Golden Triangle AM happenings

[jd]

The new ownership of KSET 1300 has applied for a power increase that would give them a much better signal. In a follow-up to their move from Silsbee to Lumberton, they hope to increase from 500 watts non-directional daytime only to 1400 day/500 night with different patterns. If the application is approved, KSET would get full city-grade coverage of Beaumont during the day and could even be heard fairly well on the eastern outskirts of Houston. Nighttime coverage would be a little iffy, but they would probably deliver a fairly decent signal in most of Beaumont.

On an unrelated note, the Katrina-troubled KUHD 1150 picked up a FOX Sports affiliation, effective 11/20.

 

[jd]

On an unrelated note, the Katrina-troubled KUHD 1150 picked up a FOX Sports affiliation, effective 11/20.

Oops, "Rita-troubled." That's what I get for reading two boards at once (this one and Louisiana)!

 

[dx7]

What has KUHD done about its Rita-related antenna troubles? Can anyone pick them up outside Vidor?

Also, any idea if the move to Fox Sports is because of an LMA? I was a little surprised about the format change since it's been run by Spanish-language operators for quite a while now.

 

[jd]

What has KUHD done about its Rita-related antenna troubles? Can anyone pick them up outside Vidor?

The station's really got problems. I haven't seen the specifics of the current STA, but I heard they're running greatly reduced power (a couple of hundred watts at the most) into a temporary longwire antenna. So they'e just barely on the air. Plus there's the matter of a missing or incomplete public file, which they've assured the Commission has been taken care of, blaming it on their inexperience. Apparently their license renewal is still under review. Back in 1996 there was a problem with failure to file for a silent STA extension by the previous owners ("Under His Direction") and they stood to lose the license. At the time, I looked into it and found that UHD sold it to Vision Latina with the FCC stipulating that KUHD had to return to the air within 30 days of the deal being done. So Vision Latina has had about ten years to get their act together, and the FCC is probably not pleased with them, hurricane or not.

Also, any idea if the move to Fox Sports is because of an LMA? I was a little surprised about the format change since it's been run by Spanish-language operators for quite a while now.

It's kind of puzzling to me too, and it sounds like an LMA deal. Looks like somebody with a little more experience may have been needed to help right the ship.

 

[stan]

The new ownership of KSET 1300 has applied for a power increase that would give them a much better signal. In a follow-up to their move from Silsbee to Lumberton, they hope to increase from 500 watts non-directional daytime only to 1400 day/500 night with different patterns. If the application is approved, KSET would get full city-grade coverage of Beaumont during the day and could even be heard fairly well on the eastern outskirts of Houston. Nighttime coverage would be a little iffy, but they would probably deliver a fairly decent signal in most of Beaumont.

Are they actually moving their tower? Or just increasing power from their existing one? I was able to pick up KSET today at lunch in Port Neches - an odd sort of mix of music was on the air at lunch.

 

[jd]

Are they actually moving their tower? Or just increasing power from their existing one? I was able to pick up KSET today at lunch in Port Neches - an odd sort of mix of music was on the air at lunch.

The present site is three miles west of Silsbee. The proposed three-tower array would be two miles SSW of Lumberton, for a total distance of about eight miles due south, toward Beaumont. So far as the music, seems they've always been a little odd(!).

 

[TexasTuner]

So far as the music, seems they've always been a little odd(!).
[/quote]

The music is being fed from Houston over POTS codecs.

Texas Tuner

 

[CW]

What has KUHD done about its Rita-related antenna troubles? Can anyone pick them up outside Vidor?

The station's really got problems. I haven't seen the specifics of the current STA, but I heard they're running greatly reduced power (a couple of hundred watts at the most) into a temporary longwire antenna. So they'e just barely on the air. Plus there's the matter of a missing or incomplete public file, which they've assured the Commission has been taken care of, blaming it on their inexperience. Apparently their license renewal is still under review. Back in 1996 there was a problem with failure to file for a silent STA extension by the previous owners ("Under His Direction") and they stood to lose the license. At the time, I looked into it and found that UHD sold it to Vision Latina with the FCC stipulating that KUHD had to return to the air within 30 days of the deal being done. So Vision Latina has had about ten years to get their act together, and the FCC is probably not pleased with them, hurricane or not.

Also, any idea if the move to Fox Sports is because of an LMA? I was a little surprised about the format change since it's been run by Spanish-language operators for quite a while now.

It's kind of puzzling to me too, and it sounds like an LMA deal. Looks like somebody with a little more experience may have been needed to help right the ship.

FCC is also looking into they not having FCC tower registrations OR proper phase monitoring of the two tower array over the last 10 years...also the tower lights and painting were never brought up to snuff....FOX Sports may not help but at least the locals in Port Neches may actually listen to it!! VL's GM did not know what he was doing.....and almost caused the station license to be revoked...A LMA only means guaranteed money in VL's pocket but they will still hold the license (for a while anyway...last I heard. they were running TWO long wire antennas 3ft off the ground....with NO STA)