• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WAGV Channel 51, Harlan KY?

T

tripelo

Wondering about the status of WAGV, channel 51 (virtual channel 44) serving eastern KY, TN, & parts of other states?

As I understand it, about a year ago, severe weather damaged transmitter/antenna or both.

Since then WAGV has been operating at ERP of 40 kW.

However, WAGV is licensed for ERP of 550 kW.

Recently, a discussion with a WAGV representative (nontechnical employee) revealed that restoration of their licensed ERP (550 kW) is underway and would be completed shortly, probably in the next few weeks.

Anyone know about the transmitter/antenna status, or details related to WAGV's technical difficulties?

-----------------------------

Does WAGV carry sub-channels?

My Family TV lists WAGV as an affiliate.
 
I wondered what happenEd to this station. I used to receive them clearly in Lexington 95% of the time with my outdoor antenna setup. Now, I know why I haven't seen them! I don't remember any sub-channels or hi-def programming on ch 51/44.
 
KR4BD said:
... I used to receive them clearly in Lexington 95% of the time with my outdoor antenna setup
Click to expand...

Also, saw WAGV in Russell county (>90 miles east), probably when it was operating at high power.

At high power WAGV, channel 51 is undoubtedly a concern for the wireless industry (lower 700 MHz) in Lexington KY, Knoxville TN, Asheville NC, & maybe some other places.

Wonder if something like this could be related to the hold-up in getting back up to full power?

KR4BD said:
...I don't remember any sub-channels or hi-def programming on ch 51/44.
Click to expand...

Apparently, WAGV carries mostly religious programming via Living Faith Ministries, Inc
 
trapper12 said:
There is a Russell County Virginia and it is about 90 miles, give or take, east of Harlan Ky.
Click to expand...

Thanks trapper12. Interesting.

According to Wiki:

"Colonel William Russell III (March 6, 1758 – July 3, 1825) was a soldier, pioneer, and politician from Virginia and Kentucky."
Click to expand...

Russell County, Kentucky is named for him, but Russellville, Kentucky and Russell County, Virginia are named for his father.
Click to expand...

From WAGV POV, One on the right, and one on the left :)
 
According to a technical employee of WAGV, it will be some months before full power is restored.

Seems as progress is slowed due to difficult access to the transmitter/antenna mountain site and the fact that a sister station also suffered damage due to weather. The sister station is probably WLFG, a search of FCC records show that it is also operating at reduced power.

A good summary of information about both stations is available at http://www.rabbitears.info/

Type the call letters of the station-of-interest here: http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php

-----------------------------

Last month, an antenna was installed specifically to receive WAGV in Russell County, KY.

At low power, WAGV reception was solid about 80% of the time.
 
A request was posted at FCC site, today, Nov 8, 2012, for extension of existing STA to continue operating WAGV at 40 kW instead of licensed 550 kW.

...ACCESS TO THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER SITE, WHICH IS ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN KENTUCKY, WAS LIMITED DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS...
Click to expand...

Most interesting:

...A COAL SEAM WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN ON WHICH THE TOWER SITE IS LOCATED CAUGHT FIRE AND HAS BEEN CAUSING FOUNDATIONAL CONCERNS FOR BOTH THE TOWER AND TRANSMITTER BUILDING...
Click to expand...

.....THE LICENSEE REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TIME TO COMPLETE THE NEEDED REPAIRS BUT ANTICIPATES THAT THEY CAN BE COMPLETED WITHIN 6 MONTHS.
Click to expand...

.
 
WAGV (Channel 51) Transmitter Power?

Does anyone know if WAGV-51 has increased power, from 40 kW STA as it has been for the last few years?

Have some indication that signal strength increased in last few weeks or months.

secondchoice said:
That "coal seam burning" might be a lot longer than 6 months!
Click to expand...

Yes.

The following is a quote from current STA:

DECEMBER 2013 UPDATE: THE LICENSEE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS FURTHER EXTENSION OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY...

AS INDICATED IN THE LAST EXTENSION REQUEST, REPAIRS TO THE ANTENNA HAVE BEEN PROCEEDING, BUT HAVE BEEN SLOW DUE TO THE COAL SEAM WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN ON WHICH THE TOWER AND TRANSMITTER BUILDING ARE LOCATED.

AT THIS TIME, AS THE COAL SEAM CONTINUES TO BURN, THE OUTER PLATFORM ON WHICH THE TRANSMITTER BUILDING IS LOCATED HAS EXPERIENCED SOME CRACKING AND LOWERING. THE LICENSEE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY ENGINEERS TO CONTINUE MONITORING THE SETTLING AND COLLAPSING OF THE STRATA....
Click to expand...

Rabbit Ears says the current STA expires 6/13/2014

With FCC Spectrum action looming, could seem uncertain WAGV would ever go back to full power.
 
A request for STA appearing at FCC site today (6-13-2014) appears to answer the question in previous post.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101637228&formid=911&fac_num=37809

SINCE DECEMBER 2013, THE LICENSEE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO UNDERTAKE FURTHER CONSTRUCTION TO REPAIR THE FACILITY. SEVERE WEATHER MADE ACCESS TO THE SITE DIFFICULT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LICENSEE'S OUTSIDE ENGINEER WITH COAL EXPERTISE WHO WAS ASSESSING THE COAL SEAM UNDER THE SURFACE HAS BEEN ILL, BUT WHEN HE RETURNS TO GOOD HEALTH HE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COAL SEAM TO ASSESS THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE UNDERGROUND.

IN THE MEANTIME, WITH WARMER WEATHER, LICENSEE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE STATE OF THE SITE, EXAMINING FOR VISIBLE FAULTS AND CRACKS AROUND THE TOWER BASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LICENSEE HAS ENGAGED AN OUTSIDE ENGINEER TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE CURRENTLY INSTALLED ANTENNA AND OTHER EQUIPMENT AT THE TOWER MAY BE USED TO BRING THE FACILITY BACK UP TO INCREASED OR FULL POWER. THIS ASSESSMENT IS EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN DELIVERED. ONCE MORE IS KNOWN ABOUT WHETHER CURRENTLY INSTALLED EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED TO INCREASE POWER AND THE SAFETY OF THE COAL SEAM, IT IS EXPECTED THAT LONG-TERM PLANS FOR THE SITE CAN BE MADE.
Click to expand...

---------------------

Speculation:

With such problems, could be that station management may delay significant investment in facilities until the dust settles on the upcoming FCC spectrum auction and consequent repack.

---------------------

Regarding my earlier comment about signal strength.

Have some indication that signal strength increased in last few weeks or months.
Click to expand...

The recent apparent stronger signal into Russell County, KY may be a result of warmer weather. Often, signal strength increases with warmer weather, but in many cases tree foilage has a counteracting effect. In this particular case, there is no nearby tree foilage that could be blocking signal.
 
WAGV getting Diginets

According to RabbitEars, WAGV will soon have three new subchannels:

- Retro TV
- PBJ
- The Family Channel

attachment.php


http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=wagv

Likely, these changes will in more ways than one be 'well received' in eastern KY.

-----------------------

FYI: I have no affiliation with WAGV.
Became interested in it because my mother enjoys some of their gospel music.
 

Attachments

  • WAGV Potential Diginets.jpg
    WAGV Potential Diginets.jpg
    41.3 KB · Views: 56
Last edited:
WAGV (Channel 51) Transmitter Power?

Looks like WAGV still has transmitter and transmtter site problems.

The original Special Temporary Authority (STA) indicated 40kW. Guess they still maintain that lower power level.

From the FCC site:

DECEMBER 2014 UPDATE: THE LICENSEE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS FURTHER EXTENSION OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY MOST RECENTLY GRANTED IN FCC FILE NUMBER BEDSTA-20140612AAG. SINCE THE LAST STA EXTENSION REQUEST, THE LICENSEE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THE TRANSMITTER'S FORWARD POWER. WHILE THIS IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT, THE LICENSEE AND ITS ENGINEERS ARE STILL WORKING TO ISOLATE ALL ISSUES PREVENTING THE TRANSMITTER FROM OPERATING AT FULL POWER AND TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMITTER.

THE LICENSEE'S EFFORTS TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMITTER AND TOWER HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY THE TERRAIN AROUND THE TOWER AND TRANSMITTER SITE. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, THE SITE IS LOCATED ON A MOUNTAIN THAT HAS BEEN TROUBLED BY A BURNING UNDERGROUND COAL SEAM. ROAD CREWS ARE STILL MONITORING THE ACCESS ROAD TO THE TOWER SITE TO ASSESS ITS SAFETY FOR PASSAGE. AT THIS POINT, THE ROAD HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR PASSAGE ON FOOT OR ON A FOUR-WHEELER (ATV). HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS AND UPDATES NEEDED TO THE FACILITY, AUTOMOBILES AND TRUCKS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING PARTS AND EQUIPMENT TO THE SITE. THE LICENSEE CONTINUES TO RESEARCH WHETHER EXISTING EQUIPMENT AT THE SITE CAN BE USED TO BRING THE FACILITY UP TO FULL POWER.
Click to expand...
 
WAGV - Ongoing Transmitter Site Troubles

Thanks to an update message from RabbitEars

From the FCC Site:

Request for Extension of STA

October 2016 Update: The licensee respectfully requests further extension of special temporary
authority most recently extended in LMS Application Number 0000010534.
As previously reported, the licensee undertook significant effort and expense to rebuild the
roadway surface to gain access to the station’s tower site on a mountain. Since the last STA
extension request, access to the site has diminished due to flooding and erosion. This coupled
with continuing concerns with a problematic underground coal seam which must be monitored
for possible geologic subsidence (or pits) has meant evaluation of and repairs to the transmitter
have continued to be very slow. In fact, the site can only be accessed using 4x4 vehicles at this
time. The licensee is continuing its work with consulting engineers to evaluate and resolve the
problems with the site and the transmitter.
The public interest would be served by grant of the request for extension of STA to operate at
reduced power for 6 months while the licensee continues to monitor the site and works to make
the required repairs.
Click to expand...

Possibly, the completion of ongoing FCC Incentive Auction will help WAGV resolve the difficulties.
 
jb_ky said:
Along with WBKI. So LM communications will be getting a lot of money for that signal.
Click to expand...

Yes, WBKI's potent signal and central location probably made it difficult to repack Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, possibly Nashville and Knoxville & maybe some other cities.

LM had a winner there.

WAGV appeared to run a low-budget operation, programming was mostly talk and music.

Guess the wireless companies' 'money talked'.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom