Current and Future Status of KAAY

[MN Maniac]

Had a chance to listen to the once-mighty KAAY from my parents' place in Conway. The signal...or should I say lack thereof...was appalling.

By day, it's only of moderate strength. Slightly weaker than 920. By night, it's nearly buried in the noise floor. This from barely 40 miles away. This from a former 50,000 watt Class 1-B clear channel station that had local strength into Minneapolis at night. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

What's the Big Cloud's plan here? Are they going to rebuild KAAY and resurrect the old girl to her former glory? If so, when? How long do they have before the license is permanently downgraded and the frequency broken down? If they're NOT going to restore KAAY to full 50kW licensed parameters, I'm sure WBAL, XEPRS, and a few others would be interested in opening up their nighttime patterns.

 

[Lancer]

it's like those who watched the Titanic sink. There's nothing the casual observer can do but helplessly watch.

 

[hoss cartrack]

I stayed up late the night the mighty KAAY-tanic hit the ice berg so to speak.....it was sad...but it has gotten worse...much worse.

 

[rgseark2009]

In my humble opinion, the radio station licensed to Little Rock that occupies 1090KHz in 2013 is NOT the real KAAY of 1962-1985. This pathetic gospel-huxter is a textbook example of what is wrong with radio in America. But its fate could be worse. The former KOTN 1490 of Pine Bluff is not even licensed these days, its ownership drove that station into the ground and the FCC finally deleted the license (the callsign belongs to one of the EAB stations in Southeast AR---KOTN 102.5 Gould).

 

[MoreMusic101]

Would you as an operator spend the money to fix AM? Is it worth it in this day and age? That station has serious problems that could take millions of dollars to fix.

 

[Jay Walker]

Would you as an operator spend the money to fix AM? Is it worth it in this day and age? That station has serious problems that could take millions of dollars to fix.

Seriously, it would not take millions to restore the site to it's previous technical ability.

If the "Cloud" Company owns the tower site and worse case the ground system/radials were toast on the antenna array, the cost of copper and installation would be a moderate expense close to six figures.

A new 50kw Nautel is around 100 grand so the project could be done in house for around $250 grand and probably less. This project would give you a facility with a fresh ground system, an HD capable transmitter, excellent coverage performance and state of the art sonic quality.

The current billing numbers or using the facility as a brokered programming outlet are the only limiting factors in whether it's worth doing...50kw 1190 in Dallas sells brokered time and makes a decent amount of income for CC and they've only got a highly directional 5kw signal at night.

 

[MoreMusic101]

Would you as an operator spend the money to fix AM? Is it worth it in this day and age? That station has serious problems that could take millions of dollars to fix.

Seriously, it would not take millions to restore the site to it's previous technical ability.

If the "Cloud" Company owns the tower site and worse case the ground system/radials were toast on the antenna array, the cost of copper and installation would be a moderate expense close to six figures.

A new 50kw Nautel is around 100 grand so the project could be done in house for around $250 grand and probably less. This project would give you a facility with a fresh ground system, an HD capable transmitter, excellent coverage performance and state of the art sonic quality.

The current billing numbers or using the facility as a brokered programming outlet are the only limiting factors in whether it's worth doing...50kw 1190 in Dallas sells brokered time and makes a decent amount of income for CC and they've only got a highly directional 5kw signal at night.

Note that I said it could take millions of dollars. There are things in the situation that are not being accounted for..

Within half a mile of the transmission lies a large Entergy substation that was built about twelve years ago. For KAAY to return to it's full 50,000 watt nighttime capacity, every metal point on this rather large, metallic structure has to be detuned. Anytime there are changes to that structure (and Entergy will make them), they have to go back and do it again.

So between the engineering costs, anything else that you have going, there are time and money issues that I'm not sure Entergy or Cumulus are willing to address. It's a bear of a situation.

 

[Jay Walker]

Would you as an operator spend the money to fix AM? Is it worth it in this day and age? That station has serious problems that could take millions of dollars to fix.

Seriously, it would not take millions to restore the site to it's previous technical ability.

Note that I said it could take millions of dollars. There are things in the situation that are not being accounted for..

Within half a mile of the transmission lies a large Entergy substation that was built about twelve years ago. For KAAY to return to it's full 50,000 watt nighttime capacity, every metal point on this rather large, metallic structure has to be detuned. Anytime there are changes to that structure (and Entergy will make them), they have to go back and do it again.

So between the engineering costs, anything else that you have going, there are time and money issues that I'm not sure Entergy or Cumulus are willing to address. It's a bear of a situation.

I'm not being argumentative with you ;D
However...
Since KAAY was licensed and operational from the current location long before the arrival of the Entergy substation, Entergy is liable and responsible for any de-tuning required on the substation to allow KAAY to be in directional compliance.

When I was chief of 50kw 1190 here in Dallas there were several miles of TXU High Tension power transmission structures that required de-tuning networks. TXU was and still is responsible for maintaining those networks. When TXU added structures near the 12 tower 1190 night-time site they were responsible for providing, installing, and maintaining de-tuning networks on TXU power transmission towers near the array.

The major advantage the KAAY transmission facility has, is the land is owned not leased and I was pointing out that it is possible for the KAAY transmission facility to return to it's previous performance level for less than $250k.

Is it worth it?

That is the $250,000 question.

 

[radiosaur]

Would you as an operator spend the money to fix AM? Is it worth it in this day and age? That station has serious problems that could take millions of dollars to fix.

Seriously, it would not take millions to restore the site to it's previous technical ability.

