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850

Kent is right about FM's being step children, especially in the 60's. I recall people buying Renaults from Jim Clayton worrying about the extra cost of the odd-looking radio they didn't want. WSEV FM was beautiful music with a beautiful music subcarrier. Motels subscribed because they didn't want to buy their own radio. Scripps-Howard leaned against an FM to pair with WNOX because they were holding out for a TV station. Their Whittle Springs Road studio was built with a largely-useless stage for TV. Jim Dick picked up his FM knowing a daytime-only AM would only take him so far.

WEZK used to have Muzak, paging, and, I think, something else on their subcarrier. I think Muzak is being delivered by satellite these days. Does anybody know if they're still using SCA for anything?
 
Kent T said:
WOKI-FM 100.3 wasn't built until 1975 or so, being originally an AM station in 1973 at 1550 Khz when it signed on in 1973.
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WOKI-FM 100.3 actually came on the air in Spring 1974. They were the FIRST FM station in Knoxville that featured Rock Music as their primary format. The rest of the FM dial in Knoxville was either Country music (WIVK), EZ Listening (WEZK 97.5, WSEV 102.1), classical (WUOT). While WBIR-FM (103.5) did feature MOR format, they weren't playing Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels Band, Allman Brothers Band, ZZ Top, David Bowie or any of the other rock artist played that WOKI played.
 
WATO-FM 94.3 in Oak Ridge, TN began it's life playing album rock until the format switch to Schulke Beautiful Music in 1969 or 1970, in 1973, Bonneville Beautiful Music took over until the early 1980's. So, technically speaking, WATO-FM 94.3 was the first Knoxville FM rock station. Most of the audience then was UT students. WOKI-FM 100.3 was the first Knoxville market FM rock ratings success. Thanks for giving me a timeframe for when it entered the airwaves.
 
Chuck Ketron didn't own the 102.1 WSEV as he purchased WSEV AM back in the 80's he then acquired the Gatlinburg FM and changed the calls to WSEV FM. 102.1 became U-102 and they spun off the AM when they moved the FM studios to Knoxville. Also one of the first commercial FM to go on in East Tenn was by Author Wilkerson in Lenoir City with WLIL @ 100.3 FM back in the 50's. He ended up turning it off because no one could listen to it and then he reapplied years later and the new freq. was 93.5. Now the non comm's in Knoxville have been on for a long time with WUOT at UT and WKCS @ Fulton High School. WKCS since the 50's and always played contemporary music.
 
Kent T said:
WATO-FM 94.3 in Oak Ridge, TN began it's life playing album rock until the format switch to Schulke Beautiful Music in 1969 or 1970, in 1973, Bonneville Beautiful Music took over until the early 1980's. So, technically speaking, WATO-FM 94.3 was the first Knoxville FM rock station. Most of the audience then was UT students. WOKI-FM 100.3 was the first Knoxville market FM rock ratings success. Thanks for giving me a timeframe for when it entered the airwaves.
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I should have said the First FM Rock Station that I remembered. I was in the 7th grade when WOKI-FM 100.3 first came on the air. I was a little too young to remember WATO when they were playing Rock music in the late '60s.
 
WUOT FM 91.9 has been on the air for over 60 years. WBIR-FM (now WIMZ-FM has been on since the 1950's) and a FM pioneer on the commercial band. WKCS-FM 91.1 as you correctly have stated has been on since the early 1950's. Interesting about 100.3 being the original FM frequency for WLIL-FM. When did Arthur file for 93.5 and sign it on?
 
We mustn't forget WCFA in Clinton. Super CFA was doing automated Top 40 when WOKI-AM went on in 1973. Cliff Jennings, Clyde Scott, Fred Stair using funky DJ names. They were on 104.9 at that time til LaFollette came on and moved them to 95.3 in the 80's.
 
I have had one modified FM/subcarrier radio or another for several years, and can tell you that the last time I know of that there was music on a subcarrier on a Knoxville-area station was on 97.5 in 2004, during my Pigeon Forge vacation. One of the subcarriers was adult-contemporary and the other was jazz with a little easy-listening. There's no music now.
 
Loved WCFA a lot growing up in Oak Ridge. My HH Scott kit tuner I built in 1973 was usually parked on that station most of the time then. Loved it. If I recall, Clinton Broadcasters owned it (owned then by Jim Stair who signed on WYSH in 1960). Mr. Stair was a nice gentleman and I even once upon a time worked for him late in his ownership. Interesting thing on a side related note, I own some of the old WLIL 45 singles from the old days. I have some of the instrumental singles marked FM? Some were severely cueburned, some are still in nice condition once cleaned up good and play well.
 
radio-dinosaur said:
biggest problem with AM is programming, not technology.
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They're both a problem! There needs to be a quality analog AM transmission standard implemented and there needs to be an effort to cut down the RF emissions from computers, electrical lines, etc. When those issues are addressed, AM will have a chance although I think it would be best if the band would concentrate on specialty programming; particularly the smaller stations. I would also recommend 're-clearing' the clear channels.
 
