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Proposed power boost for KRCM 1380

J

jd

This is one of two things. It's either shocking or insane. Well, maybe it's both, considering the state of AM radio these days.

An application from KRCM calls for relocation of the transmitter site from the Shenandoah area to Waller County, just north of Prairie View and going directional. This would be a three-tower array with a huge increase in the power level, too--22,000 watts. Nighttime would be a little less than what they have now, at just 50 watts. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101482146&formid=301&fac_num=14228

Note that this application comes from the same engineer who has been working on KYOK 1140's proposed move from Conroe to Katy; that one is still on hold awaiting coordination from Canada, among other issues. Will this one work? That's a good question, since there are many possibilities for interference with co-channel and adjacent channel stations, e.g., Baton Rouge, Baytown, El Campo and Austin.

One more thing, not that it makes the rest of the application suspect, but someone should point out that KRCM is not located in "THE BEAUMONT - PORT ARTHUR TEXAS ARBITRON MARKET." Maybe Son Nguyen at the FCC will catch it.
 
I don't seem to hear KRCM in Beaumont these days.

Why not move the station all the way to El Paso?
 
Not insane or shocking. Just the reality of today's AM band, which is badly overcrowded. You have to crank up the power to be heard over all kinds of interference.

The Waller site is 60 miles from second adjacent KWWJ on 1360, so maybe that distance overcomes any spacing issues. I've only glanced at the application, but I assume most of the power would be thrown SE, avoiding first adjacents in El Campo and Austin. The co-channel Baton Rouge station has minimal signal to the west. And the co-channel in Pleasanton, Texas is 170 miles away and doesn't put much signal towards the ENE.

The 50 watt night signal will cover Prairie View and Hempstead, maybe the town of Waller and little else.

stan said:
Why not move the station all the way to El Paso?
Click to expand...

There's already a 1380 in El Paso (KHEY.) ;D
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Not insane or shocking. Just the reality of today's AM band, which is badly overcrowded. You have to crank up the power to be heard over all kinds of interference.
Click to expand...

Certainly it takes more power now. But seriously, would you spend the kind of money required on something like this, taking a chance on the AM band in 2012 and beyond?
 
Like most every other small AM station in the Houston area, it will likely only make enough money to pay the light bill until the day they can find a potential buyer with stars in their eyes to unload it on. They didn't have trouble the first time around. They'll find some preacher with a large bankroll or an ethnic group without a station. Several groups like that in that area. Nigerian, Haitian.
 
mrbeasley said:
Like most every other small AM station in the Houston area, it will likely only make enough money to pay the light bill until the day they can find a potential buyer with stars in their eyes to unload it on. They didn't have trouble the first time around. They'll find some preacher with a large bankroll or an ethnic group without a station. Several groups like that in that area. Nigerian, Haitian.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Brokered ethnic or religion is pretty much the last resort for AM radio these days, and it's a pretty safe bet KRCM will go that route, as will any upgrade/move-in of the 1140 currently in Conroe, and the current 1280 in Brenham if that upgrade goes through. Target a niche audience that is unserved elsewhere. If you can't make money off that business model it's time to pull the plug and turn in the license.
 
In early November, I posted this info and responders said that it couldn't be:

There's more than dead air on AM 1380 these days, it's KRCM, formerly of Beaumont, now resonating sporadically from Shenandoah with Spanish Christian. . . . Sometimes no signal, sometimes carrier only. Licensee is DAIJ Media, so Spanish Christian will be permanent format.

Can't be, Entergy hasn't powered site yet or must have been sunset skip signal. It was definitely a local signal and represented the periodic early test transmissions of KRCM. Note that DAIJ is the new owner of Conroe's KJOJ AM 880, guess we can expect them to sound very similar most of the time.
 
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