The End Of B 93.7 In Charlotte/Mecklenburg County

[Steve.Gates]

I recently heard church music on 93.7 MHz and thought I was actually hearing things. The Signal was weak and very spotty in NW Charlotte. Several weeks went by and I forgot about it. Then, about two weeks ago, I noticed it again.

Introducing.....

W229CF

Been ''In Production'' for well more than a decade. I guess they (Bible Broadcast Network) finally got some more fund$ now that the Economy is ''Better''.

Went ON AIR on/around 05/03/15:

<http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrApplication.jsp;JSESSIONID_ASRSEARCH=MybmVQgF1hvCRDpWy1P1GllVwTv1FwHhWqv9NnZF7WtkkppjK1sP!1408560769!1266621619?callingSystem=RS&applKey=4346258>

-&-

<https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?state=NC&call=&city=&arn=&serv=&vac=&freq=93.7&fre2=93.7&facid=&asrn=&class=&dkt=&list=0&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9>

IMHO, whoever let that finish getting passed did a *REAL* DIS-Service to not only B93.7 BUT *ALSO* THE BBN. The Signal covers ALMOST all of Mecklenburg County, but get into the ''Fringe'' Areas, you start getting RDS and even HD-RADIO DATA from WFBC and not the BBN. Said Transmitter/Antenna is sitting right off of 3rd Street, smack dab in the middle of Center City, Charlotte.

JUST.. what Charlotte Needs... another Bible Thumper.... Just Sayin'......

Steve.

 

[Kent]

Well, if you regularly listen to B-93.7, you can contact the station and let it know. If the station chooses to pursue the complaint, the FCC can either require the translator to fix the interference, find a new frequency or go off-air. Whether or not you're in the protected signal contour doesn't matter. Translators can't cause interference to any full-power station. You can't, however, pursue the complaint on your own; the station has to decide if it's worth pursuing and make the complaint if it is.

 

[tylerSC]

Another aggravating case of the FCC allowing low power signals to interfere with full power stations in fringe areas. There is total disregard for distant reception and preserving a clear signal for the entire service contour. It seems every week another low power translator is allowed on the air. Here in Greenville, SC, more recent problems from these LP signals interfering with once clear Charlotte reception. Now 102.9 from Charlotte is blocked by a new translator for WGTK-HD2, which ironically broadcasts a tired "Lite 102.9" format. No more variety hits from 102.9 the Lake. Fortunately, I can adjust the rabbit ears in the house just enough to get the analog signal from WLKO. But the HD will no longer lock on due to this interference. And forget about it in the car. And there is also a low power station interfering with WLNK on 107.9, but I get the Link easily in the house with rabbit ears, including the HD. But it becomes spotty in the car. These new interfering signals should not be allowed, as the fringe contour from Charlotte extends into Greenville County on the coverage maps. But the FCC does not seem to care, and some of the broadcasters themselves seem only to be concerned about their target markets rather than distant reception.

 

[vchimpanzee]

What does B3.7 have that Kiss and WHQC don't?

Just to clarify: this signal does not give Charlotte "another" Bible-thumper. The former WSOC-AM has been BBN for more 20 years and Charlotte became the company's headquarters when it took over the station. They just didn't have a good FM signal in Charlotte. WYFQ at 93.5 is in Wadesboro and WYFG 91.1 is in Gaffney, and neither probably has a good signal in Charlotte. And when they play Christian music, it's the good kind.

 

[tylerSC]

B93.7 has a similar hit music format to Kiss 95.1 and Channel 96.1. They used to have a decent signal in parts of Charlotte, before some antenna modifications a year or so ago. But you could still pick it up until apparently this recent translator interference began.

 

[Steve.Gates]

Kent:

Many thanks; I did not know this. I'll plan to call WFBC and report it. I appreciate the info. Steve.

 

[Steve.Gates]

vchimp: A morning show worth listening to called ''Hawk and Tom''. Been listening any time I can, since 1993. Back when it was the ''Hawk and Marty'' show. Noted on the quantity of Bible-thumpers these days.

 

[Steve.Gates]

tylerSC: The 2015 car I'm currently driving in picks up B93.7 just fine in Rock Hill (York County) and in Belmont and Gastonia (Gaston County). The Translator Station attempts to restrict its signal to just Mecklenburg County. Outside of Mecklenburg, this car's HD Radio easily locks onto the 93.7 HD Signal as well as 98.9 HD Signal of Magic 98.9 (except when it gets close to Fox Sports 98.7 off of Clanton Road and Stuart Andrew Blvd). As I said in an earlier post, I still feel it is a dis-service to not only B93.7 but also BBN, to have even allowed this Translator on the Air at all. But I'll take Kent's advice and see what becomes of it. Steve.

