This page list ALL of the home stations in the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula area. Note that some stations considered out-of-market and/or fringe (rimshot) are also included. This type of station will put in a listenable signal to certain parts of the area and sometimes will garner enough listener-/viewership to register in ratings "books"... » If you have any news, updates, additions or corrections... e-mail them to editor@VARTV.com.

WCNV 89.1 206A

Format: Classical/Jazz/Public Affairs//WCVE-FM Richmond VA On-Air Positioning: 88.9 WCVE Community Of License: Heathsville VA Owner: Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation Website: ideastations.org/wcvefm Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Facilities: 305' 5 kW / Directional Antenna Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 54' 22" N 76° 29' 9" W FCC Facility ID: 90292 Frequency Background: Was to be on the air June 2006 but delays pushed back the sign-on date until late 2/2007. The station said, "One big reason for the delay is the actual build of the antenna. The steel that goes into the construction of the antenna comes from overseas, and there is presently a steel shortage. That situation will be remedied shortly. We are also waiting on approval from the FCC regarding alterations we have made with the signal pattern that will allow us to increase our over-land coverage so we can reach as many listener as possible in the Northern Neck." The original CP (Construction Permit) was granted on 4/13/2004. Took the call letters WCNV on 4/27/2004. The station is directional to the SE somewhat to protect sister station WCVE. This is a satellite station for WCVE-FM/88.9 Richmond.

WTYD 92.3 222A

Format: Album Adult Alternative On-Air Positioning: 92.3 The Tide Community Of License: Deltaville VA Owner: Davis Media HD Radio™: Not Licensed RDS: No Website: tideradio.com Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Facilities: 525' 2.4 kW Service Designation: FM – Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 29' 37" N 76° 26' 30" W FCC Facility ID: 86175 Frequency Background: Started Internet streaming on Friday 3/10/2006. Moved the WTYD call letters from 107.9 to 92.3 (previously WSRV) on 12/9/2005 in anticipation of the breaking of the simulcast, to a single frequency, with the Triple A formatted 107.9/West Point. Davis Media, whose only station at the time was Triple A "107-9 The Tide" WYTD West Point/Williamsburg, agreed to purchase Bullseye Broadcasting's 50s-70s Oldies "Surf 92.3" WSRV Deltaville/Gloucester in August 2005 for $850,000 and immediately started a LMA (local marketing agreement). Davis Media purchased WWBR/107.9 (now WTYD) from Jim Campana's Winner Broadcasting. Bullseye Broadcasting was another company of Jim's. Jim passed away October 2004. His widow Sherry Campana took over both companies and ends up selling both stations to Davis Media. The 92.3 frequency signed on January 5, 1999 with an oldies format from Westwood One. In May, 2003, they dropped Westwood One in favor of "Local and Live" programming; continuing to program "Oldies" from the late 50s thru early 70s. Late 2002, "The One and Only Oldies Station" slogan was dropped in favor of "The Greatest Hits of All Time." They targeted a 35+ audience on the Mid-Peninsula, Newport News and Williamsburg with music, news, sports, traffic and William & Mary football and Basketball. When Hampton Roads lost their only Oldies station in January of 2001 (regained one in December 2001), this station got noticed, picked up some listeners and started to show up on Arbitron's "radar screens." WSRV built new studios in the Spring of 2003 in historic Gloucester Court House at 6558 Main Street.

