New ClassX is a great radio station!

[keys2]

The new ClassX WMWX is very impressive indeed. The music is a fantastic mix of adult-oriented rock.....true album cuts, forgotten classic rock tracks, and just enough familiar stuff to keep it accessible to the masses. All styles seem to be well represented too....everything from the Turtles and Cream to folk and alternative. How about throwing in some prog rock too?

I could barely believe my ears when I heard Redbone's "Maggie" from the summer of '71. The FOX would never touch something like that because it's not "Tequila Sunrise" or "Against The Wind" or some other fried classic by the Eagles, Bob Seger, Billy Joel, or Jim Croce. What a refreshing change of pace.

The ClassX line "AAA meets Classic Rock" is spot on. And they have successfully developed the element of surprise which keeps me listening and anticipating "gee, what's next?!!" This is not like the shallow JACK (or locally MAX) format which has been appropriately labeled a mile wide and an inch deep.

ClassX will be competing nicely with XM online when I'm at work. Unfortunately in the car it will still be AM or XM for me, as the 88.9 signal is practically unlistenable anywhere east of I-75. Too bad. Cincinnati could really use a full power station like this.

Thanks and congratulations to Bill Spry and company for understanding that not all males in the 25-54 demo want to listen to burned out classic rock or the depressing, angry, and headache-inducing WEBN.

 

[deltadave]

Is there a website for the station yet?? I did a google search and couldn't find anything when I searched for ClassX and when I used the call letters I got a Philly station.

Thanks!
dave

 

[William_Yeager]

It's www.classxradio.com (the same site as 107.9 ClassX in Northern Kentucky).

 

[radiomike]

I know the CDBS has been down since Friday, but as WMWX filed a license to cover or requested Program Test Authority as required by their CP? These usually show up in the application queue.

 

[techie2]

I know the CDBS has been down since Friday, but as WMWX filed a license to cover or requested Program Test Authority as required by their CP? These usually show up in the application queue.

Don't see any such application. I thought directional stations were not allowed to do program tests without authorization.

Special operating conditions or restrictions:
1 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit the
results of a complete proof-of-performance to establish the horizontal
plane radiation patterns for both the horizontally and vertically
polarized radiation components. This proof-of-performance may be
accomplished using the complete full size antenna, or individual bays
therefrom, mounted on a supporting structure of identical dimensions
and configuration as the proposed structure, including all braces,
ladders, conduits, coaxial lines, and other appurtenances; or using a
carefully manufactured scale model of the entire antenna, or
individual bays therefrom, mounted on an equally scaled model of the
proposed supporting structure, including all appurtenances.
Engineering exhibits should include a description of the antenna
testing facilities and equipment employed, including appropriate
photographs or sketches and a description of the testing procedures,
including scale factor, measurements frequency, and equipment
calibration.
2 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit an
affidavit from a licensed surveyor to establish that the directional
antenna has been oriented at the proper azimuth.
3 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee/licensee shall submit
an affidavit that the installation of the directional antenna system
was overseen by a qualified engineer. This affidavit shall include
a certification by the engineer that the antenna was installed
pursuant to the manufacturer's instructions and list the qualifications
of the certifying engineer.

Oops.

 

[WestsideBulldog]

I know the CDBS has been down since Friday, but as WMWX filed a license to cover or requested Program Test Authority as required by their CP? These usually show up in the application queue.

Don't see any such application. I thought directional stations were not allowed to do program tests without authorization.

Special operating conditions or restrictions:
1 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit the
results of a complete proof-of-performance to establish the horizontal
plane radiation patterns for both the horizontally and vertically
polarized radiation components. This proof-of-performance may be
accomplished using the complete full size antenna, or individual bays
therefrom, mounted on a supporting structure of identical dimensions
and configuration as the proposed structure, including all braces,
ladders, conduits, coaxial lines, and other appurtenances; or using a
carefully manufactured scale model of the entire antenna, or
individual bays therefrom, mounted on an equally scaled model of the
proposed supporting structure, including all appurtenances.
Engineering exhibits should include a description of the antenna
testing facilities and equipment employed, including appropriate
photographs or sketches and a description of the testing procedures,
including scale factor, measurements frequency, and equipment
calibration.
2 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit an
affidavit from a licensed surveyor to establish that the directional
antenna has been oriented at the proper azimuth.
3 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee/licensee shall submit
an affidavit that the installation of the directional antenna system
was overseen by a qualified engineer. This affidavit shall include
a certification by the engineer that the antenna was installed
pursuant to the manufacturer's instructions and list the qualifications
of the certifying engineer.

