89.3 Dhoom FM is dhoomed

[MickeyD]

Perhaps Dhoom FM can save itself from being dhoomed permanently by going on an HD2 station in New York and then translating the HD2 on 100.7.

That's exactly what they're doing now. 100.7 W264BT in Edison is now back on the air, translating the Indian music programming of 98.7 WRKS-HD2 in NYC. The signal is now in "stereo", although I use that term loosely due to the terrible digital compression artifacts of the HD2 stream.

Not for long.

 

[nd2023]

Perhaps Dhoom FM can save itself from being dhoomed permanently by going on an HD2 station in New York and then translating the HD2 on 100.7.

That's exactly what they're doing now. 100.7 W264BT in Edison is now back on the air, translating the Indian music programming of 98.7 WRKS-HD2 in NYC. The signal is now in "stereo", although I use that term loosely due to the terrible digital compression artifacts of the HD2 stream.

Not for long.

Why not?

 

[MickeyD]

Perhaps Dhoom FM can save itself from being dhoomed permanently by going on an HD2 station in New York and then translating the HD2 on 100.7.

That's exactly what they're doing now. 100.7 W264BT in Edison is now back on the air, translating the Indian music programming of 98.7 WRKS-HD2 in NYC. The signal is now in "stereo", although I use that term loosely due to the terrible digital compression artifacts of the HD2 stream.

Not for long.

Why not?

They liked the 91.9 idea and it is free!

 

[nd2023]

100.7 sounds processed like a normal station now. When it simulcasted 89.3 it was always undermodulated.

 

[WNTIRadio]

What do you mean "They liked the 91.9 idea and it's free"? There is a translator on 91.9 in Sayerville, as well as my former employer in my namesake on 91.9.

Clarify please...

 

[MickeyD]

What do you mean "They liked the 91.9 idea and it's free"? There is a translator on 91.9 in Sayerville, as well as my former employer in my namesake on 91.9.

Clarify please...

WBGD was in that spot for 25+ years and they lost their license last August. It would still be there if they didn't turn it off three years ago. Did that spot go away? They don't really have to move it to Hazlet it is being used to drive a translator.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Right, but that translator is in the commercial band, so it would have to be fed off air. I sincerely doubt that the class D 91.9 signal would be received with WNTI and W220AA so much closer.

And the FCC deleted the license, it was a class D, which are not being licensed anymore. So the question is, would the FCC displace them to a deleted allotment and one that is significantly south of their former location?

Again, that was the best "10 watts" at 125' HAAT I've ever heard... perhaps the FCC isn't too interested in these guys anymore.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Whoops, my mistake. WBGD was a 125 watt at 17 meters HAAT class A when the license was turned in. Still, if it were somehow resurrected, there's no way it would be able to feed a translator in Edison.

 

[d21ofnj]

Right, but that translator is in the commercial band, so it would have to be fed off air.  I sincerely doubt that the class D 91.9 signal would be received with WNTI and W220AA so much closer.

I thought 91.9 was considered in the NON-commercial side and commercial bands were from 92.1-107.9. 

 

[MickeyD]

Right, but that translator is in the commercial band, so it would have to be fed off air. I sincerely doubt that the class D 91.9 signal would be received with WNTI and W220AA so much closer.

And the FCC deleted the license, it was a class D, which are not being licensed anymore. So the question is, would the FCC displace them to a deleted allotment and one that is significantly south of their former location?

Again, that was the best "10 watts" at 125' HAAT I've ever heard... perhaps the FCC isn't too interested in these guys anymore.

It is a displaced station and it is a minority station. The FCC would like to accomodate them. They were going to get 104.7 but it was too close to a station in NYC' and whomever owned the NY station wouldn't give them a letter. Deleted or not it is a legitimate allocation and when there is nowhere else to go it seems like a great place to me. What is a commercial translator? They were feeding the translator from 89.3 originally.

I am sure they can move the frequency a bit more north. Look at WNBP - Am in Masschusetts, they purchased a tranlator from Sanford. ME and moved it hundreds of miles south. After dealing with the FCC over the years the rules are just a guideline.

 

[mdamico25]

>> They were going to get 104.7 but it was too close to a station in NYC' and whomever owned the NY station wouldn't give them a letter.

