
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / 2dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (141 mi.)
91.3 KUWS WI Superior / WPR Ideas / 83kw / 5dBµ, mono (270 mi.)
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 7dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
91.9 -
92.1 -
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
92.5 -
92.7 -
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (302 mi.)
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / 50dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
93.3 -
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
93.7 -
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / weak (157 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
94.7 -
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / faint, mono (258 mi.)
95.3 -
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (293 mi.)
95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
95.9 -
96.1 -
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (260 mi.)
96.5 -
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country / 42kw / 5dBµ, mono (283 mi.)
96.9 -
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
97.5 WTAQ WI Glenmore / NewsTalk 97.5 & 1360 / 3kw / faint (305 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
98.1 CBON ON Sudbury / Ici Première / 50kw / fade-up (325 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock / 2.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (290 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin' Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (249 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (197 mi.)
99.3 WOWN WI Shawano / B99.3 / 14kw / fade up and down (284 mi.)
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (277 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
100.5 -
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
100.9 -
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
101.3 -
101.5 WJNR MI Iron Mountain / Frog Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 3dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (293 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 2dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
102.1 -
*102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 40dBµ, mono (23 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 2dBµ, mono (268 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (246 mi.)
103.1 -
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (305 mi.)
103.7 -
103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / faint (246 mi.)
104.1 -
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
104.5 WZTC MI Traverse City / Bob FM / 1.75kw / in and out (284 mi.)
104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / WPR News & Classical / 17.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (231 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (197 mi.)
104.9 -
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / faint in car (272 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
105.5 WGKL MI Gladstone / Kool 105.5 / 20kw / 2dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (307 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (265 mi.)
106.1 -
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 3dBµ, mono (251 mi.)
106.5 -
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (278 mi.)
106.9 -
107.1 -
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (212 mi.)
*107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 40dBµ, mono (23 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 10dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
107.9 -

Inconclusive signals: 88.1, 92.1, 93.9, 100.5, 104.1

The view from the Terrace Bay Beach radio site where the river empties into Lake Superior:

Image


[ 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. ]

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Turkeytop
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by Turkeytop » Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:34 am

Amazing photo. You have a rare talent.


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

cckadlec
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Sat Nov 24, 2018 2:39 am

Thank you, and top o' the turkey to you this Thanksgiving, Turkeytop. I can only say that once a year. It's weird to combine DX and photography. I wish I had done it sooner, though I at least did it a bit in the past. Just a bit though.
Turkeytop wrote:
Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:34 am
Amazing photo. You have a rare talent.


[ 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. ]

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Kama Bay, Ont. Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Sat Nov 24, 2018 2:56 am

KAMA BAY LOOKOUT, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 26, 2018 1345 - 1515 / 19°C
Location: 48°57'59.2"N 87°59'08.7"W
960 feet (360 feet above lake level)
81 stations total / Average distance: 191 mi.

The third bandscan in the Lake Superior series, here is Kama Bay Lookout, high above Lake Superior. Kama Bay Lookout is beside the water and 360 feet above it. The day had quite miserable weather as a low-pressure system was very slowly passing through and while the forecast consistently claimed it would clear up, it just wouldn't... and the next day, much the same dense overcast and rain. Very not cool. However, the torrential downpours abruptly quit as I pulled up to this site and for some time, some of the clouds cleared enough for some sunshine. When I was finally finished with my two spins through the band, it started to rain once again within no more than two minutes. After lunch at Tim Horton's, I managed an unplanned bandscan inland at Ouimet Canyon, which provided me with some of the strongest reception of the day (coming soon...) Stations with asterisks were on seek, though there aren't many here.

Image
Click the bandscan map for the full version.