Oops.

All was completed on time! Never fails.......

 

[WestsideBulldog]

I know the CDBS has been down since Friday, but as WMWX filed a license to cover or requested Program Test Authority as required by their CP? These usually show up in the application queue.

Don't see any such application. I thought directional stations were not allowed to do program tests without authorization.

Special operating conditions or restrictions:
1 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit the
results of a complete proof-of-performance to establish the horizontal
plane radiation patterns for both the horizontally and vertically
polarized radiation components. This proof-of-performance may be
accomplished using the complete full size antenna, or individual bays
therefrom, mounted on a supporting structure of identical dimensions
and configuration as the proposed structure, including all braces,
ladders, conduits, coaxial lines, and other appurtenances; or using a
carefully manufactured scale model of the entire antenna, or
individual bays therefrom, mounted on an equally scaled model of the
proposed supporting structure, including all appurtenances.
Engineering exhibits should include a description of the antenna
testing facilities and equipment employed, including appropriate
photographs or sketches and a description of the testing procedures,
including scale factor, measurements frequency, and equipment
calibration.
2 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee shall submit an
affidavit from a licensed surveyor to establish that the directional
antenna has been oriented at the proper azimuth.
3 BEFORE PROGRAM TESTS ARE AUTHORIZED, permittee/licensee shall submit
an affidavit that the installation of the directional antenna system
was overseen by a qualified engineer. This affidavit shall include
a certification by the engineer that the antenna was installed
pursuant to the manufacturer's instructions and list the qualifications
of the certifying engineer.

Oops.

Whats your point in posting this stuff?? Sounds like a bit of spite.....

 

[WestsideBulldog]

Mike and Techie2,,

Whats your point? Can't you just accept the fact Bill did things correctly? The station is on the air and doing well and you don't like that we know and the word is spreading fast about the station. Again we ask what is you point to post such BS.....I think everyone is entitled to the truth!!

If you want to go into Bills old pirate days get over it we all did.... What's the problem?

 

[DJJack1]

My only thought so far is that the liner "AAA meets Classic Rock" is not going to make any sense to the average listener. You say AAA to them and they think of getting their car towed.

Station sounds great though!!!

 

[radiomike]

Mike and Techie2,,
Whats your point? Can't you just accept the fact Bill did things correctly? The station is on the air and doing well and you don't like that we know and the word is spreading fast about the station. Again we ask what is you point to post such BS.....I think everyone is entitled to the truth!!
If you want to go into Bills old pirate days get over it we all did.... What's the problem?

Have seen many other stations fire things up, only to get caught by not having the paperwork filed. The process normally is build it to the proof spec, get the surveyor's ceritification, and file the application for license and PTA at the same time. PTA and LTC show up in the database. In this case, they have not, so one is left to wonder if it is done right, considering some of the shenanigans that occurs these days.

 

[keys2]

My only thought so far is that the liner "AAA meets Classic Rock" is not going to make any sense to the average listener. You say AAA to them and they think of getting their car towed.

I thought of this too. You are correct that the term Triple A means nothing to the average listener. But let's face it, 88.9 is a non-comm. It sure sounds good though.

Btw, sorry to see the nitpicking in this thread. I intended this to be a positive post about a refreshing new radio station. I didn't care for Bill's pirating either. As a Christian, I was particularly offended by his pirate Christian station, 105.5 Free Radio. But it's good to see he is doing it right now and has in fact put together a very cool sounding station.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Have seen many other stations fire things up, only to get caught by not having the paperwork filed. The process normally is build it to the proof spec, get the surveyor's ceritification, and file the application for license and PTA at the same time. PTA and LTC show up in the database. In this case, they have not, so one is left to wonder if it is done right, considering some of the shenanigans that occurs these days.

