97.1 Signal?

[Just Dave]

It was going in and out of the last few says here in McGregor Ontario. Then, like clockwork, at exactly 8:45 am yesterday morning it went from crystal clear reception to barely receivable (like someone threw a switch) and hasn't been back since. This is more than atmospheric stuff, guys.

[MWmetalhead]

Their sister station, 98.7 WDZH, had horrible audio issues yesterday around noon.

I've not listened yet today.

[Just Dave]

Their sister station, 98.7 WDZH, had horrible audio issues yesterday around noon.

I've not listened yet today.

Is it the same tower/transmitter, MW?

[hb2]

Their sister station, 98.7 WDZH, had horrible audio issues yesterday around noon.

I've not listened yet today.

Is it the same tower/transmitter, MW?

In response to this post, no, but see below:

The primary transmitter is 15 kW ERP on the WDIV tower, 892 feet HAAT.

I looked up WXYT-FM's aux(backup) transmitter details on Fccinfo.com and apparently they have 2 backups. One backup is also on the WDIV tower, only 499 feet HAAT at 50 kW ERP, the other backup is located on the WDZH 98.7 tower in Detroit, that one is only 28 kW ERP at 312 feet AGL.

I can listen to it in Rochester Hills clear with normal HD but I used my signal meter on my radio and signal strength seems weaker than usual/ expected. I haven't paid that much attention to the signal before issues were brought up here so can't elaborate on the amount of signal loss, just that it seems a bit lower strength than the other Detroit FM's

For more distant listeners having issues, I suspect they may be utilizing the 3rd scenario transmitter which would most likely cause a considerable loss of coverage mainly in the fringe listening areas due to lower power plus lower height. Any change of transmitter properties/ specifications could cause reception issues that normally wouldn't be there (cause new weak spots in signal, allow adjacent channel interference, etc)

[Just Dave]

Thanks for the info hb2.

[MWmetalhead]

Their sister station, 98.7 WDZH, had horrible audio issues yesterday around noon.

I've not listened yet today.

98.7's analog audio quality sounds better than usual right now.

I am unsure if the HD signal remains a complete mess.

[MegaHertz]

Something about 97.1 and 98.7 tend to suck out here. I bet if I jump in my work truck, something will be walking all over 98.7. I tend to get picket fencing on 97.1 early.

[MWmetalhead]

I will say when I drove cross state eight days ago, 97.1's signal seemed to be at full power.

88 7 reception is crappy near Brighton. What appears to be the 7th Day Adventist station from Owosso mixes with it.

Oddly, reception improves briefly west of Brighton (terrain shielding at play?) but then goes to complete shit near Pinckney Road.

In most of my vehicles through the years, I usually lost acceptable 89X reception between Pinckney Rd and Highland Rd along I-96, so not a major difference. Until this year, the station usually came in well in the car in the immediate Brighton area, though.

[hb2]

It was going in and out of the last few says here in McGregor Ontario. Then, like clockwork, at exactly 8:45 am yesterday morning it went from crystal clear reception to barely receivable (like someone threw a switch) and hasn't been back since. This is more than atmospheric stuff, guys.

I will say, I dont know if possibly there is a canadian station with a construction permit to put a repeater/ translator station somewhere in SW Ontario that is directly on 97.1 and causing interference with the WXYT signal on the Canadian side? Maybe they are turning the transmitter on/ off as testing goes on and that's the intermittent interference? I have not looked for any Canadian FM construction permits.

Kinda vice versa to CKSY and W232CA on 94.3 in Metro Detroit ( which doesn't interfere in Canada but does in US)

[Steve79]

It was going in and out of the last few says here in McGregor Ontario. Then, like clockwork, at exactly 8:45 am yesterday morning it went from crystal clear reception to barely receivable (like someone threw a switch) and hasn't been back since. This is more than atmospheric stuff, guys.

