For the 2nd time this Fall, KWYC Cheyenne is silent.

[ZantennaG1]

I attempt to do an FM band-scan about once per day to see if I can notice anything different, and indeed 90.3 was off the air completely again. The first time was nearly two months ago on September 20th, but they was back on air (albeit low-power by the next day). Here, they continue to not be on air 4 days later, and their recent STA has the answer.

TRANSMITTER HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. WE WILL SEND A TECHNICIAN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS SOON AS REPAIRS ARE MADE THE FCC WILL BE NOTIFIED.

What in the world is going on with that transmitter? KYOY also runs off of that thing, and is often off too. Sheesh they should turn that one in, and build a new one closer to town if they can afford it.
See STA here: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Arn=20211117AAB

On the bright side, I now have access to KCFR Denver's unfettered HD IBOC signal to enjoy!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I attempt to do an FM band-scan about once per day to see if I can notice anything different, and indeed 90.3 was off the air completely again. The first time was nearly two months ago on September 20th, but they was back on air (albeit low-power by the next day). Here, they continue to not be on air 4 days later, and their recent STA has the answer.

What in the world is going on with that transmitter? KYOY also runs off of that thing, and is often off too. Sheesh they should turn that one in, and build a new one closer to town if they can afford it.
See STA here: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Arn=20211117AAB

On the bright side, I now have access to KCFR Denver's unfettered HD IBOC signal to enjoy!

No, KYOY is not on that tower. They're about a mile or so away.

The KWYC Transmitter is an older CCA thats been prone to alot of problems. I've been out to that site half a dozen times with the KLMI owner and another broadcast engineer all in an attempt to fix it for various reasons.

KWYC has a Crown 600 watt transmitter that acts as the exciter running about 50 watts for The CCA12000G transmitter or can be run directly into the antenna at the full 600 watts.

KWYC has no listeners and makes no money, but CSN won't sell it or the 100.3 translator it feeds. (KLMI tried multiple times, making cash offers for 100.3 and they refused).

100.3 was off the air for months.. well i take that back. After a power outage, the Sony XDRF1HD feeding 100.3 defaulted to 520AM. They've since installed a much better radio that doesn't get stupid in a power outage.

There is no aural id for 100.3 on KWYC because it ID's by FSK, Frequency shift keying.

K262AI was originally on 99.9 but moved when then KRRR 99.9 owned by Bob Rule signed on. It then moved to 89.1 i think then up to 100.3 when KTDX signed on.

A picture of the KWYC site from the inside is below. It's not worth KWYC moving, There isnt another tower they can move to.. theyre an overheight C2.. theyd lose something by moving. KYOY cant move either.

https://imgur.com/a/UrDSq5l

 

[ZantennaG1]

No, KYOY is not on that tower. They're about a mile or so away.

The KWYC Transmitter is an older CCA thats been prone to alot of problems. I've been out to that site half a dozen times with the KLMI owner and another broadcast engineer all in an attempt to fix it for various reasons.

KWYC has a Crown 600 watt transmitter that acts as the exciter running about 50 watts for The CCA12000G transmitter or can be run directly into the antenna at the full 600 watts.

KWYC has no listeners and makes no money, but CSN won't sell it or the 100.3 translator it feeds. (KLMI tried multiple times, making cash offers for 100.3 and they refused).

100.3 was off the air for months.. well i take that back. After a power outage, the Sony XDRF1HD feeding 100.3 defaulted to 520AM. They've since installed a much better radio that doesn't get stupid in a power outage.

There is no aural id for 100.3 on KWYC because it ID's by FSK, Frequency shift keying.

K262AI was originally on 99.9 but moved when then KRRR 99.9 owned by Bob Rule signed on. It then moved to 89.1 i think then up to 100.3 when KTDX signed on

https://imgur.com/a/UrDSq5l

Figures that the old CCA12000G would be the source of the problems. By the way, could you fill me in a little bit on how that frequency shift keying works? Mainly, does the Air1 translators do this too?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Figures that the old CCA12000G would be the source of the problems. By the way, could you fill me in a little bit on how that frequency shift keying works? Mainly, does the Air1 translators do this too?

