Rock102 - New Haven's ONLY Classic Rock

[amfmradio1]

ClearChannel/IHeart Radio has signed on a translator of 104.3/WAXQ New York (NY's ONLY Classic Rock) on 102.1 in New Haven, known as Rock102 - New Haven's ONLY Classic Rock. You probably know that there is a Rock102 in nearby Springfield MA - WAQY/Springfield's Classic Rock. That's their moniker, but they also use Rock102. It'll be interesting to see if this takes a bite out of some of the Classic Rock that is programmed on New Haven's 99.1WPLR, known as CT's #1 Rock Station at 50kw. &, we know of the Connossieur Media simulcast of PLR's Chaz & AJ Morning Show on 102.9DRC/Hartford & 95.9WFOX/Norwalk. PLR is programming more Active Rock since the demise of WCCC/Hartford to religious K-Love. The Radio Wars Continue!

http://www.rock102.com/onair/

 

[MarcB]

You do know that's WAQY's website right? The /onair part doesn't even work.

 

[mvoos37]

PLR is programming more Active Rock since the demise of WCCC/Hartford to religious K-Love. The Radio Wars Continue!

http://www.rock102.com/onair/

I believe this is the proper link: http://www.rock102fm.com/main.html
and if we're going by Wikipedia's definition of what's considered to be an Active Rock station, then out of all the CT Rock stations, not one of them meets the qualifications to be considered "Active". Unfortunately, there isn't anything "Active Rock" about PLR at all. You can't play nothing but classic rock all day then randomly after 7pm play 1 Tool song and claim to be "Active Rock".

 

[KML0224]

My question is this: About how far south does WAQY-FM's signal reach. I get a stereo signal with a slight bit of noise here in southern Hartford County.

 

[CTListener]

My question is this: About how far south does WAQY-FM's signal reach. I get a stereo signal with a slight bit of noise here in southern Hartford County.

Like a local in Meriden and it's still in there quite strong down to North Haven and even Hamden. I go to New Haven frequently on weekends and could pick it up even there to hear the Patriots. This translator will probably wipe that out, and there's no other Pats radio affiliate that reaches south central Connecticut now that WCCC has gone all-Jesus Rock. Pretty sure CCC was off the network last year as well, though.

 

[amfmradio1]

I believe this is the proper link: http://www.rock102fm.com/main.html
and if we're going by Wikipedia's definition of what's considered to be an Active Rock station, then out of all the CT Rock stations, not one of them meets the qualifications to be considered "Active". Unfortunately, there isn't anything "Active Rock" about PLR at all. You can't play nothing but classic rock all day then randomly after 7pm play 1 Tool song and claim to be "Active Rock".

MVOOS37,

Agreed - not one Active Rocker in CT. 'CCC used to be. Arbitron classifies 'PLR as Rock. Even though they may program an Active Rock Tool tune after 7pm, they are not claiming to be Active Rock. That's not what I said or meant. What I said is that they're programming more Active Rock songs that 'CCC used to play to fill that niche. Rock102 will be Classic Rock.

 

[MarcB]

Like a local in Meriden and it's still in there quite strong down to North Haven and even Hamden. I go to New Haven frequently on weekends and could pick it up even there to hear the Patriots. This translator will probably wipe that out, and there's no other Pats radio affiliate that reaches south central Connecticut now that WCCC has gone all-Jesus Rock. Pretty sure CCC was off the network last year as well, though.

2013 was when WCCC went Classic Rock. That was indeed the year they dropped The Patriots. I worked at Hobby Lobby with a gal who interned at WCCC and she told me they changed to Classic Rock and dropped the Patriots to increase the station's ratings, increase sales, and cut expenses. (What expenses are involved with carrying The Patriots? Does 98.5 The Sports Hub Charge stations to carry the games?)

For the 2013 Season The Patriots were on 97.9 WUCS and sister station WPOP 1410. Some games were on both stations. Others were on just one station.

