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Bits & Pieces (WBOB-FM, WUBN-LP, Radio17)

T

ToddJenkins

WBOB-FM 107.3 Enfield
------------------------------
Julie Epperson’s new class A FM at 107.3 in Enfield (Rocky Mount, NC) takes the calls “WBOB-FM”. The Epperson Family / Salem Media has owned the WBOB(AM) call letters since they bought the old WBOB 1360 in Galax VA back in the mid 80’s. Her WBOB-FM revised application shows that the station will barely put a usable signal into Rocky Mount. That’s because it can’t move too far south of Enfield or it will cause interference to WCLN-FM 107.3 in Clinton. Since the Epperson family owns the new BOB, expect talk, religion, or even religious talk. Maybe even southern gospel or CCM.
Do you think that they will call it BOB-FM?? Can they do that legally? Does 93.3 have the right to use it if they don’t own the call letters? Strange stuff. I liked 93 D-L-X better anyway.

WUBN-LP 106.9 Wilson
-----------------------------
WUBN 106.9 has hit the air in Wilson. They’ve been on the air for one week today, but I have yet to hear any announcement, ID’s, promos, etc. If you tune in, you’ll just hear one black gospel song segue into another. The station’s single-bay antenna is mounted on WVOT(AM)’s lone surviving tower about half way up. The sound of the station is clean, but heavily processed. I guess you have to pump up the volume when the station’s radiated power is less than sixty watts. However low the power is on WUBN, I expect them to steal many many listeners from the two AM black gospel stations here in town. WGTM 590 is dreadfully programmed and seems to be operating with less than half its power at times. WVOT 1420 is programmed much better than WGTM and has the financial backing of a local church, but they aren’t on FM. I expect WGTM to be the odd man out here in the three-way battle of black gospel stations.

AM 1700 "Radio17" Wilson
------------------------------
And finally, my little AM station on 1700 has been silenced. If you don’t live within a mile of my house, you probably never new it existed. (It has been DX’ed half way to Rocky Mount on I-95.) The ferocious winds that knocked down WVOT’s night stick took out the mast supporting Radio17’s Rangemaster transmitter. I snapped digital photos of the VOT tower as well as Radio17’s mast the day after the storm. Look for the photos here soon. Radio17 will return to the air as soon as April. And VOT, who knows? They may do like WEED up the road and go Class D with a single tower and drastically reduced power at night.

That’s it from Wilson.
<P ID="signature">______________
-Todd Jenkins
The best things in life aren't things.</P>
 
> I liked 93 D-L-X better anyway.

So do I.

-formerly Steve Taylor, a jock there '88, '90-92 (liked it better in '88)
 
Having worked at both 'GTM & 'VOT, it's kinda sad to see what they've become. Especially 'GTM. What should be Wilson's flagship is just another Bishop Willis garage operation. I wish the folks at WUBN all the success in the world, but does Wilson really need 4 religious-formatted stations? People are not listening to these stations in any significant numbers, and their spot load is really light, so apparently they're existance is due to some external financial stimuli. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that most Wilson County people don't even know WLLY exists.

Sorry to hear about your Part 15. We'll hold down the fort here in Lucama @ 1620 'til you get back.
 
> Having worked at both 'GTM & 'VOT, it's kinda sad to see
> what they've become. Especially 'GTM. What should be
> Wilson's flagship is just another Bishop Willis garage
> operation. I wish the folks at WUBN all the success in the
> world, but does Wilson really need 4 religious-formatted
> stations? People are not listening to these stations in any
> significant numbers, and their spot load is really light, so
> apparently they're existance is due to some external
> financial stimuli. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that
> most Wilson County people don't even know WLLY exists.
>
> Sorry to hear about your Part 15. We'll hold down the fort
> here in Lucama @ 1620 'til you get back.
>

I don't know ANY SINGLE willis operation thats turned a profit, but since they don't pay their taxes, employees, engineers, or any utility bills (minus electric)....its possible to make a profit... the last time I was at WBXB and just about any willis operation for that matter, when a phone in preacher gets on, its either via a cellphone, or a speakerphone in the studio...either way...you had to leave the studio or else!!!

WHFD in lawrenceville is another quality station as well.....last time I went through there it sounded as if they were running on exciter power only, either way, within 3 miles of lawrenceville the station was gone!..so I assume with a 5 bay antenna at ~300 ft...they are running a few milliwatts of power
 
WGTM

I don't understand why Curtis or some other forward-thinking broadcaster doesn't make an offer for WGTM. That station has a monster signal in this neck of the woods, even at night, due to its low dial position and lack of interference on the frequency. None of the other Wilson stations make it past the county line.

Does anyone have airchecks from when WGTM was The Mighty Five Ninety in Wide Awake Wilson?

KL<P ID="signature">______________
<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/lastradio.html">The Last Radio Station<a></P>
 
Re: WGTM "The Mighty Five-Ninety"

>
> Does anyone have airchecks from when WGTM was The Mighty
> Five Ninety in Wide Awake Wilson?
>
> KL
>
I'm afraid that I have no airchecks of the Mighty Five-Ninety, But I do have good memories of listening to the station all the way down in Cove City, NC where I grew up.

WGTM's current 5kw power output is a relic of the time when the FCC limited regional frequencies to no more than 5kw. This rule was lifted in the 90's. So even with WGTM's big signal, I don't see why it can't be upgraded to at least 25kw daytime with its current antenna pattern. (The Atlantic Ocean doesn't have any stations to protect, and 560 WGAI is northeast of the pattern.) A small tweak to protect the newly upgraded 570 in Raleigh may be needed. At night, WGTM should be able to do a little more than their current 5kw. But first they need an owner that has money and a will to invest it.

Even with current parameters, WGTM needs tower repairs/maintenance and equipment investment RIGHT NOW!! Mrs Willis' ego alone won't keep WGTM on the air much longer without spending money.

But back to what Keith asked, does anyone here have any WGTM airchecks from a time when they actually had real Legal ID's? (Pre-Willis?)<P ID="signature">______________
-Todd Jenkins
The best things in life aren't things.</P>
 
Re: WGTM

> I don't understand why Curtis or some other forward-thinking
> broadcaster doesn't make an offer for WGTM. That station
> has a monster signal in this neck of the woods, even at
> night, due to its low dial position and lack of interference
> on the frequency. None of the other Wilson stations make it
> past the county line.
>

willis probrably wants too much money, im pretty sure they have gotten offers
 
Re: WGTM "The Mighty Five-Ninety"

I was there from '82 to '85 as a part timer. I'll do some digging and see what I can find.
 
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