• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

How many Atlanta AMs will hop on the new FM translator bandwagon?

R

radio.engineer

It looks like the FCC is moving to allowing more AM stations to have FM translators...

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/openAttachment.do?link=FCC-07-144A1.txt

I wonder how many of these would pop up in the Atlanta area? Some daytime only (or stations who have to significantly have to reduce power at night) will benefit quite a bit from this new FM translator ruling. The FM translators will not have to be forced to shut down when the AM station they are relaying shuts down.
 
But how do you get over the fact that you would need so many translators to cover the equivalent of a 25 mile radius? Do you try to bunch them together, like the BBC does with its stations, to tell listeners to tune to
"96 TO 97 FM?" Or do you just scatter them all over the dial?
 
Besides, the potential for bleedover from bigger signals is pretty great, right? I mean, if an AM gets a translator on 94.3, say, won't Star 94 kill it? Or Kicks doing the same to something on 101.3? And isn't the FM dial pretty cramped in Atlanta already?
 
The AM stations would either need to apply for an FM translator in the next filing window or purchase an existing one. Translator spacing requirements are rather liberal, but they would be a minimum of at least two channels from full power FM stations.

In a large metro area, this would be most useful for stations that have listeners in a small concentrated area, such as a particular ethnic community. I think AM translators will be more feasible in smaller markets, where a single translator would cover the main community of interest.
 
ClarkKent said:
Besides, the potential for bleedover from bigger signals is pretty great, right? I mean, if an AM gets a translator on 94.3, say, won't Star 94 kill it? Or Kicks doing the same to something on 101.3? And isn't the FM dial pretty cramped in Atlanta already?
Click to expand...

Let's take a look at the band. For the northern part of the state.

W201BJ (KAWZ) 88.1 FM 2.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious
W201BJ (KAWZ) (CP) 88.5 FM 2.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious
WRAS 88.5 FM 8.3 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Georgia State University College
WMSL 88.9 FM 7.1 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA Prince Ave. Baptist Christian School Religious
WRFG 89.3 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Variety
WABE 90.1 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Classical
WUOG 90.5 FM 0.4 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA University of Georgia College
WRAF 90.9 FM 44.5 mi. Signal Strength 3 Toccoa Falls, GA Toccoa Falls College Religious
WREK 91.1 FM 1.3 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech College
WUGA 91.7 FM 8.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA University of Georgia Public Radio
WCLK 91.9 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Clark Atlanta University Jazz
WMOQ 92.3 FM 17.4 mi. Signal Strength 3 Bostwick, GA Country
WZGC 92.9 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Adult Hits
WSTR 94.1 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Smyrna, GA Top-40
WUBL 94.9 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Country
WBTS 95.5 FM 40.2 mi. Signal Strength 3 Doraville, GA Top-40
WKLS 96.1 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Rock
W242AU (WMSL) 96.3 FM 7.1 mi. Signal Strength 1 Athens-Clarke County, GA Prince Ave. Baptist Christian School Religious
WLTM 96.7 FM 21.0 mi. Signal Strength 2 Peachtree City, GA Adult Contemporary
WSRV 97.1 FM 40.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Gainesville, GA Classic Hits
WPZE 97.5 FM 21.3 mi. Signal Strength 3 Fayetteville, GA Gospel Music
W250AC (WUGA) 97.9 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA University of Georgia Public Radio
WSB 98.5 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Adult Contemporary
W257CI (WJSP) 99.3 FM 5.8 mi. Signal Strength 1 Athens-Clarke County, GA Public Radio
WNNX 99.7 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Alternative
WWWQ 100.5 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 College Park, GA Top-40
WPPP (LPFM) 100.7 FM 1.1 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA Alternative
W266AH (WLFJ) 101.1 FM 3.6 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Christian Contemporary
WKHX 101.5 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Marietta, GA Country
WGMG 102.1 FM 8.7 mi. Signal Strength 4 Crawford, GA Adult Contemporary
WAMJ 102.5 FM 7.9 mi. Signal Strength 4 Mableton, GA Rhythmic Oldies
WVEE 103.3 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Urban Contemporary
WPUP (CP) Help 103.7 FM 21.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Arcade, GA Rock
WALR 104.1 FM 34.6 mi. Signal Strength 4 Greenville, GA Rhythmic Oldies
WFSH 104.7 FM 33.8 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Christian Contemporary
WBZY 105.3 FM 34.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Bowdon, GA Regional Mexican
WWVA 105.7 FM 21.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Canton, GA Spanish
WNGC 106.1 FM 33.1 mi. Signal Strength 4 Toccoa, GA Country
WYAY 106.7 FM 33.8 mi. Signal Strength 4 Gainesville, GA Country
WJZZ 107.5 FM 12.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Roswell, GA Smooth Jazz
WHTA 107.9 FM 20.9 mi. Signal Strength 4 Hampton, GA Hip Hop
WDRW (LPFM) 107.9 FM 1.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious

This is just a partial listing but there are some holes for translators. Especially in the 93 Mhz band.

Anyway, WGST probably can't get to the forms fast enough.
 
I doubt that WGST and WQXI will jump at this opportunity as they still have decent power during the day. Most of these translator slots will probably get consumed by ethnic and religious stations. There are several Mexican, Korean, and religious formats currently on low-powered AM graveyard stations and they would jump at this opportunity quickly.
 