88.1 WHJL WI Merrill / V. of the Master //90.7 102.7 / 63kw / 2dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
*88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 30dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
88.5 WGNV WI Milladore / The Family / 100kw / faint (311 mi.)
88.7 -
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 0dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
89.1 -
*89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 35dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
89.5 WCLQ WI Wausau / 89Q / 90kw / 1dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
89.7 -
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 3dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian / 100kw / faint (309 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 10dBµ, mono (234 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (282 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (320 mi.)
90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith Radio / 2kw / 0dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / 1dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master //88.1 102.7 / 9.3kw / 1dBµ, mono (221 mi.)
90.9 WHRM WI Wausau / WPR News & Classical / 81kw / 5dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (137 mi.)
91.3 -
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (228 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / faint (129 mi.)
92.1 WMEQ WI Menomonie / Cl. Rock 92.1 / 17.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (330 mi.)
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
92.5 WJJQ WI Tomahawk / Northwoods 92.5 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (253 mi.)
92.7 -
92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / Classical MPR / 70kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //100.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
93.3 -
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
93.7 WCYE WI Three Lakes / Coyote 93.7 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (228 mi.)
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
93.9 WTBX MN Hibbing / Hot AC / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
94.1 -
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (204 mi.)
94.7 -
94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
95.1 CJOA ON Thunder Bay / UCB Canada / 250w / 3dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
95.3 -
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 1dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono + images (172 mi.)
95.9 WMQA WI Minocqua / Kool 95.9 / 22kw / 0dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
96.1 WJMC WI Rice Lake / Country / 50kw / weak (290 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
96.5 -
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
96.9 -
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 / 100kw / behind 97.3 interference (201 mi.)
*97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 65dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
97.5 = 97.3
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / faint (216 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock //92.7 / 2.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 2dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (298 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin' Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono + 98.9 (132 mi.)
*98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 65dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono + 98.9 (200 mi.)
99.3 -
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / faint (171 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
*99.9 CJUK ON Thunder Bay / Magic 99.9 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
100.5 WDTX WI Rothschild / Sports Fan 100.5 / 25kw / 3dBµ, mono, weak (297 mi.)
*100.7 CFNO-1 ON Nipigon / Hometown Sound //93.1 / 200w / 60dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
100.9 = 100.7
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
101.3 -
101.5 WJNR MI Iron Mountain / Frog Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (217 mi.)
*101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 30dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 3dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
102.1 -
102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 10dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (129 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono + images (219 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master //88.1 90.7 / 98kw / 1dBµ, mono (275 mi.)
102.9 -
103.1 -
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
103.5 CKED ON Shuniah Twp. / Energy 103-104 / 10w / 5dBµ, mono (60 mi.)
103.7 WWIB WI Hallie / Christian / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (306 mi.)
103.9 -
104.1 -
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
104.5 WAXX WI Eau Claire / Country / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (329 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (212 mi.)
104.9 -
105.1 = 105.3
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
105.5 = 105.3
105.7 WCUP MI L'Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 98kw / 3dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (295 mi.)
106.1 -
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 1dBµ, mono (231 mi.)
106.5 -
106.7 -
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
107.1 -
107.3 -
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 15dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
107.9 -

Inconclusive signals: 89.1, 89.7, 96.5, 107.3

Tuning the dial at the Kama Bay Lookout:

Image

The view of Kama Bay at the tippy-top of Lake Superior:

Image


[ 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:

Ouimet Canyon, Ont. Bandscan

Post by cckadlec » Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:26 pm

OUIMET CANYON, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 26, 2018 1830 - 1920 / 14°C
Location: 48°47'20.9"N 88°40'01.2"W (6 mi. inland)
1320 feet (720 feet above lake level)
56 stations total / Average distance: 163 mi.

Ouimet Canyon is a location 720 feet above lake level and 6 miles inland (about 20 miles inland from the real lake, excluding the bays), making it the only inland scan, mostly because the dial is empty aside from 3 or 4 stations everywhere else inland. It's west of Nipigon at the very top of the lake and is quite remote with virtually no people around. Conditions were quite shitty with dense overcast, cool air, and intermittent sprinkles in midst of a strong low pressure system overhead. Despite this, the location had some of the strongest reception along the lake with the signals that were heard coming in at near-local strength.

This was also one of the very few locations where I made a few recordings, though very limited due to time and daylight constraints. Other signals that I wanted to record would fade out as I hit record, and others had issues due to faulty connections in my setup that were triggered by the cold and moisture causing static electricity. :roll:

Here is WGLQ's TOH ID, WRUP's ID, and WPFF reception. GLQ and K-Love are two stations that come in almost everywhere along the Superior shores. The WPFF recording is similar to what TCM and Lite 96.3 sound like all along the north shore of Superior with some fading but holding in well enough to follow the happenings in a talk show.

