New Soft AC in Utica?

[SirRoxalot]

Tom Taylor is reporting a new FM in Utica...

A translator puts 45+ soft AC music on the FM dial in Utica.

Probably a very good investment - Roser Communications paid $30,000 for a translator that was originally licensed to Herkimer, NY at 106.3 and has FCC permission to move to Utica on a new frequency. And indeed, the CNYRadio site says “B95.5” hit the air last week. B95.5 is the new handle of the format based at Roser’s WUTQ, Utica (1550) and WADR, Remsen (1480). Those stations continue to air the Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand music, in what is now a trimulcast branded with the dial position of the translator.

 

[ThePickleReport]

I have a friend in the 'burbs of Utica. I should see where he can pick it up.

 

[RBW]

Yeah... I'd be interested to know its range... but wait... I'm confused ??? Are they on 106.3 ?? ... then why would they say B95.5 ??? Especially when (THE REAL) B95.5 is not that far away!!!! That doesn't make sense unless I'm reading something incorrectly.

 

[theradiokid]

RBW: You are reading something incorrectly. The translator moved from 106.3 to 95.5. Still, in my opinion, the "B95.5" moniker is confusing. If I were Pamal,I'd sue.

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[RBW]

I guess they're deriving the "B" from the fact that the AM's use the liner "just beautiful" as an identifier. But it still seems odd or maybe coincidental that 95.5 would even be available for them with only about 80 miles separating them from Albany.

They also used to have 1570 Amsterdam, playing the same music... but not as a simulcast. Not sure why they bumped that one into a different galaxy.

 

[W2JUV_AL]

80 miles from Albany to Utica may not seem like a whole lot, but the Utica translator is probably 30 miles away from WYJB's protected contour.

 

[JakeLongwell]

These days, a station (seemingly) is only entitled to protection within its coverage area on paper. Anything outside this contour is subject to encroachment from other signals. In the case of a translator, listeners can file interference complaints, but I understand the window for that is very limited. Plus, I've also heard it seldom gets the translator moved or shut down. So, unless someone in the Utica area complains that they can no longer receive WYJB, it appears this new "station" is here to stay.

 

[W2JUV_AL]

per JakeLongwell "These days, a station (seemingly) is only entitled to protection within its coverage area on paper. Anything outside this contour is subject to encroachment from other signals. In the case of a translator, listeners can file interference complaints, but I understand the window for that is very limited. Plus, I've also heard it seldom gets the translator moved or shut down. So, unless someone in the Utica area complains that they can no longer receive WYJB, it appears this new "station" is here to stay."

I don't believe listener complaints will change anything. WYJB can be heard in the Utica 'burbs but is not a "listenable" signal if you're driving around. And since Utica is outside of the WYJB protected contour, the translator will likely remain.

 

[RBW]

Depending on the intended range of the translator, I wonder if they'll be any battle-ground areas just to the east of Utica, perhaps on higher terrain, who might normally get WYJB better than average, but be INTENDED to only receive the new B95. This might mean that they'd get both stations just by adjusting an antenna slightly.

 

[CNYRadio.com]

per JakeLongwell "These days...

W2JUV, if you hit the "Quote" button above any post, it'll make the neat little box you see above, helping people to know it's a quote since that's the standard format here, and you won't even have to copy/paste anything.

Yeah... I'd be interested to know its range... but wait... I'm confused ??? Are they on 106.3 ?? ... then why would they say B95.5 ??? Especially when (THE REAL) B95.5 is not that far away!!!! That doesn't make sense unless I'm reading something incorrectly.

The way Taylor's article was quoted at the top of the thread, I believe there is a step missing from the process. As I reported on July 8th, the station was originally on 106.3 in Herkimer under the old owners. When Roser bought it, he moved it to 95.5 and the station started using Middleville as it's COL. The CP grants Roser (no pun intended) permission to move the transmitter to Smith Hill, staying at 95.5.

Tuned it in during my most-recent trip to Utica, this past Saturday. Had to get relatively close to Utica before I could pick it up in the car, though I was approaching from the west.... and Middleville is east of Utica.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

The Mohawk Valley is one of the most beautiful areas in the state and can be a real test for FM signals. Smith Hill is an amazing TX site, but the topography of the jills and valley can be a real challenge for low power FMs. I'd like to have had an FM (many) years ago when we were doing Oldies on 1550 WBVM. Timing's everything.

 

[Adman4120]

Hello....Since I monitor every station in the market and west to Syracuse on a daily basis, I must admit that I'm a bit surprised at the strong signal of the "B" if, indeed they are still transmitting East of Utica, and NOT on the Smith Hill location yet.

I am picking them up loud and clear not only in Utica, but in Rome, south to Oriskany Falls and north toward Lee Center which is about 7 miles north of Rome. If they are only putting out 250 watts from East of Utica, the strong signal amazes me. If they are transmitting from Smith Hill, it would make more sense, even though 250 watts on FM never has traveled that far.

Are they supposed to have an effective power rating of 250 watts, or, is the transmitter putting out 250 watts, then, coupled with the Smith Hill Tower Height factored in, would give them a higher effective power output?

