103.1 The Wolf is doing quite well for itself so far!

[KyleSmith1988]

The W276AQ translator on 103.1 FM, carrying Christian talk station The Bridge, received F.C.C. permission to triple power to 99 watts. It seems that it is interfering even more with The Wolf in the western section of its signal area than in the recent past,
Does anyone know whether the translator has already increased its power?

I listen to the Bridge (online) all the way from South Carolina. I remember them talking about "transmitter upgrades" expected and in progress on 103.1 about 2 months ago.

Last time I was up there I was only getting a weak signal of the Bridge on 103.1 (and 95.1) in the Parking Lot of Star Tavern Pizza in Orange, NJ. 2 years ago. 🍕

Signal Strength Should have improved a bit on 103.1 (W276AQ) in Essex & Bergen. Maybe adding a few more miles of coverage, going from 35 to 99w. Surprised they didn't add a Directional antenna to the east to protect 103.1 on Long Island (WWWF) as its already broadcasting to the east on 95.1.

I wonder if they are still also Simulcasting on 94.3 in North Bergen? In addition to their 95.1 simulcast as well, tho the Bridge still ID's as "89.7 & 99.7" - also in Poughkeepsie on 106.9.

The Bridge's Website shows an "official" 103.1 Coverage Map avoiding Manhattan and The Bronx, even tho 103.1 The Bridge has strong signal all the way to Yankee Stadium. I guess they expect listeners in NY to goto 95.1

 

[MarkW]

The W247AQ translator on 103.1 FM, carrying Christian talk station The Bridge, received F.C.C. permission to triple power to 99 watts. It seems that it is interfering even more with The Wolf in the western section of its signal area than in the recent past,
Does anyone know whether the translator has already increased its power?

It is W276AQ. WWWF should file an interference complaint with the FCC. Per the sites I checked, it indeed is currently broadcasting with 99 watts ERP. The license was granted July 1.

Interference in Nassau County should be completely unacceptable to WWWF!

 

[KyleSmith1988]

It is W276AQ. WWWF should file an interference complaint with the FCC. Per the sites I checked, it indeed is currently broadcasting with 99 watts ERP. The license was granted July 1.

Interference in Nassau County should be completely unacceptable to WWWF!

I agree, as far as protecting a co-channel station, I'm suprised this was granted, and no one else (not many) have complained or said something about it. Looks like the interference contour for both 103.1's would be right near JFK Airport (along the Queens/Nassau County Line) near Valley Stream / Far Rockaway / Long Beach. NW Nassau looks most affected, with both stations along the 45-50 db contour. On paper this looks wrong, but I'm sure its even worse to experience while driving in that area. I think W276AQ can be made directional, as obviously their NYC focus/signal is only a few miles away on 95.1 (W236CH / Fort Greene), which doesn't seem to reach that far, barely to Newark NJ with only 27 watts. But WWWF should let them know, and be ok.

 

[fybush]

Full-power stations like WWWF are only fully protected from interference within their 60 dBu contour, which barely even enters Nassau County.

They can file complaints within their 45 dBu - but it's a complicated process that involves getting a minimum number of listener complaints and doing signal level analysis.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Is the Fort Lee site even good enough for 103.1 in that area? Somewhere nearby might be better? Could they move a few miles South or West with no issue, even at current 99 watts? It would be closer to the center of the "Northern Jersey" population, let's say in, Newark or Paterson, if they moved there. There would be much less overlap with their 95.1 signal, which is just a few miles away, and it would give some breathing room to WWWF. As far as Co-Channel & Neighboring Channel Interference, There's Only WJGK & WPRB to also worry about, which W276AQ also has a slight directional null protecting WPRB to the SW already.

I notice the 94.3 translator W232AL (Simulcasting the Bridge) has a CP to move to the Fort Lee site already utilized by 103.1. No mention of that or any plans yet?

 

[Barry]

The Wolf continues to grow their audience. They are now tied for #8 overall, in the Nassau/Suffolk ratings. As the station does not have much of a signal in Nassau County (with interference from the Fort Lee NJ translator partially to blame), they must be doing great in Suffolk.

 

[Xale57]

Is the Fort Lee site even good enough for 103.1 in that area? Somewhere nearby might be better? Could they move a few miles South or West with no issue, even at current 99 watts? It would be closer to the center of the "Northern Jersey" population, let's say in, Newark or Paterson, if they moved there. There would be much less overlap with their 95.1 signal, which is just a few miles away, and it would give some breathing room to WWWF. As far as Co-Channel & Neighboring Channel Interference, There's Only WJGK & WPRB to also worry about, which W276AQ also has a slight directional null protecting WPRB to the SW already.