I would not trust the online (public access) CDBS right now.

It's been physically down for most of the past 4 days or so, and who knows if it hasn't caught up to reality yet?

 

[radiomike]

I would not trust the online (public access) CDBS right now.
It's been physically down for most of the past 4 days or so, and who knows if it hasn't caught up to reality yet?

That may be true, but it usually takes a bit longer than 4 days for the process to get PTA for a Directional FM station. Tha is where individuals have gotten in trouble, thinking that they had automatic PTA, similar to the way non-D FM stations can do upon filing their license to cover. A client I worked with took about 3 weeks to get PTA and it showed up. This was when it still was being paper filed! Another Client filed electronically, and got it in about a week and a half.

 

[WestsideBulldog]

I would not trust the online (public access) CDBS right now.
It's been physically down for most of the past 4 days or so, and who knows if it hasn't caught up to reality yet?

That may be true, but it usually takes a bit longer than 4 days for the process to get PTA for a Directional FM station. Tha is where individuals have gotten in trouble, thinking that they had automatic PTA, similar to the way non-D FM stations can do upon filing their license to cover. A client I worked with took about 3 weeks to get PTA and it showed up. This was when it still was being paper filed! Another Client filed electronically, and got it in about a week and a half.

Mike,

Look, it seems you have some motive here. What is it, you still have not answered that question and I think we all are entitled to an answer here. Do you believe Bill and his new station would not have checked with the engineers BEFORE going on the air? Not everything you have stated is accurate from what others have been told. Regs do change. I just want to know why you have it out for this station?

 

[WestsideBulldog]

My only thought so far is that the liner "AAA meets Classic Rock" is not going to make any sense to the average listener. You say AAA to them and they think of getting their car towed.

I thought of this too. You are correct that the term Triple A means nothing to the average listener. But let's face it, 88.9 is a non-comm. It sure sounds good though.

Btw, sorry to see the nitpicking in this thread. I intended this to be a positive post about a refreshing new radio station. I didn't care for Bill's pirating either. As a Christian, I was particularly offended by his pirate Christian station, 105.5 Free Radio. But it's good to see he is doing it right now and has in fact put together a very cool sounding station.

No nitpicking just calling people out when a spade is a spade. But think about it FORGIVE and move on from the past its been over 7 years!!.
It started out positive then someone had to question Bill and the station volunteers AGAIN!! I for one am asking why can't a few move on?

 

[radiomike]

Mike,

Look, it seems you have some motive here. What is it, you still have not answered that question and I think we all are entitled to an answer here. Do you believe Bill and his new station would not have checked with the engineers BEFORE going on the air? Not everything you have stated is accurate from what others have been told. Regs do change. I just want to know why you have it out for this station?

I don't have it out for Bill and his station. Could he have not checked? Sure. I know of at least a half dozen GM's that have done this, three in the recent past. And the Regs have not changed. Someone posted part of the CP for the station on this thread. Unless the Regs have changed since mid July, you file your LTC application and PTA at the same time. The Commission then grants the PTA, and then the license, sometimes within days of each other, other times weeks, considering it is alot of paperwork or should I say, electronic work, that has to be sent in. A proof alone can be 20 pages! That is on top of the application.

 

[radiomike]

My only thought so far is that the liner "AAA meets Classic Rock" is not going to make any sense to the average listener. You say AAA to them and they think of getting their car towed.

I thought of this too. You are correct that the term Triple A means nothing to the average listener. But let's face it, 88.9 is a non-comm. It sure sounds good though.

Btw, sorry to see the nitpicking in this thread. I intended this to be a positive post about a refreshing new radio station. I didn't care for Bill's pirating either. As a Christian, I was particularly offended by his pirate Christian station, 105.5 Free Radio. But it's good to see he is doing it right now and has in fact put together a very cool sounding station.

No nitpicking just calling people out when a spade is a spade. But think about it FORGIVE and move on from the past its been over 7 years!!.
It started out positive then someone had to question Bill and the station volunteers AGAIN!! I for one am asking why can't a few move on?