For the 2014 Season The Patriots were on CBS's WTIC 1080 and Connoisseur's WDRC 1360. (And probably the other 3 stations in Torrington, Waterbury, and Meriden that simulcast WDRC 1360). WTIC carried both The Patriots and The NY Football Giants. When there were conflicting games The Patriots went over to WDRC 1360. They would announce this on WTIC. Also since The Redsox played so poorly this past season a couple times when The Giants and Redsox were playing at the same time, they carried The Giants. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the season everyone was expecting The Giants to do well since during the pre-season they were undefeated.

 

[MarcB]

Still WAQY on 102.1 in Southington, Plainville, and New Britain. Checked today. A little fuzzy here and there, but it's always been like that.

Earlier today went to the Meriden Square Mall and Meriden Target with Mom, but she does not like me messing with her car radio, so I couldn't check if you can still get WAQY on the Meriden/Kensington Border. The mall and Target are just a couple minutes from Meriden's border with Kensington.

 

[Unregistered]

ClearChannel/IHeart Radio has signed on a translator of 104.3/WAXQ New York (NY's ONLY Classic Rock) on 102.1 in New Haven, known as Rock102 - New Haven's ONLY Classic Rock. You probably know that there is a Rock102 in nearby Springfield MA - WAQY/Springfield's Classic Rock. That's their moniker, but they also use Rock102. It'll be interesting to see if this takes a bite out of some of the Classic Rock that is programmed on New Haven's 99.1WPLR, known as CT's #1 Rock Station at 50kw. &, we know of the Connossieur Media simulcast of PLR's Chaz & AJ Morning Show on 102.9DRC/Hartford & 95.9WFOX/Norwalk. PLR is programming more Active Rock since the demise of WCCC/Hartford to religious K-Love. The Radio Wars Continue!

http://www.rock102.com/onair/

The station is not a translator of WAXQ, it is a translator of WKCI-HD2.

 

[amfmradio1]

Well Marc,

I used to work @WACKY102 & Rock102 in the 80s'. Their primary coverage area goes almost to Waterbury. I've never found it fuzzy, & I lived in Bristol, Plainville & Meriden. Outside of Waterbury is the fringe. They have a killer signal from Provin Mtn. in MA. They can also be heard in parts of NY, VT & NH. I also used to work @BIS, IOF, NTY, WWCO, SNG, I-95, CCC & PLR. You called me once when I was working @CCC or PLR (I don't remember).

 

[MarcB]

Well Marc,

I used to work @WACKY102 & Rock102 in the 80s'. Their primary coverage area goes almost to Waterbury. I've never found it fuzzy, & I lived in Bristol, Plainville & Meriden. Outside of Waterbury is the fringe. They have a killer signal from Provin Mtn. in MA. They can also be heard in parts of NY, VT & NH. I also used to work @BIS, IOF, NTY, WWCO, SNG, I-95, CCC & PLR. You called me once when I was working @CCC or PLR (I don't remember).

Maybe it's the radio in my car? But I go to Plainville regularly. My bank is on Route 10 near Plainville High School. And a couple times a month I go to different businesses in the Connecticut Commons Shopping Center on New Britain Avenue and WAQY has always been a little fuzzy there. I'm don't listen to them all the time, but I've been listening to them more since WCCC and WDRC went away last summer.

It was WPLR where I called you. I remember because WPLR had the toll free number that ended in "R-Nickel". I also didn't start listening to WCCC until late in 2013 when they flipped to Classic Rock.

And speaking of WAQY again, I'm surprised how strong their AM sister station on 1600 is. They're WHNP and simulcast WHMP from Northampton. Although it was very staticy and it buzzed out a couple times I was able to listen to Clark Howard on AM 1600 from The above mentioned Connecticut Commons Shopping Center to where I live off of Route 10 in Southington. (And my route is New Britain Avenue to Route 10).

