KCON-1230-Conway: Dark and deleted?

[MN Maniac]

Hey everyone!

I'm in Conway, visiting my parents for the holidays. Scanning the dial, I noticed there is nothing but static on 1230 where KCON used to be.

I know this station was dark earlier in the decade. Then, it was sold to UCA and operated as a student station. Now, it appears to be dark again. A check of radio-locator.com shows no listing for KCON.

Did UCA give up and turn the license in for deletion? Or ????


Thanks,

Drew

 

[Frequency1]

Station Search Details
Call Sign: DKCON
Facility Id: 33739
Community of License: CONWAY, AR
Service: AM
Fac Type:
Status: LICENSE CANCELLED
Status Date: 03/15/2007
Frequency: 1230
Channel:
Digital Status:
Lic Expir: 06/01/2012
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Address: 201 DONAGHEY
Address 2: P O BOX U-5144
City: CONWAY
State: AR
Zip Code: 72035 -

 

[Kent]

As I understand it, KCON went away to accomodate expansion at UCA. If I remember correctly, the transmitter had to come down to build either another building or a parking garage. They decided it would be too costly to rebuild KCON, at least partly because they'd have to install a completely new ground system. So, they decided to just turn in the license. Besides, much of KCON's programming was already being heard on 91.3 KUCA anyway.

 

[kudzooter]

Another part of my childhood gone away!

Great story back when I was a child in body, too... may have been an Arkansas radio version of an urban legend, but I doubt anyone's still around who's enough older than The Moi Dude to either confirm or dispel it. KCON got a hot new high-tech transmitter. So when the guy from Central Casting: crotchety old CE got it in, he went inside and did a few of his personal wiring modifications. Then, he either hid or burned the schematic. Don't know if he had such an in with Harris, Collins, or Gates that he could get them to refuse to send a duplicate... whatever, he noised it all around that, by God, he HAD job security. Knowing the way engineers ruled the roost back in the day, I'm betting he was still drawing that KCON paycheck til the day HE chose to go away.

 

[radiosaur]

Sometime around 1988 I got a call for engineering help up that way. Time has dimmed my memory as to exactly what town it was, but I encountered an open rack of equipment where the owner said the transmitter was. Sure enough, it was in fact a tube transmitter, with no back or side panels, meters, or front. In short, an electrocution waiting to happen. I simply turned around and left. I don’t remember if that was in Conway, but from what you said it certainly COULD be the same place.

On another note, if 1230 is off in Conway, that means the Little Rock 1250 daytime array could be let out a bit to improve the LR signal…but I'm quite sure no one cares...

 

[radioboss]

What's really sad, is the fact that Conway has lost BOTH of it's AM's.

Even though KMJX is still licensed to Conway, it hasn't been in Conway since around 1978. KASR is now a station licensed to Vilonia; but, still has studios and offices in Conway.

KUCA and KHDX are both doing their things at their respective colleges.

Conway really needs another station. Whether it is bringing 1230 AM back or what. There is no local radio presence in Conway for a town (or city) the size of Conway. That's a REAL SHAME.

Signed,
A former radio personality in Conway

 

[Media Mogul]

Y 107 is doing a good job of targeting the Conway area. JR Runyon has moved from Searcy to Conway to run the operation, and knows local radio. They are headed in the right direction!

When I get to about Menifee, the first thing I do without fail is reach for the radio and hit 1230 out of habit (which I have been doing since I could drive....), fully expecting Monty Rowell to be on the air doing a Bears game... I hate it that the station is gone.

 

[Ramblin]

Had a heckuva Tradio back in the day, too. Only 1 line into the station, live of course, had Mr. Governor Clinton on by accident 1 day, folks trying to sell green leafy's...lotsa fun! If there was a dog fight going on anywhere, we probably covered it. Once did the Coon Dog Championships, Greenbriar Lady Panthers basketball on tape-delay Saturday mornings. All the p-b-p I could stand for $15 a game-Vilonia, St. Joe, Conway, Hendrix, UCA, Greenbriar... Those were the days...!

 

[MontyRowell]

Most of everything regarding the old KCON was addressed above.

It's last day on the air was March 10th, 2006 at 5 A.M. .

It still sickens me to this day. It's funny in a way how things stick with you. There will be times of the day, I will look at my watch and then all of sudden remember what program use to run on KCON at that time.

To this day when traveling, I do not listen to anything at 1230 A.M. . I just skip on over it.

When the tags on my truck came up renewal a few years back, my kids got me a personalized license plate that simple reads "KCON". Last year, I thought it was time that I should give up the license plate. My daughter simply burst into tears and said I shouldn't give it up. I got a call from my son in Chicago, who simply said..."Dad, I think you would be making a big mistake, if you give up that license plate". So I have kept it. Damn, I never thought changing a license plate would be so much trouble.

If anyone has specific questions regarding the station, you may e-mail me at [email protected] and I would be more than happy to attempt to answer your questions.

Monty Rowell

 

[radioboss]

Monty,

I would have to agree with your kids... you should keep the KCON license plate.

YOU made KCON what it was.

I have a long, deep appreciation for KCON. Even though I was never hired there, my father used to play in a band that was THE first LIVE music group on KCON.

My dad played mandolin, ukelele and other instruments. I don't remember the name of the band; but, my dad told me this when I was little and somehow that got me interested in radio.

I strongly believe that KCON could return to Conway. Sometime, when the FCC opens the AM window again; it could be put back on the air. Conway definitely needs an AM station that is Conway's.

SJ

 

[kudzooter]

Monty, can you please fill us in on my "CE job security" story? Thanks. I was learning radio at the knee of Mel & June Spann at KWAK when I heard it.

Yes, it is early to be posting on Christmas day. But I've already been up two hours. The guy in a red suit set off the alarm bells on my stocking. Before next year, remind me to add my name to the "Do Not Coal Lump" list.

Happy holidaze.

 

[MontyRowell]

Monty, can you please fill us in on my "CE job security" story? Thanks. I was learning radio at the knee of Mel & June Spann at KWAK when I heard it.

Yes, it is early to be posting on Christmas day. But I've already been up two hours. The guy in a red suit set off the alarm bells on my stocking. Before next year, remind me to add my name to the "Do Not Coal Lump" list.

Happy holidaze.

I'm sorry, but it is early on Christmas morning and I havn't had enough coffee, yet. Your "CE job security" story ? I don't understand. Sorry.

 

[MontyRowell]

Monty,

I would have to agree with your kids... you should keep the KCON license plate.

YOU made KCON what it was.

I have a long, deep appreciation for KCON. Even though I was never hired there, my father used to play in a band that was THE first LIVE music group on KCON.

My dad played mandolin, ukelele and other instruments. I don't remember the name of the band; but, my dad told me this when I was little and somehow that got me interested in radio.

I strongly believe that KCON could return to Conway. Sometime, when the FCC opens the AM window again; it could be put back on the air. Conway definitely needs an AM station that is Conway's.

SJ

Sam,

Thanks for the kind words, but there were ALOT of people that worked at KCON long before me and several that worked for me that made it what it was. I was just one of the many with an occasional hand on the throttle.

Your statement about KCON returning to Conway, I would have to disagree with. Times have changed and the market has certainly changed. This is going to sound bitter and that is certainly not the case. I hope that those call letters don't return to Conway. They certainly could, I just hope they don't. There was only one KCON and she is gone. She died on March 10th, 2006. Let the lady rest.

GREAT to hear from you.

 

[MontyRowell]

Monty, can you please fill us in on my "CE job security" story? Thanks. I was learning radio at the knee of Mel & June Spann at KWAK when I heard it.

Yes, it is early to be posting on Christmas day. But I've already been up two hours. The guy in a red suit set off the alarm bells on my stocking. Before next year, remind me to add my name to the "Do Not Coal Lump" list.

Happy holidaze.

I finally woke up...I suspect you are talking about the Collins 20V-3 that we operated for a number of years. In fact, I was still using it as a backup transmitter when we went off the air.

The engineers that installed that transmitter were Dan Winn and Herman Stermer. Herman orignally helped put KCON on the air in 1950. Not only did we have a good manual for that transmitter, I had ALOT of old notes that Herman had left regarding the operation of that unit. Herman died in about 1969. I would occasionally refer to some of his old notes when operating that transmitter. It used 4-400-A tubes and was still in VERY good shape when we went off the air. I bought a solid state transmitter in 2001 and honestly, the Collins, on her worst day, was more reliable than that new transmitter.

