stereo and mono signals

[Bob Nelson <bobonradio@yahoo.com>]

I've mentioned how I've been able to pick up WNEF
(91.7 Newburyport, // WUMB 91.9) in Beverly when
WMWM (also 91.7) is off. When 'NEF first signed on,
I'd pick them up (again, when WMWM was off) in stereo.
Now their signal in Beverly seems to be in mono (on
my car stereo).

Now, I don't know if they're suddenly just
broadcasting in mono or whether stereo signals can
only be picked up in mono after a certain point--
which leads me to ask this question:

Can stations which normally broadcast in stereo be
picked up in "mono" in their fringe area? In other
words, if you were in your car and at home, you'd
pick them up but even though you have the receiver
set to "stereo", it defaults to "mono"... You still
pick up the signal, but in mono, not stereo.

By the way:
-- some FM stations prefer to be in mono-- I think
WBUR is usually, if not always, sending its signal
in mono due to its many talk and news shows.

--my own station, WMWM, once broadcast in mono for
awhile; there were three phone lines leading to
our transmitter on top of Meier Hall at Salem State--
one for each stereo speaker and one as a "remote
control" to turn the station on and off. One such
line was having problems, so we went upstairs and
switched the transmitter to mono so we'd at least
be on "both speakers". Not stereo quality, but at
least "coming out of both speakers".

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