New 96.7 FM translator in central NJ - more Radio Cantico Nuevo?

[kevtronics]

1310 WXMC's FM translator, formerly on 94.3 FM in Parsippany, is moving down to the Edison, NJ area on 96.7 FM. The FCC Construction Permit was granted on March 27th. WXMC was sold from World India Radio to Cantico Nuevo Ministry in October 2018. The new location is right in the heart of central NJ's Indian community, but will this become yet another outlet for Radio Cantico Nuevo's Spanish Christian format instead?

https://radio-locator.com/info/W232CY-FX

Their FCC application insists that the translator will continue to serve as a fill-in for WXMC, which I find laughable because WXMC's AM signal is completely inaudible in Edison -- if you hear anything on the channel, it's usually WEMG from Camden. But apparently it complies with the FCC's new "AM Revitalization Plan", because it's within a 25-mile radius of the station, regardless if its signal is actually receivable there or not.

 

[Radi0411]

1310 WXMC's FM translator, formerly on 94.3 FM in Parsippany, is moving down to the Edison, NJ area on 96.7 FM. The FCC Construction Permit was granted on March 27th. WXMC was sold from World India Radio to Cantico Nuevo Ministry in October 2018. The new location is right in the heart of central NJ's Indian community, but will this become yet another outlet for Radio Cantico Nuevo's Spanish Christian format instead?

https://radio-locator.com/info/W232CY-FX

Their FCC application insists that the translator will continue to serve as a fill-in for WXMC, which I find laughable because WXMC's AM signal is completely inaudible in Edison -- if you hear anything on the channel, it's usually WEMG from Camden. But apparently it complies with the FCC's new "AM Revitalization Plan", because it's within a 25-mile radius of the station, regardless if its signal is actually receivable there or not.

Not that this is really news of any interest, but that map is completely INACCURATE (as is usually the case with R-L) as there is no way an Omni signal at that location would work with spacing and the 25 mile radius rule for AM translators. This is more like the directional pattern to be used to be fully compliant as granted by the FCC... I can't imagine 90 watts at 100' feet doing much of anything on a co-channel frequency that's already occupied with a strong Class A. All the best to them...

https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&appid=1801680&facid=141372

 

[Radi0411]

Not that this is really news of any interest, but that map is completely INACCURATE (as is usually the case with R-L) as there is no way an Omni signal at that location would work with spacing and the 25 mile radius rule for AM translators. This is more like the directional pattern to be used to be fully compliant as granted by the FCC... I can't imagine 90 watts at 100' feet doing much of anything on a co-channel frequency that's already occupied with a strong Class A. All the best to them...

Nice to see that the Radio-Locator folks updated their database and the corresponding coverage map to match the FCCdata.org site which is always on top of things in a matter of hours...

 

[kevtronics]

As of May 1st, 103.9 WPDI in Hazlet, NJ changed its call letters to WCNM, to reflect that it is carrying Radio Cantico Nuevo, which is no longer on the 104.7 translator in NYC (that is now broadcasting Russian "Radio Freedom FM" instead).

 

[Radi0411]

This translator is apparently on-the-air from the Edison/Fords area. Not exactly sure when it came online but noticed it when my scan locked onto the frequency. It does travel west towards Somerville and a bit to the north but apparently EMF isn't concerned about it with co-channel Air1. What is more interesting is that I saw on another page that this group is essentially bankrupt so how would they have the finances to put another signal on the air. IIRC they owe the owner of WNYH on Long Island more than $500,000 in airtime...

 

[kevtronics]

The 96.7 translator has a good signal but terrible audio quality. One day it was barely audible and the next day it was badly overmodulating. And as of now it's carrying the Indian radio programming also heard on 1310 WXMC, not Cantico Nuevo.

 

[nd2023]

EMF should buy it and put Air 1 on it. That way they cover the entire region with Air 1 on 96.7

 

[kevtronics]

I don't think a translator is allowed to be on the same frequency as the station it is translating. Or at least if it's picking up the main station's signal off the air, it wouldn't work because it would be wiping out the same signal it would be trying to receive.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't think a translator is allowed to be on the same frequency as the station it is translating. Or at least if it's picking up the main station's signal off the air, it wouldn't work because it would be wiping out the same signal it would be trying to receive.

On frequency boosters are quite common, particularly in areas with irregular terrain.

A typical installation has the receiver on one side of a hill or obstruction and the repeater on the other side. It is RF to RF in such cases.

I've only dealt with a few of these in Puerto Rico where we used them to fill in in areas of highly shielded terrain.

Hopefully some actual experts can fill us in on this. Calling Mr Fybush!

 

[bigic]

I don't think a translator is allowed to be on the same frequency as the station it is translating. Or at least if it's picking up the main station's signal off the air, it wouldn't work because it would be wiping out the same signal it would be trying to receive.

EMF also has a more powerful station on 95.5 (former WPLJ), so the "originating station" for the 96.7 translator could be an HD subchannel on 95.5.