It shifts the frequency in a way that’s inaudible to the human ear but constitutes a legal id.

If you don’t hear an audible id ever, then they are doing an FSK ID. Most new transmitters are capable of that.

 

[ZantennaG1]

It shifts the frequency in a way that’s inaudible to the human ear but constitutes a legal id.

If you don’t hear an audible id ever, then they are doing an FSK ID. Most new transmitters are capable of that.

Okay good to know. Also, that kind of messes up Dxing, any way to decode FSK?

 

[K6JHU]

Okay good to know. Also, that kind of messes up Dxing, any way to decode FSK?

So not the same as RDS then.

 

[ZantennaG1]

So not the same as RDS then.

That's what it sounds like to me, that FSK is on a different level than RDS. Hopefully @SomeRadioGuy will clarify.

 

[fybush]

Completely different modulation schemes. RDS is a subcarrier on the FM signal that carries digital data at moderate speed. It's centered at 57 kHz, above the L+R (mono) audio that goes up to 15 kHz, the 19 kHz stereo pilot and the L-R stereo difference audio that's centered at 38 kHz.

FSK is literally slightly shifting the actual carrier frequency a few kHz up and down once an hour to do a slow-speed Morse Code callsign ID. If you're looking on a spectrum analyzer when the ID is being sent, you can see the shift. The AFC circuit in an FM receiver makes the FSK ID completely invisible to Joe Average Listener.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Update: They are still off the air as of December 1st, 2021.

 

[ZantennaG1]

And they finally returned to the air. Sure hope this means they have a better antenna set-up this time that actually lasts more than a year

Also: I feel obligated to post my 667th message here since we all know what happens if you stay on 666 to long

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

And they finally returned to the air. Sure hope this means they have a better antenna set-up this time that actually lasts more than a year

Also: I feel obligated to post my 667th message here since we all know what happens if you stay on 666 to long

their problems have nothing to do with the antenna and to change that would require a cp.. as i said before, its their old transmitter and it had several burned up parts in it.

 

[ZantennaG1]

their problems have nothing to do with the antenna and to change that would require a cp.. as i said before, its their old transmitter and it had several burned up parts in it.

Right, the transmitter. Again, hopefully they found a new one that will last longer, and not burn up.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Right, the transmitter. Again, hopefully they found a new one that will last longer, and not burn up.

Nope, no money for that, theyre using the CCA12000G and will till the transmitter itself catches fire and cant be repaired

 

[ZantennaG1]

Nope, no money for that, theyre using the CCA12000G and will till the transmitter itself catches fire and cant be repaired

In that case hopefully they can raise their funds, or if not, there are two other non-commercial stations (both requesting 89.1 at the moment) that would gladly take CSN's spot on 90.3, and will hopefully have a newer transmitter that doesn't catch fire.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

In that case hopefully they can raise their funds, or if not, there are two other non-commercial stations (both requesting 89.1 at the moment) that would gladly take CSN's spot on 90.3, and will hopefully have a newer transmitter that doesn't catch fire.

Nope, they arent gonna do that..... there's zero listeners to 90.3 but they also don't want to sell either 90.3 or 100.3... I've tried several times to get them to sell it

 

[ZantennaG1]

there's zero listeners to 90.3 but they also don't want to sell either 90.3 or 100.3...

If a tree falls in the forest... and if an old transmitter burns up in a rural area 20 miles outside of town...

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

If a tree falls in the forest... and if an old transmitter burns up in a rural area 20 miles outside of town...

When i got to laramie in november 2018 , the Sony XDRF1HD had lost its marbles when a power outage happened over the summer.. came back on to 520AM and sat there putting that out on 100.3 for months till i got up to the site in december to fix it.

ive told them multiple times i know someone whod pay cash, as is, where is for the 100.3 translator and they ignored all offers form me, and those from someone more powerful outside the organization, acting on my behalf.