WRKZ 97.7 249A

Format: Mainstream Rock On-Air Positioning: 97-7 The Rocket Community Of License: Lexington Park MD Owner: Somar Communications Inc Website: 977therocket.com Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Facilities: 298' 3.3 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 38° 16' 57" N 76° 33' 35" W FCC Facility ID: 61314 Frequency Background: Changed call letters back to WYRX from WRKZ on 1/22/2008. Changed call letters from WYRX to WRKZ on 9/12/2007. Changed the long time call letters of WMDM for WYRX on 7/6/2006. In late 5/2006, the station dropped (50-70s) "Oldies 97.7" for Modern Rock/Alternative -- "97-7 The Rocket, Southern Maryland's New Rock Alternative." Somar (the then current owners) picked up "Moondog" to run its stations (WMDM/97.7, WSMD/98.3, WKIK/102.9, WPTX/1690) a couple of months previous to the format flip. In early 6/2006, Moondog said to a local newspaper "What will you hear (on the new 97.7)?... Rage Against the Machine, Butthole Surfers, whatever … There’s no corporate VP telling me to play these 5 songs every week.” Eight days later, the same newspaper reports that the owners had canned Moondog. Quickly in mid-6/2006, 97.7 morphed into Mainstream Rock -- "97-7 The Rocket, Southern Maryland's Rock Station." Provides pretty good coverage on the Northern Neck. Can also be heard in DC's southeastern suburbs. Used to be "Power 97.7" with a Hot AC/CHR format. Then they switched it to Legendary Rock - 97.7 as some sort of classic rock/hits mix. Then to Westwood One's Country "97-7 The Bay".

WSMD 98.3 252A

Format: Mainstream AC On-Air Positioning: Star 98.3 Community Of License: Mechanicsville MD Owner: Somar Communications Inc Website: star983.com Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Facilities: 328' 3 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 38° 24' 49" N 76° 46' 31" W FCC Facility ID: 60776 Frequency Background: Changed formats from Classic Hits to Mainstream AC on 4/22/2006. Best heard on the Northern Neck. Originally signed on as WQMR as "98.3 Star FM" as a very odd mix of classic hits/'70s and '80s pop with current CHR. For weeks a format change was planned back in the early '90s then became "Star 98.3" - same music but new jingles and dumped the jocks for automation. In the late 90s, WSMD played the song "Macarena" over and over again for almost the entire weekend which prompted tons of calls to the Charles/St. Mary's 911 system (listeners thought their was trouble at the station). It was a stunt - and format was switched to all classic hits. Also broadcasts the Baltimore Ravens football. Owned by Somar Communications along with WKIK 1560 AM and 102.9 WKIK-FM.

WXGM 99.1 256A

Format: Adult Contemporary On-Air Positioning: Xtra 99.1 RDS:  PS (Program Service) XTRA99-1 TA (Traffic Announcement): No PTY (Program Type): SOFT Community Of License: Gloucester VA Owner: WXGM Inc Website: xtra99.com Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 328' 6 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 24' 36" N 76° 32' 52" W FCC Facility ID: 74209 Frequency Background: Carries the Washington Redskins football games and is the flagship station for CNU football and basketball. WXGM is LIVE 6-11AM and from 2-7PM Monday thru Friday (with Harvey King there 20+ years) with the area's only local station that has a full-time news department; headed up by Herman King since 1991. Local newscasts can be heard at the top of every hour from 6-9AM following ABC News and live newscasts at the bottom of every hour during that same time period. The rest of the dayparts are filled with ABC Radio Networks satellite feed - "Starstation." Xtra has a heavy community involvement in all of their listening area which includes all of the Middle Peninsula, West Point, York County, Williamsburg and James City County. WXGM is the official Coleman Bridge connection station. Even though WXGM primarily serves the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck, it garners listeners on the Lower Peninsula and shows-up in the Arbitron ratings. They used to simulcast on their AM side (WXGM-AM) but that was dropped on 8/1/03. Signed-on in July 1991 with an AC format currently heard.

WNNT 100.9 265A

Format: Mainstream Country On-Air Positioning: River Country 100.9 Community Of License: Warsaw VA Owner: Real Media Inc Website: rivercountry1009.com Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 325' 3 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 56' 39" N 76° 45' 5" W FCC Facility ID: 49025 Frequency Background: Agreed and adopted by the FCC on 10/11/2006 to move to 107.5, still as a Class A (up 6kW / 328ft), so that Cox Radio could move Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Chester to a new COL (community of license) -- Lakeside, move to a new frequency -- 100.9 and to increase its power/antenna height to 25kW and 328 feet (or any combination of). Station owners were compensated for the move. More on the frequency changes at FCC.gov. Northern Neck & Tidewater Communications, headed up by Linwood Wadsworth, "River Country 100.9" WNNT Warsaw agreed to sell to Real Media Inc in March 2006 for $1.58 million. At the same time of the WNNT announcement, Rappahannock Communications (headed up by Wadsworth's brother Danny) agreed to sell his station WRAR-FM/105.5 Tappahannock to Real Media 2006 for $2.08 million. Danny Wadsworth donated the AM side of WRAR, Gospel "Rejoice 1000," to the non-commercial outfit A.C.T.I.O.N. WNNT's format is "Today's Hot New Country and Your All Time Favorites." Station features include a live morning show from 6-9 a.m., The Swap Shop from 9-9:30 a.m., live mid-mornings, The Midday Drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a live afternoon show from 3-6 p.m. This station has been on the air since 1949.

