Last week while scanning the radio dial in my car, I landed on KMAK 100.3 being completely annihilated by KBRG San Jose. Not only was the station almost completely inaudible, KBRG's HD 1 and 2 channels would come in sounding crystal clear. As a Class A station why would the decision be made to put its elevation so high that it cut its output power to only 72 watts? There are translators that have more power than this Full Power station at a decent elevation. Given the trade-offs between HAAT and ERP, what would be the best relocation for the transmitter to maintain coverage of Fresno, especially west of freeway 41. Would sacrificing coverage of Visalia/Tulare in favor of a better signal in Fresno/Clovis be a better move for KMAK?
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KMAK 100.3 needs a change
- Thread starter bjmtech
- Start date
Paging David Eduardo!
I don't know enough spanish to tell where they need to sound good.
I don't know enough spanish to tell where they need to sound good.
K
kenrayc
Guest
With those vintage call letters KMAK, that station should be Classic Country, and use the original KMAK 1340 imaging from the 70s, much like KYNO does, if it was to happen, maybe Peanut Butter Bobby Martin can make an appearance.
K
kenrayc
Guest
Getting back to the topic, To increase the signal power to serve Fresno/Clovis better for those home stereos using a wire for an antenna and smaller devices like boom boxes and clock radios, they can only move to the foothills east of Sanger with a tall tower, maybe Jesse Morrow Mt., or any site up the 180 corridor.
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I would love a classic country!
I bet they are makin money right how they are however, listened to the stream for a moment, sounds like what I hear playing at the diaries I pick up.
I think it's classic country for the Mexican community.
I bet they are makin money right how they are however, listened to the stream for a moment, sounds like what I hear playing at the diaries I pick up.
I think it's classic country for the Mexican community.
Richard Smith - the owner of KMAK has a limited background in radio. Richard is a retired winery worker who has almost always had an LMA on KMAK. As most "owners" - Mr. Smith has a mindset of his own and "Will never ever" think of moving from the KMAK Bear Mtn site.
In fact - Mr. Zawila owner of KNGS 100.1 B - Coalinga located a fully spaced transmitter location for KMAK that would give KMAK a full 6 KW ERP at + 100 M HAAT and 3 times the coverage.
Mr Smith will not even consider relocation from Bear Mountain. That is what the war is all about. Two of a kind.
In fact - Mr. Zawila owner of KNGS 100.1 B - Coalinga located a fully spaced transmitter location for KMAK that would give KMAK a full 6 KW ERP at + 100 M HAAT and 3 times the coverage.
Mr Smith will not even consider relocation from Bear Mountain. That is what the war is all about. Two of a kind.
what is this about 6kw @ 100m HAAT for 100.3? Show me. And what other class A can hit both Fresno and Visalia? Ya, 104.9, kinda gets to Fresno but not very well. The Westside 95.3 might almost do it. But lets see a site that can accomdte 100.3. I don't know for sure myself, I'm not an engineer and don't have the software, but I'm very skeptical. I'd love to have a chance to program something in English on 100.3 as it stands on Bear Mountain, hitting Fresno's Eastside, Clovis, Visalia and everything in between.
BTW,
Ken it wasn't you that killed the forum. It's just that the corporations and competing audio choices have just about killed radio.
BTW,
Ken it wasn't you that killed the forum. It's just that the corporations and competing audio choices have just about killed radio.
Contact Bill Zawila - who paid for the FM engineering or Richard Smith who has a copy.
The problem is that the Eastside is in the Fresno MSA and Visalia is in a separate ratings market. So if you get a little listening in each market, you won't be able to get enough business in either to make a go of it.
That is what KMAK FM has now. A fair to poor "Mono" signal over both areas. With the old proposed full 6 KW upgrade -- a 70 dBu signal over both Fresno and Visalia would have been possible.
Both Zawila or Smith did not have the cash to "make it happen".
Richard Smith has even turned down relocation to the higher County radio site several miles east of Bear Mtn that would have given KMAK a "class" upgrade from Class "AO" (3 KW Class A) to Class "A" (6 KW) Status. The "Dunlap" site (+ 4600 feet) would have given KMAK an ERP of about 125 watts but also would have given KMAK a better coverage over both Fresno and Visalia.
Keep in mind that Richard Smith is not your normal - every day radio owner. He gets a very small cash flow from the existing long term LMA. Any kind of an "Upgrade" is not what Smith is looking for. He has told one Fresno Radio owner that he will take 2 Million dollars and not a penny less for the license of KMAK.
Both Zawila or Smith did not have the cash to "make it happen".
Richard Smith has even turned down relocation to the higher County radio site several miles east of Bear Mtn that would have given KMAK a "class" upgrade from Class "AO" (3 KW Class A) to Class "A" (6 KW) Status. The "Dunlap" site (+ 4600 feet) would have given KMAK an ERP of about 125 watts but also would have given KMAK a better coverage over both Fresno and Visalia.
Keep in mind that Richard Smith is not your normal - every day radio owner. He gets a very small cash flow from the existing long term LMA. Any kind of an "Upgrade" is not what Smith is looking for. He has told one Fresno Radio owner that he will take 2 Million dollars and not a penny less for the license of KMAK.
So hey is the format classic country for the mexican community?
I can't blame the owner for not spending big dollars upgrading if he is selling spots enough to pay his bills.
All I know it seems to have been just this way for years now.
I can't blame the owner for not spending big dollars upgrading if he is selling spots enough to pay his bills.
All I know it seems to have been just this way for years now.
If you want to program some type of English format on KMAK you should contact Richard Smith who owns the station. If you can get him to LMA KMAK to you -- a big Gold star and kudos to you. But you will need some guts and cash and not just words to get Mr. Smith to even talk to you. Do you feel lucky ???
Note:
K261EH Channel: 261D 100.1 MHz
Clovis, California
Service: FX - A translator or application for a translator.
Facility ID: 140417
Fac. Service: FX
Programming Delivery Method: Directly Off Air from KMAK(FM) Ch. 262 Orange Cove, California
I get what you are saying about the translator not reaching many people. It's more that you have a 250 watt or less translator assigned to your station that counts. The translator 'art' is get one, anywhere and get it licensed. Even if it is a dud, it actually gives the primary station added value if it went up for sale. With a translator license, you can see if it might be moved, if not now, maybe in the future, to cover more people. The value seems to be in the license for the translator itself, at least in an owner's mind, since you can't get your hands on one easily. I know of a translator in my general area that certainly serves more cows than humans but the cost to get it was offset in a year by the increase in ad rates they managed to command simply because they have one. Go figure.
Interesting. Even with the translator adding NO value to the main signal, it makes sense that (on paper) it would make the station look more appealing for re-sale even if the translator itself is costing the station money to operate with little to no ROI.
Yes, essentially that is correct. Unless on a leased tower site, a translator is really cheap to operate. Tower rent, if they have any, might be the biggest expense. Keep in mind, lots of translators baby step to more populated areas. Then again with the AM translator frenzy about to go in to round two, it could have value there.
All fair points... Regardless, it's costing money.
Lately I've been "anti translator" as the FM band is getting so packed in the valley. Not sure how it is down in Fresno but in Sacramento every channel is noisy. The "purpose" of a translator has changed considerably in the last 10 years.
From what I understand this would also be true of any radio station in Kings County.
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