1560 WMRO off due to Storm on 2/5/07

[scottwmro]

Well folks, Magic 1560, WMRO bit the dust during the storm last night, 2/5/08. We took a “direct hit” by lightning last night, so we’re off the air this morning. I have no back up transmitter.

I’ve now learned my lesson; have a back up transmitter on hand! Last night after the storm died down over my house, I went to the station, where I live only 3 minutes away, and was only able to put out 14 watts with distorted modulation. I was way too tired to work on the box at 12:30 AM this morning, so I’m back up after getting just a few hours of sleep.

This morning, I’ve already have filed a claim with my insurance company, due to I think we are going to need another transmitter. Hopefully, I can get the O.K. to order a new transmitter by this afternoon and get it here soon!

I’m going to work on the transmitter again tonight to see what I can do to get a little bit more power out of it so I can cover some of the town, but I think this box is toast. Oh well, need a new box anyway.

Just thought I would let folks know so if somebody punches up 1560, and find it off or hard to get (if I get it hald-way working), Mother Nature got wicked last night and shut my mouth! (HA!!!!!)

Scott Bailey, Owner & Operator
WMRO, Gallatin

****Oh, my house survived the storm and me and my wife Leslie, and the two dogs (Lexie & Lance) are o.k. this morning. What a storm last night!!!!!!!

 

[jvparent]

Scott:

Glad you, Leslie and the dogs are okay. Saw some of that storm roll through on webstreams last night...what a nightmare, particularly with the lightning.

Good luck to you...keep posting and keep us updated.

 

[bub]

Thoughts and prayers from here, Scott. Hang in there.

 

[BigTimeEngineer]

We're you looking for a transmitter before the storms hit? You had posted a query earlier in the day (http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,91920.0.html). It's a real shame that you were struck by lightning on the same day. Good luck with your insurance claim. We hope you can get it up and running real soon.

 

[scottwmro]

We're you looking for a transmitter before the storms hit? You had posted a query earlier in the day (http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,91920.0.html). It's a real shame that you were struck by lightning on the same day. Good luck with your insurance claim. We hope you can get it up and running real soon.

Yes, we were, for a back up. I learned my lesson that I should have kept the old CCA or the Collins 20V-3 for back up, but everyone was saying prices were going up on tubes and some tubes would no longer be made. Lots of talk about that at NAB "06" in Vegas, when we were there. I now have come to the conclusion that a tube rig will make it through a storm better than the newer solid state transmitters.

I talked to my sales rep today with RF Specialities and he suggested after the new box was up and running that I buy some sort of tube back up, so we intend to do so, and not get in this mess again. Gee, I didn't realize I would need the back up this quick, but God has ways of teaching us a lesson!

It's been a tough 24 hours. Me, Leslie and the dogs are o.k. and no damage to our house, but I have family in Lafayette that lost thier home to the storm, but they were not at home during the time the storm hit, so that was a good thing!

We are shooting for the weekend or the first part of next week to be back on the air. In the meantime, thank you all for your concerns and prayers. My wife is saying....Calgone, take me away! (HA!)

Scott & Leslie Bailey
WMRO Radio, Gallatin

 

[firepoint525]

Just curious, were you affected by the April 2006 storms that hit Gallatin? I'm not really familiar with anything in Sumner County. It seems like these types of storms are hitting much more often, much more frequently, and much harder than they used to. I have a couple of trees down from last week's heavy straight line winds, and I am working to get those cleared away, but I was fortunate that last night's storm that was bearing down on Fairview somehow managed to skip Pegram! I got lucky this time!

 

[mattthepm]

. . .but I was fortunate that last night's storm that was bearing down on Fairview somehow managed to skip Pegram! I got lucky this time!

Yeah, we were worried a bit too over at WRFN. I checked in with our folks over there and they said the hail was coming down in buckets, wind shear and so forth. The radar at that point showed a hook echo just south of our studio, so it raised up quite a bit of concern.

Being in Murfreesboro, I am surprised we didn't get hit, considering we've had our share of tornadic activity over the years ('96 Southridge tornado, 2003 in southern Rutherford County and 2004 (?) over in the Walter Hill area).

I hope Scott gets 'MRO back on the air soon. Whenever I am in the Hendersonville area (which is often, since my fiancee's folks live there), I try to switch over to 1560 and take a listen. The audio quality sounds pretty darn good for an AM, IMHO.

-M

 

[Hillbillicus]

I hope your main wasn't a Harris SX model. Good luck getting parts as Harris is not not going to support that box anymore.

 

[skippertthomas]

Scott, Your positive attitude and faith in a trial like this, shows what local broadcasters need to be successful... I am looking at a small suburban AM in our local metro, and your comments draw the same conclusion I was leaning towards, "BACKUP".... Even if it's older and maybe not as posh... At least, have a Ford Contour that's tuned up and ready, when the Lexus goes 'crack'....

 

[courier37027]

Scott, you must have been tired. You put 07 in the subject line, but '08 in your first topic post. I joined that club today, writing '07 on a check. I will probably repeat the error in May or June .

 

[scottwmro]

Scott, you must have been tired. You put 07 in the subject line, but '08 in your first topic post. I joined that club today, writing '07 on a check. I will probably repeat the error in May or June .

Boy, I've been really wore out, I still find myself writing "07" instead of "08" on document, checks, etc.

Anyway, 1560 WMRO is back on the air, with just 3 watts. It's just covering the city, barely, but that's it. For all those who listen to our Sunday Religious Programming, our preachers (including our pastor, "Paster Larry Graves" from the Cottontown Baptist Church) WILL BE ON at thier normal times, and so will the live church broadcast. I can't let down the elderly that are in Gallatin's nursing homes and assitant living home that can't get out and attend church. It's a tradition that's been on this station since it has been under my family's ownership.

I ask of all of you to pray for all of us, as we are dealing with all this mess, and pray for my family who totally lost thier home in Macon County. WMRO is lucky, we have a new transmitter coming on Tuesday or Wednesday. Leslie and I are budgeting for a back-up. I was contacted by a gentleman engineer in Kentucky, via email, that thinks he might be able to get us one. IF some one has a tube rig on or near 1560, you may contact me or call me and we will be glad to talk to you.

My advice for to broadcasters in 2008 (even internet broadcasters), have a back up transmitter, computer, and small mixer. You never know what can happen.

Many thanks to all of you!

Scott & Leslie Bailey
WMRO Radio, Magic 1560
Gallatin, TN

 

[rzeis]

Hi Scott, just curious. Why do you have a CP to drop your daytime power from 1000 to 250 watts? I am sure there is a good reason, but I never understood when I would see this with other stations doing the same thing. I always thought more power was a good thing. Good luck with getting back up to full power from the storm damage. Hope all is well with you and everyone there that were effected by the storms.
Ron

 

[scottwmro]

Hi Scott, just curious. Why do you have a CP to drop your daytime power from 1000 to 250 watts? I am sure there is a good reason, but I never understood when I would see this with other stations doing the same thing. I always thought more power was a good thing. Good luck with getting back up to full power from the storm damage. Hope all is well with you and everyone there that were effected by the storms.
Ron

Ron,
It's a long story on the CP. In a nutshell, WPAD, whom is co-channel with us wanted to go non-directional with thier full 10 KW. I made a deal with them so they could. The CP is only go for 18-36 months, I think. It will probably never happen. We had the idea of accecpting each other interference, but we were afraid the commission would go for it. I'm 99% sure nothing will change and I'll let the CP expire and we will stay at 1 KW, and let WPAD work things out with the commssion. I hope that explains it all.

Scott