Michigan Radio & TV Buzzboard

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:41 pm**

I listened today in the car and it sounded like a distant station here in Macomb County. I was half joking earlier, but did they null out Michigan or is my antenna broken? I am going to plug in my house stereo and see. Everything else comes in crystal clear, including WDVD and 98.7.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:50 pm**

MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:41 pm I listened today in the car and it sounded like a distant station here in Macomb County. I was half joking earlier, but did they null out Michigan or is my antenna broken? I am going to plug in my house stereo and see. Everything else comes in crystal clear, including WDVD and 98.7.

I think that's always been true. I'm no expert of the directionality of signals but it always struggled to make it up there.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:51 pm**

So, how long before we get a repeat song? I'm kind of curious. I suppose at least in the first several days we might be getting a bigger playlist than they're intending on regularly, but I'm enjoying it.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:54 pm**

BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:50 pm
MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:41 pm I listened today in the car and it sounded like a distant station here in Macomb County. I was half joking earlier, but did they null out Michigan or is my antenna broken? I am going to plug in my house stereo and see. Everything else comes in crystal clear, including WDVD and 98.7.
I think that's always been true. I'm no expert of the directionality of signals but it always struggled to make it up there.

Not really. 89X consistently made it to the Genesee County line near Holly and up to I-69 near Attica.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 4:01 pm**

radioandtventhusiast wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 2:25 pm Just heard a liner that said "no songs about beer, trucks and faceless women doing things, we're not a country station anymore" and heard several that said, "Get Back with your X, 89X".

"100% Alternative. 0% Boot. Uh... 10% Boogie."

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:02 pm**

MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:54 pm
BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:50 pm
MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:41 pm I listened today in the car and it sounded like a distant station here in Macomb County. I was half joking earlier, but did they null out Michigan or is my antenna broken? I am going to plug in my house stereo and see. Everything else comes in crystal clear, including WDVD and 98.7.
I think that's always been true. I'm no expert of the directionality of signals but it always struggled to make it up there.
Not really. 89X consistently made it to the Genesee County line near Holly and up to I-69 near Attica.

Periodically over the past 7 or 8 years, I've discussed how 88.7's signal seems weaker in SE Michigan than during 89X's glory years.

Their transmitter is either not cranking out full power, they made adjustments to their antenna bays to favor Canada, or their antenna efficiency simply isn't as good as it once was.

The signal strength is underwhelming in the car for sure (a touch weaker than 93.9 in some places). At the house, though, 88.7 actually seems a bit stronger than usual in recent days.

In those far northern fringe regions, 88.7 might also be prone to adjacent channel interference from 88.9, which is located near Leonard.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:32 pm**

MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:02 pm In those far northern fringe regions, 88.7 might also be prone to adjacent channel interference from 88.9, which is located near Leonard.

I grew up in Leonard - still just a flashing red light. You may be thinking of Imlay City.

I had no problem listening while driving from Rochester to West Bloomfield this morning. Great playlist, but i too am wondering if any on-air talent exist.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:35 pm**

MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:02 pm
MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:54 pm
BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:50 pm
MotorCityRadioFreak wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:41 pm I listened today in the car and it sounded like a distant station here in Macomb County. I was half joking earlier, but did they null out Michigan or is my antenna broken? I am going to plug in my house stereo and see. Everything else comes in crystal clear, including WDVD and 98.7.
I think that's always been true. I'm no expert of the directionality of signals but it always struggled to make it up there.
Not really. 89X consistently made it to the Genesee County line near Holly and up to I-69 near Attica.
Periodically over the past 7 or 8 years, I've discussed how 88.7's signal seems weaker in SE Michigan than during 89X's glory years.

Their transmitter is either not cranking out full power, they made adjustments to their antenna bays to favor Canada, or their antenna efficiency simply isn't as good as it once was.

The signal strength is underwhelming in the car for sure (a touch weaker than 93.9 in some places). At the house, though, 88.7 actually seems a bit stronger than usual in recent days.

In those far northern fringe regions, 88.7 might also be prone to adjacent channel interference from 88.9, which is located near Leonard.

Now that you mention it, at about 42 miles from the CIDR/CIMX tower, I'm receiving CIDR at a stronger level than CIMX (notwithstanding WFNT in the other direction at about 19mi)

I haven't really listened much since pure country 89 started....and I moved here after the switch.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:37 pm**

BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:51 pm So, how long before we get a repeat song? I'm kind of curious. I suppose at least in the first several days we might be getting a bigger playlist than they're intending on regularly, but I'm enjoying it.

I've been listening all day, no repeats yet - but I did just hear the hip for the second time today (different songs)

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:41 pm**

I heard the same Blur song twice in 30 minute and other songs multiple times as well. Lots of technical issues on the first day. Strange you would think the first days music would be prepared but its been hardly that to these old ears

syntheticexctasy wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:37 pm
BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:51 pm So, how long before we get a repeat song? I'm kind of curious. I suppose at least in the first several days we might be getting a bigger playlist than they're intending on regularly, but I'm enjoying it.
I've been listening all day, no repeats yet - but I did just hear the hip for the second time today (different songs)

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:46 pm**

ecsuser wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:32 pm
MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:02 pm In those far northern fringe regions, 88.7 might also be prone to adjacent channel interference from 88.9, which is located near Leonard.
I grew up in Leonard - still just a flashing red light. You may be thinking of Imlay City.

I had no problem listening while driving from Rochester to West Bloomfield this morning. Great playlist, but i too am wondering if any on-air talent exist.

Nope, I was thinking of Leonard.

Smile FM has a station near the Ford Proving Grounds broadcasting at 88.9 FM.

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

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:47 pm**

I heard Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" earlier. I'm not sure when the last time I heard it on any terrestial radio station.

I'm pretty sure I heard "Stargazing "a little while ago, as well as "Team" by Lorde earlier, so they're playing some of the pop hits that didn't go over well in 2013.

It's cool hearing the Tragically Hip, especially since 98.7 won't ever play it.

I feel like they're doing a something for everyone approach playlist wise, but I'm not sure how many casual listeners are into that approach.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:49 pm**

I wish they didn't play Stargazing; I also wish they didn't play Beggin' by Maneskin.

Overall, though, the playlist is good. I'll give it a B+.

It's certainly better than 98.7.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:51 pm**

How many 88.3's and 88.5's and 88.9's are around everywhere? I'm sure there's another 88.7 fucking up the program, too. Even back in the day, just a few miles from WPHS's tower, 88.7 came in like a champ. But that was 30 years ago. Between HD and a translator/repeater on every frequency every 10 miles, it's not shocking.

Posted: **Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:52 pm**

BTairtime wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:41 pm I heard the same Blur song twice in 30 minute and other songs multiple times as well. Lots of technical issues on the first day. Strange you would think the first days music would be prepared but its been hardly that to these old ears

syntheticexctasy wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:37 pm
BFSEsq wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 3:51 pm So, how long before we get a repeat song? I'm kind of curious. I suppose at least in the first several days we might be getting a bigger playlist than they're intending on regularly, but I'm enjoying it.
I've been listening all day, no repeats yet - but I did just hear the hip for the second time today (different songs)

Interesting, I did not catch that - they do use blur during that opening segment. I have heard a couple of glitches (at least twice the audio dropped for about a second or two, and once I heard what I can only describe as what sounds like a CD skipping (although I am smart enough to know they're not using CDs)

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