In the last filing window for FM translators, approximately 14000 applications for translators were filed nationwide, almost all by "religious" broadcasters. Though many were filed by dummie corporations, as time goes by they are gradually being awarded to the "religious" broadcasters. If you look at the present application situation on recnet for the ATL area, you will see that every concievable frequency has been applied for, by multiple applicants. Unless AM stations are able to buy a few of these frequencies from the "godcasters," they are out of luck in taking advantage of the new regulations.
 
louisNatl said:
I doubt that WGST and WQXI will jump at this opportunity as they still have decent power during the day. Most of these translator slots will probably get consumed by ethnic and religious stations. There are several Mexican, Korean, and religious formats currently on low-powered AM graveyard stations and they would jump at this opportunity quickly.
Click to expand...

I live in Gwinnett county and all I ever hear from WGST is static.

Meh, in two days this city's history to me. I'll be too busy listening to my new favorite local talker on the AM radio, KFI.
 
livingfruitvirus said:
ClarkKent said:
Besides, the potential for bleedover from bigger signals is pretty great, right? I mean, if an AM gets a translator on 94.3, say, won't Star 94 kill it? Or Kicks doing the same to something on 101.3? And isn't the FM dial pretty cramped in Atlanta already?
Click to expand...

Let's take a look at the band. For the northern part of the state.

W201BJ (KAWZ) 88.1 FM 2.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious
W201BJ (KAWZ) (CP) 88.5 FM 2.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious
WRAS 88.5 FM 8.3 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Georgia State University College
WMSL 88.9 FM 7.1 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA Prince Ave. Baptist Christian School Religious
WRFG 89.3 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Variety
WABE 90.1 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Classical
WUOG 90.5 FM 0.4 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA University of Georgia College
WRAF 90.9 FM 44.5 mi. Signal Strength 3 Toccoa Falls, GA Toccoa Falls College Religious
WREK 91.1 FM 1.3 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech College
WUGA 91.7 FM 8.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA University of Georgia Public Radio
WCLK 91.9 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Clark Atlanta University Jazz
WMOQ 92.3 FM 17.4 mi. Signal Strength 3 Bostwick, GA Country
WZGC 92.9 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Adult Hits
WSTR 94.1 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Smyrna, GA Top-40
WUBL 94.9 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Country
WBTS 95.5 FM 40.2 mi. Signal Strength 3 Doraville, GA Top-40
WKLS 96.1 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Rock
W242AU (WMSL) 96.3 FM 7.1 mi. Signal Strength 1 Athens-Clarke County, GA Prince Ave. Baptist Christian School Religious
WLTM 96.7 FM 21.0 mi. Signal Strength 2 Peachtree City, GA Adult Contemporary
WSRV 97.1 FM 40.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Gainesville, GA Classic Hits
WPZE 97.5 FM 21.3 mi. Signal Strength 3 Fayetteville, GA Gospel Music
W250AC (WUGA) 97.9 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA University of Georgia Public Radio
WSB 98.5 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Adult Contemporary
W257CI (WJSP) 99.3 FM 5.8 mi. Signal Strength 1 Athens-Clarke County, GA Public Radio
WNNX 99.7 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Alternative
WWWQ 100.5 FM 0.8 mi. Signal Strength 5 College Park, GA Top-40
WPPP (LPFM) 100.7 FM 1.1 mi. Signal Strength 5 Athens, GA Alternative
W266AH (WLFJ) 101.1 FM 3.6 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Christian Contemporary
WKHX 101.5 FM 4.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Marietta, GA Country
WGMG 102.1 FM 8.7 mi. Signal Strength 4 Crawford, GA Adult Contemporary
WAMJ 102.5 FM 7.9 mi. Signal Strength 4 Mableton, GA Rhythmic Oldies
WVEE 103.3 FM 3.9 mi. Signal Strength 5 Atlanta, GA Urban Contemporary
WPUP (CP) Help 103.7 FM 21.2 mi. Signal Strength 4 Arcade, GA Rock
WALR 104.1 FM 34.6 mi. Signal Strength 4 Greenville, GA Rhythmic Oldies
WFSH 104.7 FM 33.8 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Christian Contemporary
WBZY 105.3 FM 34.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Bowdon, GA Regional Mexican
WWVA 105.7 FM 21.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Canton, GA Spanish
WNGC 106.1 FM 33.1 mi. Signal Strength 4 Toccoa, GA Country
WYAY 106.7 FM 33.8 mi. Signal Strength 4 Gainesville, GA Country
WJZZ 107.5 FM 12.4 mi. Signal Strength 4 Roswell, GA Smooth Jazz
WHTA 107.9 FM 20.9 mi. Signal Strength 4 Hampton, GA Hip Hop
WDRW (LPFM) 107.9 FM 1.5 mi. Signal Strength 4 Athens, GA Religious

This is just a partial listing but there are some holes for translators. Especially in the 93 Mhz band.

Anyway, WGST probably can't get to the forms fast enough.
Click to expand...

You forgot WWEV 91.5 in Cumming Contemporary Christian. Has a decent north Georgia signal.
 
livingfruitvirus said:
Anyway, WGST probably can't get to the forms fast enough.
Click to expand...

If WGST wanted a better signal, they would bring back the FM simulcast. They are just interested in not being heard.

There biggest hole I see is between 98.5 and 99.7. I don't think there will be room for everyone.

What about translator stations on the AM band itself? I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.
 
What about translator stations on the AM band itself? I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.
Click to expand...

There is so much interference on AM, any low-watt translator would be covered over with interference after a few blocks, like the Class C AM's. They would just add to the noise floor.
 
You think they'll sell enough HD radios by the time a translator gets built? In other words, do you think GST will get a few translators or just tag on to one of their FMs because it's cheaper?
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom