104.1/93.3 signal applications

[Rick Rose 2.0]

I see that both 93.3 and 104.1 have just filed for signal and city of license of changes. The 93.3 application would add 11kw to current 27kw signal and make the station a class C0 licensed to Greenville. 104.1 is looking to moving its transmitter closer to Atlanta downgrading to a C1 with a city of license change to Palmetto.

93.3 was granted an upgrade to a class C0 with a tower south of the current transmitter but this application would leave 93.3 at its current location by simply allowing it to increase its power and class. While 104.1 would be downgrading the number of people getting a great signal in the market will increase.

Cox's attempt to improve 95.5 is still stuck in the application stage which means that I can not predict if this proposal will happen.

 

[BIGSTICK]

Yet I have carried 104.1 to Birmingham,,it is a massive signal already >>>>????

 

[RoddyFreeman]

WALR would be cutting its antenna height about in half. But the signal would do better over DeKalb and city grade Conyers.

 

[jabba17]

I also saw on RecNet that WVFJ has apps for about 120 (yes, 120) translators. What's up with that?

 

[RoddyFreeman]

The tower site in the WALR application is the one used by WHTA and WWLG. Of course, it's possible that could be a placeholder for the purpose of the application.

The WVFJ and WALR applications were apparently filed in tandem, probably so Greenville could have a station licensed to that community, in other words FCC craziness.

 

[w9wi]

The WVFJ and WALR applications were apparently filed in tandem, probably so Greenville could have a station licensed to that community, in other words FCC craziness.

The two stations' frequencies are 10.8MHz apart. (104.1-93.3=10.8) That's a "magic" number; the FCC requires stations separated by 10.8 (or 10.6) MHz to also be separated by a minimum distance, depending on each station's class.

I haven't run the math on this (don't have my reference material handy) but I suspect the new WALR site is too close to the existing WVFJ site to allow WALR to operate as a C or C0. One or the other station would have to downgrade.

(10.7MHz is the "intermediate frequency" in most FM radios. If two stations 10.6 or 10.8MHz apart are too close geographically, their signals can mix to form a 10.6 or 10.8MHz signal -- which can come in at EVERY dial position on poorly-shielded radios. Not a good thing!)

 

[taylorengineer]

104.1 already operates as a C-0 from the Newnan site. This precluded 93.3 from C-0 status at the current site - that was the purpose of their previously planned move.
I'm sure Roddy is right about the Tyrone site as a placeholder. Cox will probably build something taller than 500 feet although that is the maximum in Fayette county because of zoning. It will be interesting to see the engineering on this and where a taller tower could be built - I'm assuming the contours can not be stretched out any further north so there will most likely be a power reduction if they go higher than 500 feet.
11,ooo watts is NOT going to make any difference for 93.3 but it will give them somewhat better protection from interference as a C-0. It also saves WVFJ a ton of money - the new tower was going to be 1500 feet - about $2M.

 

[jaxradidio]

All this planning and positioning and moving pieces all over the chess board, totally committed to the idea that terrestrial broadcast signals are the future. Brother.

 

[ssnake]

Does it matter that the only "local service" left in Manchester is on AM? (WFDR)

It's a shame that WALR wants to abandon that tall stick in Newnan....

 

[w9wi]

Does it matter that the only "local service" left in Manchester is on AM? (WFDR)

Nope.

The FCC only cares that a full-power station* licensed to Manchester exists. It can be AM or FM, commercial or non-commercial, doesn't matter if it's a 100% relay of an Atlanta station, whatever...

* translators don't count