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Author Topic: FM translators and tropo skip / temp inversions interference.  (Read 4285 times)

Offline ThaDood

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One big problem with these new AM stationed FM translators is that they've put them on FREQ's where out of town stations have come in just fine. Oh sure, on paper with the 1mV/M contours they may seem fine and clear, but most of us know that FM stations go well beyond that. This morning, while listening to the WCHS 580AM Charleston, WV FM translator, that country bumpkin blow torch station from Williamson, WV was popping through this morning. A station well over 100 miles south of me, in my very bad FM direction geographically. So, you can't stop tropo propagation, even with a well crowded FM dial. Just more RF crap to skip over when conditions have it. Damn, I miss FM DX'ing some 30 years ago.
Over the years I have to admit coming up with some no-so good ideas for products. The Skipping Cassette Decks, (In case you missed record skipping.), never took. Water Resistant Lollipops never caught on either, even though you could enjoy those in the rain and in the shower. Then, there's the Anatomically Correct Mrs. Butterworth Syrup Dispenser. (Just guess where the syrup came out of.) Nope, no takers.

Offline pinto vortando

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Re: FM translators and tropo skip / temp inversions interference.
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2018, 1810 UTC »
With tropo season finally here, decided to give FM Dxing a try having been away from it for some years.  Didn't know what to make of it at first.  The band was jammed with strong signals on nearly every freq. Turns out that now there seems to be a low power FM station shoehorned in on every slot.  My only DX was WHBC FM "Mix 94.1" Canton OH, a 160 mi path largely over water.
Seems like the FM band is now as overcrowded as the AM band.  :(   
Das Radiobunker somewhere in Michigan

 

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