WKWI 101.7 269A

Format: AC On-Air Positioning: 101-7 Bay FM RDS:  PS (Program Service) WKWI1017 TA (Traffic Announcement): NO PTY (Program Type): ADULT Community Of License: Kilmarnock VA Owner: Two Rivers Communications Website: 1017bayfm.com Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 400' 2.2 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 43' 26" N 76° 23' 27" W FCC Facility ID: 7773 Frequency Background: The FCC granted WKWI/101.7 Kilmarnock to move its antenna higher up on its tower location in late February 2007 with its antenna diplexed with the newly granted move of sister WIGO/104.9 White Stone in late February 2007 to the same tower. Was owned by Buffalo Broadcasters, headed up by Joseph Patton, until 2004. Changed to AC at 6PM (“101-7 Bay FM”) August 23, 2004, following sale to Two Rivers Communications Inc from Buffalo Broadcasters. Two Rivers has rebuilt the 30 year old station, with all new electronics and staff. They have increased the community involvement and news commitment, with the addition of local news director Mark Huffman, formerly with CBS Marketwatch, and added CBS Radio News hourly. Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck weather is aired via custom reports from The Weather Channel. Flipped to Oldies (from AC) on January 1, 2002 playing mainly rockin oldies & classic hits from 1960 thru 1982.

WSUV-LP 102.3 272L1

Format: On-Air Positioning: Community Of License: Susan VA Owner: Antioch Baptist Church Website: None Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 196' .024 kW / LPFM stations are considered nondirectional Service Designation: FL — FM Low Power Application or Authorization / Class L1 Transmitter Site: 37° 23' 9" N 76° 19' 2" W FCC Facility ID: 127098 Frequency Background: Original CP granted on August 26, 2002. Took the WSUV-LP calls on 3/16/2004. Licensed on 11/4/2004.

WKIK 102.9 275A

Format: Country On-Air Positioning: Country 102.9 Community Of License: California MD Owner: Somar Communications Inc Website: country1029wkik.com Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Facilities: 394' 4 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 38° 22' 3" N 76° 36' 55" W FCC Facility ID: 60777 Frequency Background: Best heard on the Northern Neck. Used to sport the WRFK calls. Also has an AM side WKIK 1560 but isn't really receivable in this area.

WESR 103.3 277B

Format: Hot AC On-Air Positioning: 103.3 The Shore Community Of License: Onley-Onancock VA Owner: Eastern Shore Radio Website: wesr.net Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 321' 50 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class B Transmitter Site: 37° 43' 2" N 75° 41' 1" W FCC Facility ID: 18386 Frequency Background: WESR carries local news and weather with an hot / adult contemporary format. WESR has been on the air since July 17, 1968 and can also be received in the northern parts of Hampton Roads and for some reason on I-95 between Richmond and Fredericksburg. WESR is a RDS radio station (call letters only...'WESR') and is owned by Eastern Shore Radio Inc.

