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.