Asterisks indicate the signal was received on seek.

Image
To view the full size image, click the above map.

88.1 -
*88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 30dBµ, mono (30 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (280 mi.)
88.7 -
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (220 mi.)
89.1 -
*89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 25dBµ, mono (30 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, mono (254 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (131 mi.)
89.9 -
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (172 mi.)
90.3 -
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (275 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (329 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master / 9.3kw / 5dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (208 mi.)
*91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (121 mi.)
91.3 -
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 40dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
91.7 -
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / 5dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
92.1 -
*92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
92.5 -
92.7 -
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (333 mi.)
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //100.7 / 50kw / 20dBµ, stereo (95 mi.)
93.3 -
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
93.7 -
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / weak (232 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 35dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
94.5 -
94.7 -
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
95.1 -
95.3 -
95.5 -
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (169 mi.)
95.9 -
96.1 -
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (298 mi.)
96.5 -
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (211 mi.)
96.9 -
*97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 / 100kw / 25dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
*97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 45dBµ, mono (21 mi.)
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / Good Time Oldies //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / weak (159 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
98.1 -
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock / 2.6kw / 15dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
98.5 -
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin' Eagle / 52kw / 20dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
*98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 45dBµ, mono (21 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (186 mi.)
99.3 -
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (179 mi.)
99.9 -
100.1 -
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
100.5 -
*100.7 CFNO-1 ON Nipigon / Hometown Sound //93.1 / 200w / 25dBµ, stereo (21 mi.)
100.9 -
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / weak (143 mi.)
101.3 -
101.5 -
*101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 30dBµ, stereo (30 mi.)
*101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 20dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
102.1 -
102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 20dBµ, mono (95 mi.)
*102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono (220 mi.)
102.7 -
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (284 mi.)
103.1 -
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (159 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (330 mi.)
103.7 -
103.9 -
104.1 -
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (147 mi.)
104.5 -
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (208 mi.)
104.9 -
105.1 W286BC MI Marquette / Fox Sports //WKQS HD-2 / 250w / 3dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 40dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
105.5 -
*105.7 WCUP MI L'Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (301 mi.)
106.1 -
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (225 mi.)
106.5 -
106.7 -
106.9 -
107.1 -
107.3 -
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 15dBµ, mono (95 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 15dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
107.9 -

Inconclusive signals: None

The view looking away from Lake Superior up the canyon:

Image

The view looking toward Lake Superior 6 miles away, though the dense overcast weather and moisture in the cold air makes visibility quite crappy, though with the naked eye, it's still easy to see the water:

Image


[ 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. ]

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Turkeytop
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by Turkeytop » Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:41 pm

So, how do you manage to ID all the stations? Radio stations these days are notorious for not giving an ID. Or, if they do, they often don't use their call letters. They use a made up name like "Country 102," or "Snake 95."


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

cckadlec
Posts: 308
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
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Re: Lake Superior Bandscan Series

Post by cckadlec » Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:19 pm

Here's the thing about lake tropo: it's a closed circuit mesoscale system, a lot like an actual circuit (not that I know a lot about those, except for that playing with electricity can be rather shocking...)

If you put all of my Lake Superior maps together (most are actually done, just not yet on this board) on a hard drive and flip through them as a slideshow of sorts, you'll notice that about 80% of the stations are always the same at each location. It's not especially random at all.

Therefore, when it comes to IDing stations, it's extremely easy for Lake Superior, a lot like Lake Michigan. You hear CHR on 97.1, it's GLQ. Every time. (Actually, GLQ is heard at EVERY location along the lake.) Country on 106.3 is usually Maverick. French on 88.1... not many choices there. Public talk on 89.5: Sault Ste. Marie. Country on 97.3: Hodag. Any music at all on 100.1: Jack (notorious for LITERALLY playing what they want, I must have logged 5 different formats on that frequency and all IDed as Jack in the end, so I kinda got the picture early on, except at Mackinaw where it was Beaver Island).