WIGO-FM 104.9 285A

Format: Country On-Air Positioning: 104.9 WIGO Country Community Of License: White Stone VA Owner: Two Rivers Communications Website: 1049wigo.com Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 400' 4.1 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 41' 12" N 76° 25' 47" W FCC Facility ID: 72904 Frequency Background: Changed its call letters from WIGO to WIGO-FM on 3/14/2007. The FCC grants WIGO/104.9 White Stone to move its antenna to the same tower (a couple of miles NW of Kilmarnock) as that of sister WKWI/101.7 Kilmarnock in late February 2007. Drops simulcast of AC WKWI/101.7 on 5/8/2006 at 6 a.m. for "104.9 WIGO Country" WIGO. Standards "Great Songs and Great Memories, Windy 105" WNDJ was dumped to start a simulcast with sister station AC "101-7 Bay FM" WKWI Kilmarnock on 4/29/2006 in anticipation of a format flip on 104.9. Requested the call letters WIGO when then sale from Windmill Communications was complete (3/2006). Two Rivers Communications (Bill Sherard, President) agreed to acquire WNDJ/104.9 from Windmill Communications (Millard Younts, President) for $700K in February 2006. Windy 105 programed a Nostalgia American Classic Sound, reaching primarily an adult age 25+ demographic. When WNDJ, it was voted most listened to radio station in the area (Lancaster, Northumberland, Middlesex and Mathews Counties) in 2001 and 2002 by the Arbitron Company (subject to limitations of source © 2002 the Arbitron Company, 2001 Radio County Coverage, Monday-Sunday 6A-Mid, non-metro counties 12+, AQH, and Cume). They have a transmitter located in Lancaster County.

WRAR 105.5 288A

Format: Hot AC On-Air Positioning: 105-5 WRAR RDS:  PS (Program Service) WRAR1055 TA (Traffic Announcement): NO PTY (Program Type): NO Community Of License: Tappahannock VA Owner: Real Media Inc Website: wrarfm.com Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 328' 6 kW Service Designation: FM — Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 52' 27" N 76° 43' 37" W FCC Facility ID: 55172 Frequency Background: Rappahannock Communications, headed up by Danny Wadsworth, agreed to sell his station to Real Media Inc in March 2006 for $2.08 million. Wadsworth donated the AM side of WRAR, Gospel "Rejoice 1000," to the non-commercial outfit A.C.T.I.O.N. At the same time of the WRAR announcements, Northern Neck & Tidewater Communications (headed up by Wadsworth's brother Linwood) "River Country 100.9" WNNT Warsaw agreed to sell to Real Media for $1.58 million. Features ABC News on the top of every hour, carries Paul Harvey and has a Saturday night all-80s show. First started broadcasting in 1970.

