Any 50,000 Watt AM Stations in Florida?

[Radio1360]

I heard one of the hurricane broadcasts when 690 was doing oldies as WPDQ and Hugo was bearing down on Charleston SC. Most of Charleston's media was off the air.

Including a announcer at WTMA-AM 1250 who almost had to be forced off the
air (about 3:30 pm local time) by FEMA as Hugo was closing in on Charleston.

 

[YEKIMI]

gr8oldies, I used to live in the Tampa Bay area till moving to Ohio in 1970. I was never able to pick up WLCY at all [and believe me, I tried] but was able to pick up WSUN 620 every once in a while but also had a station from Milwaukee fading in and out with WSUN. So I guess if you were picking up WLCY, you must live further south then I do. I live south of Cleveland now.

 

[gr8oldies]

This was in the Celina area (southwest of Lima)...by no means a clear signal, just enough to ID them.

 

[Studio20]

In Largo, Florida just west of Tampa sits WMGG, 820 AM. In one of many previous lifetimes it was the second sports station in town. 50,000 watts by day, from Tallahassee to Key West...rumour had it going into Cuba a time or two....but at night...a couple of miles in each direction, tops....

One of the questions raised during the first winter was "We got a hockey team in Tampa Bay. Why are you guys carrying Dallas Stars hockey?"

WBAP 820 in Dallas blew in around sunset, thats why....

 

[Witchlover]

I remember the big ape in Jacksonville when I was a boy in the early to mid 1960's. It was one of the strongest and most popular stations I can remember listening to in Jacksonville with a little 6 transistor hand held radio. Daytime was great but at nightime you were lucky to hear the station in Jacksonville, I remember everyone saying that WAPE use to change from one tower south of Jacksonville to one that was north of town and lower their power. One things for sure it was one of the most talked about popular radio stations in the area. I live in South Carolina now and did when I was a young boy off and on too and have had many people tell me that the big ape was their best stations to listen to in many of the southern most counties in South Carolina back in the 1960 and 70's.

I was raised in the Savannah area, and through most of the 1960's and probably into the early 1970's, WAPE came in during the day so clear that I thought it was a local station. It sounded better than some of the local 1kw stations operating in town. I remember being fascinated by the idea of distant stations as a kid. I guess I still am, but with all of the hash in the air these days, they're harder to hear -- and they are becoming less unique as time goes on. That's sad somehow.

 

[dave388]

yea like me i like to am-dx it gets quite interesting on what you do hear out there at night. ( im in central indiana) and i have yet to hear a Florida station, but i have heard several canadian stations and every once and a while ill pick up a X call from south of the border.
but ihave noticed over the years more noise at night them i remember in the past.

 

[Witchlover]

In those days, I knew just about every DX station by it's call sign, frequency and its sounders: WOWO, WBT, WSB, WBAP, WSM, WWL, KARK, and dozens of lower powered regionals which occasionally came through during favorable weather conditions. Used to look forward to stormy summer nights when the most interesting stations xould be heard on my old GE AM portable that my mom got with green stamps. I never heard any Mexican stations, but I did occasionally get French Canadian stations, and stations from all over the Caribbean -- Cuba, Barbados, the Bahamas. Occasionally, I'd pull in one from the West Coast which operated on one of the local frequencies, but I cannot remember what it was. A Washington stattion, though.

 

[fortmill]

I remember the big ape in Jacksonville when I was a boy in the early to mid 1960's. It was one of the strongest and most popular stations I can remember listening to in Jacksonville with a little 6 transistor hand held radio. Daytime was great but at nightime you were lucky to hear the station in Jacksonville, I remember everyone saying that WAPE use to change from one tower south of Jacksonville to one that was north of town and lower their power. One things for sure it was one of the most talked about popular radio stations in the area. I live in South Carolina now and did when I was a young boy off and on too and have had many people tell me that the big ape was their best stations to listen to in many of the southern most counties in South Carolina back in the 1960 and 70's.

I was raised in the Savannah area, and through most of the 1960's and probably into the early 1970's, WAPE came in during the day so clear that I thought it was a local station. It sounded better than some of the local 1kw stations operating in town. I remember being fascinated by the idea of distant stations as a kid. I guess I still am, but with all of the hash in the air these days, they're harder to hear -- and they are becoming less unique as time goes on. That's sad somehow.

If you look at the present Arbitron ratings for Hilton Head SC, you will see that the former WAPE-AM, now WOKV, still has an audience in SC. I can assure you that back in the 60s and70s WAPE not only had a substantial audience in SC but also all along the coast in NC. As a teen in the 60s, I always listened to the Big Ape (on my 6 transistor radio) while on vacation with my family at Atlantic Beach NC, about 650 miles north of JAX. What an awesome station in its day....

