On Channel Boosters in Asheville for GSP Stations?

[ZantennaG1]

@SomeRadioGuy What have you seen or noticed with KLMI's booster signal driving west out of Laramie toward the main KLMI signal?

 

[ZantennaG1]

Also, it will be interesting to see if the new "Zone-casting" feature will reduce overall interference between boosters.

 

[gr8oldies]

Also, it will be interesting to see if the new "Zone-casting" feature will reduce overall interference between boosters.

I haven't heard about Zone-casting for at least a decade, I don't believe any group has this in the works. It would be a disaster of multipath nonsense. Looks good on paper---different ads for different parts of the market, but even the way radio is sold. it won't work

 

[ZantennaG1]

I haven't heard about Zone-casting for at least a decade, I don't believe any group has this in the works. It would be a disaster of multipath nonsense. Looks good on paper---different ads for different parts of the market, but even the way radio is sold. it won't work

I actually meant to refer to Maxxcasting, which was discussed before on RD, and I think applies here. However, I would like to see what happens if we tried out Zone-casting via Maxxcasting.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

@SomeRadioGuy What have you seen or noticed with KLMI's booster signal driving west out of Laramie toward the main KLMI signal?

That when the main was shut off for a quick bit of blow off the dust and maintenance, the booster made it up to the main site well enough RDS decoded mostly fine.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Asheville only had one TV station, and presumably were going to watch the other 2 networks from somewhere, and Anderson, Greeneville and wherever Spartanburg were going to watch ABC. Since those stations and small cities were spread out, that would seem to be the best solution. Asheville is isolated as aa radio market, and most of the radio stations there don't remotely reach the other 3 cities

Actually, Asheville had two TV stations. Before Fox, Channel 21 didn't have much of a signal and probably not many viewers either. I don't think it was even in TV Guide.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I heard WSPA 98.9 driving around Augusta GA the other day, a bit weak but listenable. It definitely shows how powerful a signal it is. But still hit or miss in parts of the NC mountains.

 

[MediaMan]

Keep in mind that while Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville are all in the same TV market, the radio markets are separate. Twenty years ago there was only one in market commercial FM in Asheville, WKSF. WMIT was operated as a non commercial and WCQS brought NPR to the market. WWNC-AM with its country format and hefty 5 kW day and night signal thrived long after most AMs gave up music because there were so few FM signals. Now you've got several in market full power signals and several translators, a few of them with Class A FM like coverage.

 

[tylerSC]

Actually, Asheville had two TV stations. Before Fox, Channel 21 didn't have much of a signal and probably not many viewers either. I don't think it was even in TV Guide.

WHNS may have originally been licensed to Asheville, but its studios are now in Greenville off Pelham Rd. right by I-85. But they don't identifly as Channel 21 or FOX-21, they are just branded as FOX Carolina. Their signal tower is near Caesars Head along with WYFF-4, and they now have a better signal than the old analog days. But I would prefer them to identify as 21, but that does not seem to be the trend anymore unless you are a legacy VHF station, such as 3, 4, 7 or 9. And similarly, WJZY FOX-46 in Charlotte recently dropped FOX-46 and is now Queen City News and FOX Charlotte.

 

[tylerSC]

I heard WSPA 98.9 driving around Augusta GA the other day, a bit weak but listenable. It definitely shows how powerful a signal it is. But still hit or miss in parts of the NC mountains.

98.9 has a strong signal from Hogback Mountain, and can also be received in Charlotte. Other strong signals include 94.5, 99.9, and 106.9. From Charlotte, 95.1, 96.1, and 107.9 are strong but may now be subject to low power interference in adjacent markets.

 

[SCPirate]

In Atlanta, way back when 97.1 was Fox97, they were testing a booster. Since they were licensed to Gainesville GA, they had issues in downtown Atlanta. So they got a booster approved with the antenna at the "farm" where everyone else had their antennae. The problem was, when they turned it on, that signal colliding that Paul mentioned was directly along the beltway around the city. 😵 They messed around with it quite a bit by raising and lowering the power, but they eventually just shut it down.

That's another example of listeners far outside the market. Fox97 came in great in Anderson, SC, and I & lots of people I knew listened to Randy & Spiff in the mornings.

 

[tylerSC]

That's another example of listeners far outside the market. Fox97 came in great in Anderson, SC, and I & lots of people I knew listened to Randy & Spiff in the mornings.

Yes 97.1 from Atlanta used to come in strong and clear in Greenville, but now there is a same channel signal in Spartanburg interfering. I think it may still be a sports format.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Yup, WSRV makes to a little past Anderson now, I lose it just before Greenville near Powdersville/Piedmont.

I really see no point in Sports talk in this market. The station WCCP has most of that desire covered on 105.5 and their 97.5 translator which now blocks WCOS in Spartanburg, Cherokee & Union County (like they even care).

Fox Sports 104.9 and ESPN Upstate (The Fan) is a big waste if I ever saw one, even I could operate a better format on that signal!

I would love Earth FM to have some translators around here for outlying cities where their signal is weak. Or put Earth FM on 94.5 would be awesome. 95.5 will be a big upgrade from 95.9's signal.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Yea multipath interference seems like the biggest hurdle around here, its like intermittent static with each beat of a song even with a strong signal, so a booster would help near the centers of towns in the mountains.

WGGY in Pennsylvania is another good example that does this with 3 boosters in very mountainous terrain

 

[101tm]

Yes 97.1 from Atlanta used to come in strong and clear in Greenville, but now there is a same channel signal in Spartanburg interfering. I think it may still be a sports format.

97.1 has also moved their tower in recent years I believe. I used to be able to get WSRV in SE Anderson county but now it’s just static with it occasionally trying to come in.

 

[Steve.Gates]

Actually, Asheville had two TV stations. Before Fox, Channel 21 didn't have much of a signal and probably not many viewers either. I don't think it was even in TV Guide.

I vaguely remember Channel 21 way back when. It did not have a Strong Signal to Hendersonville, NC and was very hard to get and Tune in to. However, it did manage to show up in the local TV Guide for the Area. I don't know if I still have said TV Guide for back then. That was a very long time ago. Steve.

 

[upstate29651]

WHNS may have originally been licensed to Asheville, but its studios are now in Greenville off Pelham Rd. right by I-85. But they don't identifly as Channel 21 or FOX-21, they are just branded as FOX Carolina. Their signal tower is near Caesars Head along with WYFF-4...

Well, not exactly. 21 is atop Slick Rock Mtn in NC, easily at least ten miles away from Caesars Head and 4.

 

[tylerSC]

Well, not exactly. 21 is atop Slick Rock Mtn in NC, easily at least ten miles away from Caesars Head and 4.

Thanks for correcting I remember that now.