I think you may have us confused with someone else, but I had a GREAT deal of notes and correspondence on this transmitter.

I'm sorry, but it is early on Christmas morning and I havn't had enough coffee, yet. Your "CE job security" story ? I don't understand. Sorry.

 

[radioboss]

Monty,

Thanks for the candid comments.

Though surprised, I understand your sentiments on letting the old girl die.

If I may ask, what brought KCON into the hands of UCA? Did the Claytons and Johnsons try to sell to someone else or was there something else that drove the deal toward UCA? Maybe, because of the tower being on the grounds South of the campus.

I know M. Harrison lost his AM because of the owners of the land where the tower stood was sold for the Lowe's store. My mother worked for the people that owned the ground and simply was offered way more money than Harrison could afford to pay.

Even then, he couldn't find a suitable site. He even thought about putting the AM on his former 92.7 site near Pickles Gap; but, couldn't get that site to work either.

With the way Conway is expanding, drastically; it would be hard - pressed to find enough land to put an AM tower up ANYWHERE.

 

[MontyRowell]

Honestly, it came to a point where some decisions were going to have to be made. This was in late 1997. I had seen the writing on the wall for a VERY long time, but was hell-bent on trying to make it work. I finally came to the conclusion that it just was not going to work. I also think that I may have lost my will to make it go after a while.

At about this same time, UCA was wanting a student operated radio station simply because the Mass Comm. Department did not want to give the students any freedom on the air.

I met with ownership on Christmas Eve 1997. We cussed and discussed for a while before making that tough, tough decision. I was then instructed to come up with an orderly shutdown, with a target date of early March. We mutually decided that if we were going through with this, we were going to do it right. We notified all vendors, the FCC, EVERYONE. We basically paid ALL of our bills and then did the deed...that was on March 10th, 1998. Certainly, the tower and transmitter site, which had been on UCA property since 1950 was a huge factor in making this deal work. Former UCA President Win Thompson was thrilled to be able to give the students their on radio station.

My biggest concern during the closing was making sure that all of our employees could find other jobs. At the time we closed, myself and Mike Woodrum were the only two that had not found jobs. Mike got a job within a couple of days of the closing. I landed at UCA about a month later. I was hesitant to come at the time, but looking back, it ended up being a GREAT move for me.

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[MN Maniac]

Someone earlier mentioned 1250/Little Rock. I assume they null towards Conway because of KCON (?)

Since KCON has now been deleted, I'm also assuming 1250 could apply for modification of their pattern which would provide a stronger signal towards Conway. This would be worth pursuing, due to the current and projected growth in Faulkner Co.

If 1250 pursues an upgrade, what's the procedure? Is there any "window of opportunity" during which 1230 could be resurrected? Or can 1250 just go forward? If and when they complete their upgrade, I'm guessing 1230 will never be able to be reallocated to Conway (?)

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Is there any "window of opportunity" during which 1230 could be resurrected? Or can 1250 just go forward? If and when they complete their upgrade, I'm guessing 1230 will never be able to be reallocated to Conway (?)

FM frequencies have an "allocation" system, but I don't think an AM frequency is allocated or reallocated. The FCC only accepts applications for new AMs or "major" changes during 'application windows'.

The AM station in Heber Springs might find a change of frequency and night time hours desireable. If I owned that station I would be talking to my consulting engineer.

1250 may have other protection nulls that are more demanding than their protection of Conway was. It would be rather costly for them to make changes in a directional array and the added coverage may or may not be worth trying to accomplish.

And of course, during the next window someone could apply to "light it up again" in Conway. To do what? And at what cost?

Another possible outcome is someone might be able to slide 1240 in some small market where it was not possible with KCON functioning.

 

[Kent]

FM frequencies have an "allocation" system, but I don't think an AM frequency is allocated or reallocated. The FCC only accepts applications for new AMs or "major" changes during 'application windows'.

I know the FCC recently changed what they consider to be major and minor changes with respect to AM's. I'm not sure what exactly constitutes each, but I saw several major change applications were withdrawn and filed as minor change applications after the rules were changed.