Clash in Financial Arenas
In the world of FM radio, certain regions in the United States stand out for their unique dial layouts, where full-power signals collide or overlap with similar strength. One such area is the northeastern U.S., particularly New York City and Philadelphia, where the proximity of FM stations has allowed them to coexist over the years with the aid of directional antennas.
Most New York City and Philadelphia FM stations follow the same 800 kHz separation pattern, a phenomenon that has been a motivating factor for the RadioLand app. The northeastern U.S., specifically New Jersey, hosts several grandfathered, short-spaced FM setups. These spacings fall within what the FCC classifies as Zones I and I-A.
A notable example of this phenomenon can be found in Central New Jersey, where the New York City and Philadelphia Class B FM stations are about equidistant. The Beltway area also hosts a short-spacing between 105.7 WJZ(FM) in Catonsville, MD, and 105.9 WMAL(FM) in Woodbridge, VA, which are approximately 48 miles apart.
WJZ also operates 47 miles from same-channel WQXA(FM) in York, PA, another Class B station. In the same region, 103.3 WPRB(FM) in Princeton, NJ, and 103.5 WKTU(FM) in New York are in close proximity. 94.5 WPST(FM) is licensed in Trenton, NJ, but its antenna is in Fairless Hills, PA, and is approximately 58 miles away from 94.7 WXBK(FM) in Newark, NJ.
Aside from New York City and Philadelphia, other notable locations where full-power FM radio signals collide or overlap with similar strength include the Philadelphia and Baltimore metropolitan areas, the region between Chicago and Milwaukee along Lake Michigan, the area on the Lake Erie Islands in Ohio, the corridor between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the region between Buffalo, New York, and Toronto, Canada, and possibly the area between Los Angeles and San Diego in Southern California.
These examples represent situations where geographically adjacent or nearby large radio markets have closely spaced or adjacent frequency assignments, causing overlap or collision of FM signals. If you have an example of locations where full-power signals collide, consider sharing it. You can contact the website at our [email protected] to share your findings.
Via the Longley-Rice method, locations like Plainsboro, N.J., can be found where both New York City and Philadelphia FMs register with about a 60 dBuV/m predicted signal field strength. In the FM band, a weaker signal 200 kHz away from a stronger one is a challenge.
Nick's Signal Spot, a feature exploring RF signals, propagation, new equipment, or related endeavors, continues to delve into these fascinating aspects of the FM radio landscape.
- The RadioLand app finds the 800 kHz separation pattern in most FM stations in New York City and Philadelphia, a pattern motivated by their unique dial layouts and signal overlap.
- In Central New Jersey, the New York City and Philadelphia Class B FM stations are about equidistant and coexist with the aid of directional antennas, as evidenced by locations like Plainsboro, N.J., where both stations register a predicted signal field strength of about 60 dBuV/m via the Longley-Rice method.
- Financial implications, such as technological advancements in antenna design or the potential for signal interference, may arise in regions like Central New Jersey, where full-power FM radio signals collide or overlap, as reported by Nick's Signal Spot, a feature exploring RF signals, propagation, new equipment, or related endeavors.
