1110 WKZV

[secondchoice]

We had an FM country Class A up in this neck of the woods that recently changed hands. Not only were they still playing carts - on mono Tapecasters - they were still cueing up vinyl records, from their library of LPs and 45s. (They also had a consumer-grade CD player in the control room and by some accounts, a shareware audio program on a computer in production.)

The music programming system used index cards. The transmitter site was similarly straight out of 1974, approximately when the station went on the air.

If someone is still running a tube transmitter, you're still paying, except your money is going to Duquense Light instead of your facility. You pay either way. At least with a new solid-state rig you get to write off the depreciation expense. The maintenance headaches and hunting up obsolete parts and expensive tubes go away. Doesn't make sense. ???

Was this station "live and local" 24 /7 ? I have worked stations like that, twenty years ago!. There were several "huge" country stations that stayed "all cart" until the early to 1990's (US 101 in Chattanooga for example) of course these were stereo cart machines that were well maintained. I would suggest you keep the carts around just for sports (if you are doing any)which sometimes get a little out of the "time" windows. The only reason I can think of running an old "tube" rig is you can use the heat, to heat the building in the winter. Of course the AC bill in the summer is big.
;D

 

[StageFright]

@Savage, you keep referring to a WKXV in this thread where is this WKXV, never heard of it.

 

[Parttimer]

If someone is still running a tube transmitter, you're still paying, except your money is going to Duquense Light instead of your facility. You pay either way. At least with a new solid-state rig you get to write off the depreciation expense. The maintenance headaches and hunting up obsolete parts and expensive tubes go away. Doesn't make sense. ???

These folks clearly don't get any of that. Plus they have live bodies sitting there all day playing music, adding no personality, and running no spots. I'm totally baffled how they even keep the lights on, their income must all come from the weekend polka shows.

 

[Parttimer]

@Savage, you keep referring to a WKXV in this thread where is this WKXV, never heard of it.

He's one letter off, read the title of the thread.

 

[Parttimer]

Was this station "live and local" 24 /7 ?

Was and is live, although it's a daytimer.

 

[secondchoice]

We had an FM country Class A up in this neck of the woods that recently changed hands.

FM daytimer? I guess you mean they just signed of at night.

 

[apostate]

We had an FM country Class A up in this neck of the woods that recently changed hands.

FM daytimer? I guess you mean they just signed of at night.

Parttimer is referring to 1110 AM WKZV, the subject of this thread. It is and always has been a live and local daytimer. I have no idea about the station Savage mentions.

 

[Parttimer]

We had an FM country Class A up in this neck of the woods that recently changed hands.

FM daytimer? I guess you mean they just signed of at night.

Nope. Read it again.

 

[Savage]

My apologies about getting one letter wrong. I thought everyone understood what station I was referring to. It's the 1110 daytimer running an old tube transmitter.

 

[cingram]

It's the 1110 daytimer running an old tube transmitter.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're still running the original transmitter they signed on with
over 40 years ago.

C.

 

[Parttimer]

It's the 1110 daytimer running an old tube transmitter.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're still running the original transmitter they signed on with
over 40 years ago.

C.

I believe that is correct.... they are off the air for extended periods every time it breaks.

 

[StageFright]

I find it absolutely fascinating, the Pittsburgh radio market is in a state of transformation unprecedented in it's history and when I log on the Pittsburgh message board the geniuses on here just prattle on about a one-lung nothing radio station.
I read message boards from lots of different markets and I don't seem to find that elsewhere. Wonder why that is?
Btw Partimer, just how much personality will minimum wage buy you for your radio station nowadays?

 

[PHIL Z]

- so it's best for non-DA AMs or simple directionals where the antenna system is in relatively good shape. It's loud, clean and reliable. The Nautel J-1000 is way more expensive at almost $14K but you get what you pay for.

They're a 2-antenna DA with a ground network that's likely a mess.

If WKXV is still running some old tube rig, that's nuts. The tube and power costs would be more than offset by running the solid-state option. If WKXV has a DA typical of smaller directional stations, meaning not-maintained/decrepit, the Nautel is the proper choice, since it's more forgiving.

WKEG 1110 ie WKZV and WASP 1130 Both Signed on in Aug 1968 with Directionals to Protect each other. WASP with 5,000 watts, WKEG 1,000 watts. WASP has Dropped Power to 1,000 watts Non Directional. Can WKZV go Non Directional? A New Transmitter and 1 Tower, Easy to Maintain.

But the whole problem there is that they won't spend on anything. They still rewind carts, by some accounts.

 

[cingram]

WKEG 1110 ie WKZV and WASP 1130 Both Signed on in Aug 1968 with Directionals to Protect each other. WASP with 5,000 watts, WKEG 1,000 watts. WASP has Dropped Power to 1,000 watts Non Directional. Can WKZV go Non Directional? A New Transmitter and 1 Tower, Easy to Maintain.

I don't have the software that would draw the little circles and arrows, but my guess is that they probably could
at least let the pattern out in that direction. Don't forget that they're also protecting 1100 Cleveland (which I'm
able to hear, even with 1110 on the air).

Given their old ground system, WKZV might be better off running one tower, at a new location, even with a lower
wattage.

C.

 

[cingram]

I find it absolutely fascinating, the Pittsburgh radio market is in a state of transformation unprecedented in it's history and when I log on the Pittsburgh message board the geniuses on here just prattle on about a one-lung nothing radio station.

'Cause, mama, that's where the fun is. -- Manfred Mann

C.

 

[Parttimer]

Btw Partimer, just how much personality will minimum wage buy you for your radio station nowadays?

Actually my point was that I don't see why they pay people at all, but they don't have the option of satellite or automation...

 

[corporateradiosucks]

I find it absolutely fascinating, the Pittsburgh radio market is in a state of transformation unprecedented in its history and when I log on the Pittsburgh message board the geniuses on here just prattle on about a one-lung nothing radio station.
I read message boards from lots of different markets and I don't seem to find that elsewhere. Wonder why that is?
Btw Partimer, just how much personality will minimum wage buy you for your radio station nowadays?

Unprecedented? Because DUQ's getting sold? I would wager the majority of AM stations transitioning to talk instead of music was far more "unprecedented."

Seriously, this isn't a class in high school. People can talk about what they want to talk about. If you have no interest in it, start a thread about something that interests you instead of pointlessly complaining.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Seriously, this isn't a class in high school. People can talk about what they want to talk about. If you have no interest in it, start a thread about something that interests you instead of pointlessly complaining.

He was a bit dramatic, wasn't he? Am I missing something? 'DUQ's sale, the "rebirth of WAMO" on an AM/FM translator combo, Bob Stevens' two translators, is there something big we're not talking about?

Heck, a group is even picking apart the legendary KDKA!

 

[kenhawk1160]

Actually my point was that I don't see why they pay people at all, but they don't have the option of satellite or automation...

They did use a satellite when they first signed on in 1992, when the Indian doctors owned it and Terry Tanner was running it. Problem was, even with the bird, they still had a fairly big number of on-air people and not enough ad reps. They came close to getting deep-sixed again until Mike and Helen came along and bought them all out. Mike was so turned off by the satellite that he pulled the plug and made it live and local...and they actually did all right the first few years they had it. Then a couple so-called 'geniuses' came along and promised them the world...that they could make them lots of money. The only thing they got was screwed. They could have given up long ago...but they didn't. They held out a lot longer than I ever would have.