 

[amfmradio1]

When I worked @WAQY, the AM that was downstairs across from the Production & FM studio had great call letters: "WIXY 16-AM 5,000 Watts Over Springfield." They ran a Schaefer automation system with rotating carts, & it was almost 20 ft. long. It looked like an IBM mainframe computer. This was the early 80's. An old card that I have reads: "WIXY is Springfield's only modern country music station, appealing to a broad range of adult demographics. WIXY uses heavy promotion, billboards, bus signs, bumper stickers, on the air contests, and with it's 5,000 watts of power, captures the loyal country audience in Springfield and Northern Connecticut".

 

[reelyreal]

2013 was when WCCC went Classic Rock. That was indeed the year they dropped The Patriots. I worked at Hobby Lobby with a gal who interned at WCCC and she told me they changed to Classic Rock and dropped the Patriots to increase the station's ratings, increase sales, and cut expenses. (What expenses are involved with carrying The Patriots? Does 98.5 The Sports Hub Charge stations to carry the games?)

Yes, there is a fee to carry the Patriots as a member of the radio network. Same thing with the Sox, and most major league sports radio networks. The fee usually varies depending on the size of your market, and I know at least with the Sox, the length of time you've been with the network.

 

[CTListener]

Rock 102 is now being simulcast on WKCI HD2, replacing the Christmas format, although the song/artist display still shows a Bing Crosby song.

 

[Jacko]

I came across this on the Rock 102 (WAQY) website: http://rock102.com/2015/01/05/experiencing-interference/

Hmmm… do you think they're collecting complaints for the FCC?

Also, if I recall correctly, 102.3/Stonington, CT, after they changed formats from oldies "102.3 the Wave" to rock, were known as "Rock 102," however I think they were forced to change their name and were eventually known as "XL-102."

Jacko

 

[CTListener]

Is a low-power translator in New Haven obligated not to interfere with a full-power co-channel station in Springfield in the New Haven market? I'm hearing no trace of the New Haven translator about 20 miles north of New Haven, so I can't imagine that central Connecticut reception is much of a worry for WAQY, but do New Haven residents who were listening to WAQY as a fringe signal qualify for FCC relief from the new translator's signal?

 

[MarcB]

Is a low-power translator in New Haven obligated not to interfere with a full-power co-channel station in Springfield in the New Haven market? I'm hearing no trace of the New Haven translator about 20 miles north of New Haven, so I can't imagine that central Connecticut reception is much of a worry for WAQY, but do New Haven residents who were listening to WAQY as a fringe signal qualify for FCC relief from the new translator's signal?

I'm not sure. What I do know is that WIHS 104.9 in Middletown, CT got interference complaints from Long Island after Red Wolf powered up the BOMBA Translator on 104.9 in Bridgeport. WIHS got Red Wolf to move the translator to 104.5

 

[MarcB]

I came across this on the Rock 102 (WAQY) website: http://rock102.com/2015/01/05/experiencing-interference/

Hmmm… do you think they're collecting complaints for the FCC?

Also, if I recall correctly, 102.3/Stonington, CT, after they changed formats from oldies "102.3 the Wave" to rock, were known as "Rock 102," however I think they were forced to change their name and were eventually known as "XL-102."

Jacko

No. 102.3 in Stonington was Rock formatted ROCK 102, but when they switched to XL 102 they had flipped to Classic Rock.

 

[reelyreal]

Yes, they do. Any secondary service (translators, LPFM's) must not cause any interference in reception to any primary service. If WAQY can provide listener reports of increased interference since the translator signed on, the translator's owner must solve the interference issues or leave the air. It doesn't matter what market the station is in. If the station could be received, and now it can't, the translator must give way to the primary station.

 

[CTListener]

Yes, they do. Any secondary service (translators, LPFM's) must not cause any interference in reception to any primary service. If WAQY can provide listener reports of increased interference since the translator signed on, the translator's owner must solve the interference issues or leave the air. It doesn't matter what market the station is in. If the station could be received, and now it can't, the translator must give way to the primary station.

Well, if that's true, the translator better put on its travelin' shoes, because its signal was in there interfering with WAQY on I-91 before I even reached the New Haven line this afternoon. And I can tell you that WAQY had no co-channel interference in that area before.