 

[daw]

I used to pick up WIOD Miami on Long Beach Island in NJ, usually at 2AM-4AM in the morning in months of July and August. Considering WIP from Philadelphia would fade out and WIOD would just breeze in. Long Beach Island is 7 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean and about 25 miles north of Atlantic City. It was a real thrill to hear the Wonderful Isle of Dreams on the wonderful isle of Surf City.

 

[gr8oldies]

There are a few airchecks of The Big Ape on reelradio, and one person commented on hearing the ape call up and down Myrtle Beach as every radio was tuned to WAPE.

 

[Froggy]

There are a few airchecks of The Big Ape on reelradio, and one person commented on hearing the ape call up and down Myrtle Beach as every radio was tuned to WAPE.

I have heard that is TRUE....Back when 690 was Top 40 WAPE & then Country....after a few years as Country back in the 80's they went Satellite Delivered "Stardust"...I don't think Stardust lasted a year though.

When they were TOP 40 they were GREAT! Greaseman in the Morning & Hoyle Dempsey Late Mornings.

 

[redneckriviera]

I remember 540 in the WGTO days..monster signal all over Florida and am surprised it never made it north before sunset (it had siomething like 1000 watts at night).

I was a jock at 54/WGTO--now WFLF--in its "glory days" as a highly-rated (in Lakeland-Winter Haven) Country station in the late seventies. If I remember correctly, 'GTO began as a 10-kw non-DA daytimer licensed to Haines City and got "moved" to Cypress Gardens (Winter Haven) when Hubbard Broadcasting bought it. I used to tell people that I worked at the only radio station in the world licensed to a ski show!

I believe Hubbard kicked the power up to 50-kw with the same 4-tower rig up around Clermont that Clear Channel uses today for the daytime pattern--shooting the primary lobe to the east toward Orlando but with nulls to the northwest (Canada) and southwest (Mexico). Still it was one of the few signals audible on the beach at Clearwater or St. Pete Beach as well as the Atlantic beaches at Melbourne or Cocoa--thus GTO (Gulf to Ocean). It ran as a daytimer through the seventies--adding night power with 1-kw around '78 and then getting an increase to 10-kw at night a few years later. That may have been connected to the COL change to Pine Hills, though that may have been merely a PR gesture significant of an operational move to Orlando--not sure. Then sometime in the nineties (I think) it finally jumped to 50-kw fulltime with a 6-tower night array, about 40 years too late to participate in AM Radio's heyday.

Today? It's Orlando's #2 AM station, which is kind of like being runner-up in the NIT. WFLF hangs around a two share. It's that big signal just left of WDBO that everyone ignores!

A fellow in L/WH slapped up a tribute site to the Country days of WGTO as part of www.dizzyrambler.com. Kinda cool that anyone would take the time & make the effort. I would be the "Mike McCoy" noted therein.

The reason you couldn't DX WGTO's daytime signal up North back in the day was that null to the northwest. But when I was a jock I once received a DX card from Italy ("Dolly Parton followed by weather followed by Eddie Rabbit..."). That's where that big signal goes.

 

[jmtillery]

SIS Radio sold WAPE and flipped the format to country sometime in 1981 with the "Greaseman" remaining on morning drive. Country lasted only about a year before the station was sold once again. That would have been sometime in mid to late 1982 when the Stardust adult standards format was implemented. That format, too, only lasted about a year when in mid 1983 Fort Lauderdale based Statewide Broadcasting acquired WAPE and flipped it to Contemporary Christain/Religion using the moniker "Joy 690" and "Jacksonville's Christian Station". In 1986 WAPE began simulcasting Statewide's newly purchased WJAX-FM which became WAPE-FM "Power 95, The Big APE". WAPE-AM was later sold to Genesis Communications who changed the call letters to WPDQ and flipped the format to a combination of oldies and talk programming. The station went off the air for a short period before being acquired by current owner Cox Radio. The current format of News-Talk and the call letters WOKV were transfered over from what is now Disney Radio 600 WBWL. Also, the AM 690 night signal was increase around this time from its former 10,000 watt six tower directional East array to 25,000 watts. They tried for 50,000 watts, but was denied that request and ended up with half power at 25kw-Night. Also, 690 has two tower sites because originally 690 was a 25 kw daytimer. Night power was added sometime in the 60s. The original daytime single tower is located in Orange Park, South of Jacksonville. When night service was added, due to the critical directional night pattern, a signal over city of license, Jacksonville, was impossible to produce from Orange Park, hence, the night transmitter site was created in Baldwin, due West of Jacksonville. This made it possible to hit Jacksonville at night with a city grade signal. In fact, the Baldwin site used to be a completely seperate radio station on 690 before the two sites were combined into the main Orange Park location.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

There are several stations with 50K. Problem is, most have directional antennas for better local coverage , also to protect stations up north or with NARBA signatories (such as Mexico), and may also reduce power at critical hours or sunset. Also interference from others on the same freq, domestic and south of the border...Below is a list of some I know of off the top of my head (there may some more):

690 - WOKV - Jacksonville
710 - WAQI - Miami
940 - WINZ - Miami
990 - WDYZ - Orlando
1010 - WQYK - Tampa / St. Pete
1060 - WIXC - Titusville
1180 - Radio Marti - Marathon Key
1530 - WYMM - Jacksonville

You may have better luck DX'ing just after sunrise sign on, or prior to sunset when the power is still on day power and pattern.