I will say, I dont know if possibly there is a canadian station with a construction permit to put a repeater/ translator station somewhere in SW Ontario that is directly on 97.1 and causing interference with the WXYT signal on the Canadian side? Maybe they are turning the transmitter on/ off as testing goes on and that's the intermittent interference? I have not looked for any Canadian FM construction permits.

Kinda vice versa to CKSY and W232CA on 94.3 in Metro Detroit ( which doesn't interfere in Canada but does in US)

Oh but W232CA does indeed interfere on the Canadian side. Its very difficult to listen to CKSY all over Windsor. It weird, CKSY comes in ok driving east to west, but driving North/South its all W232CA. ( unless there is good conditions from SW-Ontario ) then its all CKSY, but typically W232CA does interfere quite a bit.

[MWmetalhead]

W232CA's directional antenna is likely malfunctioning, in that case. Or, they are operating with non-approved specs.

[hb2]

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It was going in and out of the last few says here in McGregor Ontario. Then, like clockwork, at exactly 8:45 am yesterday morning it went from crystal clear reception to barely receivable (like someone threw a switch) and hasn't been back since. This is more than atmospheric stuff, guys.

I will say, I dont know if possibly there is a canadian station with a construction permit to put a repeater/ translator station somewhere in SW Ontario that is directly on 97.1 and causing interference with the WXYT signal on the Canadian side? Maybe they are turning the transmitter on/ off as testing goes on and that's the intermittent interference? I have not looked for any Canadian FM construction permits.

Kinda vice versa to CKSY and W232CA on 94.3 in Metro Detroit ( which doesn't interfere in Canada but does in US)

Oh but W232CA does indeed interfere on the Canadian side. Its very difficult to listen to CKSY all over Windsor. It weird, CKSY comes in ok driving east to west, but driving North/South its all W232CA. ( unless there is good conditions from SW-Ontario ) then its all CKSY, but typically W232CA does interfere quite a bit.

https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?c ... service=FX

As per this map on paper it's contoured around Canada to protect CKSY but sounds like not. Based on this map, and the noted interference, it sounds like they may be transmitting non- directional and giving local grade coverage into Windsor where there should be no signal at all

Never been to Canada or downtown Detroit (and checked signals) but that's real interesting... Wonder if it's always been like that since it was Family Life Radio or if something changed since the change of ownership? Surprised CKSY apparently isn't too worried about the interference... ??? Maybe they are? Who knows

As for the east/west/north/south reception differences, I've experienced it, but car radio antennas sometimes can have directional FM reception. I had a car that on weak signals, if the tx site was from the front (pointing toward transmitter) it was received the strongest. Current car it is strongest reception if tx site is from behind (point away from transmitter)

[SteveS]

I was getting a lot of static from Plymouth starting at about 7:08am which I haven't experienced before. It seems to be decent after several minutes.

EDIT: Spoke too soon. Lots of static at 7:22am.

[MWmetalhead]

I wonder if ice buildup is the culprit? Record cold temps this morning.

[hb2]

I checked it out too and in Rochester Hills seems normal on tv antenna (upgraded about 2 weeks ago to a ultra directional model), but on my HD radio with signal meter it was spotty and had to play around to get a strong signal. I always had an HD signsl but on the meter whereas it normally is maxing out or close to it, it is today bouncing between 20-90% signal strength with just simply moving the antenna

WXYT 97.1 has 2 backup transmitters, one lower than the main antenna on the WDIV tower in Southfield, and a second on the WDZH tower in Detoit. 97.1 and 98.7 were close in strength so I reasonably think WXYT is using one of the backup transmitters currently and not the main, giving weaker signals in outlying areas

Ice buildup definitely could have caused issues or even damage prompting a likely switch to a backup transmitter. Sometimes these repairs are tedious and very weather dependent. If a conduit segment(s) or antenna burnt out, depending on location and severity they could be down for weeks or months potentially, unless the issue is at the transmitter itself, then that could likely be fixed sooner.