The Fall of WVKO

[Allfirdup]

actually didn't have to dig deep at all, the application to share facilities with WVKO was filed 2/12/2007, WVKO its self didn't have permission for the site until fall

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

XXXXX

 

[CatFM]

actually didn't have to dig deep at all, the application to share facilities with WVKO was filed 2/12/2007, WVKO its self didn't have permission for the site until fall

The WVKO facilities specified in that application were the towers at the original site in Upper Arlington, not the proposed site on Morse Rd. Needless to say, those towers are no longer there.

 

[Allfirdup]

The WVKO facilities specified in that application were the towers at the original site in Upper Arlington, not the proposed site on Morse Rd. Needless to say, those towers are no longer there.
[/quote]

That application you are referring to is dated 8/27/2004 and yes that is for the old site, the new application filed on 2/12 this year has the Description CONSOLIDATED ENGINEERING STATEMENT that has detailed information on the new WVKO site including adding to additional towers for WSLW it is under section 11 of the application

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=59678

 

[CatFM]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't seen that. It appears that the new owner is spending the money to follow through with this. The question now is whether the city will allow 6 towers to be placed where they authorized 4. The neighbors will probably make quite a stink thinking they were hoodwinked by this deal from the start, even though that is not quite the case.

Of course, the other remaining question is whether this station is truly in any better shape holding a piece of paper for an unbuilt site as opposed to a site that no longer exists. Considering the prospects of WVKO ever returning to the air, I wouldn't bet much on this one. Maybe even if WVKO is never built they could get the land from them for their own use. In the case of either station having to build this new site, do they really think a little AM signal in the Columbus market will ever generate enough revenue to cover the construction costs? Unless they are just looking for a tax write-off, I can't see it.

 

[gabigley1]

After stopping by the NEW WVKO tower site yesterday, I noticed that they have cleared most if not all of the land at the site and have built one tower.. Construction on the transmitter building has yet to commence and just the new tower was seen standing. All this work has taken place during the last week or two....

This, along with their application for a building permit may be enough to get them extension of their S.T.A. grant to remain silent until May 5th. That date will be the one year anniversary of them going silent. One year being silent is usually considered a 'drop dead date' for a silent radio station.

Just noted the FCC has granted another S.T.A. for WVKO. Note sure what type of S.T.A. they have granted WVKO but its good for another six months. Click here: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1176829

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

The STA was filed was for them to operate with 250 Watts Day and 62.5 Watts Night from that tower you saw for 6 months.

They blame unusually wet soil conditions on not being able to finish.

The 250 Watts Day/62.5 Watts Night Non Directional is 25 percent of the licensed power for the new permit. Stations, who are directional and file an STA to operate non direcitonally, usually get 25 percent of their licensed power in most cases.

 

[gabigley1]

Thanks for the tip Paul... After searching the FCC database, I was able to to locate this recent S.T.A. grant for WVKO. Click here for the FULL S.T.A. grant for WVKO:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=6141

Even though the FCC granted WVKO an S.T.A. to broadcast N.D. at reduced power with one tower, they still may not be able to meet the F.C.C. May 5th deadline to get back on the air because they are still waiting on a building permit for the transmitter building. That usually takes 60-90 days??

It looks to me like the FCC is making it very clear that they must get back on the air by May 5, 2007.
See this article below about their app. for a building permit:

http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=ho...020107/Northland/News/020107-News-297578.html

 

[CBusDave]

It looks to me like the FCC is making it very clear that they must get back on the air by May 5, 2007.
See this article below about their app. for a building permit:

http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=ho...020107/Northland/News/020107-News-297578.html

This article is a little dated and says the building permit is for the towers and building. If one tower is up I am guessing that it has already been approved. If Extreme Makeover Home Edition can build a new house from the ground up in 7 days, my money is that this operation will be running at 1/4 power by May 5th

 

[markbohach]

Even though the FCC granted WVKO an S.T.A. to broadcast N.D. at reduced power with one tower, they still may not be able to meet the F.C.C. May 5th deadline to get back on the air because they are still waiting on a building permit for the transmitter building. That usually takes 60-90 days??

A 250 Watt solid state transmitter and processing can fit in a small roadcase. To get on the air, a building is not really necessary. I once saw a 20KW FM transmitter running inside of a semi-trailer to meet the expiration date of a construction permit. A small panel truck would get the job done.

As far as programming the station- how big is an I-Pod Nano?

 

[gabigley1]

This email is from Ms. Shannon Pine of the City of Columbus Zoning Office. Dose anyone know why
WVKO would only requested 4 towers for the rezoning change when the application and C.P. shows they will utilize 6 towers for for both day and night operation?? Could the other two towers be for future plans?? Maybe WVKO thought that they could only get 4 towers approved for rezoning.