Bill in E. Central FL

WWBC is in fact 50KW, from 2 towers with a BARNBURNER signal, you can hear it from Merritt Island to Orlando, south to probably Miami, to quite a bit distance Nroth, past Daytona.

I dont think 1530 WYMM is operating at 50KW, I think there were some enviromental issues which prevent edthat

 

[jmtillery]

There are also two 50kw un-built AM CPs in North Florida: WJFA Hiiliard (Jacksonville) 50kw-D, 4kw-N; DA-2 on 830 and WNFS White Springs (Live Oak, Lake City, Tallahassee, Gainesville) 50kw-D, 250watts-N; DA-2 on 660.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

There are also two 50kw un-built AM CPs in North Florida: WJFA Hiiliard (Jacksonville) 50kw-D, 4kw-N; DA-2 on 830 and WNFS White Springs (Live Oak, Lake City, Tallahassee, Gainesville) 50kw-D, 250watts-N; DA-2 on 660.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida

Most of these, owned by Chuck Harder, if not all of them.. will go unbuilt.. he's asking WAy too much money....

660 is a useless signal and his 2.5 KW Day/250 watt night permit in Gibsonia is a Piece of ----.

 

[tanner]

Here are all the 50,000 Watt AM stations according to radio-locator as of 10-30-2008 with their nighttime power. The full time 50,000 watters are all directional at night.

Orlando
540 WFLF
740 WQTM
990 WDYZ 14,000

Miami, Lauderdale, Palm Beaches
670 WWFE 1,000
710 WAQI
850 WFTL 24,000
940 WINZ 10,000
1470 WWNN 2,500

Tampa St. Pete
820 WMGG 1,000
1010 WQYK 5,000

Jacksonville
690 WOKV 25,000
1010 WJXL 30,000
1560 WYMM (DT only)

Melbourne/Titusville
1060 WIXI 5,000
1510 WWBC (DT only)

Hope this answers any questions about 50,000 watt stations in Florida.

 

[jmtillery]

How many Florida 50kw AM stations operate non-directionally during the day-time hours? I am only aware of one, and that one is WOKV-AM 690 Jacksonville. I would include WONQ-AM 1030 Oveido (Orlando) as it operates omni-directional during the day, but it also technically isn't a 50kw station, either, since it operates, according to the FCC, with 45,000 watts daytime.

Are there any other non-directional 50kw in Florida that I missed?

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[drt]

How many Florida 50kw AM stations operate non-directionally during the day-time hours? I am only aware of one, and that one is WOKV-AM 690 Jacksonville. I would include WONQ-AM 1030 Oveido (Orlando) as it operates omni-directional during the day, but it also technically isn't a 50kw station, either, since it operates, according to the FCC, with 45,000 watts daytime.

Are there any other non-directional 50kw in Florida that I missed?

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

Hi Jim,

Have been enjoying all your posts. (I'm learning a lot from you).

The only other station I can think of that is 50,000 watts, non directional day, is WINZ 940, Miami, which I can very weakly pick up during the day (with a minimum of splatter from 930 in Sarasota); during critical hours , I can pick up WINZ better of course.

drt

 

[jmtillery]

How many Florida 50kw AM stations operate non-directionally during the day-time hours? I am only aware of one, and that one is WOKV-AM 690 Jacksonville. I would include WONQ-AM 1030 Oveido (Orlando) as it operates omni-directional during the day, but it also technically isn't a 50kw station, either, since it operates, according to the FCC, with 45,000 watts daytime.

Are there any other non-directional 50kw in Florida that I missed?

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

Hi Jim,

Have been enjoying all your posts. (I'm learning a lot from you).

The only other station I can think of that is 50,000 watts, non directional day, is WINZ 940, Miami, which I can very weakly pick up during the day (with a minimum of splatter from 930 in Sarasota); during critical hours , I can pick up WINZ better of course.

drt

Hi DRT,

Thank you for the compliment, and by the way, the name is Mark, not Jim. J.M. are my initials with M. representing my middle name Mark which I go by.

Interesting that WINZ is non-directional. I thought that station was directional N/S to cover the Fort Lauderdale area down towards Homested? Has it been non-directional all along? Or was it directional at one time?

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]