klutch00 said:
radio-dinosaur said:
biggest problem with AM is programming, not technology.
Click to expand...
They're both a problem! There needs to be a quality analog AM transmission standard implemented and there needs to be an effort to cut down the RF emissions from computers, electrical lines, etc. When those issues are addressed, AM will have a chance although I think it would be best if the band would concentrate on specialty programming; particularly the smaller stations. I would also recommend 're-clearing' the clear channels.
Click to expand...


agreed. the cheap AM radios now being produced sound like crap, IBOC sounds like crap and will never make an impact. return to wideband audio for AM, even push AM stereo. it sounds great on a good engineered station. and program something that isn't available on FM. that shouldn't be too hard around here. a lot of format duplication
 
klutch00 said:
They're both a problem! There needs to be a quality analog AM transmission standard implemented and there needs to be an effort to cut down the RF emissions from computers, electrical lines, etc. When those issues are addressed, AM will have a chance although I think it would be best if the band would concentrate on specialty programming; particularly the smaller stations. I would also recommend 're-clearing' the clear channels.
Click to expand...
agreed. the cheap AM radios now being produced sound like crap, IBOC sounds like crap and will never make an impact. return to wideband audio for AM, even push AM stereo. it sounds great on a good engineered station. and program something that isn't available on FM. that shouldn't be too hard around here. a lot of format duplication.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more! I also totally agree with you on AM stereo! I keep asking why AMAX never took off? Was there a flaw in the technology, or what was going on?
 
I know this is a thread about 850, but somebody mentioned Clinton Broadcasters a few posts back. I don't know what type of audio chain they are using but WYSH 1380 sounds the best of any A.M. I've heard. Listen to them on my G.E. Super Radio and in the truck quite a bit.
 
klutch00 said:
klutch00 said:
They're both a problem! There needs to be a quality analog AM transmission standard implemented and there needs to be an effort to cut down the RF emissions from computers, electrical lines, etc. When those issues are addressed, AM will have a chance although I think it would be best if the band would concentrate on specialty programming; particularly the smaller stations. I would also recommend 're-clearing' the clear channels.
Click to expand...
agreed. the cheap AM radios now being produced sound like crap, IBOC sounds like crap and will never make an impact. return to wideband audio for AM, even push AM stereo. it sounds great on a good engineered station. and program something that isn't available on FM. that shouldn't be too hard around here. a lot of format duplication.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more! I also totally agree with you on AM stereo! I keep asking why AMAX never took off? Was there a flaw in the technology, or what was going on?
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The lack of affordable radios was the big reason. The Sony Walkman SRF-42 was forty dollars, twice the non AMAX version. Beyond that it was a few high end tuners.

Despite any efforts the problem is interference. It was bad when AMAX was introduced and is worse today.
 
radio30 said:
I know this is a thread about 850, but somebody mentioned Clinton Broadcasters a few posts back. I don't know what type of audio chain they are using but WYSH 1380 sounds the best of any A.M. I've heard. Listen to them on my G.E. Super Radio and in the truck quite a bit.
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It's OK! I wonder what type of audio processing they use there? Also, doesn't this station simulcast on WGAP (1400)? If so, do they have the same audio processing?
 
The lack of affordable radios was the big reason. The Sony Walkman SRF-42 was forty dollars, twice the non AMAX version. Beyond that it was a few high end tuners.

Despite any efforts the problem is interference. It was bad when AMAX was introduced and is worse today.
Click to expand...
Regarding the interference, this is why I suggested that RF emissions need to be controlled somehow.
 
SuperQ said:
3 towers are on Emory Road halfway between Halls and Powell. Signal burns a hole in Sevier Co and can be heard in SC in the daytime.

They get 500 watts for an hour after sunrise, then 90 watts for another hour before signing off. To the Southeast that's pretty OK.

But during critical hours just after sunrise and just before sunset, Birmingham and Cleveland come pouring in on top of them in Farragut and the deep west end.
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As I understand, the 'full-power' (50-kw) signal is 'aimed' to the southeast.
http://www.wkvl.com/
 
klutch00 said:
The lack of affordable radios was the big reason. The Sony Walkman SRF-42 was forty dollars, twice the non AMAX version. Beyond that it was a few high end tuners.

Despite any efforts the problem is interference. It was bad when AMAX was introduced and is worse today.
Click to expand...
Regarding the interference, this is why I suggested that RF emissions need to be controlled somehow.
Click to expand...

Controlling interference at this point would be like holding back the ocean with a broom. The computer you are using to read this post produces interference as does the printer, modem, hub/router and so much more just in one household. The FCC does have rules regarding interference (Part 15) but it is never enforced beyond frequencies used for public safety.
 
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