SUGGESTION FOR KGOW

[OldChicago]

I wonder..until they can work out the legal and technical issues with their xmtr at Rosharon, why can't they add more power to the Astrodome area xmtr, perhaps something like 2500 watts omnidirectional, daytime.


Old Chicago

 

[Mediafrog+]

why can't they add more power to the Astrodome area xmtr, perhaps something like 2500 watts omnidirectional, daytime.

Forget any omnidirectional fix. Issues with co-channel KTXZ in Austin as well as first adjacent KWBC 1550 in Navasota. They are why both the old 800 watt facility and the new 50kw site are both sharply directional to the NNE.

 

[jd]

They are why both the old 800 watt facility and the new 50kw site are both sharply directional to the NNE.

A slight correction: the old 800-watt site (which, by the way, they are no longer authorized to use) was non-directional and afforded sufficient protection to other stations. It should have been immediately retained as a back-up site, but instead the application for auxiliary operation from Almeda Road near Orem (1000 watts day/100 night, non-directional) is still awaiting FCC approval. (That's separate from the recent 100-watt "temporary fix" application.) Also it's now obvious that the big transmitter should have been operating every day since it was licensed months ago to spot any problems. So officially the only license KGOW presently has specifies operation from the daytime site and they shouldn't be using anything else without "special temporary authority."

The 50,000-watt pattern from Rosharon does have a sharp null to the NNW to protect KWBC, along with a NW null toward KTXZ. Also in the mix are nulls to the ESE because of KGBC 1540 and NE toward KLLA Leesville LA. In all, there are ten other stations on 1560 or adjacent channels that had to be taken into consideration, resulting in a very complex pattern.

 

[Kevinc]

I listened as I drove to the Texans game this evening and it was the best signal I have ever received from the station. Clean and static free from Mo City to the stadium. It was too bad they were talking about LSU and college ball when I was driving to a Texans/Cowboys game. In the half hour of listnening, the Texans were not even mentioned.

I did notice a billboard for The Game near Reliant Stadium on the South loop headed eastbound. So I guess they are trying to promote the station now. Thats a good thing.

 

[adguy]

I also saw a Clear Channel billboard at the railroad crossing on Bissonnet inside the loop. It was small and almost unreadable, but that tells me they bought a bulk of them at least from Clear Channel Outdoor. Yes, it's a good thing to see that they are promoting the station. Along with the improved signal, they will be a player. And, if they succeed it will be tremendous victory for single station local ownership and will hopefully lead to a trend.

 

[purpledevil]

Yep, there is a couple of CBS signs with the "John Granato, Mornings" promotion for 1560. The signal is better. Not sure if it indeed at 50kw or still running reduced at 10kw, but there was a marked improvement of the signal on Sunday morning and evening when I tuned in. Definitely a deep null to the NNW, however.

 

[purpledevil]

I have a new suggestion for KGOW. Buy another station. See if you can throw in 1560 as part of the deal. Is it just me or did KGOW's signal have another hiccup? Sunday it was pretty clear. Monday and today, back to static. Maybe the engineers that are working on it are more occupied by the KBRZ increase than they are with a station they will no longer be working with. This seems bizarre that Gow would let this happen in such a critical stage of the station's overall success.

 

[Kevinc]

I still picked it up just fine around town (inside the loop near downtown) yesterday, except for the typical fade to static when I went under an overpass.