Old 1310 Station Goes Silent -- How's Reception?

[smedge2006]

How has the disappearance of WDOD 1310 AM in Chattanooga, TN affected that frequency at night, if at all, where you are? This is purportedly the oldest 1310 east of the Rockies, all the others had to protect it.

 

[jd]

This is purportedly the oldest 1310 east of the Rockies, all the others had to protect it.

I'm not sure that WDOD could have laid claim to being the oldest station on 1310, since a couple of other notable stations were moved there from 1280 in the NARBA re-allocation of 1941. WDOD, WRR Dallas (now KTCK) and WIBA Madison WI all wound up there at the same time and all eventually were authorized for 5kW unlimited, with directional antenna at night.

 

[radio-dinosaur]

WDOD signed on April 1925 and was originally 1280 pre NARBA shift.

 

[KE4KLS_Radio]

Seems like this would help WKZD in Priceville AL should they choose to upgrade their signal, as they currently only cover the western half of the Huntsville AL market (to protect WDOD):

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKZD&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

 

[jd]

WDOD signed on April 1925 and was originally 1280 pre NARBA shift.

Early listings indicate that WDOD began on 1170; WIBA reportedly preceded WDOD by about a month (on 1270). But WRR was on the air in 1920 on 833kHz as the Dallas fire department's station. It didn't officially become a commercial station until around 1927, and like so many U.S. stations, went through a number of frequency changes in their early days. Certainly had WDOD had seniority on the post-NARBA channel but it was shared, even as early as 1941.

Seems like this would help WKZD in Priceville AL should they choose to upgrade their signal, as they currently only cover the western half of the Huntsville AL market (to protect WDOD):

It could get interesting around here, too, since KTCK Dallas would like to do something with that nasty null in their night pattern that does a number on their coverage immediately north of Dallas. The null is pointed more or less toward Chattanooga.

 

[RadioDaze]

Maybe WISE in Asheville, NC could let out their nighttime pattern a bit to the west.

 

[K6JHU]

On the HD board somebody is tracking the number of AM HD stations that have turned their HD off. I am wondering if it is getting to be time to start counting the numbers of AM stations going dark.

 

[MarioMania]

I don't think the FCC will keep it Silent, Other Company's might buy 1310

 

[K4WRF]

I don't think the FCC will keep it Silent, Other Company's might buy 1310

Very unlikely, as the land was purchased by adjacent college. Cost of new land and construction is prohibitive with little or no possibility of return on investment of that size.

 

[K4WRF]

Seems like this would help WKZD in Priceville AL should they choose to upgrade their signal, as they currently only cover the western half of the Huntsville AL market (to protect WDOD):

It could get interesting around here, too, since KTCK Dallas would like to do something with that nasty null in their night pattern that does a number on their coverage immediately north of Dallas. The null is pointed more or less toward Chattanooga.
[/quote]

Over the years, other stations have come on 1310 with class B protected night facilities. WDXI Jackson TN is one, any increase in that direction could possibly enter their or someone elses RSS. Would be an interesting study as WDOD enjoyed a low night time interference limit.

 

[jd]

I don't think the FCC will keep it Silent, Other Company's might buy 1310

Very unlikely, as the land was purchased by adjacent college. Cost of new land and construction is prohibitive with little or no possibility of return on investment of that size.

Exactly, and there's that FCC technicality that would preclude it for the foreseeable future. After a license is surrendered the facility is officially "deleted" (although in this case that action is slow to arrive on the FCC website); no one is allowed to apply for the deleted facility until the next filing window is opened. That could be years away, or never, considering the sad state of AM radio.