Status of WFME 1560?

[radiodx10]

they're coming in up here in central Ontario Canada at around 50% of their former nighttime listen-ability vs. when they were at full 50kW which, all in all, is pretty amazing.

Just a nice reminder at how incredibly efficient AM broadcasting is. I know there's very little to listen to on air, but the technology in and of itself has to stick around. Nothing can beat the efficiency and effectiveness of AM broadcasting, especially in times of disaster when cell phones and internet go down. With a simple wire slant wire antenna and not even a kilowatt of power and you can cover huge swaths of land (especially on the low end of the dial). And on the receiving end, a crystal set with no electricity required will pick up that signal. Can our iPhones do that? Not a chance. Alright, hopping off my soap box now.

 

[alok]

recent update from FCC on 1560 WFME, NYC, dated 11/23/22 . . .

they are operating as follows . . .

Geographic coordinates 40° 47´ 18˝ N, 74° 15´ 19˝ W (NAD 1927)
Frequency 1560 kHz
Hours of operation Day and Night
Operating power 2.5 kW (6:00AM to 7:00PM EST Mon-Fri)
Operating power 10 kW (at all other times not noted above)
Antenna type Existing WNSH/WFMU tower with slant wire feed

the reason for the two power levels are,

In support of the request, we noted that FSI (Family Stations Inc) has requested these power levels to alleviate on going blanketing interference problems with the nearby Goddard School, and to allow the station to continue operating while it prepares the required FCC Form application for filing to propose a new permanent facility.

Al

 

[N1WVQ]

AM radio is going to die and meet God if the industry doesn't do something to change its aging demos. In 20-30 years there will be no listeners left!

I figured it would end up like shortwave, and F.M. is becoming like how A.M. was, especially with more religious stations appearing there now (religious stations seem to be like buzzards & vultures in determining a broadcast band’s health).

 

[Marcos_C]

I figured it would end up like shortwave, and F.M. is becoming like how A.M. was, especially with more religious stations appearing there now (religious stations seem to be like buzzards & vultures in determining a broadcast band’s health).

"Birds of Prey" may be a cool name for a team of female superheroes, but I wouldn't use that to describe Christian broadcasters. They simply saw the opportunities to buy the stations, and they took them, just like any other type of broadcaster with the ability to do so.

 

[CTListener]

"Birds of Prey" may be a cool name for a team of female superheroes, but I wouldn't use that to describe Christian broadcasters. They simply saw the opportunities to buy the stations, and they took them, just like any other type of broadcaster with the ability to do so.

The resentment and invective are prompted by the inability of other types of broadcasters to do so because of the advantage Godcasters gain from the many legal protections that organized religion gets.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

A few casual nighttime DX sessions last week brought in WFME at a listening level pretty near the same as when they were Standards WQEW.
That power increase at night seems backwards.

 

[kevtronics]

I wonder if Family Radio knows that WFME is allowed to stay on daytime pattern until sunset in Bakersfield, California? That can be as late as 11 PM in summer.

 

[gr8oldies]

I wonder if Family Radio knows that WFME is allowed to stay on daytime pattern until sunset in Bakersfield, California? That can be as late as 11 PM in summer.

I would certainly think their engineer (who is a real pro) does but it's irrelevant now, and will be under any rebuild

 

[fybush]

I would certainly think their engineer (who is a real pro) does but it's irrelevant now, and will be under any rebuild

The license condition allowing day-pattern operation until Bakersfield SS applied specifically to the licensed operation at the Maspeth site. Unless it was explicitly included in the STA request for West Orange (it wasn't), it doesn't apply to that non-directional (on paper) STA operation, which in any event doesn't change pattern or power at sunset anyway.

 

[ajaynejr]

WFME's first STA proposal for operation at West Orange (1 KW ND Unlimited) made passing reference to the provision using daytime facilities until sunset at Bakersfield, so it would be hard for anyone to overlook that provision. But at least for now, the STA operation having no pattern change or power decrease at night, the Bakersfield SS provision is a moot point.

I am a little unsure how WFME could get their STA at 10 KW ND at night without interfering with KNZR (Bakersfield) while KGA (west coast; 1510) had to drop to 560 watts night in order to simplify its transmission site to be ND, and not interfere with co-channel and former peer WLAC (Nashville).

 

[ftballfan]

KNZR is "only" 10kW DA at night while WLAC is 50kW ND

 

[fybush]

WFME's first STA proposal for operation at West Orange (1 KW ND Unlimited) made passing reference to the provision using daytime facilities until sunset at Bakersfield, so it would be hard for anyone to overlook that provision. But at least for now, the STA operation having no pattern change or power decrease at night, the Bakersfield SS provision is a moot point.

I am a little unsure how WFME could get their STA at 10 KW ND at night without interfering with KNZR (Bakersfield) while KGA (west coast; 1510) had to drop to 560 watts night in order to simplify its transmission site to be ND, and not interfere with co-channel and former peer WLAC (Nashville).

The rules are different for STA, because they're only supposed to be temporary (that's what the "T" stands for). The FCC allows STA operation from a nondirectional antenna at 25% of the licensed DA power as a presumptive matter, but if there are complaints of interference, the STA operator must reduce power to eliminate the interference.