The only times where I even have to wait for IDs is in the case of 96.3 or 90.5, for example, in which case it's either Lite or Hits on 96.3 or K-Love or Promise on 90.5 and both sets of stations play similar or the same music at most times. But in many cases, BOTH are in on each frequency for many locations, so I can automatically log both stations. However, for logging signal levels, I sometimes need to tell them apart with an ID unless they are both the same signal level (also quite common, actually!).

You never need to hear call letters for stations to ID them. If you're hearing "Kool" on 95.9, it's not like it's some station 500 miles away. It's Minoqua. Or you just listen to an ad and you know right away where the station is from. Geography is sorta my thing. I know my towns, I know my dialects, etc., so it's easy to tell a Northwoods dialect from a Northern Michigan dialect, for example.

But I can literally fly through the band at a place like Ouimet and only have to listen for 3 or 4 IDs on the whole band. You just know the station the moment you hear it once you're familiar with how the propagation works and what to expect. The first few sites on the east shore of the lake were more difficult as I wasn't aware of what was usual, though I was aware of what I was expecting to hear. There was a lot more confirmation needed at those sites. The simple fact is... when you're mobile and there is no cell reception, which there virtually NEVER is on a beach due to the marine layer blocking it, sometimes you aren't aware of the fact that there are TWO stations of the same format on a frequency and you have no ability to look up who is playing what program. It can be risky to assume. Sometimes I do, and I regret it. But also sometimes you HAVE to when you're being eaten alive by dozens of mosquitoes, daylight is disappearing, and/or it's raining, or in a few annoying cases, E-skip is eating away at your local band and you gotta hurry up. But on a lake like Superior, it's sparse enough where it's quite simple most of the time.

However, Lake Erie and Ontario are more challenging with so many translators and stuff. You could notice on all my scans - and I'm up to about a dozen Superior maps and scans posted on other DXing lists - the time to finish a scan is usually about 2-4 hours. 101 frequencies to sift through, and sometimes there are 150 stations at a site. Rochester (NY) was a shitshow because conditions were enhanced, so I was getting Ottawa and Montreal and translators and just piles and piles of stations and hadn't scheduled 4 hours for that into my day. I go through the band once, then I go back and concentrate on the signals that I circled that I wasn't so sure about and need more info from, then I go through the band quickly one more time to compare, find any other signals that may be in/out that I had missed, and judge how stable conditions are.

And that's kinda the process of it. A bit later on, I'll release an article on sorta the art of doing mobile bandscans and you can see in detail how I do it. People usually comment "WTF!!" if I post my actual written bandscans because they're so cluttered. My Lake Huron scans in June were a mess, but after 40 scans by the end of August, I had really perfected a method and organization that made things work like clockwork so that I didn't accidentally forget something... like a single frequency, or to jot down a location, temperature, conditions, times, programs, etc.

And to answer any other similar questions, when in a rush, and it applies especially to the non-comm band (pain in my ass), I used program names and jotted down exact times of different mentions, such as a topic of discussion, so after a week when I had Internet again, I could go home and if there were two public stations (91.7 Alpena vs. Rhinelander was a really common one at every site), I could say "well, this one is airing classical, which I heard, but this one has a talk program," so there's your match. But in the case where BOTH were airing a talk show, then I often had to use my notes and look into program descriptions or even listen to archived audio to match who was talking about what to obtain the match.

In the case of "I dunno wtf this was" or "the damn station is there... but it's so weak I can't even figure out what they're saying," then it is sadly banished to the "inconclusive stations" list, which I include at the end of every scan nowadays. 92.1 was always one of those frequencies on Superior. Pissed... me... off! Always 92.1. Timmins is popular on the lake, but Wisconsin is always possible in many locations too, so it's a big question mark. Sometimes if there was only a single station match within a few hundred miles, I'd make the assumption it was that one station even if it was too weak, but if there were two stations in the region, it would be too big of a question mark, so I'd have to surrender them to inconclusive.

And that's that! :razz
Turkeytop wrote:
Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:41 pm
So, how do you manage to ID all the stations? Radio stations these days are notorious for not giving an ID. Or, if they do, they often don't use their call letters. They use a made up name like "Country 102," or "Snake 95."


[ 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. ]

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