Is the "virtual" WIFE and FM-Country returning TO Connersville?

[hipporadio]

We know it has [for now - and for those who can receive it] FROM Rushville on 94.3 FM, but...

I had a conversation yesterday with an older long-standing resident and manager of a very-large retail concern IN Connersville [we are professional associates outside the radio biz]. He mentioned “the news” that WIFE-FM COUNTRY was returning to that city. His company is not a consistent user of radio, but he regards Ms. Pruet and the remaining WIFE staff highly.

It was stated to him that the country-music format would remain on Rodger’s recently-acquired 94.3 FM in Rushville, and would be enhanced by a second FM transmission “from the WIFE tower in Connersville”. He questioned how that could work on the same frequency, and was told that it would be a “dual FM broadcast” - one from Rushville – a second on a different channel for the city of Connersville.

The “sane” assumption has been [and remains] that NO full-power commercial FM allocation will find its way back to that community, but what of the two currently-licensed translators? One at 104.5 retransmits non-com WJCF Morristown, IN [Indiana Community Radio Corporation], but FCC data shows that same organization also has a licensed 250-watt translator facility on 107.1 with the calls W296BA from a site a mere 3-seconds south of the former WIFE-FM tower.

Is that a “typo” in the FCC FM service database, or is Mr. Rodgers soon to become an annual benefactor of “family-friendly” WJCF radio?

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Rodgers has "refused" to discuss any matters with WJCF. So much so he will not allow use of his former WIFE tower and will not return phone calls.

This being the case not much chance he would assume one of the translators.

 

[hipporadio]

Rodgers has "refused" to discuss any matters with WJCF... not much chance he would assume one of the translators.

...Well C.E.'s reply blows that 1 + 1 = 2 theory to smithereens, and it was just that – “a theory” – given the technical facilities of the former WRCR [94.3 Rushville]; Rodger’s insistence that an FM station is bound for return to Connersville [with NO full-power opening in sight]; and the perfect solution the centrally-located, above-flea-power, and already-licensed [and waiting] 107.1 translator offers. It would naturally-compliment the ailing 94.3 coverage over Connersville-proper. While Rodger’s ownership of any such augmentation there would be prohibited under current rules, he certainly could become a “friend” of a broader altruistic non-com radio enterprise and earn a reciprocal “favor” from them. That’s a carbon-copy of how I’d play it given similar circumstances.

I recently drove the 94.3 signal over C’ville, and to call it a “secondary rim-shot” is overly optimistic. In fact, memory seems to indicate that its signal there has deteriorated significantly since the early days of WRCR. But that was a station “built on the cheap” back in 1972 – I believe the description was: “They bought the Sparta Package”, and I imagine that economics have allowed for only mandatory maintenance since. The topography of Connersville literally shields most of the city from the 94.3 signal [or what remains of it].

So what might explain his representative telling a “man about town” and top-tier retailer the scenario detailed in the above post? Am I correct in my understanding that a “booster” is out of the question given Connersville’s location well outside 94.3’s 60dbu contour? What could Rodgers have in his hip pocket [besides a nice bank deposit slip]? Speculation?

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

Looks to me like they are hoping the FCC will pass the Miller petition which would create a
new class of low power commercial FM stations. The NAB has come out in opposition of this.
There is also an NAB petition before the FCC that would allow AM stations to get translators.
Neither of these petitions has yet been assigned a docket number by the Commission.
I think they are hoping one of the above petitions will pass before the FCC opens the next
LPFM filing window. I can not predict what will happen here. But for now, Indiana Community
Radio holds the only keys to FM in Connersville.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Last time I did the math, I thought 94.3 Connersville was limited for westward movement by WFBQ. I cannot find the limitations for a move to the east. I'm guessing (without any awesome mapping tools; just a little Think Time), it would be WMVX/Cincy as the SE limitation?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

WMVX is the reason that 94.3's tower site is NW of Rushville. When it was built in the early 70's, it just fit at the 3 KW spacing of 65 miles. WMVX may have moved a mile or two east since then...but not to the 71 miles required for 94.3 to jump to 6KW. 94.3 could move closer with a directional antenna, but the null would be right toward Connersville, so of no benefit.

 

[jimbo700]

> BOTJ wrote: WMVX may have moved a mile or two east since then...
> but not to the 71 miles required for 94.3 to jump to 6KW. 94.3 could
> move closer with a directional antenna, but the null would be right
> toward Connersville, so of no benefit.

And we all know what you think (and I totally agree) of FM directional antenna systems.
Only as a last resort...

 

[Timewarp]

I have done an engineering study on this station. I see no way for it to put a city grade signal
into Connersville. Even with a directional antenna, it is doubtful it could put a 1m/vm signal
into town. Even if paper shows a fair signal, the fact is, the town is in a valley and 94.3 will shoot
over it. It will be interesting to see what they have up their sleeve.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

While I don't have the means to do an actual study, my experience has been that you can just get away with serving a community with a 3kw class A at 15 miles over flat terrain. This instance is 19 miles over good terrain until you reach the population center, at which point the terrain--on paper--is somewhere between poor & poorer. But there are enough people in Connersville who have told me "comes in fine on my clock radio" that I am reserving judgement. This will be interesting...and as a party with an interest in this working, I'll be making sure everything about this station is "up to snuff' to stack the odds in favor of success...'stay tuned' as they say in the biz...

 

[Timewarp]

I'm sure all of you will do your best. Best of luck from me!

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

The WRCR Rushville tower was right accross the road from what was once my grandpa's farm. So,
over the years I have been very interested in this station. I have picked up it's signal in Springfield,
Ohio and Monticello, Indiana.
I have now done my own technical study. I believe this station can be moved between Rushville
and Connersville with a directional antenna and put a primary signal into Connersville.

 

[hipporadio]

...This instance is 19 miles over good terrain until you reach the population center, at which point the terrain--on paper--is somewhere between poor & poorer.

The “nicer sections” of Connersville suffer less or no terrain obstruction – it merely becomes a matter of marginal signal strength – where the radio WILL make a difference. The worst reception of 94.3 is downtown and in an area at the foot of hill running from that city’s southern edge northward to where it finally levels just north of 30th Street. The most dramatic elevation change is from “Jenny’s Point” [where the current WIFE tower is located just south of 3rd St.] to “Elephant Hill” [21st St.]. This is an area where 94.3’s signal has LITTLE CHANCE on nearly any radio with an indoor antenna. Consequently, this is an industrial zone [to the north] and an area of “minimal economic potential” [south of 10th St.].

I have received very-good reception in a home west of that area [before the terrain takes a dive] on a second-floor Proton 420 premium clock radio and ground-floor Sangean WR-2. My own C. Crane and Tivoli PAL portable models [toted there] catch the 94.3 signal with little effort, but all four of these receivers are well-beyond what passes as “popular” at the local WalMart. The formidable foe will be the atmosphere... ANY band opening there invites stronger reception of adjacent WMVX from Cincinnati. On a few mornings, I have even witnessed a total overwhelming of the Rushville signal from co-channel Class B1 WZOC in the South Bend area!

...This will be interesting...and as a party with an interest in this working, I'll be making sure everything about this station is "up to snuff"...

I can’t even imagine the chance of thinking otherwise

I have now done my own technical study. I believe this station can be moved between Rushville and Connersville with a directional antenna and put a primary signal into Connersville.

If the “Winged Dutchman” found a tiny crate floating in the ocean – he’d likely find a prudent way to move an FM tower to it. Now things are getting really interesting 8)