Question about 1660 Am

[abba701]

This station was what was then Radio OZ.My question is between that and what is now a Russian station they were playing interesting varietys of music.Does anyone remember what was the name of this format.And does it exist somewhere else? This took place someone correct me if I'm wrong like 1996-97.

 

[Pirate_Jim]

1660 was "Radio Aahs" until 1998 ..
When "Radio Aahs" went bankrupt, the station briefly became an affiliate of "Beat Radio", which was a former dance music pirate station from Minneapolis ...
Then in 1999, 1660 became "Radio Unica" with a Spanish format ..
As for "Beat Radio", the station is no longer active, but their website is: http://www.beatworld.com/ ..

 

[FLjack2]

I thought 1660 was originally associated with WJDM Elizabeth so they could go full-time. But, if I'm not mistaken, they had to, after X number of years, decide whether to shut down 1530 (daytime only) or the 1660. Wasn't that the point of the expanded band?
I think both stations are on the air now. What gives?

 

[Pirate_Jim]

Yes, you're right .. that was the original intention of the expanded band allocations ..
I don't remember how long it was before the originating station had to sign off .. 5 years, 7 years, something like that ...
In the case of 1530 & 1660, Multicultural (owner of both stations) requested a waiver of the rules to allow 1530 to continue operating, as it would "be in the public interest" for both stations to continue broadcasting ...
A simliar situation involves WHWH, 1350 Princeton NJ and WTTM, 1680, Lindenwold NJ ...

 

[w9wi]

Yes, you're right .. that was the original intention of the expanded band allocations ..
I don't remember how long it was before the originating station had to sign off .. 5 years, 7 years, something like that ...

Five years. An awful lot of stations seem to have simply ignored the phaseout period, and so has the FCC. 1660 is hardly the only expanded-band station whose regular-band side is still operating...

 

[satech]

A simliar situation involves WHWH, 1350 Princeton NJ and WTTM, 1680, Lindenwold NJ ...[/b]

1350 WHWH actually did go dark for a while, as part of an agreement with the sale of WTTM to Multicultural... but then I guess MRBI changed their mind, and WHWH went back on the air less than a year later. First they ran an automated "Radio Ted" variety music format (in AM Stereo!!), then they simulcasted 1490 WBCB for a while, and now they're running a Spanish music format.

 

[R.F. Burns]

To the best of my knowledge, WJDM was one of two stations originally granted a license to populate the expanded band running 10-K Day and 1-K post sunset. After a five year period they were to turn of their 1530 signal. The point of the expansion was in part a method to lessen the interference to the already over populated AM broadcast band. WJDM was special though. Elizabeth was the largest population center without a full time broadcaster and the move to 1660 was done to alleviate that. Of course we all know what happened. Not only didn't WJDM turn off its 1530 carrier, it put syndicated programming on the new expanded band signal, not serving the population of Elizabeth, NJ with anything resembling local content. They were also given permission to operate 10 K day & night into a directional antenna system. Again, changing the rules they had already put in place. There is way too much noise on the AM BCB and there are too few stations on the expanded band, making it appear to be an experimental band where hobbyists broadcast along with low power travelers information stations.

 

[badjef]

To the best of my knowledge, WJDM was one of two stations originally granted a license to populate the expanded band running 10-K Day and 1-K post sunset. After a five year period they were to turn of their 1530 signal. The point of the expansion was in part a method to lessen the interference to the already over populated AM broadcast band. WJDM was special though. Elizabeth was the largest population center without a full time broadcaster and the move to 1660 was done to alleviate that. Of course we all know what happened. Not only didn't WJDM turn off its 1530 carrier, it put syndicated programming on the new expanded band signal, not serving the population of Elizabeth, NJ with anything resembling local content. They were also given permission to operate 10 K day & night into a directional antenna system. Again, changing the rules they had already put in place. There is way too much noise on the AM BCB and there are too few stations on the expanded band, making it appear to be an experimental band where hobbyists broadcast along with low power travelers information stations.

To operate in the expanded band, there was a push from the FCC to promote AM Stereo, they were supposed to do that, too - C-quAM of course.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[R.F. Burns]

To the best of my knowledge, WJDM was one of two stations originally granted a license to populate the expanded band running 10-K Day and 1-K post sunset. After a five year period they were to turn of their 1530 signal. The point of the expansion was in part a method to lessen the interference to the already over populated AM broadcast band. WJDM was special though. Elizabeth was the largest population center without a full time broadcaster and the move to 1660 was done to alleviate that. Of course we all know what happened. Not only didn't WJDM turn off its 1530 carrier, it put syndicated programming on the new expanded band signal, not serving the population of Elizabeth, NJ with anything resembling local content. They were also given permission to operate 10 K day & night into a directional antenna system. Again, changing the rules they had already put in place. There is way too much noise on the AM BCB and there are too few stations on the expanded band, making it appear to be an experimental band where hobbyists broadcast along with low power travelers information stations.

To operate in the expanded band, there was a push from the FCC to promote AM Stereo, they were supposed to do that, too - C-quAM of course.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

By the time the expanded band was opened I believe C-Quam was the default AM stereo system but there were very few radios and honestly AM stereo is like the old needle in groove video disc. A technology who's time has long passed. I may be mistaken but I believe the later manufactured Harris transmitters came equiped with c-quam encoders but most stations don't bother using them as it does have a negative effect on a stations mono processing.