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I'm hearing jazz music on 88.1 KTXT

E

EggsOverEasy87

I tuned into 88.1 yesterday, expecting to hear static, but instead, heard jazz music.

As a former KTXT DJ, it saddens me that it came down to this, but I just wanted to wish DG and everyone else at KOHM the best of luck with 88.1. And kudos for continuing the ownership with KTXT. I thought the frequency would be sold and we would have to make way for yet another Christian station. So again, congratulations on getting the signal up and running...and good luck!
 
I tuned into 88.1 yesterday, expecting to hear static, but instead, heard jazz music.

As a former KTXT DJ, it saddens me that it came down to this, but I just wanted to wish DG and everyone else at KOHM the best of luck with 88.1. And kudos for continuing the ownership with KTXT. I thought the frequency would be sold and we would have to make way for yet another Christian station. So again, congratulations on getting the signal up and running...and good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

And I mean that. Really.

I cannot tell you how many folks think I am the bad guy in this situation, thinking that it was "my plan all along" to destroy 88.1.

Such rubbish.

It has also been hell getting it back on air- I've discovered exactly how little investment was made in the broadcast side of things and am having to make do with gear KOHM had in surplus. I had a tower crew replace the coax and realign the STL so we could beam a signal from our current studios to the tower site.

I discovered the STL itself doesn't have a stereo generator nor a compressor/limiter- I've got not one, but two processors in the chain, and they are fighting each other. One limits the input for the STL xmit, and the other converts the analog out from the STL Rcv to composite for the exciter- a very crappy setup, and the signal is still getting banged at the head-end while still being too low for broadcast.

I never thought KOHM would be "louder" than any other station in town, but it certainly has more gain than KTXT right now!

I do not have a studio for KTXT so I've been forced to automate it until we can get more space- maybe in about a year they say. I have a primitive server setup running about 60 songs in rotation right now, with a very non-frills legal ID every hour. I finally got the output wired through our EAS box so we're legal with the FCC regs on that now. I'm also hard-wiring a link from one of our satellite receivers so we'll have some network programming up on it soon. The plan is to carry a jazz feed and also offer BBC News & Information- something only had on our HD2 channel right now. It turns out our programming choices were severely limited by A) having no budget for it, and B) having only a library of Jazz at our disposal.

That KTXT will not be like it was upsets quite a number of folks, which I understand, but my options with it are limited. And "taking over" KTXT couldn't have come at a more inopportune time for us, but I recognize the future potential it has once we can get the resources in place. That's why I offered to get involved.

I'd call KTXT's format a "kitchen sink" format- it's whatever we can put on it with what little we have to work with. A new full-blown server to automate it with our RCS system costs well in excess of $7,500- an amount I really don't want to spend on it right now considering it will probably be a 100% operating loss for us this next year.

My plan for KTXT, once we relocate to a larger facility, is to dedicate a studio for it, re-introduce students to the operation, and use it to train them.

From now until that point, what you hear on 88.1 will be an interim format that will slowly improve with time.

There's still much to do with it. A website for one. Not sure how that's gonna work, or if Student Media is anxious to be rid of the domain name.

It will be up and down as we tweak and upgrade things- and I'm always open to questions about it.

And you know where to find me- slightly from the left side on the FM dial...

;D

-DG
 
UT approached us to take it off their hands more than 2 years ago, and we've been waiting for our administration to approve the deal.

We've been ready for that takeover for quite some time when Student Media decided to dump KTXT.

KUTX is a completely new station equipment-wise; KTXT has been on the air for the last 7 years only because its engineer was able to keep it running despite little/no investment by Student Media.

KUTX also happens to be an NPR affiliate- something we know quite a bit about.

Night and Day difference between KTXT and KUTX.
 
As one of the students that had lunch with you around the time it got shut off, I know you aren't the "bad guy." This frequency was literally dumped onto you.

The only bad guy here is student media. Although looking back now, I think even KTXT itself could be partially to blame. I have listened in my car and more than a couple times, I have heard DJ's go in there and act like complete morons. I have even heard them (even some of the specialty show DJ's that SHOULD know better) say cuss words (numerous times) that could slap you an FCC fine in no time. I have heard songs that were not properly edited to be "FCC appropriate."

It kind of turned from an educational tool on campus to students going in and feeling all cool because they got to be on the radio.

I know if a KTXT staff member reads this, i'll get lots of fingers pointed at me, but looking back on it, I think we can safely blame both sides.

Good luck on the KOHM relocation and I give you lots of props and respect for opening the possibility of allowing students to help out with 88.1 in the future.

Who cares about what the format is? The only thing that matters is students will be able to gain experience in audio broadcasting.

I know i've only met you one time, but if there is anything I can help you with at all, feel free to message me.
 
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