Another new Cox translator for Greenville?

[carolinaradio]

I see that there is now a CP for a translator on 98.5 in Greenville, W253BG. It says parent station WJMZ. The CP will move it from Arial to the Paris Mountain tower where W249CB 97.7 (Chuck FM) is, giving it full Greenville area coverage. It was just granted last week.

Is Cox prepping another new station? According to FCC paperwork, it will rebroadcast WJMZ-HD2, which is currently re-broadcasting WHZT. It's owned by Ted McCall but likely leased.

http://www.radio-locator.com/info/W253BG-FX
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=W253BG
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...t=25&appn=101505496&formid=349&fac_num=156113

 

[awp69]

Interesting. If it is, I'll be curious what format it will be. Still hope for a decent rock station, but that probably won't happen.

 

[carolinaradio]

Cox has some rock stations, so if this is a new station, it couldn't be ruled out.

WJMZ-HD2 relays Hot 98.1 to feed the 94.1 translator that's around Greer (and is supposed to cover the Spartanburg area, but it doesn't really). All they have to do is put something else on their HD2 - I doubt they want to use that 98.5 signal to relay Hot 98.1.

 

[freqdev]

one post makes car-radio pretty transparent.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

The possbility of a new/another Rock station in this market is somewhat thrilling. However, no one here is going wear a pointed hat, and blow a horn in celebration, until they/we hear it! To me, I'd like to see Cox step in, with their attempt. At least with Cox, if the station stays with the same format for 23-years, they won't launch a promotional campaign celebrating 20-years!

 

[carolinaradio]

I would love to have an Alternative station. Cox has a decent Alt. station in Jacksonville, X-102.9. It will be interesting to see what they do in Greenville next, they were kind of an afterthought to me until Chuck FM came on to the scene.

What is on this 98.5 signal currently? Until June, it was licensed to re-broadcast WLFJ-HD2. I also see that the 94.9 translator, which I believe had been re-broadcasting 1600 WFIS in Fountain Inn, is now going to re-broadcast 1070 WCSZ.

 

[eacalhoun1]

Cox has some rock stations, so if this is a new station, it couldn't be ruled out.

WJMZ-HD2 relays Hot 98.1 to feed the 94.1 translator that's around Greer (and is supposed to cover the Spartanburg area, but it doesn't really). All they have to do is put something else on their HD2 - I doubt they want to use that 98.5 signal to relay Hot 98.1.

Interesting that 94.1 doesn't cover Spartanburg well. I get an impressive - for a translator - signal from it here a few miles south of Morganton (NC) - 50 miles away, I guess? Were it not for a 100kw 94.1 in Lexington NC - 70 miles to my east, the Hot translator would be very listenable here.

 

[carolinaradio]

Cox has some rock stations, so if this is a new station, it couldn't be ruled out.

WJMZ-HD2 relays Hot 98.1 to feed the 94.1 translator that's around Greer (and is supposed to cover the Spartanburg area, but it doesn't really). All they have to do is put something else on their HD2 - I doubt they want to use that 98.5 signal to relay Hot 98.1.

Interesting that 94.1 doesn't cover Spartanburg well. I get an impressive - for a translator - signal from it here a few miles south of Morganton (NC) - 50 miles away, I guess? Were it not for a 100kw 94.1 in Lexington NC - 70 miles to my east, the Hot translator would be very listenable here.

Interesting. I tried it after it came on in eastern Spartanburg and it broke up some, not really what I'd expect for supposedly a "Spartanburg" station. It's fine in the western part of town. I get it in the Woodruff Rd area of Greenville with some static.

 

[ATOMO]

94.1 translator for Hot is on the WOLT tower in NW Spartanburg County. This depiction is actually pretty acurate for expected coverage that it provides. http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W231BA&service=FX&status=L&hours=U
Not optimum for downtown and southern Spartanburg county but a fairly suprisingly good signal overall. The temporary setup for 910am @105.7 from the WOLT tower is far worse. http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W289BS&service=FX&status=L&hours=U Hopefully we'll be able to move into the city onto the AM tower and go non directional and higher wattage in the near future. In the meantime, it's great from Greer, Duncan to Chesnee, Cowpens, etc and into westgate area of Spartanburg. There's now 3 FM signals coming to your radio from the aromatic Wellford Landfill.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

94.1 translator for Hot is on the WOLT tower in NW Spartanburg County. This depiction is actually pretty acurate for expected coverage that it provides....
...In the meantime, it's great from Greer, Duncan to Chesnee, Cowpens, etc and into westgate area of Spartanburg.
There's now 3 FM signals coming to your radio from the aromatic Wellford Landfill.

I live near Cowpens and 94.1 can suffer alot of static especially during tropo,
I can easily hear the Triad's 94.1 on some nights. Although I do remember traveling to Grandfather Mountain NC
a few years ago and hearing 94.1 in Greer, and that was over 70 miles.
However it's quite weak from Downtown Spartanburg and heading east. A few times I had static near Westgate Mall.

Is there still a CP to move WJMZ to the WROQ tower. If they do move, we'll get a better signal
in the Eastern Upstate and WJMZ can move a Hot 98.1 translator into downtown Spartanburg where it's really needed.

Right now WJMZ's HD signal doesn't make it east past Spartanburg. I tried finding Chuck FM on the available channels
and it wasn't there, just WJMZ and WHZT on the 107.3 HD signals.