This email is from Ms. Shannon Pine of the City of Columbus Zoning Office dated March 19, 2007:

Hi Artie,

Building permits for the 4 towers and the transmission building were
issued on 2/21/07. The follow-up rezoning for the site that was
required by the Council variance was filed on 2/27/07, and will probably
be on the May 2007 Development Commission Agenda.

As a condition of the Council variance, Columbus City Staff requested
the follow-up rezoning to zone the land from an apartment residential
district to an appropriate commercial district. The CV is allowing them
to construct the towers and utilize them before the rezoning is
effective. Only 4 towers were approved with the CV, and they are only
asking for 4 towers with the rezoning. I was never informed by the
applicant that they need 6 towers.


Ms. Shannon Pine
City of Columbus Zoning Office
Council Activities Section

 

[CBusDave]

A 250 Watt solid state transmitter and processing can fit in a small roadcase. To get on the air, a building is not really necessary. I once saw a 20KW FM transmitter running inside of a semi-trailer to meet the expiration date of a construction permit. A small panel truck would get the job done.

As far as programming the station- how big is an I-Pod Nano?

With the amount of time/money Bernard has invested in this already, I can't see them losing a license that a UHaul rental could prevent.

 

[Allfirdup]

This email is from Ms. Shannon Pine of the City of Columbus Zoning Office. Dose anyone know why
WVKO would only requested 4 towers for the rezoning change when the application and C.P. shows they will utilize 6 towers for for both day and night operation?? Could the other two towers be for future plans?? Maybe WVKO thought that they could only get 4 towers approved for rezoning.

The WVKO construction permit only shows 4 towers, 2 day and 2 night. there is an application for another staton that requests two more but that is completely separate from both Bernard, and WVKO

 

[knowbetter]

A 250 Watt solid state transmitter and processing can fit in a small roadcase. To get on the air, a building is not really necessary. I once saw a 20KW FM transmitter running inside of a semi-trailer to meet the expiration date of a construction permit. A small panel truck would get the job done.

As far as programming the station- how big is an I-Pod Nano?

don't know the ipod question, but the transmitter, cheap computer, & processor, and throwaway software gets them back on the air in minutes. all they need is a secure box or something and they have it done. the biggest concern..getting electricity to the transmitter, since it probably isn't legal to run power to a movable car or truck for any long period of time, especially next to a tower, next to enterprising kids

what I would do...

oversided ATU or telephone/cable POD ..with enough room for 18 inches of rack space...run the power, put the stuff in it, and lock it up!!!!

all legal, simpleand very secure , and cheap..

worth a trip to mendlesons!!

 

[rcray]

I was by the transmitter site today. The antenna construction crew were there assembling the other three towers. They said that only four towers were going up. their is a prefab. block building for housing the transmitter and equipt. They also said by fieday they should have the towers up and by two weeks the ground plane in. They have a target date of being on the air of May 6th.

 

[gabigley1]

Well, I got lucky and caught the WVKO Chief Engineer last night...... He told me that he expects to be back on the air with about 200 watts(one tower) N.D. by the end of April and have the entire four tower site in operation by the end of this Summer. They will be operating with a S.T.A. until then.

 

[schmave]

Well, I got lucky and caught the WVKO Chief Engineer last night...... He told me that he expects to be back on the air with about 200 watts(one tower) N.D. by the end of April and have the entire four tower site in operation by the end of this Summer. They will be operating with a S.T.A. until then.

200 watts on 1580? How far is that going to take the signal, even during the day?

 

[gabigley1]

From what The WVKO C.E. told me, they need to be back on the air by May 6 of this year or risk
losing their license. Since they can't get the new site on the air by then, they applied for a
S.T.A. and received a S.T.A. that will allows then to operate with one stick but at much reduced power. They will operate with this S.T.A. authorization at about 200 watts day and night until they have the four tower site fully operational at which time they will be at 3.2 K.W. Day Power sometime at the end of this Summer.
Remember, they only started construction at their new site in middle of March, a few weeks ago.

 

[rcray]

I was by the transmitter site again today. Looks like they had a accident there was a crane putting up the second tower looks like something slipped anthe tower came down and bent in half ruining a couple of the 15 foot sections.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I was by the transmitter site again today. Looks like they had a accident there was a crane putting up the second tower looks like something slipped anthe tower came down and bent in half ruining a couple of the 15 foot sections.

So six months after this thread was initiated, the subject heading takes on a second meaning. Eerily prophetic, no?