 

[tylerSC]

Yes it is a disservice to both stations involved when same frequency signals such as this drown each other out. And the listener suffers. The FCC has allowed the legal spacing of these low power signals a bit too close, as often a full power signal can be received for up to 100 miles. Distant reception should be protected. I am equally aggravated with localized interference on 102.9 and 107.9 in Greenville, SC, where I used to get a clear signal from Charlotte. These low power stations could be allowed in Anderson, SC where Charlotte reception drops out, but not Greenville where Charlotte signals are still good. I am trying to contact iHeart management to protest WGTK-HD2 drowning out WLKO on 102.9 from Charlotte, as well as WLNK regarding interference from WXRU on 107.9. If anyone here has contacts at these Charlotte broadcasters, please spread the word. Perhaps they could complain to the FCC and something could be done.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

What does B3.7 have that Kiss and WHQC don't?

Just to clarify: this signal does not give Charlotte "another" Bible-thumper. The former WSOC-AM has been BBN for more 20 years and Charlotte became the company's headquarters when it took over the station. They just didn't have a good FM signal in Charlotte. WYFQ at 93.5 is in Wadesboro and WYFG 91.1 is in Gaffney, and neither probably has a good signal in Charlotte. And when they play Christian music, it's the good kind.

Why does every AM signal also need an FM signal? If they think the AM is under performing and not doing the job, then turn off the AM. It's a bit like buying a Kia and expecting it to perform like a BMW. If you asked 100 random people in Charlotte about WYFQ I bet all you would get would be blank stares.

Using your AM station to gain a FM frequency is clearly getting out of hand.

 

[tylerSC]

vchimp: A morning show worth listening to called ''Hawk and Tom''. Been listening any time I can, since 1993. Back when it was the ''Hawk and Marty'' show. Noted on the quantity of Bible-thumpers these days.

Some folks around here think Hawk and Tom have gotten a bit tired and predictable. And have aged out of the hit music format. Perhaps would now be more suited for an AC format. But they have been around for a long time and still have a following nonetheless. But I guess you could say the same thing about John Boy and Billy, who are still quite entertaining if you like that type of southern redneck humor. Personally, I prefer Bob And Sheri these days on WLNK in the mornings.

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

Now in the Charlotte metro listening area:

Translators = 11 FM Signals

LPFM = 0 FM Signals

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Now in the Charlotte metro listening area:

Translators = 11 FM Signals

LPFM = 0 FM Signals

You can guess how I feel about that. I'd like to see a few good LPFM's doing a format or two that are not sustainable on the bigger signals that require more money. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

Some of my earliest memories as a child involve radio, loved it while others were into Television. Radio was a very personal medium with a good deal of imagination when it was done well. The party has moved on and that doesn't exist much anymore.

 

[Steve.Gates]

So I had to go do some Christmas Shopping today. My travels would take me out of Mecklenburg County and into Gaston County. My Destination was Cox Road in Gastonia. I could not believe how much interference the Translator @ 93.7 MHz is actually causing to B93.7. It continues out of the county. It fights with it both around Belmont and Mt. Holly. It CONTINUES to wreak havoc into Gastonia itself. By the time I hit the Cox Road exit, and climbed just about to the top of the exit ramp, B93.7 suddenly surged in signal strength. The dynamics of the sound improved dramatically and was very noticeable. The quality of the sound now rivaled 96.1 and sounded very ''local''. I am sure, if I was in a car with HD Radio today, that the HD Radio Signal likely would have locked. Once the stop light turned green, we took the left onto Cox and drove over I=85. Both stations found fighting along the parking lot close to McAlister's. Both continued to fight until we left after the shopping was done. Headed back to Charlotte, it was the other way around: B93.7 dominating, but periodically getting interrupted by the Charlotte 93.7 MHz Translator. B93.7 would continue to dominate until about 1 mile short of the Little Rock Road Exit Ramp. And the one other factor? 93.5 MHz, from Wadesboro, is already powerful enough to BOTH be heard in Charlotte as well as in Gastonia. BBN does not NEED 93.7 MHz to re-broadcast what is already available on 93.5 MHz right beside it. It's a waste of power, time, effort and resources. In fact it's just plain stupid. Steve.