I notice the 94.3 translator W232AL (Simulcasting the Bridge) has a CP to move to the Fort Lee site already utilized by 103.1. No mention of that or any plans yet?

They can also lower their power to the East/Southeast to give WWWF more coverage. It does get out well where it's at.

 

[Ronnie Milsoup]

The Wolf continues to grow their audience. They are now tied for #8 overall, in the Nassau/Suffolk ratings. As the station does not have much of a signal in Nassau County (with interference from the Fort Lee NJ translator partially to blame), they must be doing great in Suffolk.

Connoisseur should LMA 98.7 and simulcast the Wolf.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Connoisseur should LMA 98.7 and simulcast the Wolf.

Or Press could LMA and Simulcast Thunder 106 🤣

 

[Barry]

Connoisseur should LMA 98.7 and simulcast the Wolf.

While that would likely be prohibitively expensive, sister station WALK 97.5 could simulcast the Wolf on HD3, extending its coverage well into Nassau county. WALK used to broadcast an automated Country format on HD2. The HD2 currently offers a simulcast of another sister station, 94.3 The Shark.

 

[djl]

What about WKJY adding HD and putting the Wolf on HD2. WKJY has the advantage of being further west and they have very good coverage in Nassau (even though an HD2 will have less coverage than the analog station).

 

[CTListener]

What makes you think HD Radio -- not feeding a translaor -- has enough listeners in NYC to move the ratings needle?

 

[djl]

What makes you think HD Radio -- not feeding a translaor -- has enough listeners in NYC to move the ratings needle?

Not NYC but there are plenty of listeners in Western and especially Northwestern Nassau who are out of range of The Wolf and they ate also out of WALK’s analog coverage, so adding an HD3 will not work. Once you go North of the LIE in Western Nassau, WALK is gone too

 

[CTListener]

Not NYC but there are plenty of listeners in Western and especially Northwestern Nassau who are out of range of The Wolf and they ate also out of WALK’s analog coverage, so adding an HD3 will not work. Once you go North of the LIE in Western Nassau, WALK is gone too

I'd imagine that country music fans in areas not served by a country station are far fewer than in areas with a country station. They're probably streaming or downloading music anyway. What makes you think they'd be attracted by a new HD channel on an FM station? And again, there aren't enough HD listeners, even in cars, to make a difference.

 

[Barry]

I'd imagine that country music fans in areas not served by a country station are far fewer than in areas with a country station. They're probably streaming or downloading music anyway. What makes you think they'd be attracted by a new HD channel on an FM station? And again, there aren't enough HD listeners, even in cars, to make a difference.

If HD radio is so inconsequential, why does Connoisseur, owner of The Wolf, rebroadcast sister station WWSK (The Shark), on WALK HD2?
After all, the cost of doing this is minimal, and may please some of their listeners that have long commutes.

 

[Ronnie Milsoup]

What makes you think HD Radio -- not feeding a translaor -- has enough listeners in NYC to move the ratings needle?

94.7 is getting a.2 rating on HD2-------We in Brooklyn need a real station. The Wolf via Alexa is much, much better than "New York's Country,94.7" It has a great mix of 90's and up. Also, 94.7's HD2 signal is not the best in the car even here in Midwood.I even miss 1310 on AM in the car when it was Cat Country Jersey Shore.

 

[luperm]

94.7 is getting a.2 rating on HD2-------We in Brooklyn need a real station. The Wolf via Alexa is much, much better than "New York's Country,94.7" It has a great mix of 90's and up. Also, 94.7's HD2 signal is not the best in the car even here in Midwood.I even miss 1310 on AM in the car when it was Cat Country Jersey Shore.

You can always stream what radio doesn’t offer. Cellular coverage is great in Brooklyn. Some streaming services also let you download playlists so that you don’t need to worry about coverage gaps!

 

[Barry]

The Wolf has pranced to 4.1 overall, in the August ratings. That ties them at #7 in the market; #4 if the NYC stations are excluded. They also have the second highest overall ratings among the Connoisseur owned stations on Long Island, just behind WALK FM (which has a much stronger signal).
Not bad for a format that has been running for about half a year.

 

[TheBigA]

Country Aircheck says: Largest share for any Country station in the market since Summer 1991

 

[CTListener]

AC and CHR listeners on LI are familiar with Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and the "new" Post Malone now through their crossover hits. Makes sense that some might want to check out the format that sent those songs over to AC and CHR to hear more from those artists and to see if there are any more like them to be discovered.