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AMs in SoFla boosted power with STAs?

C

CapeFish

I was looking at the FCC files, wondering if stations such as WIOD, WINZ, WAXY, and Tampa's WDAE had gotten power boosts. Either my AM tuners have gotten better as I drive through these areas or these stations have gotten stronger.

At first, I didn't see any changes:
610 WIOD - 5kw day & night
940 WINZ - 50kw day & 10kw night
790 WAXY - 5kw day & night
620 WDAE (St. Pete) - 5kw day & night with a CP for 5.6kw day & night

But now I see that:
610 WIOD - STA @ 10kw day & night
940 WINZ - STA @ 25kw night
790 WAXY - STA @ 25kw day & night
620 WDAE (St. Pete) - STA @ 11.2kw day & 11kw night

I'm guessing this is a recent thing (since 2001-ish), but why? Is it Castro? Is it the stations convincing the FCC they need the extra power to cover (and thereby protect) SoFla by having better signals to deliver news with?

I hope it goes permanent, because it really seems to me it has helped all of their signals, especially for hurricane events where WIOD/WINZ team up with Channel 10 and WAXY teams up with NBC6.

Any other stations get this STA power boost?
 
CapeFish said:
I was looking at the FCC files, wondering if stations such as WIOD, WINZ, WAXY, and Tampa's WDAE had gotten power boosts. Either my AM tuners have gotten better as I drive through these areas or these stations have gotten stronger.

At first, I didn't see any changes:
610 WIOD - 5kw day & night
940 WINZ - 50kw day & 10kw night
790 WAXY - 5kw day & night
620 WDAE (St. Pete) - 5kw day & night with a CP for 5.6kw day & night

But now I see that:
610 WIOD - STA @ 10kw day & night
940 WINZ - STA @ 25kw night
790 WAXY - STA @ 25kw day & night
620 WDAE (St. Pete) - STA @ 11.2kw day & 11kw night

I'm guessing this is a recent thing (since 2001-ish), but why? Is it Castro? Is it the stations convincing the FCC they need the extra power to cover (and thereby protect) SoFla by having better signals to deliver news with?

I hope it goes permanent, because it really seems to me it has helped all of their signals, especially for hurricane events where WIOD/WINZ team up with Channel 10 and WAXY teams up with NBC6.

Any other stations get this STA power boost?
Click to expand...

610 was running 10 kw since the 60's when Cuban interference caused them to lose coverage. 790 is the same, as is WINZ. 1240 WALO got an STA for many years to run 5000 watts due to the 1,000,000 watt venezuelan that ran in the early 80's. WDAE (as WSUN) had a temporary power upgrade due to Cuban interference. All date to the late 60s I believe.
 
Maybe the Cuban interference has gone done in recent years/months?

The signals are MUCH better to my ear. I'm getting WIOD out here in Lee County and it has been constantly that way.

Too bad Miami's AM stations can't get more juice to cover the southern part of the peninsula entirely.
 
WIOD did not get their STA in the late '60's. That's way too early. I was pretty sure it didn't happen until 1981 and from this website it looks like I was right: http://www.naswa.net/journal/2006/12/apd122006

The website contains the following:

Among the other changes and developments experienced by WIOD were changes in callsign from WIOD, to WCKR, and back again to WIOD. The transmitter power, originally 1 kW, was increased to 5 kW in 1941 and to 10 kW in 1981. Likewise, there have been several changes in frequency, seven in all, though the current channel, 610 kHz, has been in use consistently since 1937. Today, there are a total of seven AM and FM stations clustered together in the large studio complex at Miramar.

The site has some interesting information on WIOD's shortwave station as well.

Mike
 
As someone listening in central Broward, I can personally attest that the "Cuban interference" issue is still...an issue.

It varies day to day, and depends on where and when you are listen, but QAM and IOD have been getting hit pretty hard.

Don't look for the STA's to go awa anytime soon.
 
WQAM doesn't have STA for higher power right? I know 560 gets pulverized, I can hear it even during a game at Dolphin Stadium. 610 does better than 560 in fighting it off.
 
'QAM reduces power at night, and runs 5,000 ND during the day...
 
WMEN, which already has an STA for 25kw, has now been granted an STA for 50kw. Transmitter location is being moved, too
 
The 640 CP for higher power has been out there for so long, I am suprised it hasn't expired.
Another AM operating on an STA is 1440 WWCL in LeHigh Acres. They are operating at 10k day and 5k at night. Their STA seems to date from 1992. The original license is for 5/1.
 
Phil said:
The 640 CP for higher power has been out there for so long, I am suprised it hasn't expired.
Another AM operating on an STA is 1440 WWCL in LeHigh Acres. They are operating at 10k day and 5k at night. Their STA seems to date from 1992. The original license is for 5/1.
Click to expand...

They appear to have gotten a new CP to replace that one.
 
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