WUSH 106.1 291A

Format: Country On-Air Positioning: US106, America's Country Community Of License: Poquoson VA Owner: Sinclair Communications HD Radio™: Not Licensed RDS:  PS (Program Service - Dynamic) US106 TA (Traffic Announcement): No PTY (Program Type): Country Website: us1061.com Internet Audio Stream: LISTEN LIVE! Audio Clips: 3/7/2004 - WPYA: Adult Hits: "106-1 BOB FM" :31 (WMA) 3/7/2004 - WPYA: Adult Hits: "106-1 BOB FM" :30 (WMA) 3/8/2004 - WPYA: Adult Hits: "106-1 BOB FM" :31 (WMA) 3/9/2004 - WPYA: Adult Hits: "106-1 BOB FM" 3:45 (WMA) 2/2/2005 - WKCK: Country "Kick 106" drops format for CHR 1:00 (WMA) 2/4/2005 - WZNR: CHR: "The Zone@106.1" debuts after a stunt in a stunt 2:00 (WMA) 9/21/2005 - WNRJ: Rhythmic AC: "Energy 106-1" debuts after CHR "The Zone@106-1" is dropped 7:06 (WMA) 12/14/2007 - WNRJ: Hot AC: "Energy 106-1" drops format to stunt Country as "Garth 106" 0:45 (WMA) 12/18/2007 - WUFH: Country "US106, America's Country" formally debuts at 5 p.m. 2:10 (WMA) Facilities: 502' 1.7 kW Service Designation: FM – Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 04' 24" N 76° 17' 33" W FCC Facility ID: 78447 Frequency Background: Call letters changed from WUFH to WUSH on 1/2/2008 due to a mistake (the FCC or station owners?). Changed the calls letter from WNRJ to WUFH on 12/20/2007. Formally introduced the Country format on Tuesday 12/18/2007 at 5 p.m. as "US106, America's Country." The first track was Alan Jackson's (ft Jimmy Buffett) "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere. "Dropped Adult CHR on Friday 12/14/2007 just before 2 p.m. to stunt with a Country format using "Garth106." That weekend the station played long sets of Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, George Strait, etc. Segued from a Rhythmic CHR to a Adult CHR in the early morning hours of 8/27/2007, dumping all on-air personalities but keeping the Energy 106-1 moniker. Segued from a Rhythmic AC to Rhythmic CHR near the end of January 2007; about the same time Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach was dropped for Sports. Call letters changed from WZNR to WNRJ on 9/29/2006. Dropped CHR "The Zone @ 106-1, All The Hits, Not Just Some Of Them" for Rhythmic AC "Energy 106-1, Music That Makes You Move" at 12:04 p.m. on Thursday 9/21/2006. Dropped the Country format as "Kick 106" WKCK at 5PM on 2/2/05 for CHR -- "The Zone @ 106-1." The station looped Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" until 2PM two days later on 2/4/05. Swapped formats and call letters with sister station KICK FM (93.7) just after midnight on Thursday 9/23/04. When they moved from 93.7, they started using "Kick 106" instead of "106-1 Kick FM." The brand new frequency signed-on at 6PM March 7, 2004 as "106-1 BOB FM" from Poquoson VA. BOB FM played music from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today and some from the 60’s, with little repetition. Was known as WEXM until 12/2003 and very briefly as WKOC for January/February 2004. Changed calls to WPYA on 2/27/2004. This frequency was also home to Sinclair's translator for WROX/96.1. In 1995, they fired up the translator which was to help eliminate signal dropout in the downtown area on 96.1. The on-air positioning statement was "106-1 Downtown, 96-1 All Around - 96X." Tidewater Communications, which owned rocker 'FM99' WNOR and '106.9 The Fox' WAFX at the time, filed a petition with the FCC to deny WROX a construction permit. WROX collected more than 3,000 signatures from listeners requesting 96X be granted the go-ahead which it was by the FCC. The translator signed-off on March 7, 2004.

WBQK 107.9 300A

Format: Classical On-Air Positioning: W-Bach, Williamsburg's Classical Station Community Of License: West Point VA Owner: Davis Media HD Radio™: Not Licensed RDS:  PS (Program Service) W BACH TA (Traffic Announcement): No PTY (Program Type): Classical Website: wbach.net Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 328' 6 kW / Directional Antenna Service Designation: FM – Full Service FM Station / Class A Transmitter Site: 37° 27' 2" N 76° 48' 48" W FCC Facility ID: 73906 Frequency Background: After a two month delay, Classical "W-Bach" debuted on 5/1/2006. Changed call letters to WBQK (from WTYD) on 12/9/2005 in anticipation of the format change to Classical as "Williamsburg's Classical, W-Bach" on 3/1/2006. Became "107.9 & 92.3 The Tide" when the owners agreed to purchase Bullseye Broadcasting's 50s-70s Oldies "Surf 92.3" WSRV Deltaville/Gloucester in August 2005 for $850,000 and immediately started a LMA (local marketing agreement). Changed call letters from WWBR to WTYD 5/6/05. Sold to Davis Media, headed up by Thomas G Davis, for $1.125M. WWBR, in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk market, is the first station for Davis Media. Previous owner was Winner Broadcasting, headed by Jim Campana, who passed away. The station was run briefly by his widow Sherry; simulcasting sister station (Bullseye Broadcasting) 50s-70s Oldies "Surf 92.3" WSRV Deltaville. Jim Campana started the station back in 1989, first with Country as WPTG then satellite-fed Soft AC "107.9 FM The Breeze - Hit Music, Light as The Breeze" WWBR in April 2000. Simulcasted urban WWHV-FM/102.1 Virginia Beach VA (a TSA for $11,000/mo) from 2/2/03 to 1/7/05 and was known as "Hot 102.1 & 107.9." Best heard SE of Richmond and on the Peninsula of Hampton Roads.

