540 AM

[RunWithScissors]

Was outside Newark DE the other day and picked up a station at 540AM playing great Nostalgia music very loud and clear. I never heard any ID or commercials, but it seemed like and in-house operation. I thought it was 540 in NYC that I usually pick up at my home in Philadelphia, but it was not. Someone told me it was WGOP from Maryland, when I checked the site, the format was listed as Country. Also, I noticed the Xtmr was moved closer to Baltimore and the power increased, this is why I probably picked them up so far north. Can anyone confirm this, did they change formats to go along with the Xmtr move.

 

[georgetown3ham]

What you heard was probable WGOP (formerly WDMV) from Pocomoke City, Maryland. The station is owned by Birach Broadcasting. They have several rim shot stations near major cities. The have a Construction Permit to move the station to the D.C. suburbs, but can't get county approval for the site. The CP runs out later this year and will probably not move. It runs 500 watts non-directional days and 243 watss non-directional nights. The have pre-sunrise authority for 6am 500 watts when daytime power comes after 6am and they run full power up to 2 hours past sunset year round. A friend of mine owns WBEY in Crisfield, Md and leases 540 as well as 106.5 in Pocomoke City. He uses the 540 studios for all three stations. At one time they simulcasted WBEY, so some listings still show them as Country, which WBEY is.

 

[GlennSummers]

Can anyone attest to the signal reach of 1330 out of Havre de Grace? At 5kw they should really cover a good part of the eastern shore. Thanks.

 

[WTUX]

They get into Wilmington, Delaware.

 

[stevations]

Did WGOP just increase power? They were weak for a couple of weeks and now they are stronger than ever. I heard them strong from Virginia Beach to Richmond yesterday. (except for the power line interference) Also on the Long Island NY posts there was mention of 540 increasing power up there. I noticed spanish programs on 540 dominating the past week in V Beach from LI NY until yesterday, now WGOP is now the only station heard on that frequency.

 

[stevations]

Also noticed WGOP 540 only plays half of the stereo channel. On songs like Spanky and Our Gang "Like to Get to Know You" you can only hear half the vocals of the song.

 

[bossjock 56]

Who supplies WGOP's programming now that "Timeless" from ABC/Citadel has been discontinued?

 

[stevations]

Not sure but now they are adding classic country to the oldies

 

[stormy01]

Did WGOP just increase power? They were weak for a couple of weeks and now they are stronger than ever. I heard them strong from Virginia Beach to Richmond yesterday. (except for the power line interference) Also on the Long Island NY posts there was mention of 540 increasing power up there. I noticed spanish programs on 540 dominating the past week in V Beach from LI NY until yesterday, now WGOP is now the only station heard on that frequency.

WGOP does have an application but not a Construction Permit with the FCC to move to Damascus....Maryland, that is! 1kW day and night with 4 towers. This is what the FCC is reporting for WGOP: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=5347 Perhaps their engineers tweaked the existing station facilities?

 

[stevations]

Also reception conditions vary day to day, noticed they also transmit on 100.7, sounds like a low power station. Call letters have a bunch of numbers like W287...etc.

 

[ka3kza]

WGOP 540 AM in Pocomoke City is simulcast on am FM Translator. It is owned by Birach, however it is LMA'd by the owner of WBEY. WBEY also uses a Translator for it's HD2, Bay Rock at 95.5

 

[ka3kza]

By the way, the have pre-sunrise authority at full power at 6am, and full power post sunset for 2 hours. Their day power is 500 watts, and night is 243 watts.

 

[stevations]

Visited Chincoteague on July 4th weekend, could hear 100.7 clear there but the station had no bass at all, the sound on the car radio was like I was listening to the station on a portable radio with an earphone.