101.3 translator in Boston (attn: WAAF)

[Jacko]

I haven't been reading this site as often as I did before, so I don't know if this has been mentioned. The idea occurred to me that since WFNX is moving its main transmitter site to downtown Boston on 101.7, there would be no need to keep 101.3. This could mean several things. The first is the potential short-spacing issue of having 101.7 right next to 101.3, and WFNX having to shut 101.3 down altogether. The second is having the 101.3 translator sold to an area college or non-comm, such as WBUR. The third, and perhaps most profitable one is a translator station for Entercom's WAAF. Ironically, WAAF's webiste says "if it rocks Boston, it's 107.3 WAAF," but 107.3 doesn't really come in in Boston. Putting WAAF on 101.3 in Boston is a good idea to get the station into the downtown areas of Boston where 107.3 is full of static, and WFNX would get a good chunk of change to upgrade their product.

Any ideas?

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[Shellanswerman]

> I haven't been reading this site as often as I did before,
> so I don't know if this has been mentioned. The idea
> occurred to me that since WFNX is moving its main
> transmitter site to downtown Boston on 101.7, there would be
> no need to keep 101.3. This could mean several things. The
> first is the potential short-spacing issue of having 101.7
> right next to 101.3, and WFNX having to shut 101.3 down
> altogether. The second is having the 101.3 translator sold
> to an area college or non-comm, such as WBUR. The third,
> and perhaps most profitable one is a translator station for
> Entercom's WAAF. Ironically, WAAF's webiste says "if it
> rocks Boston, it's 107.3 WAAF," but 107.3 doesn't really
> come in in Boston. Putting WAAF on 101.3 in Boston is a
> good idea to get the station into the downtown areas of
> Boston where 107.3 is full of static, and WFNX would get a
> good chunk of change to upgrade their product.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Jacko
Well there have been or will be two changes with regard to two of the stations you mention: WBUR-FM has boosted its power toward Boston from 7200 watts to 12,000 watts. This should help its downtown coverage more than flea power at 101.3. And WAAF is about to move closer to Boston by installing a D.A. on the channel 27 tower in W. Boylston.
>

 

[itsjjski]

101.3 is pretty worthless. I cant pick up either 101.7 or 101.3 where I live downtown.

> > I haven't been reading this site as often as I did before,
>
> > so I don't know if this has been mentioned. The idea
> > occurred to me that since WFNX is moving its main
> > transmitter site to downtown Boston on 101.7, there would
> be
> > no need to keep 101.3. This could mean several things.
> The
> > first is the potential short-spacing issue of having 101.7
>
> > right next to 101.3, and WFNX having to shut 101.3 down
> > altogether. The second is having the 101.3 translator
> sold
> > to an area college or non-comm, such as WBUR. The third,
> > and perhaps most profitable one is a translator station
> for
> > Entercom's WAAF. Ironically, WAAF's webiste says "if it
> > rocks Boston, it's 107.3 WAAF," but 107.3 doesn't really
> > come in in Boston. Putting WAAF on 101.3 in Boston is a
> > good idea to get the station into the downtown areas of
> > Boston where 107.3 is full of static, and WFNX would get a
>
> > good chunk of change to upgrade their product.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Jacko
> Well there have been or will be two changes with regard to
> two of the stations you mention: WBUR-FM has boosted its
> power toward Boston from 7200 watts to 12,000 watts. This
> should help its downtown coverage more than flea power at
> 101.3. And WAAF is about to move closer to Boston by
> installing a D.A. on the channel 27 tower in W. Boylston.
> >
>

 

[webcastboy]

> I haven't been reading this site as often as I did before,
> so I don't know if this has been mentioned. The idea
> occurred to me that since WFNX is moving its main
> transmitter site to downtown Boston on 101.7, there would be
> no need to keep 101.3. This could mean several things. The
> first is the potential short-spacing issue of having 101.7
(snip)
> Any ideas?
>

There is some question as to whether 101.3 can continue on at all with 101.7 moving to OFC/South Station. However, I've long suspected that Mr. Mindich got 101.3 less to get more of WFNX out on 101.3, than to just prevent less of WFNX getting out on 101.7. The old "expand or die" thing; had someone else gotten 101.3 it could easily have meant some loss to a signal that already has enough problems getting into Boston.

For the record, 101.3 is not a useless signal, I can pick it up in my car as far out as Wellesley!

However, the move to OFC (One Financial Center) does make 101.3 completely redundant. So what'll happen? I imagine that WFNX will hang onto it, unless it has to be forced off the air.

Personally, I'd like to see WFNX donate it to WRBB with a stipulation that WRBB then attempt to shut down their 104.9 and migrate exclusively to 101.3FM. Certainly that benefits the highest number of stations. WBOQ gets a much better reach into Boston (and will gladly pay WRBB's tower rent, I'll bet). WRBB gets a much better signal that isn't smacked around by co-channel WBOQ. And WFNX gets a warm fuzzy feeling by donating to a small college station. Of course, FNX also gets more of a say in what happens to the 101.3 signal down the road if anything else ever comes up. They could even just 99-year lease it to WRBB for $1 or something like that. Certainly they get more of a say than if they sold it, and with a wash of inevitable changes that will result from digital conversions (which is another whole conversation) I'm sure having a say is not to be taken lightly.

 

[chall]

> I haven't been reading this site as often as I did before,
> so I don't know if this has been mentioned. The idea
> occurred to me that since WFNX is moving its main
> transmitter site to downtown Boston on 101.7, there would be
> no need to keep 101.3. This could mean several things. The
> first is the potential short-spacing issue of having 101.7
> right next to 101.3, and WFNX having to shut 101.3 down
> altogether. The second is having the 101.3 translator sold
> to an area college or non-comm, such as WBUR. The third,
> and perhaps most profitable one is a translator station for
> Entercom's WAAF. Ironically, WAAF's webiste says "if it
> rocks Boston, it's 107.3 WAAF," but 107.3 doesn't really
> come in in Boston. Putting WAAF on 101.3 in Boston is a
> good idea to get the station into the downtown areas of
> Boston where 107.3 is full of static, and WFNX would get a
> good chunk of change to upgrade their product.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Jacko
>

 

[chall]

> the move of wfnx to one financial on the condition that W267A1 be shut down
due to second adjacent channel spacing. it will cease to exist
>