Back in the late 80s/early 90s, then-WCNJ tried to move to 104.7 as well, but the FCC would not allow them to do so due to spacing issues with 104.5 in Philadelphia and 104.9 in Egg Harbor City. Air distance to both from Hazlet is just under 60 miles.

-Mike

 

[Raider57]

What station is on 104.7 in NYC?

 

[myke25]

If my memory serves me correct, the late Ed Beck and I had a conversation about this a little over 10 years ago... Either WCNJ didn't make a move quick enough to apply and/or they couldn't get approval from the FCC and WAXQ 104.3 in NYC due to short-spacing issues.

Also, I never got the real answer to why they weren't ever in stereo. Was the cost too much? Would they have caused interference w/ WSOU?

 

[Pirate_Jim]

A mono signal produces a better coverage area than stereo .. and for an 8 watt station, they probably wanted whatever increased coverage they could get ...

 

[WNTIRadio]

Why don't they rent an HD2 from somebody, and then give the radios away or sell them to their listeners? Would be better coverage than what they had, and for such a small, targeted audience base it would work and be better than an SCA.

Of course that would mean they would have to pay monthly in a timely manner...

 

[MickeyD]

Why don't they rent an HD2 from somebody, and then give the radios away or sell them to their listeners? Would be better coverage than what they had, and for such a small, targeted audience base it would work and be better than an SCA.

Of course that would mean they would have to pay monthly in a timely manner...

To me the HD2 method would allow them to FINALLY be a commercial station. If they can get another frequency get it then decide if you want it and sell it if you don't.

They have a small but pretty well off audience.

It is their thing let them make the decisions. I advise and step back.

 

[WNTIRadio]

To me the HD2 method would allow them to FINALLY be a commercial station

Not much difference from the previous operation. Being in the reserved band never stopped them from running full blown ads and :60 spots.

 

[MickeyD]

To me the HD2 method would allow them to FINALLY be a commercial station

Not much difference from the previous operation. Being in the reserved band never stopped them from running full blown ads and :60 spots.

That is true but the fines cut into their profits.

 

[nd2023]

Have you noticed the 100.7 translator signal is weaker now it's simulcasting 98.7 HD2? It sounds like an 8 watt signal on a crowded frequency should sound. When it was translating Dhoom 89.3, it was stronger. I could hear it in most of Staten Island and could detect it up to Newark. Glad to see the new owners of W264BT are following the rules.

 

[MickeyD]

Have you noticed the 100.7 translator signal is weaker now it's simulcasting 98.7 HD2? It sounds like an 8 watt signal on a crowded frequency should sound. When it was translating Dhoom 89.3, it was stronger. I could hear it in most of Staten Island and could detect it up to Newark. Glad to see the new owners of W264BT are following the rules.

Doom has requested an STA to remain dark while they do a displacement study for a new frequency (5/25/2011). I wonder where they will find a frequency? From the application:

WDDM-FM HAD BEEN OPERATING UNDER SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY ('STA') PURSUANT TO FCC LETTER DATED JANUARY 11, 2011 WHICH STA WAS SUBJECT TO TERMINATION AT SUCH TIME AS FULL SERVICE CO-CHANNEL STATION WFJS-FM (FREEHOLD, NJ) (FACILITY ID NUMBER 174562) WOULD COMMENCE OPERATION ON CHANNEL 207A. A COPY OF THE JANUARY 11, 2011 STA APPROVAL LETTER IS ATTACHED HERETO.

THE WFJS-FM 302-FM LICENSE APPLICATION WAS GRANTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GRANTING OF FORMAL PROGRAM TEST AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA SYSTEM ON 5/11/2011. THUS, WDDM-FM WAS REQUIRED TO CEASE OPERATION AND IT DID SO ON 5/16/2011.

WDDM-FM IS SEEKING AN ALTERNATE DISPLACEMENT CHANNEL IN AN EFFORT TO RESUME OPERATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IF THESE EFFORTS ARE FRUITFUL, AN APPLICATION FOR THIS PURPOSE WILL BE SUBMITTED IN THE NEAR TERM. WDDM-FM RECENTLY RETAINED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OF MARLTON, NEW JERSEY TO CONDUCT THE DISPLACEMENT CHANNEL SEARCH AND, HOPEFULLY, PREPARE THE REQUISITE MODIFICATION APPLICATION.