 

[carolinaradio]

I live near Cowpens and 94.1 can suffer alot of static especially during tropo,
I can easily hear the Triad's 94.1 on some nights. Although I do remember traveling to Grandfather Mountain NC
a few years ago and hearing 94.1 in Greer, and that was over 70 miles.
However it's quite weak from Downtown Spartanburg and heading east. A few times I had static near Westgate Mall.

Is there still a CP to move WJMZ to the WROQ tower. If they do move, we'll get a better signal
in the Eastern Upstate and WJMZ can move a Hot 98.1 translator into downtown Spartanburg where it's really needed.

Right now WJMZ's HD signal doesn't make it east past Spartanburg. I tried finding Chuck FM on the available channels
and it wasn't there, just WJMZ and WHZT on the 107.3 HD signals.

Apparently the WJMZ CP lapsed, just like the CP to move WHZT closer to Greenville did. I don't know why they didn't build them out. Both stations, especially WHZT, could have benefited.

If Cox does what I'm thinking, which is flip WJMZ-HD2 to something else and transmit/market it on the new 98.5 translator (like JMZ-HD3/Chuck 97.7) atop Paris Mountain, they won't be able to keep the Hot simulcast on 94.1. I wonder what would become of 94.1

Does the stick currently occupied by 97.7 have anything else on it? Google Maps has it off of Altamont Rd.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Does the stick currently occupied by 97.7 have anything else on it? Google Maps has it off of Altamont Rd.

Right now the tower that has 97.7 W249CB also has CPs for
94.9 W235BM (250 Watts) and 98.5 W253BG (200 Watts)...thats it for now.

This tower is 305 feet tall (FCC ASR #1019926).
97.7 is 279 feet up the tower, 94.9's CP has it at 236 feet up the tower, and 98.5's CP is for space 243 up the tower.
The top of this tower would be about ground level at the top of Paris Mountain, which is about a half mile NW of this tower.

 

[carolinaradio]

Thanks for the info! I wonder why 98.5 W253BG isn't going to be the full 250 watts. Seems like they would be safe to me, given the translator rules - the closest signals I can think of are 98.5 WOMG in Lexington and 98.5 WSB in Atlanta, neither of which come in up here unless it's a really good DX time.

Speaking of 97.7, they were off the air this morning from about 8:45-11:45. Carrier but no audio. I thought they had some kind of backup through WJMZ's HD3...but then again, if it's off...

 

[RadioOCD]

Thanks for the info! I wonder why 98.5 W253BG isn't going to be the full 250 watts. Seems like they would be safe to me, given the translator rules - the closest signals I can think of are 98.5 WOMG in Lexington and 98.5 WSB in Atlanta, neither of which come in up here unless it's a really good DX time.

Don't forget about 98.5 WTFM out of Kingsport, TN which does have a good DX from time to time.

 

[carolinaradio]

Thanks for the info! I wonder why 98.5 W253BG isn't going to be the full 250 watts. Seems like they would be safe to me, given the translator rules - the closest signals I can think of are 98.5 WOMG in Lexington and 98.5 WSB in Atlanta, neither of which come in up here unless it's a really good DX time.

Don't forget about 98.5 WTFM out of Kingsport, TN which does have a good DX from time to time.

Totally missed that one - I've never gotten it - just WSB and WOMG on occasion, the latter more often. The 98.5 coverage will be a little smaller than 97.7 if they can't up the wattage.

 

[97.7 Chuck FM]

It can be lonely here on Paris Mountain. I'm looking forward to having a new neighbor.
;D

 

[tylerSC]

Cox also owns news-talk stations, including flagship News-Talk 750-WSB. And they have started putting them on FM. Maybe they could simulcast Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, Sean Hannity, and Dave Ramsey. I currently listen to Boortz on 94.9. And sorry to hear he is retiring next year, as I will be less likely to listen to Herman Cain. But back to topic, I'm sure they have some other type of music format in mind. How about something like their 97.1 The River? Used to be you could receive that station in Greenville, but I think some time back they moved their signal closer to Atlanta, and there is now some sports talk station from Spartanburg that drowns it out.

 

[carolinaradio]

106.3 has Ramsey (6-8) and Hannity (8-11).

A rock classic hits format like The River seems like it may overlap with Chuck too much. Same for pop classic hits probably as well. I wonder if AAA or Alternative could be an option. As mentioned here many times, the rock choices here are underwhelming.

Glad you're getting company, Chuck. We need more choices on the dial.

 

[carolinaradio]

Cox also owns news-talk stations, including flagship News-Talk 750-WSB. And they have started putting them on FM. Maybe they could simulcast Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, Sean Hannity, and Dave Ramsey. I currently listen to Boortz on 94.9. And sorry to hear he is retiring next year, as I will be less likely to listen to Herman Cain.

Looks like you might be on to something. Cox registered the domain http://www.talk985.com yesterday. The only 98.5 they have right now is WSB-FM in Atlanta.

 

[awp69]

Cox also owns news-talk stations, including flagship News-Talk 750-WSB. And they have started putting them on FM. Maybe they could simulcast Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, Sean Hannity, and Dave Ramsey. I currently listen to Boortz on 94.9. And sorry to hear he is retiring next year, as I will be less likely to listen to Herman Cain.

Looks like you might be on to something. Cox registered the domain http://www.talk985.com yesterday. The only 98.5 they have right now is WSB-FM in Atlanta.

Well, that blows if true. Don't think we need another talk radio station. WORD kills in that area. Guess it will likely depend on the hosts they have.

Was hoping for a rock or alternative station. Oh well....