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Author Topic: WSMR 89.1 Sarasota FL (heard in WV)  (Read 2725 times)

Offline bobbert

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WSMR 89.1 Sarasota FL (heard in WV)
« on: April 15, 2020, 1729 UTC »
Sorry for the late posting as I was in the midst of driving to a meeting & had no acces to cellular signals to post this....
At 2100 UTC, I was driving down the mountain at Kumbrabow State Forest, located near Elkwater Dam, Randolph County, WV.  When I started down the southeasterly descent, I began hearing a distant radio station playing classical music.  It was at 89.1, FM.  Usually there's an NPR-related station out of Roanoke, VA (on that freq) which I always receive as I travel easterly, & it always has "All Things Considered" during that time frame.  In this case though, there was classical music.  Once I was in the valley, the reception (miraculously) became crystal clear.  When I arrived at the post office (In Huttonsville, 26273), I was able to see the RDS on the display & it showed WSRM, Classical, 89.1.  My elevation at the time was 2,000 feet in the valley.  At the onset of reception, my elevation was close to 2800-feet.
The announcer did a psa for donating old vehicles (for NPR), however, when they did their call letters & numbers (89.1 and 103.9) no geographical location for the radio station was mentioned.
I went back to the supt. residence here at the state forest, looked up the call letters + the frequency, & saw that the station was based outa FLORIDA!!! 
The radio I heard the station on is an AM/FM unit, in a 2012 Ford Excape XLT.  Nothing special, but has very good reception, for a non-touch screen head unit.  Its' RDS Display was showing WSMR; Classical. 89.1
Is this some special type of eskip-event? 

Alternatively, condition of our skies were gray, with a cold front moving, with heavy snowfall.  Local-to-me stations had very poor reception.  lot's of fading and static (no thunderstorms were in the area). 
I should contact the station, however I don't think they'd give a sh!t.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2020, 0307 UTC by bobbert »
LOCATION: ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO, near OHIO RIVER
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Offline East Troy Don

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Re: WSMR 89.1 Sarasota FL (heard in WV)
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2020, 0158 UTC »
Here's some info on WSMR (and I disagree, the station would be interested in your DX snag).  Distance from the Tampa repeater to Huttonsville WV is 755 miles.
Nice catch.

WSMR CLASSICAL 89.1

City   Sarasota, Florida
Broadcast area   Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, Tampa Bay Area
Branding   Classical WSMR
Slogan   Florida's Classical Music Station
Frequency   89.1 MHz
Translator(s)   103.9 W280DW (Tampa, relays WUSF HD2)
Repeater(s)   89.7-2 WUSF HD2 (Tampa)
First air date   May 1991 (initial license)
Format   Classical music
ERP   54,000 watts
HAAT   135 meters (443 feet)
Class   C1
Facility ID   64255
Transmitter coordinates   27°6′1.00″N 82°22′18.00″W
Former call signs   WAYG (1991-1996)
Owner   University of South Florida
(University of South Florida Board of Trustees)
Sister stations   WUSF
Webcast   Listen Live
Website   wsmr.org
Primary: Yaesu FRG-7700  Secondary: ICOM R75 Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  Alpha Delta  SWL Sloper antenna. : Also, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: EAST TROY WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 320 meters .  75 miles (but not far enough) NNW of Chicago

Offline bobbert

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Re: WSMR 89.1 Sarasota FL (heard in WV)
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2020, 0207 UTC »
Alright then!!! I'll give 'em a shout! THANKS EAST TROY DAN for the motivation to do so!
Still, I wasn't all too familiar with FM commercial stations & their feelings about reception reports.
On a side note, I can hear WWVU on a daily basis here at the top of the mountain in Huttonsville, WV. 
I am unsure how to check lineal measurements, but if someone can get me in the right direction, that'd be great.
Wishing that I had a recorder, as I could've snagged the audio from WSMR & then posted it online for proof.
I'll be sure to carry around my Roland RO-5 from here out!
I'm new to any type of DX'ing altogether, & since I'm a manager for a well known place down here, I have no time to study anything about dx'ing or pirate radio & the likes.  Not to make excuses, I just don't have the time to jot down detailed notes or even sit for a few minutes to monitor stations. 
I do make an earnest attempt to hear W.O.R. as much as possible (when I am eating dinner or similar).
LOCATION: ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO, near OHIO RIVER
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Offline East Troy Don

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Primary: Yaesu FRG-7700  Secondary: ICOM R75 Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  Alpha Delta  SWL Sloper antenna. : Also, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: EAST TROY WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 320 meters .  75 miles (but not far enough) NNW of Chicago

Offline bobbert

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Re: WSMR 89.1 Sarasota FL (heard in WV)
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2020, 0313 UTC »
Thanks again!
Much appreciated...
I just sent the station a reception report to WSMR, via email.
I also sent a reception report to a college radio station located in Morgantown, WV.  WWVU, 91.7 FM.  Reception for that station is spotty here, though its always crystal clear & I know of at least three places on the top of our little mountain range here (Rich Mtn) to which I can reliably hear it.  They play some very good modern college-audience-styled music.  Very enjoyable + innovative modern music!
LOCATION: ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO, near OHIO RIVER
Belka-dx Max
BHI Compact In-Line Noise Eliminating Module
3Eartools headphones
Dipole 66' Inverted Vee at home or attached 3' whip mobile when traveling + away from r/f

 

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