I am just surprised at the signal strength. I will say, in my opinion, they need a lot of work on the sound quality of the station. Not sure if it's the poor processing, less than perfect in-studio equipment, or other factors, but that could use improvements.

 

[CNYRadio.com]

I must admit that I'm a bit surprised at the strong signal of the "B" if, indeed they are still transmitting East of Utica, and NOT on the Smith Hill location yet.

I am picking them up loud and clear not only in Utica, but in Rome, south to Oriskany Falls and north toward Lee Center which is about 7 miles north of Rome.

I'm under the assumption they're still transmitting from Middleville, as that's the licensed location as per the FCC website. FCC still has the Utica site listed as a construction permit as of 9:00am Saturday 7/17/10. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to listen long enough to catch a legal ID. But I would think once they sign on from Utica, that would become the new "licensed" location instead of just a CP.

I am just surprised at the signal strength. I will say, in my opinion, they need a lot of work on the sound quality of the station. Not sure if it's the poor processing, less than perfect in-studio equipment, or other factors, but that could use improvements.

Agreed... I didn't think it was horrible, but definitely could be better. But, Roser's just a local operation... I would not expect him to have access to huge piles of cash like a corporately-owned station would. The $30,000 to get the signal is a drop in the bucket for a corporate chain, but likely a big deal for a local owner. Funding might not be available to get the new signal and make tons of in-studio upgrades all at the same time. Or even if he has the money, maybe he's waiting to see how much of a response 95.5 gets before he decides whether it's worth it to continue. If the mere presence of 95.5 doesn't do much to increase the audience, Roser may decide to divert that money to one of his other stations.

 

[fybush]

I must admit that I'm a bit surprised at the strong signal of the "B" if, indeed they are still transmitting East of Utica, and NOT on the Smith Hill location yet.

I am picking them up loud and clear not only in Utica, but in Rome, south to Oriskany Falls and north toward Lee Center which is about 7 miles north of Rome.

I'm under the assumption they're still transmitting from Middleville, as that's the licensed location as per the FCC website. FCC still has the Utica site listed as a construction permit as of 9:00am Saturday 7/17/10. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to listen long enough to catch a legal ID. But I would think once they sign on from Utica, that would become the new "licensed" location instead of just a CP.

I think they're already on from Smith Hill. Once the CP is granted, construction can be completed and the station can begin broadcasting from the CP facilities under Program Test Authority even before the license to cover is granted.

I haven't been in the area since "B95" signed on, and won't be through there until mid-August, but Adman's description of the signal coverage sounds like Smith Hill to me.

 

[Adman4120]

Hello...I would agree with Scott, that they are indeed already broadcasting from Smith Hill. It would seem highly unlikely that 250 watts would reach from Middleville Southeast to Oriskany Falls, and north of Rome. I'm only assuming this, however, with the relationship WKTV and the Roser Group have with their advertising agency, it is very possible the owners of WKTV allowed the "B" to mount their antenna on the WKTV relay tower next to their building, thus, the rapid transfer from Middleville to Smith Hill.

It will also be interesting to see what audience the "B" on FM, might take from others in the market. I have reviewed the Eastlin ratings and await the Arbitron in a few weeks. Eastlin shows a steady decline at Lite 98.7, but not sure about Arbitron yet, even though 12+ numbers mean nothing as a separate category. I will be more concerned about individual men and women 10-year age categories.

Also looking forward to my new Northeast Radio Watch Tower Calender.

 

[RBW]

I'm curious if anyone thinks all the new FM translators popping up, is a trend, or if like monkey-see monkey-do, no one with JUST an AM signal, wants to be known as the only "little AM" station in town withOUT FM coverage?

Just in the past half year or so....... 1200 Syracuse, 1440 Oswego, 1440 Gloversville, 1570 Amsterdam... and now 1480 & 1550... ALL with FM coverage.

Seems a bit overkill to me. Unless they're heading the way Canada has; where eventually the original AM's will go "bye-bye".

 

[SirRoxalot]

I think that it's a no-brainer for an AM - especially a daytimer - to grab an FM signal if possible. New FCC rules have made FM translators for AMs possible, and I think that you're seeing that smart operators are taking advantage of the rules change.

 

[Element9]

I'd rather hear a well-programmed local commercial AM daytimer on an FM translator than the seemingly pervasive pray-for-pay religious hucksters (I'm lookin' at you EMF and Family Life) that gobble up every available frequency and hold them hostage.

 

[RBW]

From what I've heard.... I like their sound.

I was driving the thruway west last Friday, and I believe it was mile 214 when B95 (WUTQ) started pushing Albany's "B" out. Then at the large hill near Mohawk (missed mile marker) Albany came right back in for a mile or so.

Didn't get a chance to test them west of Utica.

 

[Family Life]

Family Life has a lot to offer the communities that they serve with a radio signal. Unlike national organizations we cover news items in each of the listening areas that we serve. Family Life also provides community events such as concerts, dinner theaters, youth theater workshops, and many other family activities to complement the radio outreach. "Gobbling up" frequencies is not the goal of Family Life. It only seeks signals where those in that community ask for a signal.