WKQX was a great signal from Day 1. 97.9 as well. Both went on at the same time under Emmis. I can still get 97.9 on my Sony tuner even with a first adjacent translator in town.

Initially the rule was for 1% of the station's power output. The FCC relaxed HD power rules and they went on I believe 4 or 5%. I think those two stations might have been the first to use that power level.

Most of the Sears Tower was redone in 2020-2021. iHeart for example has all new HD equipment now. WGCI's HD used to never make it up here. 1% power. Now they do, because with the new equipment, they have the 5%. Same deal with B96. Used to never be able to lock it up here. Now it is possible.

You can usually tell if a station has newer equipment if it just displays the call letters or the station name on the PAD. No -FM.