• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

101.3 Gnarly FM

oldies76

oldies76

New station taking over 101.3 in Southern Colorado. Plays all 80's format, with many songs at extended length or unique mixes. They seem to focus on the 1983-1986 period the most. Heard the 12" version of "The Reflex" from 1984 and some rare Depeche Mode music. Just starting up and plans to be 100,000 watts, with a signal ranging from northern New Mexico to Denver. Hopefully will be around for many years!

Here's the link:

https://gnarly1013.com/
 
Last edited:
oldies76 said:
New station taking over 101.3 in Southern Colorado. Plays all 80's format, with many songs at extended length or unique mixes. They seem to focus on the 1983-1986 period the most. Heard the 12" version of "The Reflex" from 1984 and some rare Depeche Mode music. Just starting up and plans to be 100,000 watts, with a signal ranging from northern New Mexico to Denver. Hopefully will be around for many years!

Here's the link:

https://gnarly1013.com/
Click to expand...

Is this KIQX in Durango? It's been around for nearly 40 years but is licensed for 100 kw at 130 meters. That will barely cover the area to the east of the Four Corners zone, from Durango to Farmington. It won't come near to Denver or even Colorado Springs.

It has been licensed for 100 kw since around 2006. If they are running less than 100 kw, they are doing it illegally as I don't see an STA for lower power since 2012.

From the look of the transmitter (an old Continental) it needs lots of work to get back to full power.
 
Last edited:
DavidEduardo said:
Is this KIQX in Durango? It's been around for nearly 40 years but is licensed for 100 kw at 130 meters. That will barely cover the area to the east of the Four Corners zone, from Durango to Farmington. It won't come near to Denver or even Colorado Springs.
Click to expand...

I don't believe so, but this morning all I'm hearing is a grounding type buzz. Strange! They were playing music these last few days. The transmitter photos show open plains which is how the landscape is east of here. And the 719 area code is mainly local, Durango is 970.

DavidEduardo said:
From the look of the transmitter (an old Continental) it needs lots of work to get back to full power.
Click to expand...

Could that explain the audio issues I'm hearing?
 
Last edited:
Here's a line from the history description:

"On March 31, 2019, KFEZ launched a Facebook page for its new All-'80s format, branded as "Gnarly 101.3." The new format is scheduled to debut on May 1, 2019."
 
The signal won’t make it to Denver. Northern Colorado Springs? Maybe. It’ll die out before you hit the south Denver exurbs.

That being said, it’s an interesting format for a small market. Pueblo has a lot of options for radio, and this might be something that does well.
 
seattlesarchiebunker said:
The signal won’t make it to Denver. Northern Colorado Springs? Maybe. It’ll die out before you hit the south Denver exurbs.

That being said, it’s an interesting format for a small market. Pueblo has a lot of options for radio, and this might be something that does well.
Click to expand...

The station is pretty hemmed in by other co-channel and adjacent channel signals.

It has no CP to increase height or power. It's licensed at 95 kw. It's a Pueblo rimshot. It will not even have a 45 dbu over any parts of Colorado Springs.
 
Seems like KFEZ goes through a new format every month. I still remember when they were Soft AC with Smooth Jazz at night and all day on Sunday...then they went to ESPN, back to Soft AC, then to Country, then to Oldies with KWRP-690...now this.
 
seattlesarchiebunker said:
The signal won’t make it to Denver. Northern Colorado Springs? Maybe. It’ll die out before you hit the south Denver exurbs.
Click to expand...

I can hear it clearly about 8 miles north of downtown where I drive around. Once you get over the Palmer Divide, that could be another story. There is still a buzz in the background though.

Interestingly, sounds like they are playing a repeat loop of songs, since today I heard the same six songs played in a row as I heard yesterday afternoon.
 
The Very Best of the 80s

Hi everyone.... came across this site and thread... so, wanted to join up.

Ok... taking the speculation out of this thread and Gnarly 101.3FM

Yes... we're currently on air! We are the new operators of KFEZ and changed the format to 80s.
Had a lot of repairs and upgrades to get this station up and running... we are currently broadcasting at 20% power... awaiting a needed part to push signal up more... should be in and installed by mid next week.
We've verified signal up to Larkspur and south to over Raton Pass... we'll see where we go with additional power... but, are really just interested in covering Colorado Springs with a solid signal.

We are currently playing a looped playlist till we have power up and then jocks will be in studios and we'll have a full menu of great music and fun!

To answer those that were wondering.... our studios and offices are located in Colo Springs, Transmitter and tower are located about 30 miles northwest of Walsenburg. We are a Class C license to broadcast at 99,000 watts.

Thanks for finding us.... stay tuned in Southern Colo and looking forward to interacting with folks on this site!
 
Gnarly 1013FM said:
Hi everyone.... came across this site and thread... so, wanted to join up.

