We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Author Topic: Possible Franken-FM Pirate, 87.7MHz?  (Read 11116 times)

ThaDood

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1648
  • Likely, not where you are.
    • Extreme, Part #15!
    • Email
Possible Franken-FM Pirate, 87.7MHz?
« on: February 11, 2022, 0739 UTC »
2/10/2022, 9:20PM EST, commuting from one job location to another and put the truck stereo on 87.9FM for possible pirates and Part #15'ers on satellite radio. Exiting from an industrial park, I was hearing co-channel bleed-over. It wasn't 88.1FM, but 87.7FM, to my surprise! (Possible Franken-FM on TV audio CH6, 87.750MHz? There were clues to tell me. Audio wasn't loud, but maybe 1/2-level of commercial FM, and MONO. Audio didn't sound compressed, but did sound limited, and no gain to quiet passages, like TV. Good, strong, full-quieting, signal that was heard for over 2 miles, when I rounded the valley side that I was traveling on. Unfamiliar with artist aired, but what sounded like a mix of modern rock with soul thrown in. After +2 miles, the signal went from full-quieting to faded gone within a few hundred feet of rounding a valley side. Signal, never recovered after that. This isn't the 1st suspected Franken-FM that I've heard traveling. The last time was in Western New York, almost 20 years ago, traveling through the Allegany Indian Reservation, jamming classic rock on 87.7FM. Heard that one for almost 10 miles, further than I've heard known analog CH6 TV LPTV and translators. Anyway, I thought that it was a neat catch, just wish that I had time to check it out more. 
The best two statements of advice that I've ever gotten are from my brother-in-law in the early 1990's. 1st one, when I bought a used '89 Olds Cutless, my bro-in-law said, "Congratulations!!! You've just bought a deficit!". The other, was on a work environment, " No matter where you go, it's going to be f***'ed -up!". No truer words have been spoken.

ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 34679
  • Westminster, MD USA
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Possible Franken-FM Pirate, 87.7MHz?
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2022, 1226 UTC »
Nice catch!

I often leave the car radio on 87.9 as well, looking for FM pirates. I haven't found any, however.  :P
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! [email protected]
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

ThaDood

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1648
  • Likely, not where you are.
    • Extreme, Part #15!
    • Email
Re: Possible Franken-FM Pirate, 87.7MHz? Not there this week.
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2022, 0807 UTC »
Crap... Didn't hear it on-air this time via job site commute this time. Hmmmmmmmmm... Is somebody reading this that this subject pertains too? I wonder...
The best two statements of advice that I've ever gotten are from my brother-in-law in the early 1990's. 1st one, when I bought a used '89 Olds Cutless, my bro-in-law said, "Congratulations!!! You've just bought a deficit!". The other, was on a work environment, " No matter where you go, it's going to be f***'ed -up!". No truer words have been spoken.