W290CN is now on the air, simulcasting WBHM, presumably an HD channel (no mention of 105.9 is given during the TOH ID). I had surmised that UAB was going to use the translator to relegate WBHM's music programming to, in order to take WBHM to a strictly non-music format (news/talk) as some public radio stations have done...shuffling their classical or jazz programming to an HD channel and accompanying FM translator. I hope that's not the case, as I listen to WBHM's classical programming on 90.3, but the translator signal is very weak here in south Shelby county where I live.
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UAB FM translator on the air
- Thread starter passtheword
- Start date
Per the story below, it is operating as an "in-contour booster". Pic in the story shows the antenna being pulled up the Fox 6 tower, BTW.
https://news.wbhm.org/2016/wbhm-now-heard-105-9-fm/
https://news.wbhm.org/2016/wbhm-now-heard-105-9-fm/
I don't think they're running HD since it's being used as an on-channel booster, but this may be a temporary situation until they can fund-raise enough to install the equipment. Seems like a waste, otherwise. Hwy 280 needs fill in coverage, and a 250 watt signal from the same place as the main signal is supposed to do it? Hah.
If they truly needed fill-in service for 280, they'd have done what Clear Channel did back in the day and put it on Double Oak Mountain. Those things got out!
If they truly needed fill-in service for 280, they'd have done what Clear Channel did back in the day and put it on Double Oak Mountain. Those things got out!
G
Groove1670
Guest
Usually this process is used for commercial stations that use HD for a secondary channel. Maybe HD is in the future for this station and they are doing this to keep the translator active, or maybe there is a dead spot in their 60db in that area.
Or waiting for a buyer.
They could be using a FSK (silent id) generator.
In some cases, translators have become a hotter commodity than commercial FM's. (depending on the market).
Or waiting for a buyer.
They could be using a FSK (silent id) generator.
In some cases, translators have become a hotter commodity than commercial FM's. (depending on the market).
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Yeah, I don't get it either. How is a low-powered translator going to be able to fill in coverage for 90.3? Seems like with the mountainous area over there on 280, that translator would fare worse than WBHM's signal at 90.3. I remember those translators that Clear Channel used for WDXB years ago...and yes, their signals were huge! I lived up on Shades Mountain in Hoover back during that time, and when I would do a scan, the radio would land on each one of those translators (on 102.3 and 102.7) with WDXB sandwiched in between.
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