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New Orleans Did 103.7 The Fox move to New Orleans?
- Thread starter nd2023
- Start date
It doesn't take much tropo scatter to bring a good signal into the New Orleans area. WFFX sounds about as strong as usual in Picayune, it should be even better once it moves to the WNOE/WRNO/WWL tower near Chalmette. 103.7 WGON Slidell would have to turn off or change frequencies as it would be surrounded by WFFX's new signal. WFFX likely would not keep the rock format after the move. It may become 103.7 The Spot as a replacement for KVDU.
104.1 is still on Chalmette tower. They would have to go off air and only then could 103.7 could power up. But my guess is they are trying to get BR ready first, as shouldn't be much to kick 103.7 to c2 status off the Chalmette tower vs the building of a signal in BR.
Plus as many pointed out , 103.7 Hattiesburg has been one of the best stations to determine if troposphere is rolling
Plus as many pointed out , 103.7 Hattiesburg has been one of the best stations to determine if troposphere is rolling
Will the new 103.7 FM signal have an HD transmitter? I think they go AC and compete with Magic.
Does anyone know when the signals going to switch yet?
Probably another year or two
Both stations are moving to towers that already are constructed and in use, so it doesn't seem like it would be a huge build out. In WFFX's case, it is moving to the tower co-owned WRNO and WNOE are on.
One would think you would have a "lease" or "option" for a lease for tower space before you file to get a construction permit. If you are going to use a "community" antenna that's a whole different deal.
The CP for WFFX's move specifies WFFX will broadcast from the shared side-mounted antenna that already transmits WWL-FM and co-owned sisters WRNO-FM and WNOE-FM.
From what I am understanding, 103.7 has everything basically in place Other than a possible transmitter upgrade as I figure they would just use the current 104.1 STA facility, or at least use it as the 103.7 backup until they retune the combiner. As supposedly the 104.1 current NOLA signal is supposed to be a backup for WYLD. Or at least that's what FCC STA said.
The Baton Rouge signal as far as I know is the one that actually has to be built out as the towers the main and backup are going on have no broadcast radio station currently.
But then I heart/CC has been planning this move for 10+ years, put 103.7 in Chalmette and keep 104.1 on Vacherie providing 2 signals in the 504 , thru creative paperwork. When tower fell, this is why they are moving to move it to BR (as its extremely short spaced to 104.5, and can't stay there permanently , without moving west or basically having to buy Mike Costello's KWMZ and take it permantly off air)
My guess is 103.7 takes over spot format, 104.1 has been rumored to become JBO full power FM. But wait and see.
The Baton Rouge signal as far as I know is the one that actually has to be built out as the towers the main and backup are going on have no broadcast radio station currently.
But then I heart/CC has been planning this move for 10+ years, put 103.7 in Chalmette and keep 104.1 on Vacherie providing 2 signals in the 504 , thru creative paperwork. When tower fell, this is why they are moving to move it to BR (as its extremely short spaced to 104.5, and can't stay there permanently , without moving west or basically having to buy Mike Costello's KWMZ and take it permantly off air)
My guess is 103.7 takes over spot format, 104.1 has been rumored to become JBO full power FM. But wait and see.
Supposedly they have both sites signed in BR. It's basically as you said to special order everything, then hire a crew to do it, as depending upon who is on tower, also having to fatten some other wallets (as many towers usually run Cellular at 200ft, and broadcast 100-200 ft + higher) and due to frequency and power, im guessing that cellsite would have to go offline to hoist a antenna . (RF safety rules) as most PCS/cellular network (band most cellular is done is roughly 1900-2300 mhz) is just below a microwave oven ).
Do you think there is a possibility the Spot get’s a new format once 103.7 FM goes LIVE?
Yes, the tower specified in the permit is owned by the US Postal Service ... it's at the US Post Office at 8101 Bluebonnet Blvd in Baton Rouge.
I think it just becomes 103.7 The Spot. Both are close to each other on the dial. Also might help if all that needs to be done is set the transmitter frequency from 104.1 to 103.7 and use the same antenna, the frequencies are close enough and they might have optimized it for 103.9 expecting 104.1 to change frequencies to 103.7 soon.
UPDATE: your intrepid Baton Rouge correspondent has just returned from braving Perkins Road traffic at noon (OK I had to go to the store), and I can report that a 4-bay FM antenna has just appeared on the USPS tower on which there is a CP for 104.1. Think I saw a tower guy between bay 2 and 3, but did I mention that I was braving noon traffic? Looks like we're getting closer...
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