Listening to FM Radio Stations

How to Listen

Baofeng G11S, Retevis RB27

• Press the black rubber [-] button located on the left side of the radio, directly below the PTT (Push To Talk) button, to enter FM mode.
• Press the [+] button to seek a station in the forward direction, or press the [-] button to seek a station in the reverse direction.

Baofeng GM-15PRO, Radioddity GM-30

• Press the black rubber [-] button located on the left side of the radio, directly above the PTT (Push To Talk) button, to enter FM mode.
• Enter the desired frequency using the numeric keyboard. (e.g. enter “1011” for 101.1 MHz)
• Press the [⌃] and [⌄] buttons on the top row to increase or decrease the frequency.

For best reception:

• Place the radio near a window if you are using it indoors.
• Keep the radio away from RF noise sources such as computers and power adapters.
• Keep the antenna oriented vertically.
• Consider using a high-gain antenna.

Priority Override Feature

The radio will continue to monitor the VHF or UHF frequency that was selected before entering FM mode. If a signal is detected on that frequency, the radio will temporary switch out of FM mode so that you can hear the VHF or UHF transmission. Shortly after that transmission is completed, the radio will automatically return to FM mode.

Emergency Alert System

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires radio and TV broadcasters, cable TV, wireless cable systems, satellite and wireline operators to provide the President with capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency. Messages can interrupt radio and television to broadcast emergency alert information. In many cases, radio and TV stations continue to operate when other means of alerting the public are unavailable, providing a layer of resiliency to the suite of available emergency communication tools.

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Local FM Radio Stations

Frequency (MHz)	News	Call Sign	Content	Branding	Location	Power (W)	RB27 Stock	GM-15PRO Stock	GM-15PRO High-Gain
88.3		WKDN	Christian	Family Radio	State College	1,800			x
89.1		WRXV	Christian	Rev FM	State College	600	x	x	x
89.3								x	x
89.5									x
89.7									x
89.9		WTLR	Christian	Way Truth Life Radio	State College	25,000	x	x	x
90.5		WRPV	Christian	Rev FM	Allport	1,600	x	x	x
91.5	NPR	WPSU	Public Radio	Public Media	State College	1,700	x	x	x
91.9		WMMH	Christian	The Compass	Houtzdale	610	x	x	x
92.5									x
92.7		WJSM	Southern Gospel	Christian Radio Since 1965	Martinsburg	1,900			x
93.1		WPQP	Top 40	Pop 93.1	Clearfield	1,700	x	x	x
93.3									x
93.5									x
93.7		WBUS	Classic Rock	The Bus	Boalsburg	330		x	x
93.9									x
94.1									x
94.3		WBXQ	Classic Rock	Q-94	Patton	2,100		x	x
94.7									x
95.3		WZWW	Adult Contemporary	95.3 – 3WZ	Bellefonte	790			x
95.5		WFGI	Country	Froggy 95	Johnstown	57,000		x	x
95.9		WQQP	Top 40	Pop 95.9 FM	Sykesville	1,500			x
96.5		WKYE	Adult Contemporary	Key 96.5	Johnstown	50,000		x	x
96.9	ABC	WTRN	Adult Contemporary	Easy Favorites	Altoona				x
97.5		WDDH	Country	The Hound	Saint Marys	19,500		x	x
98.1		WFGY	Country	Froggy 98	Altoona	30,000		x	x
98.5		WCPA	Classic Hits	Passport Radio	Clearfield			x	x
98.7		WFEQ	Classic College Radio	Freq U	State College	2,200		x	x
98.9									x
99.1		WRKW	Rock	Rocky 99.1	Ebensburg	50,000		x	x
99.5		WMAJ	Adult Contemporary	99.5 – The Bus	Centre Hall	850	x	x	x
100.1		WWOT	Top 40	Hot 100.1	Altoona	3,000		x	x
100.5									x
100.7	ABC	WTRN	Nostalgia	Easy Favorites	Tyrone	250	x	x	x
100.9								x	x
101.1		WFGE	Country	Big Froggy 101.1	State College	8,500	x	x	x
101.3									x
101.5									x
101.7		WGRC	Christian	The message is the music!	Lewisburg	3,000		x	x
102.1		WIFT	Country	Bigfoot Country	Dubois	28,000	x	x	x
102.5								x	x
102.9		WOKW	Adult Contemporary	OK! 102.9	Clearfield	350		x	x
103.1		WAPY	Classic Hits	Happy 103.1	State College	370		x	x
103.5		WHUN	Oldies	Hunny 103.5	Huntingdon	160		x	x
103.9									x
104.3							x	x	x
104.9		WRKY	Rock	Rocky 104.9	Hollidaysburg	730		x	x
105.3								x	x
105.5								x	x
105.7									x
105.9		WQCK	Rock	QWiK Rock 105.9	Philipsburg	710	x	x	x
106.1									x
106.5									x
107.3		WCOH	Contemporary Christian	A friend you can turn to	Dubois	18,500		x	x
107.5									x
107.9		WKVB	Christian	K-Love	Port Matilda	450	x	x	x

PARA FM Reception Testing

A series of tests were conducted on May 27, 2022 by a PARA member who was standing in his driveway in Allport at an elevation of 1640 ft. The radio’s antenna was oriented vertically with the radio held at eye level about one foot from the body.

The following radio configurations were tested:

• Retevis RB27 with stock antenna
• Baofeng GM-15PRO with stock antenna
• Baofeng GM-15PRO with a 16″ high-gain whip antenna

An X in one of the last three columns indicates that a very clear signal was received using that configuration.

Conclusions

• The GM-15PRO is much more sensitive than the RB27 on the FM band.
• A high-gain whip antenna provides significant improvement for FM signals.