Ok... taking the speculation out of this thread and Gnarly 101.3FM

Yes... we're currently on air! We are the new operators of KFEZ and changed the format to 80s.
Had a lot of repairs and upgrades to get this station up and running... we are currently broadcasting at 20% power... awaiting a needed part to push signal up more... should be in and installed by mid next week.
We've verified signal up to Larkspur and south to over Raton Pass... we'll see where we go with additional power... but, are really just interested in covering Colorado Springs with a solid signal.

We are currently playing a looped playlist till we have power up and then jocks will be in studios and we'll have a full menu of great music and fun!

To answer those that were wondering.... our studios and offices are located in Colo Springs, Transmitter and tower are located about 30 miles northwest of Walsenburg. We are a Class C license to broadcast at 99,000 watts.

Thanks for finding us.... stay tuned in Southern Colo and looking forward to interacting with folks on this site!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification and the best of luck!!
 
Gnarly 1013FM said:
We've verified signal up to Larkspur and south to over Raton Pass... we'll see where we go with additional power... but, are really just interested in covering Colorado Springs with a solid signal.
Click to expand...

So a question: if the FCC 60 dbu contour barely makes it beyond the northern parts of Pueblo...

https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/map...LSENBURG&state=CO&fileno=BLH-20090105AGJ&.map

... how can you expect to have a usable signal in Colorado Springs?

While even less than a 60 dbu signal can get some car listening, it's pretty much part of the laws of physics that you need 65 dbu or more to get inside homes and buildings.

I've tried, sometimes successfully, to keep buyers from purchasing stations that only covered the desired market area with around a 60 dbu signal. In the cases where pretty seller generated maps overcame reality (and physics) some really bad purchases were made... which never were successful at getting audiences in the places they believed they would.
 
To their defense, we all know the contour maps produced by FCC (and radio-locator) are sketchy at best.

There are a few stations who get lucky, are able to put the transmitter site that allows full-powered operation due to low HAAT (ex: 6kW at 100m for a class A), but are located in such an area that allows them a much higher elevation advantage of 1000'+. 6kW at 400m above a valley floor is certainly better range than the traditional class A signal limitations. According to the Feds, its a plain-old 6kW class A...and usually its coverage map will reflect this.

That being said, I don't think KFEZ is one of those stations. It's not located in the foothills, or on any real hill for that matter, meaning any terrain obstructions will definitely eat at that signal before it gets to Colorado Springs. It may be acceptable in a good car radio, but try to pick it up on a low-end radio indoors...no dice. That will be a big chunk of potential listeners who won't be able to "listen while you work".

Perhaps if they could move to a nearby mountain further west, with the right transmitter location, could allow a rimshot signal to Colorado Springs. Just don't expect to be any better than a niche format with fairly low ratings there. The signal will just not allow it from 60 miles away without moving significantly closer to the metro.

That being said, any major market ratings are better than none!
 
Last edited:
Are they still operating in state-of-the-art mono? Every time I'd hear KFEZ when Sporadic-E was open on FM to southern Colorado (and it's happened at least 4-5 times), they were never in stereo even when the signal would clear up on fadeups. I'm guessing 101.3 was in mono operation so they could be heard more clearly in distant areas N and S of Walsenburg?
*of course KPHT would always flamethrow its way onto 95.5 when that happened...
 
DavidEduardo said:


I did a Longly-Rice using the Canadian calculator and it does not really add much. It is still fringe anywhere north of Durango.

https://www.nautel.com/resources/wh...n-tool-for-technical-and-non-technical-users/

The map, zoomed in on the Colorado Springs area, is at https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Walsenbug Colo Spr.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you for pointing out the new “Canadian calculator site”, David! Ever since the government organization up there stopped hosting it off their website, I have been looking for a way to do L-R maps!

Anyway, yeah, it looks like the west side of town gets absolutely no usable signal. That would be a tough sell to anybody buying ads...
 
More Info

Thanks to all for the conversation here....

Couple things that people were asking/talking about that I can address....

Even at just 20% power right now... we're covering Colorado Springs and north of Monument. Is it the best signal?? Well... depends on where you are here. West of I25 is very much in and out.... Now... once you move east of downtown, or north... it's pretty good to downright amazing. So, we're thinking when we push the power up next week, should clear up with exception of westside of town... it's always been an issue there... but, I do believe it'll clean up at least some. Also, everything south of Colo Springs is wall to wall for our signal including Pueblo.

We are sending out a stereo signal... as long as you're not in our current fringe area in the Springs... sounds very good.

As to our range... you have to consider that our transmitter site is located on top of a hill east of I25 and we have an 800' tower with 360 degree unobstructed line of sight from it... so, not much to stop our signal.

I've really enjoyed the posts on RF theory and coverage maps... but, we all know that sometimes we wonder how a signal got to a place... well, it just does... LOL!

I'll keep everyone updated when we turn up the power next week and will let you know where we're hitting and signal quality. We are hoping for building penetration... but, will have to wait and see. Nice thing is.. people can always stream us too!

Thanks again to everyone for their interest and posts!
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom