Would FM broadcast propogation cause a freq shift?

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eyegor

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Today in Ulster County, NY I was tuned into 99.3 FM which is a simulcast of 107.3 WRWD off a different tower. However, what I was hearing was 104.1 WMRQ out of Hartford, CT. I'm assuming there was some sort of tropo ducting going on although the distance was only 75-100 miles. My newbie question is: Does this type of propogation also cause frequency shifting? And if so, is it two-way? An accquaintance of mine is a local radio DJ and he claims that when this happens the other station is experiencing the same problem. (i.e. 104.1 in CT hearing the 99.3 broadcast). Not sure I buy that. What say ye? Thanks for helping me understand.
 

prcguy

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No, tropo ducting does not cause a frequency shift, you are probably listening to a translator that is getting an FM channel from one area into another. There could be ducting going on allowing you to hear a distant station that would otherwise not serve your area but it could also be its been there all along and you just haven't noticed it before.
prcguy
 

n0nhp

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I have heard translators picking up and re-broadcasting out of area stations when conditions get right. You may be hearing a translator or your translator may be hearing another translator.....
I think I am trying to confuse myself here.
Your frequency shift is almost certainly man-made.
Bruce
 

eyegor

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translator??

Thanks for your replies. You've given me more to research now. I don't know how a broadcaster simulcasts off a distant tower on a different freq. I guessed (I never ASSume:)) that it was done either with some sort of sub-carrier or that the distant tower was working as a duplex repeater. In this case, able to hear the weaker home signal on 107.3 and rebroadcasting a much stronger 99.3.

If I understand you correctly, the local station may be using 104.1 as some sort of carrier (would this be a translator?) but due to atmospherics the distant signal is overriding it going into the rebroadcast tower.

P.S. It happened again this morning (8/27) with very similar wx conditions and roughly the same time. It seems to only be a morning issue so it seems there is some sort of ducting or skip component as well.
 
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