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New Classical Station In St. Louis?

Smells like a HD2-fed translator from here. There are three translators authorized within 20 miles of St. Louis:

W211AD-90.1 Granite City (60w/32m, WIBI)
K220HT-91.9 St. Louis (99w/125m, Calvary Satellite Network)
K268BF-101.5 Bellefontaine (99w/134m, Educational Media Foundation)
 
Any idea what FM frequency they are talking about? Not for HD, but they mentioned they want to use "regular analog" FM signal.

Jim Shannon
 
Anyone knows if someone currently owns the intellectual property of KFUO?
 
The translator was originally at 95.1 FM in Grey Summit - it moved earlier in the year to 95.7, still Grey Summit, then to 96.1 High Ridge, but it was then moved to 96.7 High Ridge due to being first adjacent to K-Hits. Currently, K-Hits 96 is broadcasting on the translator at 96.7, which is broadcasting 100 Watts at 121 ft - so it can't be heard very far. However, plans are in the works to relicense that translator to Shrewsbury, and move it to the Master Antenna, where it would broadcast at about 200 watts, which would give it coverage similar to a Class A FM signal. The signal should cover about a 20-25 mile radius around Shrewsbury. Not sure what frequency it will ultimately land on, but 96.7 isn't gonna work because it would interfere with 96.7 WCXO in Carlyle, IL. Gonna guess probably 92.9, 94.3, 95.1, or 107.1. Any of those frequencies would fully space any locals and not be on the same frequency with anything too close to StL. I made a map of what the coverage will probably look like for this station: http://planetradio.us/translator.jpg - areas in the grey should get a good, building penetrating signal - anything in blue should be audible with a decent signal on a car radio, and red is fringe coverage.

To answer your question DtotheJ, the Lutheran Church MO Synod still holds all intellectual programming and the music library of KFUO-FM, and it has been broadcasting online at Classic99.com.
 
Thanks for the info about this translator that it looks like they may use. I wish the news articles could have mentioned the translator. I guess they think it would be too technical for people but its actually the info that matters most. The editing out of stuff like that when communicating with radio stations is frustrating. Looking at the FCC info K239BI filed a license to cover on 03/26/2012 for the 96.1 High Ridge, MO.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=139987

I see nothing on their that FCC page about 96.7 High Ridge ever being filed for as you say. Thanks for the map.
 
HD radio is essentially a dead technology as far as consumers are concerned, but could this drive some HD radio sales in the area? My experience has been that St. Louis has some of the best HD coverage in the US. It would be worthwhile for dedicated classical fans to have the expanded coverage area it provides over a translator.
 
KWMU (St. Louis Public Radio) at 90.7 has been offering an HD classical music station for almost two years. They put it on shortly before KFUO was sold. The station also features the Metropolitan Opera on Saturdays. There main analog channel also features the St. Louis Symphony live on Saturday nights.
 
Has anything happened with any of these yet. My mother would love for there to be a new Classical station, but the signal would have to reach Ballwin for it to do her any good.
 
On July 9, 2012 an application was filed for the translator that is supposed to be Classical (Facility ID number: 139987) to move their tower to Brentwood, MO and change from 96.1 to 96.7. It will likely take a few months for the FCC to approve it. And then likely a few more months for it to be built. Here is the proposed 60 dBu coverage area that is just outside of Ballwin, Mo.

https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...q=96.7&contour=60&city=ST._LOUIS&state=MO.kml

Since Ballwin will be just outside of the 60 dBu it may not have the greatest building penetration and not have good reception on many of the cheap FM tuners sold. So a good antenna setup and FM tuner may be needed at home. It would be 250 watts at 454 feet. Would she mainly listen at home or in the car?

However why not buy an HD radio like the $50 Insignia NS-HDRAD sold at Best Buy which I have and does work well and she could listen now to classical music on KWMU 90.7 HD3. It has a good signal in Ballwin:

https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...q=90.7&contour=60&city=ST._LOUIS&state=MO.kml.

Once the 96.7 translator comes on it is supposed to translate an HD sub-channel from KFTK 97.1 according to the FCC documents which puts a good signal over Ballwin as well. It would have been better though if it were on an HD sub-channels of KIHT 96.3 as was originally said who has the same coverage area as KWMU 90.7. See KFTK's HD coverage area:

https://maps.google.com/?q=http://w...freq=97.1&contour=60&city=Florissant&state=MO

Most people do not want to install an aftermarket HD car radio for their car so that is where the analog 96.7 translator will come in most handy.
 
I doubt that my 85 year old mother is going to purchase an HD radio, she likely does not even know what HD radio is.
 
She does not have to know what an HD radio is if you buy one for her and set it up or have someone else help her. No one can help her? Then leave it on 90.7 HD3 for her. I set up all the electronics like HD radios and HD TV's and computers for my mom.
 
http://chesterfield.patch.com/articles/classical-music-radio-station-returns-to-area-in-september

The article says a local classical station will start by 9/1/2012 on 96.3 HD2. An analog signal will follow later.

The analog signal they mention looks like it will be a translator on 96.7 as I mentioned above according to an FCC application if approved. The FCC application for 96.7 said it would be on 97.1 HD2 not 96.3 HD2. I hope its 96.3 though as it's a better signal. Or maybe both would be good.

I do not care for the opera, blues, jazz and vocal music mentioned. 1900 to 6 would be off satellite from WFMT it sounds like. I prefer "classical 24" that KWMU HD3 airs.

I live in Springfield, IL so it does not really effect me though. I rarely visit St. Louis. I listen to Classical 24 from WUIS HD2. And WCBU HD2 in Peoria when I visit Peoria.

Quincy, IL and Hannibal , MO just got a new classical station on WQUB 90.3 "HD3 simulcasting KWMU. KWMU bought WQUB.
 
Rest assured you are not alone here. I am also very interested.
 
Is anything happening with the classical music station? I still hear standards on KFTK HD-2, and November is just around the corner. Does the delay have anything to do with the current controversy regarding the History Museum?
 
I am guessing that the 96.7 translator is on the air now! At least I am receiving a signal on 96.7 that is about the strength I would expect at my location if a translator on that frequency in Brentwood were on the air. It does not appear to be a spurious signal on my radio, as I have never heard anything like it on that frequency on my radio before.

More specifically, the station at 96.7 is rebroadcasting KFTK 97.1, but they are rebroadcasting the main signal, not the KFTK HD-2 signal, which is still playing the "Red" format. However, they may be rebroadcasting the HD-2 signal of KIHT 96.3, which itself rebroadcasts the KFTK 97.1 main signal.

Perhaps RAFSTL is testing and will be on the air shortly. If so, that's really good news, even though the 96.7 signal is rather weak and noisy at my location.
 
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