 

[tylerSC]

So I had to go do some Christmas Shopping today. My travels would take me out of Mecklenburg County and into Gaston County. My Destination was Cox Road in Gastonia. I could not believe how much interference the Translator @ 93.7 MHz is actually causing to B93.7. It continues out of the county. It fights with it both around Belmont and Mt. Holly. It CONTINUES to wreak havoc into Gastonia itself. By the time I hit the Cox Road exit, and climbed just about to the top of the exit ramp, B93.7 suddenly surged in signal strength. The dynamics of the sound improved dramatically and was very noticeable. The quality of the sound now rivaled 96.1 and sounded very ''local''. I am sure, if I was in a car with HD Radio today, that the HD Radio Signal likely would have locked. Once the stop light turned green, we took the left onto Cox and drove over I=85. Both stations found fighting along the parking lot close to McAlister's. Both continued to fight until we left after the shopping was done. Headed back to Charlotte, it was the other way around: B93.7 dominating, but periodically getting interrupted by the Charlotte 93.7 MHz Translator. B93.7 would continue to dominate until about 1 mile short of the Little Rock Road Exit Ramp. And the one other factor? 93.5 MHz, from Wadesboro, is already powerful enough to BOTH be heard in Charlotte as well as in Gastonia. BBN does not NEED 93.7 MHz to re-broadcast what is already available on 93.5 MHz right beside it. It's a waste of power, time, effort and resources. In fact it's just plain stupid. Steve.

That is the same type of aggravation I face with LPFM interfering with WLNK on 107.9 in Greenville County down here in SC. For years WLNK had a clear strong signal just like a local station. Now there is mutual interference caused by this low power signal with both channels fighting and dropping in and out. Poor planning by the FCC. And I remember you used to get B93.7 good in the Charlotte area. Apparently not any more. Very frustrating indeed.

 

[tylerSC]

Over the weekend I was in Charlotte to visit Southpark Mall. And I must admit the translator interference with the GSP radio stations in Charlotte is now terrible. Once you enter Gaston County, you lose B-93.7 and My 102.5, due to the religious station and the sports translator interfering. Only Magic 98.9-WSPA can be received into Mecklenburg, and the HD drops out in Gastonia. And 99.9 from Asheville only goes as far as Cleveland County; I guess they protect 99.7-WRFX. But these low power stations should not be interfering with the full power signals. But it does seem that Billy Graham's radio station 106.9 from Asheville still has a strong signal reaching Charlotte. But no more B-93.7.

 

[tylerSC]

Traveling north on I-85, once you approach Blacksburg, SC and head into Cleveland County, NC, the B-93.7 signal begins having bad interference, and once you get into Gaston County, it is basically wiped out. And the HD will not lock on. And forget most reception in Mecklenburg County. Very sad to see a once strong signal now messed up. Same aggravating situation in Greenville, SC where 107.9-WLNK has bad interference on a once strong signal. Rabbit ears work in the house and the HD will lock on, but car reception is now very problematic.

 

[vchimpanzee]

But it does seem that Billy Graham's radio station 106.9 from Asheville still has a strong signal reaching Charlotte. But no more B-93.7.

It always has been thought of as a Charlotte station. I'm amazed that WRHM 107.1 in Rock Hill doesn't cause it problems.

 

[Steve.Gates]

WRHM was originally down in Lancaster -or Lancaster County. I forget which. I can't get a lock on WHRM's HD Signal until I'm around Woodlawn or Tyvola Road in Charlotte, or closer to the state line. Does not seem to cause a problem with 106.9. If I seem to recall, 106.9 isn't really in Asheville but rather Black Mountain. Doesn't that put it 25-40 miles closer to Charlotte than it would from Asheville?

It always has been thought of as a Charlotte station. I'm amazed that WRHM 107.1 in Rock Hill doesn't cause it problems.

 

[vchimpanzee]

WRHM was originally down in Lancaster -or Lancaster County. I forget which. I can't get a lock on WHRM's HD Signal until I'm around Woodlawn or Tyvola Road in Charlotte, or closer to the state line. Does not seem to cause a problem with 106.9. If I seem to recall, 106.9 isn't really in Asheville but rather Black Mountain. Doesn't that put it 25-40 miles closer to Charlotte than it would from Asheville?

Mount Mitchell is the location of WMIT's tower. That's all that counts.

WRHM was in Lancaster and called WPAJ when I lived in the area. But now it has moved to Rock Hill.