Activity at WAPZ!

[Spinbuster 1]

I heard that WAPZ is looking for a production person and a sales person! They are also Streaming Audio Now. Does anybody know whats going on over there?

 

[R.D.P.]

They now bill themselves, as "The People's Station".  They cater to Black Gospel, Church Services and Talk Programming.  I was listening to them, this past Friday, while visiting Montgomery and heard one of their talk shows.

It was very entertaining and educational.  This show was hosted by a local Black Preacher and was on during the 9 A.M. hour, for those wondering.

Yes I did hear an advertisement for Rev. Al Sharpton.  This station carries his program in the afternoons.

I also heard a few spots for some of the Church services they carry on Sundays.

R.D.P. <><

 

[Spinbuster 1]

I listened to their streaming, It actually sounded pretty darn good. More than what I was expecting. Their website needs some work. Overall it seems that they are cleaning up their act. hats of to them!

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I don't know how I missed this message, but I did...

They must've done ALOT of work to the studio.

I saw their entire facility in June or July 2004..2 days after they annoucned the sale, I went to inspect their public file.

When I was there, they had NO computer i nthe studio and an OLD LPB Signature console...

 

[Spinbuster 1]

I heard that they have done some remodeling and that they now have the arrakis digilink extreme automation system. I have never been in there but was curious about the place. Did you see the TX? At one time they had a Western Electric 5KW in there.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I mainly saw the front offices and studio.

I was surprised, for such an ancient studio... they had some pretty decent processing gear, but obviously weren't using it =)

I think it was a Western Electric or GE transmitter they had. The tubes were obviously getting soft, cuse they sounded bad, there was low modulation and the signal wasn't so great. The whole reason WAPZ signed off at Sunset is 'cuse that old ebast couldn't drop to 80 Watts.

I even remember driving by one Sunday afternoon around 1:00PM and they were off the air.

I noticed they are carrying "The Party Blues And Oldies Network" based at Flagship WJZD 94.5 in Gulfport, Mississippi ( http://www.partybluesandoldies.com )

I guess Michael Rice must be doing fairly well with it, he just finished his first year of the LMA and is about 5 months thru the second. I wonder what will happen when the 2 year LMA is up in July....

 

[jimmcc]

The old Western Electric transmitter has not been there for many years but some of the power transformers are still there (PCB removal issues probably). The WE was moved from the old location above Wetumpka when that facility was constructed in 1964. I stopped by a couple of years ago ago after not being in the building for 30 or more years. Very depressing as I remembered it from the 60s. Little to no maintenance has been performed on the building and equipment over the years.

The tranmitter at the time was a CCA and was not making 5kw. The standby transmitter was still a 1kw built by the original owner in the early 50s. Some of the audio chain was the same as in the 60s although the main studio board had been replaced.

Glad to see they are doing better but the greatest call letters for a city station was lost when they changed from WETU - Wetupmka.

With a good antenna and ground system that signal can boom do the excellent ground conditions being close to the Alabama river.

 

[Spinbuster 1]

I am going to be in Montgomery this weekend. I think I will take the plunge and stop by there and see what I can find out. Stay Tuned!

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

**staying tuned** lol.. Let us know what you find out!

 

[Spinbuster 1]

Well I made it! I had an emergency back home so I have been away. But here is the skinny. I stopped by there and actually met some really nice people and they gave me a tour. In the TX room was sitting not only two Identical 5KW transmitters but two very nice 1KW transmitters. They had three racks of new audio gear including a current high end digital processor. They have also remodeled there production studio and told me that the air studio is next. I have to say that I was shocked & impressed at the same time. The General Manger & the Operations Manager were very nice & down to earth, again I was impressed. They did at one time have a Western Electric but there were no longer any signs of it left. Nor was there any signs of the home made rig that someone had mentioned was once there. There internet streaming sounds pretty darn good. I drove their signal a little bit, and would have to say that they probably have one of the best if not the best sounding signal in Montgomery. This is the farthest from what I was expecting to see or hear. I take my hat off to these guys they have done an impessive job on that place! That's my report as promised!!!

 

[jimmcc]

Thanks for the report and glad to see they are doing better. Hopefully they will also spend money on the physical plant as it appears to have lacked maintenance for many years. Why so many transmitters? The old WE sat in the space on the right side of the transmitter room and took the entire side. The 1kw standby was at the far back on the left near the rear doors. I'll have to give a listen next time I pass by on I-65. The production studio was for an FM that was never allocated but never built. They had FMs at their other stations but I never knew why they didn't complete that one. The air studio, when I saw it, had not changed since it was built except the Gates Dulax board had been replaced. The building originally had no windows and they were added later. Made it very difficult and on more than one occassion embarrassing to report on outside weather conditions!