WQXR FM Reduction in TX Power

[otadtvman]

A family member lives 40 miles LOS from WQXR FM (NYC). She enjoyed listening to it for many years. However, all that changed on July 14, 2009:

WQXR has less range and population coverage on 105.9 than it had with its old signal on 96.3. WQXR's old and new signals both radiate from the same FM master antenna atop the the Empire State Building; but while WQXR's old signal (now WCAA's) is 6,000 watts ERP (effective radiated power -- the energy concentrated toward the horizon), its new signal (WCAA's old one) is 600 watts. The calculated signal strength of the new signal at 30 miles (covering about 14.5 million people) is the same as the old 96.3 FM signal at 42 miles (covering about 17.1 million people).

FM Fool WQXR reception results:

• 105.9
• 0.6 kW
• Signal RX: -69.4 dBM
• 26.7 Ft AGL LOS
• Rank order: #41 out of 65 total stations

They currently have a rooftop omni-directional turnstile antenna similar to the CM-3026, which is no longer able to receive WQXR due to its reduction in power from 6000 to 600 watts.

Which rooftop antenna will allow them to reliably receive WQXR?

Thanks

[otadtvman]

I recently heard that the new 105.9 WQXR is not as enjoyable as the original 96.3 WQXR, which had less talk and more non-repetitious music.

Can anyone recommend a "less talk" classical music station in the NYC / NJ / Philadelphia metro area that is most similar to the original 96.3 WQXR out of NYC?

Thanks

[Tigerbangs]

You would probably need a good directional FM antenna to get WQXR with it's new signal. I would recommend an AntennaCraft FM-6 aimed at the ESB: it has approx. 6dB gain, and is moderately directional. It should bring in WQXR at those signal levels. However, a lot will depend on the quality of the FM tuner involved.

There are adjacent stations in the NYC area on 105.7 and 106.1 which may cause adjacent channel interference with WQXR,therefore it is very important to have an FM tuner that is selective enough to reject the adjacent channels. I suggest looking at http://www.FMtunerinfo.com for good suggestions.