Punjabi Radio soon to be heard on FM

[Rob Piotrowski]

Tom Taylor reports KZIZ is moving in an Eastern Washington translator at 103.3, COL Auburn. Cost is $50,000.

 

[boombox4]

The FM band is getting even more robust.

If the new translator's power is around 250 watts, it should get out as well as KGRG 89.9.

 

[Radio-X]

It's 90 watts at about 120' HAAT...not sure which station, but it's to be on what appears as an AM antenna array south of Auburn. According to the FCC, the 60 dBu signal will barely make it to downtown Auburn, but should cover Sumner well.

In other translator move news (same article), it appears the KBLE-AM 100.3 translator in Shoreline has reapplied to move to the old KCMS-FM site from Ocean Shores. The directionality of this one is quite impressive to the south -- so no more classic rock out of Victoria pretty soon...

Jim Dalke's KARR-AM is applying for 98.5 in Redmond, and the Skotdal family's two AM stations in Snohomish are getting Everett translators on 95.3 and 101.1

It'll be quite interesting how well these translators perform in real life.

I'm rooting for Mr. Dalke and KARR-AM. This one will probably perform the poorest due to co-channel KNBQ on 98.5, but good on him for taking an AM station license back from the dead on the cheap. Apparently, he has bigger plans than rebroadcasting Family Radio on there and it looks like he will be back on with full power at some point in the not too distant future.

Radio-X

 

[crainbebo]

How many Punjabi people live in Auburn? Probably very few compared to Seattle (and most definitely the Vancouver metro). Damn, the FM band sure is getting packed in the Seattle Metro. That 100.3 will definitely cause problems with CKKQ especially in areas right next to the sound (like Richmond Beach, Woodway, Edmonds, Lynnwood hills). Because as we all know, Puget Sound is a natural amplifier.
Don't forget CIOC Victoria on 98.5. Some areas in Seattle get that clearly, and the new translator of KARR might have problems. I'm glad he doesn't want to relay Family Radio on that particular translator. CSN has done enough damage with their networks of translators throughout the metro.

 

[fordranger797]

It's 90 watts at about 120' HAAT...not sure which station, but it's to be on what appears as an AM antenna array south of Auburn. According to the FCC, the 60 dBu signal will barely make it to downtown Auburn, but should cover Sumner well.

There is a decent population of punjabi speakers in the Auburn and Kent area, hopefully they'll be able to pick up at-least some of that population.

 

[fordranger797]

The FM band is getting even more robust.

If the new translator's power is around 250 watts, it should get out as well as KGRG 89.9.

The KGRG site isn't bad on the eastern hill of the Auburn Valley. Hopefully they intend to position it in a similar spot when possible.

 

[Bongwater]

I'm glad he doesn't want to relay Family Radio on that particular translator.

Family Radio is doing quite well for a company that should have been raptured off five years ago.

 

[bobdavcav]

Hmm 95.3 and 101.1 for the Evere AMs, those are going to have some problems in areas with Vancouver stations.

 

[Radio-X]

How many Punjabi people live in Auburn? Probably very few compared to Seattle (and most definitely the Vancouver metro). Damn, the FM band sure is getting packed in the Seattle Metro. That 100.3 will definitely cause problems with CKKQ especially in areas right next to the sound (like Richmond Beach, Woodway, Edmonds, Lynnwood hills). Because as we all know, Puget Sound is a natural amplifier.
Don't forget CIOC Victoria on 98.5. Some areas in Seattle get that clearly, and the new translator of KARR might have problems. I'm glad he doesn't want to relay Family Radio on that particular translator. CSN has done enough damage with their networks of translators throughout the metro.

I'm most interested in the 103.3 frequency. There's now two separate translators and a separate full-power station on there all within about 60 driving miles. Impressive stuff.

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if at least a few of these translators do some serious inching closer to downtown Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, or Bellevue. Once they're licensed in the area, it's easier to take one's time and massage a translator closer to a center of population.

And I totally forgot about CIOC on 98.5. To be frank, they'd probably far more of an issue once you'd get north of I-90 than would KNBQ. They're one of the strongest Victoria signals in West Lynnwood.

Some of these translators with BC stations on the same channel will be having a dickens of a time trying to get a usable signal more than a couple of miles, though.

Radio-X

 

[fordranger797]

Hmm 95.3 and 101.1 for the Evere AMs, those are going to have some problems in areas with Vancouver stations.

Realistically, both frequencies should work well around Everett. While you can still hear both BC channels around that area, the vast majority of people probably won't miss them; plus, both channels die out considerably after you pass Everett. As Radio X stated, the problems will arise when they start using the Victoria dial while being too close.

 

[Andrew Skotdal]

Hmm 95.3 and 101.1 for the Evere AMs, those are going to have some problems in areas with Vancouver stations.

Hi Bob, we have no illusions of broad coverage being co-channel to Rock 101 and Zed 95.3. If we get coverage beyond 70 dbu, we'll be very happy. That being said, we'll all know by Thanksgiving what our reality will be. Stay tuned!

 

[bobdavcav]

I suspect you're right. I expect that I'll be back up there within a month, maybe I'll take the G8 up there for some signal testing. I suspect that the only people that would really miss those stations are radio geeks that post on this board.