anyone know why? ...WKCP 89.7

[FLjack2]

If radio-info is correct:
WKCP is licensed to Miami, but their transmitter is very far south of town, near Homestead.
Yet, I believe their studios are in Fort Lauderdale.
Anyone know why? Maybe a little history lesson here?

Thanks

 

[samb15]

I have been to their studios, which are located a bit to the north of Ft. Lauderdale, in St. Paul, Minnesota! As a non-commercial station they are exempt from the main-studio rules that everyone else has to follow. This was about two years ago. At the time they were looking to build some facilities in South Florida, though much programming was still expected to come from the "mother ship" up North.

With their 101.9 translator in Palm Beach, and an upscale audience, they probably are just seeking a central location close to their target audience.

 

[ScottBurns]

I noticed something similar a couple of years ago. Isn't there a non-commercial station that has a frequency in Key West that actually broadcasts from California?

 

[cd637299]

Not anymore, Scott. 88.3 in Key West, which used to be WAZQ, simulcast with a station in CA, which might have been KLSI Moss Beach...I might not have that info right....but they dual ID'd.

I went to Radio-Locator & KLSI shows its ownership in Boca Raton FL!!

Now Key West's 88.3 is WKZG and relays WAFG Ft Lauderdale most of the time.

Note: WKZG has a 106.9 translator in Marathon. Sometimes I can pick up this 106.9 and likely due to strong Tropo, it ends up relaying my local WGNK Pennsuco (Miami) also on 88.3!!

cd

 

[cd637299]

BTW this MIGHT be KLSI's website, based on the URL I typed in ( www.qfmmusic.com ) which used to be the simulcast:

www.893qfm.com

Not all the links work there, and never mind that there's no "Q" in the call letters!!

(Update: it's indeed KLSI's site, based on info that popped up in the Line link.)

cd

 

[Ai4i]

WKCP is...very far south of town, near Homestead.
Anyone know why? Maybe a little history lesson here?
Thanks

When their predecessor, WMCU signed on the air in around 1970, their was an issue with them being near WCIX(TV), channel 6's audio frequency. To get full power, WMCU located on the WCIX tower where they would not overpower channel six anywhere. As analog six channel left the air a few months ago, this is no longer an issue, but other stations including WRMB (second adjacency) and WAFG (third bs adjacency) have since entered the game.

We had suggested to WKCP to attempt a mutual short spacing agreement with WAFG, whereby both stations could improve their signals, but WAFG would either have to move south or WXEL (second adjacency to WAFG) would have to be involved. This could be a possibility, as WKCP is in the process of buying WXEL. We would further suggest WKCP either use a shared antenna with 88.9 and 98.3, or downgrade and do the same with 92.3 and 95.7, downtown.

Here is an interesting rule we learned from an APMG engineer: Standard class mileage spacings do not apply in the reserved (non-com) portion of the FM band. All that matters are signal overlaps.

 

[vxo]

WRGP-FM broadcasts from Homestead and is licensed in Miami... and doesn't directly reach Miami thanks to the power being limited due to the existence of another station on 88.1 in West Palm Beach, which got their license during the period of time in which the WTVJ tower was lying on the ground after Hurricane Andrew!

 

[cd637299]

WRGP was sharing the same tower with WCIX/WTVJ's former ch 6 tower, very close in frequency---88.1 & 87.75 audio. WRGP does have 2 translators, one on 95.3, which I think ai4i told me has more listenership than the main!

Way FM in WPB notwithstanding, I doubt that WRGP could have run much more power.

WEYS-LP Almavision is now using the 87.75 audio.

cd

 

[Ai4i]

WRGP had originally applied for a much bigger signal, but the commission went with WAYF in lieu thereof. Unrelated, but instances have popped up where main stations exist solely for the purpose of having translators. The best example I can think of would be WREH.

 

[Stormychuck]

Ai4i I need to slip this question in here, although unrelated to this topic at hand, I'm looking for an old friend, as you seem to have vast knowledge of WMCU, and this goes back many years.

In 1980 the chief engineer of station WQDI, Homestead, William (Wild Bill) Coppage left WQDI and took the chief engineering job at WMCU in Miami, Bill is a very unique person, and very special in his own rights, Bill was just short of his BS degree in electrical engineering and held a first class FCC ticket with radar endorsement, what made him one of a kind, Bill was totally blind from birth, couldn't tell you if it was daylight or dark outside. My first day on the job in Homestead radio in the early 70's Bill was there and showed me everything I needed to know, how to cue a tape, cue a record, put a cart in the cart machine, and how to operate a board and turn the mike on, it was a bit overwhelming for me being a 16 year old high school kid.

I lost contact with Bill in the mid to late 80's have have tried in vane to located him and everybody I talk to hasn't a clue, I thought maybe you might know...


Thanx

 

[Ai4i]

I lost contact with Bill in the mid to late 80's have have tried in vane to located him and everybody I talk to hasn't a clue, I thought maybe you might know... Thanx

No, but I will PM you with someone who might know.

 

[HGR1290]

Bill Coppage----an amazing guy. I met him when I did some part time work at WQDI in the late 70's.