Nobody Home at KGTK 920

[fordranger797]

It's starting to make sense now why that these guys are having trouble staying on the air. I could understand 920 being a complete disaster if the 101.1 translator served a purpose. The reality is that the only listeners of that station (the 101.1 translator) are on this board, and none made it through more than 30 seconds before getting a headache and turning it off.

 

[crainbebo]

KGTK leases space on the KBRD tower and in their shacky shack. FM Translators are owned by Brian Spencer. The transmitter was with Noah on the ark. Not much to buy there.

Ahhhhh....Brian Spencer. KGHO-LP's guy. No wonder the knocking on 101.1's door goes unanswered.

 

[bossbill]

Or bird sounds. KLSY did that before they went to Spanish Religion. Seriously, KGTK could hook a microphone up into the Capitol State Forest and let us listen to the sounds of nature. Mixed periodically with John Denver songs and the mandatory TOH ID.

Easy now, that was MY format. I got the bird sounds from a $19.95 clock alarm radio. Centro Familiar Cristiano must've liked it, because they bought the station!

 

[fordranger797]

Well, the saga of this frequency continues in the south south. I happened across 101.1 this morning, and the noisy talk radio format originating from 920 was gone. Instead, it sounded like a "nostalgia" format had taken its place. Maybe it was KBRD making a FM appearance? Perhaps an engineering mishap? Either way, KBRD on 101.1 would probably make more sense anyway, as it's a listener supported station anyway. The bulk of their listeners are on the internet, but it gives them some presence on the FM dial. Who knows it will remain this way, or if KGTK will make a triumphant return.

Does anybody really care about this saga? Probably not, but it is rather interesting to see the issues (and occasional victories) that continually plague some of these translators.

 

[Kelly A]

Does anybody really care about this saga?

No, not really.

Probably not, but it is rather interesting to see the issues (and occasional victories) that continually plague some of these translators.

Still no.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Does anybody really care about this saga? Probably not, but it is rather interesting to see the issues (and occasional victories) that continually plague some of these translators.

I care because it's interesting to read the tea leaves about changes, who stands by efforts, size of the market impact on the decisions, unique format impact on the decision, etc. Will translators save ailing AM's? Is there hope for a listener-supported nostalgia format getting enough traction to super-serve a super-small audience? If I were an investor I'd have different thoughts -- but as a spectator, it's intriguing to watch things beyond "100.3 just flipped format" or "105.9 just tweaked their rotations". Those moves, to me, are just the backfield offensive line players shifting from one side of the line to another -- even though the play they are about to run is probably c&&p.

 

[Kelly A]

Hold on, let me check.. Nope, still don't care about some crappy translator or AM in Thurston County.

 

[fordranger797]

Hold on, let me check.. Nope, still don't care about some crappy translator or AM in Thurston County.

Well, I guess 1% of you must care a little bit because you still dropped by to say hello on this thread!

 

[fordranger797]

I care because it's interesting to read the tea leaves about changes, who stands by efforts, size of the market impact on the decisions, unique format impact on the decision, etc. Will translators save ailing AM's? Is there hope for a listener-supported nostalgia format getting enough traction to super-serve a super-small audience? If I were an investor I'd have different thoughts -- but as a spectator, it's intriguing to watch things beyond "100.3 just flipped format" or "105.9 just tweaked their rotations". Those moves, to me, are just the backfield offensive line players shifting from one side of the line to another -- even though the play they are about to run is probably c&&p.

I agree. The most interesting part about this saga is how many times this translator is going to change hands. Business decisions are being made somewhere about how a Thurston County FM could improve their operation, and so far nobody has been successful.

 

[Roxanne]

Some of us in Thurston County are still having a little fun with radio. Judging from comments above, some of you should be jealous as hell.

 

[crainbebo]

That KYA 101.9 is a fun station, that's for sure.

 

[RF101]

I was driving on a ridgeline west of Centralia the other week. I heard some real distorted FM audio but at the top of the hour a legal ID cropped up . If memory serves me it was the KGTK translator. Yes, the AM signal 920 is a major "hummer", serious grounding fault.

BTW, I was surprised to find a WildBlue (now Viasat) uplink site down in the Port of Centralia warehouse area. Also, while driving along I-5 south of there look to the east at the Castle Rock exit. On the ridgeline you'll readily see the KLYK 94.5 tower.

 

[Kelly A]

Some of us in Thurston County are still having a little fun with radio. Judging from comments above, some of you should be jealous as hell.

Jealous? Of what?

 

[Roxanne]

Fun. You should try it, you might like it.

 

[placebo1969]

Is it as fun as Kokomo? That’s the real question.

 

[Kelly A]

Is it as fun as Kokomo? That’s the real question.

Similar relevance to the industry.

 

[bobdavcav]

I was driving on a ridgeline west of Centralia the other week. I heard some real distorted FM audio but at the top of the hour a legal ID cropped up . If memory serves me it was the KGTK translator. Yes, the AM signal 920 is a major "hummer", serious grounding fault.

BTW, I was surprised to find a WildBlue (now Viasat) uplink site down in the Port of Centralia warehouse area. Also, while driving along I-5 south of there look to the east at the Castle Rock exit. On the ridgeline you'll readily see the KLYK 94.5 tower.

What about KLYK caused you to mention that in this thread? I have to be up that way today, so maybe I'll try and point that out.

 

[RF101]

What about KLYK caused you to mention that in this thread? I have to be up that way today, so maybe I'll try and point that out.

Trivial observation only about KLYK. I was on an Olympia to Portland trek, diverted in my path to Centralia foothills and further south saw the KLYK tower when back on the Interstate. (More trivia - , KLYK was originally the call letters for the then-3kw Longview station on 105.5. )

 

[Bongwater]

Well, the saga of this frequency continues in the south south. I happened across 101.1 this morning, and the noisy talk radio format originating from 920 was gone. Instead, it sounded like a "nostalgia" format had taken its place. Maybe it was KBRD making a FM appearance? Perhaps an engineering mishap? Either way, KBRD on 101.1 would probably make more sense anyway, as it's a listener supported station anyway. The bulk of their listeners are on the internet, but it gives them some presence on the FM dial. Who knows it will remain this way, or if KGTK will make a triumphant return.

Does anybody really care about this saga? Probably not, but it is rather interesting to see the issues (and occasional victories) that continually plague some of these translators.

KBRD may not look like much, 250 watt AM daytimer, public domain music, etc. But they have a freakin' monopoly on the national steampunk underground (where one does not rage against a machine playing Stephen Foster piano rolls....)

 

[Kelly A]

KBRD may not look like much, 250 watt AM daytimer, public domain music, etc. But they have a freakin' monopoly on the national steampunk underground (where one does not rage against a machine playing Stephen Foster piano rolls....)

There you go; #1 in Steampunks 35+ Talk about a niche demo.