BTW, until the above post, I had no idea that there was a pirate past from one of the owners. Unlike an LPFM station, The FCC does not ask that question on its 340 Form.

 

[WestsideBulldog]

My only thought so far is that the liner "AAA meets Classic Rock" is not going to make any sense to the average listener. You say AAA to them and they think of getting their car towed.

I thought of this too. You are correct that the term Triple A means nothing to the average listener. But let's face it, 88.9 is a non-comm. It sure sounds good though.

Btw, sorry to see the nitpicking in this thread. I intended this to be a positive post about a refreshing new radio station. I didn't care for Bill's pirating either. As a Christian, I was particularly offended by his pirate Christian station, 105.5 Free Radio. But it's good to see he is doing it right now and has in fact put together a very cool sounding station.

No nitpicking just calling people out when a spade is a spade. But think about it FORGIVE and move on from the past its been over 7 years!!.
It started out positive then someone had to question Bill and the station volunteers AGAIN!! I for one am asking why can't a few move on?

BTW, until the above post, I had no idea that there was a pirate past from one of the owners. Unlike an LPFM station, The FCC does not ask that question on its 340 Form.

I'm still skeptical with all the questions and finger pointing at the new station. Something seems fishy.

 

[radiomike]

I'm still skeptical with all the questions and finger pointing at the new station. Something seems fishy.

Nothing fishy from my posts, just pointing things out from a distance. One thing you will have to keep in mind, is that as a non-commercial station, that should it start chipping in to the "Big Boys" ratings or revenue, they will watch you like a hawk, and will be quick to turn you in, if anything is amiss. This has happened in the past in other markets. So, make sure your undewriting acknowledgements are all FCC friendly, as well as any music content. Playing deeper album cuts sometimes produces some unexpected indecency. One thing that will get the attention of both the commercial stations in town, as well as the FCC is if you sound too much like a commercial station, including your underwriting, it could raise more than just an eyebrow or tow. You might want to check out DEIWORKSITE.ORG which has a lot of no-charge information for non-commercial stations (even more if you are member). For example, live remotes at businesses are a big no-no for non-commercial stations, as is doing any live on air fundraising for anyone but yourself, in a radiothon type format.

 

[WestsideBulldog]

I'm still skeptical with all the questions and finger pointing at the new station. Something seems fishy.

Nothing fishy from my posts, just pointing things out from a distance. One thing you will have to keep in mind, is that as a non-commercial station, that should it start chipping in to the "Big Boys" ratings or revenue, they will watch you like a hawk, and will be quick to turn you in, if anything is amiss. This has happened in the past in other markets. So, make sure your undewriting acknowledgements are all FCC friendly, as well as any music content. Playing deeper album cuts sometimes produces some unexpected indecency. One thing that will get the attention of both the commercial stations in town, as well as the FCC is if you sound too much like a commercial station, including your underwriting, it could raise more than just an eyebrow or tow. You might want to check out DEIWORKSITE.ORG which has a lot of no-charge information for non-commercial stations (even more if you are member). For example, live remotes at businesses are a big no-no for non-commercial stations, as is doing any live on air fundraising for anyone but yourself, in a radiothon type format.

Some good points but .....Still I disagree you are pointing things out from a distance. It comes across as your second guessing that they do not know what they are doing or that they do not know non-comm rules and regs. I'm sure many in the non-comm biz has seen the DEI site. Anytime a non-comm is not NPR based it brings out the ney sayers. DEI is a HUGE NPR supporter. Sure there are rules ALL non-comms must follow but not all on the DEI site are FCC regs. NPR and PRI do not make the rules they simply follow the rules set forth by the FCC (how poor they are written or not). The rules are clear but to say a non-comm station must sound like a typical non-comm because CC or others will be listening is crazy. If they follow the non-comm regs and FCC guides for underwriting then no problem.

As to any kind of remotes I have not seen much in the way of FCC writings or guidlines saying what you can and can not do. Do you have a refrence? I have heard many non-comms do them at sporting events, fairs and festivals but not sure about businesses. I have read about the restrictions but never seen the rules in writing.

As of late ClassX has been getting better every day.