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WRAR 1000

Format: Gospel On-Air Positioning: Rejoice 1000 Community Of License: Tappahannock VA Owner: A.C.T.I.O.N. Website: None Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: .5 kW daytime only Domestic Station Class: D Transmitter Site: 37° 57' 8" N 76° 48' 57" W FCC Facility ID: 55170 Frequency Background: Rappahannock Communications, headed up by Danny Wadsworth, agreed to donate WRAR, Gospel "Rejoice 1000," to the non-commercial outfit A.C.T.I.O.N. in March 2006. He maintained a "right of first refusal" if A.C.T.I.O.N decided to resell within a certain time. If A.C.T.I.O.N. took the station commercial, they would owe Wadsworth $100K. At the same time of the WRAR-AM announcement, Wadsworth agreed to sell WRAR-FM to Real Media Inc for $2.08 million and Northern Neck & Tidewater Communications (headed up by Wadsworth's brother Linwood) "River Country 100.9" WNNT Warsaw agreed to sell to Real Media for $1.58 million. Was doing Standards until March 2003. First started broadcasting in 1971.

WXGM 1420

Format: Standards On-Air Positioning: Timeless Classics Community Of License: Gloucester VA Owner: WXGM Inc Website: None Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: .74 kW day | .058 kW night / ND1 - Non-directional Antenna: Same constants day and night Domestic Station Class: D Transmitter Site: 36° 51' 29" N 76° 0' 28" W FCC Facility ID: 74208 Frequency Background: Picked up Standards format on 8/1/03 using ABC's "Stardust." Previously simulcast with FM sister "Xtra 99.1" WXGM/99.1 Best heard on the Middle Peninsula... south of Kilmarnock and SE of West Point and most of the Lower Peninsula. Since 1957.

WPTX 1690

Format: Talk On-Air Positioning: Talk 1690 Community Of License: Lexington Park MD Owner: Somar Communications Inc Website: None Internet Audio Stream: None Facilities: 10 kW day | 1 kW night / ND2 - Non-directional Antenna: Different constants day and night Domestic Station Class: B Transmitter Site: 38° 16' 57" N 76° 33' 35" W FCC Facility ID: 87109 Frequency Background: Was News/Talk until 12/31/2002. Dumped all-sports using SNN (Sporting News Network) to news/talk with CNN Headline News and G Gordon Liddy in July 2002. Carries the Baltimore Orioles baseball games. Provides pretty good coverage on the Northern Neck. The DC area's first expanded band AM station came to life in July 1998 as WMDM. This station used to be on 920 AM, also in Lexington Park. In early 2000, 920 was shut down and the PTX calls were moved to 1690. WPTX broadcasted a talk format with some nostalgic oldies music thrown in up until mid-2001 when it flipped to sports talk. Previously had an adult standards format and known by 'Legends 1690'.

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This is the main frequency for the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula area. Broadcasts at 1,000 watts of power 24 hours/day. The NWS office in Wakefield is responsible for programming. Background on NOAA Weather Radio... NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information direct from a nearby National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Working with the FCC’s (Federal Communications Commission) new Emergency Alert System (EAS), NWR is an "all hazards" radio network, making it the single source for the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public. NWR now broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - both natural (such as earthquakes and volcano activity) and technological (such as chemical releases or oil spills). Known as the "Voice of the National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NWR network has more than 480 transmitters, covering the 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the public service band between 162.400 and 162.550 megahertz (MHz) on seven NWR frequencies which are: 162.400 MHz, 162.425 MHz, 162.450 MHz, 162.475 MHz, 162.500 MHz, 162.525 MHz, and 162.550 MHz. Broadcast range from the weather radio transmitter is approximately 40 miles. The effective range depends on terrain, quality of the receiver, and indoor/outdoor antennas. Before you buy a receiver, make sure your area is covered by one of the transmitters. For the latest list of frequencies and transmitter locations, check the NOAA Weather Radio web site -- nws.noaa.gov/nwr. Believe it or not, several automobile manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover and Saab) equip their cars with radios capable of receiving NWR broadcasts. Several manufacturers of car radios (Audiovox, Clarion, and Panasonic) sell in-dash units capable of receiving NWR broadcasts. Manufacturers of citizen band radios with NWR channels include Cobra, Maxon, Midland, Radio Shack and Uniden.

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