WFME can't be licensed at 10 kW ND. It can only use that power level under STA for a limited time.

KGA's 560 watts at night isn't STA. It is a permanent licensed facility that has to fully comply with interference protections, not only to WLAC but to other signals on 1510 in the west as well.

 

[teaneck]

What's the current status of WFME 1560? I picked them up in Central Connecticut last week. I haven't picked them up since they signed off their 50KW signal in February 2021.

I'm most curious if the towers are still standing in Maspeth or were they taken down the first day possible?

 

[davideduardo]

The resentment and invective are prompted by the inability of other types of broadcasters to do so because of the advantage Godcasters gain from the many legal protections that organized religion gets.

It's not just religious organizations that get "tax free" operation status: it is any non-profit organization that is properly organized or incorporated. They don't pay income tax as there is no distributed profit. They general don't pay sales tax on purchases for operations (in most states, I believe), and they generally don't pay property taxes on offices and building and property.

The Red Cross or the Mormons or the community hospital all get those exemptions from most taxes.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

The programming is super old-school and targets elderly people. Maybe in this case the experiment is turning out to be a match made in...heaven.

Family Radio updated its sound and look a few years ago. It was a concerted effort by the ministry to move on from the Harold Camping era. It was Camping who held Family Radio back from a programming standpoint for so long and it took a few years after his death for the organization to shake off his ghost once and for all.

The changes were gradual:

1. Taking Camping's recorded messages off the air permanently, and ceasing distribution of his books and pamphlets;
2. adding more contemporary CCM music and adding shows from outside ministries;
3. Relocating from the SF Bay Area to Nashville.

 

[Barry]

For about a year, WFME 1560 AM has been operating a 2 watt translator on 106.3 FM from New Rochelle (not to be confused with their WYMK 106.3, Mount Kisco).
I wonder what is the point of running such a tiny FM signal. Perhaps Family Radio hopes to eventually receive permission for the translator to up the power and/or be able to move into New York City.

 

[Gregg.]

>>> The changes were gradual:

1. Taking Camping's recorded messages off the air permanently, and ceasing distribution of his books and pamphlets;
2. adding more contemporary CCM music and adding shows from outside ministries;
3. Relocating from the SF Bay Area to Nashville. <<<

For a year or two after Camping's passing, Family Radio would still run some 2 or 3 minute exerts of his programs. But no more. The music now sounds like it moved from Adult Standards to Soft AC. Some songs are even from -gasp- modern Catholic hymns.

Despite these steps, it still is an odd network. It plays music most hours but there's no DJs to tell you what you heard or do any sort of promos. Just an occasional prerecorded liner or two. During Camping's days, even overnights had a prerecorded host.

Then it stops the music for 30 minutes every few hours for a preaching show. Then back to music. That's not how people use radio. But I suppose they get a fee for the preaching shows, so they can't give that up?

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

>>> The changes were gradual:

1. Taking Camping's recorded messages off the air permanently, and ceasing distribution of his books and pamphlets;
2. adding more contemporary CCM music and adding shows from outside ministries;
3. Relocating from the SF Bay Area to Nashville. <<<

For a year or two after Camping's passing, Family Radio would still run some 2 or 3 minute exerts of his programs. But no more. The music now sounds like it moved from Adult Standards to Soft AC. Some songs are even from -gasp- modern Catholic hymns.

Despite these steps, it still is an odd network. It plays music most hours but there's no DJs to tell you what you heard or do any sort of promos. Just an occasional prerecorded liner or two. During Camping's days, even overnights had a prerecorded host.

Then it stops the music for 30 minutes every few hours for a preaching show. Then back to music. That's not how people use radio. But I suppose they get a fee for the preaching shows, so they can't give that up?

No lie, it's become quite pleasant to have on in the background. Sometimes I listen to the local F-R affiliate in Canton, Ohio when I am in the car and can get decent reception outdoors.

 

[gr8oldies]

>>> The changes were gradual:

1. Taking Camping's recorded messages off the air permanently, and ceasing distribution of his books and pamphlets;
2. adding more contemporary CCM music and adding shows from outside ministries;
3. Relocating from the SF Bay Area to Nashville. <<<

For a year or two after Camping's passing, Family Radio would still run some 2 or 3 minute exerts of his programs. But no more. The music now sounds like it moved from Adult Standards to Soft AC. Some songs are even from -gasp- modern Catholic hymns.

Despite these steps, it still is an odd network. It plays music most hours but there's no DJs to tell you what you heard or do any sort of promos. Just an occasional prerecorded liner or two. During Camping's days, even overnights had a prerecorded host.

Then it stops the music for 30 minutes every few hours for a preaching show. Then back to music. That's not how people use radio. But I suppose they get a fee for the preaching shows, so they can't give that up?

BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network is similar, though they have half-hour prayer request shows (even on their Spanish service).

 

[TomásEstefan]

I'm most curious if the towers are still standing in Maspeth or were they taken down the first day possible?

According to the FCC's "AM Query" WFME is still operating with 50 kW DA-2