98.3

[tenchances]

I've been checking out 98.3 periodically to see if they've moved the transmitter south and began testing. Tonight, while driving West on Indian School between 44th Street and the 51, I heard some type of easy listening music on that frequency. I thought that maybe the alternative rock format that's on KZGL (?) in Cottonwood (?) had gone away, and they had begun stunting. But as soon as I crossed the exit for the 51, I began picking up KZGL. (BTW, I heard an actual EAS alert on there earlier today - NOT a test - during the storms.)

What other 98.3's exist in the state? There's KOHT in Tucson, but they have the same format as Power 92...not exactly easy listening. And hasn't KQSS already moved to 101.9? (And aren't they a country station?)

 

[MASTER_CONTROL]

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=&band=Both&freq=98.3&freq_exact=Yes&city=&state=arizona&country=&format=&owner_search=starts&owner=&scope=&count=20&is_lic=Y&is_cp=Y&is_unl=Y&is_ful=Y&is_lp=Y&sort=Call&sr=1&sid=

 

[EricStein]

Between the 6:30 PM-7 PM half-hour, 98.3 was "testing" with just a carrier. That means, they may flip the switch and run a simulcast with 92.3 (or move Power's programming to the signal as a whole) any day now.

As for the site, they've made a lot of progress over the past month:

http://www.leembruggen.com/983.html (taken on July 30; thanks to Riviera engineering head Robert Leembruggen)

 

[EricStein]

Now testing as "TV Radio"...

...with TV theme songs and a constant ID of "KZGL Mayer" (as of 8/26 9 PM)

 

[tenchances]

Re: Now testing as "TV Radio"...

...with TV theme songs and a constant ID of "KZGL Mayer" (as of 8/26 9 PM)

Some of the TV themes included those from Three's Company, Who's the Boss, Facts of Life, the Muppet Show, the A-Team, the Love Boat, and the Lone Ranger.

One of the sweepers mentioned something like "Bringing out the TV geek in all of us".

This ended at some point before midnight; I believe it's back to the old signal and KZGL Modern Rock format for the time being.

Also, I heard the "other" 98.3 again, driving west on Camelback this time. It started becoming audible around 56th Street and once again ended almost precisely while crossing the 51. It was similar music to what I heard Thursday night, although I heard some obscure oldies tunes (I think). No "stereo" indicator on the car stereo. I'm guessing this is a pirate.

 

[tenchances]

Re: Now testing as "TV Radio"...

The TV Themes stunting is back on as of some point Sunday. Adding to the list I posted yesterday, the selections I've heard today include themes from Taxi, the Brady Bunch, Hawaii Five-O, and Magnum P.I. The Taxi theme played twice in a span of about 10 minutes, so I wonder if whatever system they're using to play these selections is on "random" mode.

A couple of the sweepers I've heard today (which break up the monotony of simply "KZGL Mayer" between every song) include "Break out the Betamax" and something along the lines of "It's OK...we thought Tootie was kinda hot too" (in reference to actress Kim Fields, who portrayed "Tootie" on the Facts of Life.)

Question: is the signal strength we're hearing today indicative of what it will be like once KKFR is on that frequency? Or will it be getting better? As it stands now, the signal seems to be weaker just north of downtown (where KKFR presumably has a high concentration of listeners) than it is northeast Scottsdale. Early claims about the signal's potential painted a different picture...

 

[SiriusD]

I am located near 35th Ave and Bethany Home Road and it comes in like a local on my walkman. It even seems a bit stronger than the other two signals 95.1 and 97.5.

 

[AZJoe]

Signal isnt so great in Mesa....hear that familiar clicking/popping sound that rimshots make.

 

[azfmfan]

Signal seems fairly strong in SE Gilbert, both in my car and on my home stereo.

 

[real engineer]

Ok.. so I was up on towers mountain this last week... after going over to wildflower.. tower is finished.. antenna is done and going to the building.. but the gen set was not hooked up (no 3 phase power for a while), no electrical outside done.. a lot can happen in a week.. the quest lines were not into the building.. T-1.. let me tell you the engineers from Power and the Edge are really great and awesome engineers.. when it's on you will know.. oh and the drive up is long and jarring.. you can make it Crown King in a regular car but it will be dusty.. the fudge in the general store is worth the drive alone and the local food establishment behind the bar is not bad.. and they are really nice.. you should check out the bar.. really old place and what a history.. the road up was once a railroad going up.. you can still see that and one spot up there is a tunnel that is covered in big bolders on both sides.. lots of history.

 

[tenchances]

More questions about this...please forgive my ignorance and lack of engineering knowledge...

How exactly is this working with regards to the old Modern Rock KZGL and its signal? When the new signal is playing the TV Themes, is the old signal and the Modern Rock format turned off? Or is the old signal transmitting continuously, with the new signal being turned on and off as needed?

I ask because the new signal (and the TV themes stunting) was once the again off the air late Sunday evening. As a result, I was able to faintly hear the Modern Rock KZGL. And it sounds like business as usual...there is no indication of anything changing...it even sounds like they had a live jock on the air this evening. If the old signal is being turned off every time the new signal is turned on, I cannot imagine how frustrating this must be for the Modern Rock KZGL's listeners who don't know what is going on.

Also, exactly in what city is the old transmitter located? What about the new one - is it Mayer (or is that just the city of license?) And how far apart are these cities?

 

[EricStein]

I ask because the new signal (and the TV themes stunting) was once the again off the air late Sunday evening. As a result, I was able to faintly hear the Modern Rock KZGL. And it sounds like business as usual...there is no indication of anything changing...it even sounds like they had a live jock on the air this evening. If the old signal is being turned off every time the new signal is turned on, I cannot imagine how frustrating this must be for the Modern Rock KZGL's listeners who don't know what is going on.

It may be frustrating for the listeners, but I'm not sure the DJ knows since they run the Waitt modern rock format and the DJ's located in Omaha.

Also, exactly in what city is the old transmitter located? What about the new one - is it Mayer (or is that just the city of license?) And how far apart are these cities?

The old transmitter is atop Mingus Mountain near Cottonwood, while the new tower is atop Towers Mountain in Crown King. Mayer is just its city of license, which is about 15-20 miles northeast of Towers Mountain. Its previous COL was Prescott Valley. Mayer and Prescott Valley are not that far apart (about 15-20 miles between each other), but the new 98.3 is closer to Phoenix and more powerful.

 

[EricStein]

98.3 Update

Making a call to Yavapai Broadcasting in Cottonwood, they say the KZGL rock format will end tonight at midnight.