Tom Taylor reports Salem bought K278BH in Astoria, Oregon (99 watts, licensed to 104.1) from Gospel Echo for the paltry sum of $33,000 with the intention of moving it somewhere around here. If it stays on 104.1, this could get interesting.
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KGNW picks up a translator - literally - from 150 miles away
- Thread starter Rob Piotrowski
- Start date
I'm sure we're all curious as to where they intend to put it. I'm sure a lot of people will have something to say about this move, because we're dealing with an established US station with a contour reaching the Seattle metro versus a new translator. A better question may be: how close is too close?
You have a bigger concern than that. What about an LPFM on 104.9 in Seattle?
It's all about the money at this point. KGNW doesn't give two craps about KAFE. The translator gives them revenue and more listeners (maybe).
104.9 KUBE is about 50 miles from Seattle. The signal gets stronger the farther south you go. An LPFM on 104.9 in Seattle may cause interference, but probably not as much compared to let's say, a 104.9 LPFM in Auburn.
I'm just waiting for the day where an AM buys a translator and puts on top of KXXO.
104.9 KUBE is about 50 miles from Seattle. The signal gets stronger the farther south you go. An LPFM on 104.9 in Seattle may cause interference, but probably not as much compared to let's say, a 104.9 LPFM in Auburn.
I'm just waiting for the day where an AM buys a translator and puts on top of KXXO.
Of course not, but it definitely does not appear that the FCC is in their corner, either. Luckily for them, their main listening audience isn't the northern part of the Seattle metro.
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I guess it goes to show that any frequency is fair game (if the price is right).
Also worthy of note, it appears the placement for the translator will be Cougar Mountain.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?mapurl=ht...WA&fileno=BPFT-20160825ABZ&.kml&ignoreoptin=1
http://www.bing.com/maps/?mapurl=ht...WA&fileno=BPFT-20160825ABZ&.kml&ignoreoptin=1
AM Revitalization translators can be brought in to an eligible AM from hundreds of miles away, and generally the will change frequency to find one that "fits" in the area they are moved to and pairs well with the AM they are "revitalizing".
Squeezing in multiple 'secondary service' systems, isn't that big of a deal. That, and as you know it's pretty simple to be creative with directional antenna patterns to eliminate potential overlap with things like translators. There just aren't as many true engineers at the Commission anymore to scrutinize these applications, so they typically go right through. If an application fits the basic spacing limits, done deal.
I've counseled several LPFM licensee's that have reached out to me who are miffed about some translator supposedly causing interference to the LP's fringe zone. My answer is usually the same; the LPFM has little or no standing.
Yep, I saw that KGMI report floating around. How is KJAQ's signal in Bellingham? I suppose quite weak.
We have an AM translator on 93.7 here in Yakima relaying KDYK-1020 (Spanish Religion). A couple times a week, the signal on 93.7 turns into what I can call "popping static." It's a horrible mess to listen to. Don't know why they have it in the first place, it used to relay U-ROCK 96.1 KLKY in Stanfield, OR (before 105.7 KRSE turned into classic rock). It would be better if KIT or KUTI bought that translator...the owners of 1020 (I think it might be La Estacion de la Familia) don't want to maintain their FM xlator it seems!
We have an AM translator on 93.7 here in Yakima relaying KDYK-1020 (Spanish Religion). A couple times a week, the signal on 93.7 turns into what I can call "popping static." It's a horrible mess to listen to. Don't know why they have it in the first place, it used to relay U-ROCK 96.1 KLKY in Stanfield, OR (before 105.7 KRSE turned into classic rock). It would be better if KIT or KUTI bought that translator...the owners of 1020 (I think it might be La Estacion de la Familia) don't want to maintain their FM xlator it seems!
96.5 is the typical mush of all other Seattle frequencies up here. It's not listenable in Bellingham. So it's of no real consequence in 2016 if a translator or LPFM takes it over.
You should probably find out who the actual owners are and contact them before posting further speculation on this one. There's is a back story, but you're way off.
Why can't it? Did you check the database for any of those transmitters? That would probably be more accurate than an outdated web site.
While you're at it, check who owns 104.9 & figure out how that one works, too. With these groups, things can be complicated and it's easy to get it wrong when you start posting which end you think is up. This is one of them, so a little more research and maybe a phone call or two might be in order. ... just sayin'
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What are the spacing requirements for translators? Along 6 east of Raymond, KBKS fights with the Timber Country Raymond translator. I'm not sure how bad this one is, but I used to be able to get then KYNW on 102.9 in Vancouver, but that's now taken up by a Portland translator. Those are the only two I can think of right off, but it's unknown how 102.3 from Eugene would do in Portland if that translator weren't there, or 103.7 for that matter. The other translators in that market do have other things nearby, but I don't think they'd reach Portland regularly. I'd be interested also to see how KMCQ would do in downtown Seattle without KHTP's translator on the air.
Why should they do that? It's easier for them to post wild speculation and be corrected by those in the know rather than find out what the real story is for themselves.
I would think that those who are able to post on these boards should be also able to go to the FCC website and figure things out. KDYK is licensed to Bustos Media Holdings, and the FM translator is licensed to Bustos Media Holdings. There you go... three minutes work, and no more speculation.
R
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I can tell you in Shoreline, 103.3 is mostly a faint KMCQ. Lots of static from 155th St to 145th St. You no longer can pick up KHTP's translator until you make it to Seattle city limits on 145th St. (this is also the first place one can view the downtown buildings while driving)
Pretty amazing considering KHTP's translator was a very easy catch nearly double the distance away in NW Lynnwood just a few months ago.
My guess is even without the translator, KMCQ would be mostly static by the time you're headed down the hill onto the Aurora Bridge.
If they could snag that translator, it would work better than some as an on-channel "booster". Considering the interference zone between the two stations is fairly small and could be lessened with some synching and a decent engineer, there are far worse options out there.
Give it a year or less and Seattle will have a "new station" on FM via translator. Considering the large number of translators getting moved, some of which will have excellent reception, along with the marked increase in population/expendable income here, somebody will want to buy one of these poorer-performing AMs just so they can program the FM translator...which in some of these planned translators, will be similar in coverage to a class A FM.
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