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Data Dump: Largest FM Coverage Areas in the Upper Midwest

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Jon Ellis

It’s something radio nerds drool over: a huge, full Class C FM signal, nearing the 100kW at 600 meters above average terrain maximum for FM stations in the U.S.

Here’s a look at the biggest FM signals in the Upper Midwest:

StationCityFrequencyFacilityTX site60 dBu radius
KTPTRapid City, SD97.9100kW/579mTerry Peak91km
KSLTSpearfish, SD107.1100kW/579mTerry Peak91km
KZENCentral City, NE100.3100kW/562mNear Genoa90km
KTWBSioux Falls, SD92.5100kW/555mNear Rowena90km
KFMWWaterloo, IA107.9100kW/550mNear Rowley90km
WAXXEau Claire, WI104.5100kW/549mNear Fairchild90km
KDRBDes Moines, IA100.3100kW/547mAlleman89km
KZZIBelle Fourche, SD95.9100kW/545mTerry Peak89km
KDDXSpearfish, SD101.1100kW/545mTerry Peak89km
KUNICedar Falls, IA90.9100kW/524mNear Rowley88km
KSQYDeadwood, SD95.1100kW/521mTerry Peak88km
KRCFLead, SD (CP)96.7100kW/501mTerry Peak87km

As you can see, many of the largest signals in the region transmit from Terry Peak in South Dakota’s Black Hills. Radio nerds can drive right by the towers since Terry Peak Summit is actually an overlook open to the public.

For those not on Terry Peak, most have one thing in common: TV towers.

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