Now available on FM (sort of...)

The Talk Station is working to provide our broadcasts to as many people as possible, with as many options as possible.  WMKT broadcast live 24 hours a day on 1270AM, streaming live on the internet, and now broadcasts live on the FM sub-carrier of 105.9FM WKHQ!!! 

What is a sub-carrier?

FM radio transmitters also generate other frequencies than a standard FM radio can hear, these are known as sub-carrier frequencies (sometimes called SCA radio). WKHQ (known on the air as 106 KHQ) is heard on a standard FM radio (called the main carrier in the radio business), at 105.9FM, there are other frequencies (known as the sub-carrier frequencies) beyond what a standard FM radio can receive available for broadcast use. Being co-owned stations, WMKT has chosen to take advantage of one of these KHQ frequencies (67 kHz) and broadcast The Talk Station programming there as well for you to enjoy.  A special sub-carrier radio is required to receive WMKT on the KHQ sub-carrier.  The programming on the sub-carrier channel is the same programming heard on 1270AM 24 hours a day. 

Sub-carrier radios work mostly the same as other radios.  To hear WMKT using a sub-carrier radio, simply tune to 105.9FM.  After tuning the radio to 105.9FM, using the sub-carrier switch, select the 67 kHz frequency and there we are! 

WMKT does not sell sub-carrier radios.  However provided below is a selected list of some SCA/sub-carrier radios available for purchase from other distributors.  WMKT does not recommend or endorse any particular brand, store, or manufacturer.  We provide the sub-carrier broadcast as another option to be able to receive The Talk Station as a public service to you the listener. 

http://www.radiosca.com/

http://grandview.diytrade.com/sdp/333453/4/pd/1700489.html

http://www.compolinc.com/

http://www.metrosonix.com/

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=SCA1C

http://www.daytonindustrial.com/products.htm

1270AM WMKT Daytime Service Map

WMKT operates at our full power of 27,000 watts during daylight hours (average monthly local sunrise to local sunset). It is classified by the FCC as a Class B station, ND-D, DA-N (non directional day, directional night). This means during the day we broadcast our 27,000 equally in all directions.

WMKT at night is licensed to operate with a directional antenna pattern. We must reduce our power to 5,000 watts and point our signal to the north so we will not interfere with other radio stations on the same and nearby frequencies at night. This is the reason some listeners cannot receive WMKT (like all other Northern Michigan AM stations) after local sunset. WMKT has a very large night coverage area; most of it however is aimed at the east central U.P. and beyond. At times our nighttime coverage pattern continues over Canada and the North Pole. We have even had several listener reports in various countries in Europe!

Detailed WMKT Full Power Schedule is listed below.

Our Daytime antenna is a single guyed wired tower, 160 feet tall. Our nighttime directional antenna array consists of 3 guyed towers, all 160 feet in height.

The WMKT main transmitter is a “Nautel XR25”, (30,000 watt capable) solid state transmitter. Our backup unit is a 5,000 watt “Sparta 705” tube transmitter. The WMKT audio processing unit is an Omnia 3 AM.

We link our programming via a studio to transmitter link (STL) from our Petoskey Studios to the Charlevoix Transmitter site. Our Traverse City Studios are linked via digital lines to our Petoskey Studios.

WMKT Transmitter Full Power Schedule

January 8:15am-5:30pm

February 7:45am-6:00pm

March 7:00am-6:45pm (Standard Time)

March 8:00am-7:45pm (Daylight Savings Time)

April 7:00am-8:30pm

May 6:15am-9:00pm

June 5:45am 9:30pm

July 6:00am-9:30pm

August 6:45am-8:45pm

September 7:15am-8:00pm

October 8:00am-7:00pm

November 8:45am-6:15pm (Daylight Savings Time)

November 7:45am-5:15pm (Standard Time)

December 8:15am-5:00pm