Note that I said it could take millions of dollars. There are things in the situation that are not being accounted for..

Within half a mile of the transmission lies a large Entergy substation that was built about twelve years ago. For KAAY to return to it's full 50,000 watt nighttime capacity, every metal point on this rather large, metallic structure has to be detuned. Anytime there are changes to that structure (and Entergy will make them), they have to go back and do it again.

So between the engineering costs, anything else that you have going, there are time and money issues that I'm not sure Entergy or Cumulus are willing to address. It's a bear of a situation.

I'm not being argumentative with you ;D
However...
Since KAAY was licensed and operational from the current location long before the arrival of the Entergy substation, Entergy is liable and responsible for any de-tuning required on the substation to allow KAAY to be in directional compliance.

When I was chief of 50kw 1190 here in Dallas there were several miles of TXU High Tension power transmission structures that required de-tuning networks. TXU was and still is responsible for maintaining those networks. When TXU added structures near the 12 tower 1190 night-time site they were responsible for providing, installing, and maintaining de-tuning networks on TXU power transmission towers near the array.

The major advantage the KAAY transmission facility has, is the land is owned not leased and I was pointing out that it is possible for the KAAY transmission facility to return to it's previous performance level for less than $250k.

Is it worth it?

That is the $250,000 question.

So YOU'RE one of the guye who takes / took care of that monster...

Another cost reducing feature of the KAAY site is that the ground radials are not buried.

 

[Lancer]

That 1190 had a lobe so tight it could go straight down Main in downtown Dallas & never hit the curbs.

That's an awesome array, I always take a look at it when I'm out in Rockwall.

 

[wpiv926]

It should be noted that about 200 miles southwest of Little Rock, in Shreveport, within the past 10 years, both big 50KW AMs have been completely rebuilt. The 3 tower array of KWKH-1130 and 6 in a row array of KEEL-710 AM. To give you some details of the sites - KWKH is 50K day and night, non-directional by day and KEEL is 50K day and only 5 K night, using 4 towers daytime and all 6 at night. KWKH at night nulls to the north. KEEL nulls somewhat to the north during the day, and is sharply directional to the south at night. The same group owns both and their sites are very close to each other. They were willing to put the dollars on the table to improve their legacy stations. Brand new ground system and transmission lines were laid. Not sure about transmitters. But the improvement to the signal was nothing short of astonishing. Will KAAY do the same thing?? Who knows. I've been to all 3 sites and the KAAY site is or was the most impressive of the 3 stations.

 

[Lancer]

Copper has been coming down in the commodity markets. Was up near $4 spot per pound at the first of the year & now hovering close to $3.

Given the amount of wire needed for the overhaul, it would make a big difference in costs if copper continued to come down.

 

[ContinuousWave]

Note that I said it could take millions of dollars. There are things in the situation that are not being accounted for..

Within half a mile of the transmission lies a large Entergy substation that was built about twelve years ago. For KAAY to return to it's full 50,000 watt nighttime capacity, every metal point on this rather large, metallic structure has to be detuned. Anytime there are changes to that structure (and Entergy will make them), they have to go back and do it again.

So between the engineering costs, anything else that you have going, there are time and money issues that I'm not sure Entergy or Cumulus are willing to address. It's a bear of a situation.

Not the only spot Entergy has done that....1250 in Port Arthur, TX was on omni STA after Rita (for almost 2 years that should have been a six month STA according to Radio Maria's first letter to the FCC)..In the meantime, Entergy built a huge substation in line with the main lobe and two high lines to the north and south of the substation...though the "pole" are of the new concrete variety, they still have copper static ground wires that are vertical. When brought to both Entergy's and Radio Maria's attention, Entergy got upset thinking they were being told improper information and Radio Maria "did not want to get the FCC involved" was their official word. A 500 ft tower of the two tower array was rebuilt and finally put back into service but $1000 bet they did not run a proof on the array...Actually Total/Fina has built on to their refinery just across the highway of the 1250 tower site (but thats in the north null toward the 1250 in AR....Little Rock iirc!) Still I'm sure that has thrown the pattern off....Entergy will be responsible for all detuning (and once a sub is built they usually stay the same for many years before any major additions are done these days) though noone has complained....yet.

 

[ContinuousWave]

It should be noted that about 200 miles southwest of Little Rock, in Shreveport, within the past 10 years, both big 50KW AMs have been completely rebuilt. The 3 tower array of KWKH-1130 and 6 in a row array of KEEL-710 AM. To give you some details of the sites - KWKH is 50K day and night, non-directional by day and KEEL is 50K day and only 5 K night, using 4 towers daytime and all 6 at night. KWKH at night nulls to the north. KEEL nulls somewhat to the north during the day, and is sharply directional to the south at night. The same group owns both and their sites are very close to each other. They were willing to put the dollars on the table to improve their legacy stations. Brand new ground system and transmission lines were laid. Not sure about transmitters. But the improvement to the signal was nothing short of astonishing. Will KAAY do the same thing?? Who knows. I've been to all 3 sites and the KAAY site is or was the most impressive of the 3 stations.

When was the last time you were at KAAY? I was at it in 2003...the building needed some minor repairs..the old 50KW from the Top40 days was still there....but I understand the copper thieves have stolen not only radials but Heliax as well...I was not aware the radials were above ground (??) though....(I did not get a look at the towers, only the xmtr bldg...)

 

[ContinuousWave]

That 1190 had a lobe so tight it could go straight down Main in downtown Dallas & never hit the curbs.

That's an awesome array, I always take a look at it when I'm out in Rockwall.

It was Commerce Street, not Main