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Anybody else have issues with Star 94.5's signal lately

G

gamefreak

Just recently made a trip to Ocala and felt like listening to some R&B. Oh and what over choice than Star 94.5. However when I tuned in just past the Paddock Mall the signal was extremely scratchy. Not to mention the scratching was loud and annoying. Anything wrong with the WCFB transmitter. I know Cox had to completely rebuild after a tornado 4 years. The signal should have been pretty good. (Its Local up in Ocala thanks to its Paisley Transmitter.) I never had trouble in the past picking up WCFB in Ocala and Marion County.

Even going out towards Summerfield and The Villages on 441 hardily helped. Could it be terrible interference caused by adjacent channels or something gone wrong with the equipment.

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/lo...b=Y&format=&dx=0&radius=&freq=&sort=freq&sid=
 
I haven't noticed anything unusual or different with the signal; However, it's possible WCFB may have been operating from its auxiliary transmitter for any number of reasons which may explain why you were getting a spotty signal.
 
ThatGuyOnTheRadio said:
WCFB does not have an auxiliary broadcast location or transmitter.
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Although I have not personally inspected the WCFB transmitting plant, and you may be correct in that WCFB has no “auxiliary” transmitter, per se, WCFB may have a back-up transmitter at the main tower site, fed into a second set of bays located below the main antenna although, if one exists, it does not appear anywhere in the FCC database as an auxiliary transmitter. If this is the case, and WCFB happened to be operating from the second set of bays and transmitter, this will explain why the signal was weak in the fringe signal areas.

By way of example, WOGK has a back-up transmitter fed into a second set of bays that are affixed at about the 800 foot level on the main 1,347 foot tower. The ERP on both is 100kw. This is a rather common practice among larger 100kw FM stations in markets the size of Orlando and even Ocala / Gainesville. I’m aware of the main and back-up WOGK transmitters (WMMZ had three transmitters at one time) and two antennas at WOGK because I was employed by the former CHR WMMZ in 1987 - 1988 and was right there when the current tower and transmitting plant was under construction. I made it a point to be there during most of the construction because I wanted to learn as much as I could about new tower construction, FM transmitters and associated audio chain configurations.
 
Mark, I was under the impression that if a 2nd set of bays (even on the same tower) were present, an "auxiliary" line would show up, perhaps not. If KMagrill or another engineer sees this, they may be able to shed more light.

One question I do have, looking at WOGK's 60 dBu contour map on the FCC website, it looks to throw a little further south than north, how are the bays positioned on the tower?
 
ThatGuyOnTheRadio said:
WCFB does not have an auxiliary broadcast location or transmitter.


Gamefreak, did this only happen once?
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2 Times 4 Days apart about a week ago. Both of those times while running errands. The 2nd time driving south of the city through Summerfield and The Villages area.
 
ThatGuyOnTheRadio said:
Mark, I was under the impression that if a 2nd set of bays (even on the same tower) were present, an "auxiliary" line would show up, perhaps not. If KMagrill or another engineer sees this, they may be able to shed more light.

One question I do have, looking at WOGK's 60 dBu contour map on the FCC website, it looks to throw a little further south than north, how are the bays positioned on the tower?
Click to expand...

Keeping in mind it has been over 24 years ago since I was close enough to inspect anything at the WOGK tower site, I have no idea how the bays are set up now although I assume they are unchanged from how they were originally situated… At that time the top bays were side pole mounted at the very top of the tower at the 1,347 foot level with the bays pointed West towards the gulf.

The best explanation I can give regarding the 60dBu contour over Gainesville may have to do with where the tower is geographically situated. The tower is located in Anthony, Florida, approximately 5-miles North of Ocala which is approximately 25 - 30 miles, give or take, from Gainesville. Therefore the 60dBu contour will be stronger to the South than it is towards the North. WOGK does have a rather impressive signal over Orlando, Disney World and Daytona Beach. When we first went on the current tower in September 1987, I heard the signal clear in Ponce Inlet, on the beach, South of Daytona Beach and near New Smyrna Beach. I also heard it clear in the parking area at EPCOT near Disney off I-4 and near Orlando.
 
Reminds me of WPCV out of Winter Haven. Driving from Lakeland I was able to hear the station clear all the way up Through Inglis on U.S 19. Despite the fact that the stations 40DBu Contour was 20 Miles to the south close to where the Homosassa Springs Park is. Despite the stations weak signal on paper (Were I live.) I can constentely pick them up. Nice to still hear the Country Station I grew up with. (Lived in Lakeland most of my early life.)
 
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