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1560 WAHT Cowpens on air

N

ngriffin

WAHT 1560 has completed its move from Clemson to Cowpens/Spartanburg. It still simulcasts the sports talk format of WCCP 105.5. It's a daytimer with 15kW and 870 watts during critical hours. Their FM translator on 97.5 is not on yet.

This was made possible by the demise of WAGL 1560 Lancaster.
 
97.5 is now putting out Sports programming from Clemson...Simulcasting from 105.5

This kills reception of WCOS from Columbia, which normally had a good signal here in the Spartanburg area...

They are using the SC ETV tower near Pacolet, and WSPG-AM wants to move their FM signal (98.3) there as well
 
KyleAndMelissa22 said:
97.5 is now putting out Sports programming from Clemson...Simulcasting from 105.5

This kills reception of WCOS from Columbia, which normally had a good signal here in the Spartanburg area...

They are using the SC ETV tower near Pacolet, and WSPG-AM wants to move their FM signal (98.3) there as well
Click to expand...

Another problem where a low power translator is interfering with the clear signal of a full power radio station. Very aggravating for fringe listeners.
 
tylerSC said:
Another problem where a low power translator is interfering with the clear signal of a full power radio station. Very aggravating for fringe listeners.
Click to expand...

I'm sure WCOS will find out about it and something will be done about it...But WSSL is their sister station and so they may not care as much about listeners from our area...

Plenty of WCOS interference within 5 miles of their transmitter
 
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I would have said get rid of Channel 6 and turn it over to translators to solve these problems but we all know how well that would do, after the failure of HD radio to take off.
 
Based on the new regulations for interference between translators and full power FM stations adopted this year, I don't think WCOS could force this one off (if they even care). The directional pattern is designed with a null toward Columbia.

I'm not sure Spartanburg can support a third FM sports talker, but they did pick an ideal spot at 97.5, right between ESPN Upstate 97.1 and WSPG 98.3. The intended audience should quickly discover it.
 
Radio-Locator.com has still not updated this station's status on their database (W248DD) but I think it's a similar coverage area as the CP for 98.3 (W252DQ)

https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=W248dd&x=14&y=10&sr=Y&s=C

The translator signal seems to be doing better, comes in well around most of Spartanburg (I still heard WCOS still over it in a few spots NORTH of town in Boiling Springs) and signal does well all the way to almost Greenville, and even going South it wins over WCOS in the town of Woodruff. Here in Gaffney there is a weaker signal with plenty of WCOS interference in some areas.

Honestly I'm still surprised at this, given the popularity of country music in this area, and WCOS being popular all over the state...
 
The main difference between 98.3's proposed signal and the current one for 97.5, is that WAHT's translator has a null limiting signal to the southeast (towards Union and Columbia) to protect WCOS.
 
Surprised how well this new 97.5 near Spartanburg does well in some areas, I mean it reaches 30 miles to Greenville, and does very well even with 97.3 and 97.7 on either side, but even a few miles a few from their tower (away from the null) WCOS starts to interfere, which tells me that 97.5 in Columbia had a strong enough signal already in this area, and they did. I really don't think it was necessary with enough Sports talk to choose from. 97.1 went live not long ago and so did 98.3 and both of those already cover Clemson Sports casts.
 
Got to finally drive around Union SC and check out the 97.5 frequency, and what a disaster....

Reminds me of driving around Chester SC and trying to listen to 104.7 (where both Charlotte and Columbia fight for the channel).

Driving around Union, 97.5 is not listenable in most spots, both stations are about equal in signal strength, sometimes WCOS is the stronger one (even strong enough for HD to lock in), but gotta go south of town for WCOS to work with no trouble. By the time you get up to Jonesville, Sports talk is strong enough to completely win the channel.

The null doesn't help at all...bad spot on the dial, perhaps another channel would be better, but the dial is pretty crowded by now...even the WBCU translator on 103.5 in Union doesn't really bother 103.3 Earth FM or 103.7 WSOC on either side, unless you're right next to their transmitter...

I think most of the city of Union falls on or close to the 60 dbu for WCOS so this is really bad for those that used to listen with no trouble there....
 
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