"Thunder" back...on 94.5 translator in Pinellas??

[badjef]

This morning as I left home (in St. Pete, a mile from GULFPORT), Thunder 94.5 was being trampled by Star 94.5 in Orlando, thus making our new local classic rocker unlistenable. Yeah, I'm sure THIS will be a huge ratings monster for CC. Why even bother? I can just flip over to iHeartRadio's Classic Rock Channel online if I want to hear that narrow, tired playlist anyway. :

If I'm right on this, the translator is still in the Ministry of Reach FM's hands and will stay that way.

There are tax advantages and cap issues at work that make this synergistic.

Yesterday was "two for Tuesday" which is where my sampling was confused.

As for listening to iheartradio, OTA radio is easier than listening to radio over the Internet. And you don't have to worry about going over your data budget for sending AND receiving.

OTA is easier to receive - just a transmitter and a radio. Turn it on, select the band, tune it in, adjust the volume, kick back, and listen. There are just too many variables for dependable Internet listening right now. And do you have the right app? I have 2 Internet radios and can't hear the stations I want to listen to even though those stations stream their signal.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[tampalistener]

Maybe they've decided that they don't wanna do the WFLA simulcast on the translators and just go all out with a switch to a full power FM... on 100.7.

There might (finally) be some credence in that theory. This morning, Jack Harris confirmed WFLA is no longer on 105.9 but added something to the effect of "and we'll have some interesting news about where we'll be on the FM dial very soon."

Not an exact quote, but I was trying to navigate I-275 at the time.

 

[TerryKay]

Very nice signal in Central Pinellas (I am near Larghetto). Parallel 105.9 that is also OK unless I flip the Sony ICF-7600GR portable with extended antenna to where the SRQ "The Buzz" Active Rocker comes in. Someone who sounds just like Ronnie "Big Rig" from 98Rock (insert smile here) doing the voice drops between every couple of tracks.

Has anyone considered that a couple or three cheap LMI translators in the Tampa Bay Market from whore Christian networks could just be a cheap way of cutting into ARB ratings from the top competitor(s)?

I know nothing about radio or marketing. No, wait! Isn't everyone an expert in both?

 

[ZachL]

Picking up W290BJ 105.9 loud and clear here in east Hillsborough and I must say, I am impressed by the selections.. some of the songs I havent heard on the radio in ages ;D

I like their selections way better than 107.3 the eagle.. at least they have a variety to play instead of playing the same song(s) again after a few hours.

Also, I discovered the station just this afternoon.. has it been commercial-free for now? All I have heard is just music.

 

[drt]

I was thinking the same thought as Terry Kay, that this a few well placed translators could prove to be some competition ion to the Eagle.

Late yesterday afternoon going south on I-275 I locked on 94.5 which was solid WCBF-Orlando-Daytona Beach and then around SR 54- the Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes exit, 94.5 out of Seminole starting breaking in, so I knew then they were at their new location with the full 250 watts instead of the prior 10 watts on Gandy Blvd near Derby Lane.

Like a prior poster, though, in south Pinellas there can be some reception problems, espcecially while driving, where you can't even begin to change the antenna and/or null out the full power stations. This evening around 8PM, WARO, the Arrow out of the Fort Myers/Naples market was completely overpowering Thunder 94.5 and at that location, the Buzz was overpowering 105.9, so for the other poster in Gulfport who had some reception problems this morning, another full power 94.5, there will be problems in extreme south Pinellas, Thunder 94.5 may be licensed to Gulfport but the tower is off of Starkey Blvd in Seminole....... and it does come in very well, w/o interference there, as I was the furthest north in Pinellas county I had been for almost a year and that took me to Seminole area on Starkey Rd as well as the Bay Pines area.

drt

 

[DannyG]

On the flip side to this morning's poor reception of Thunder 94.5 here in South St. Pete, I did hear it in northern Sarasota this afternoon. Of course it was nowhere near city-grade, but I was impressed that 94.5 was actually putting up a bit of a fight with WARO. In fact if I parked my truck just right (near University and I-75), Thunder was listenable. Driving home on I-75 today, the station was consistently listenable from around State Road 64 in Manatee County. Not bad. As for the music, they were playing a much wider variety today than yesterday...."Two For Tuesday" sounded horrible in my opinion; the same few over-played tracks. It was great to hear Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" this afternoon on Thunder 94.5! I'm willing to give them more of a chance.

 

[drt]

On the flip side to this morning's poor reception of Thunder 94.5 here in South St. Pete, I did hear it in northern Sarasota this afternoon. Of course it was nowhere near city-grade, but I was impressed that 94.5 was actually putting up a bit of a fight with WARO. In fact if I parked my truck just right (near University and I-75), Thunder was listenable. Driving home on I-75 today, the station was consistently listenable from around State Road 64 in Manatee County. Not bad. As for the music, they were playing a much wider variety today than yesterday...."Two For Tuesday" sounded horrible in my opinion; the same few over-played tracks. It was great to hear Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" this afternoon on Thunder 94.5! I'm willing to give them more of a chance.

I can very well believe it was coming in near the Sarasota/Manatee county line, since I was picking Thunder 94.5 in south central Pasco yesterday on I-75, with the high antenna height than the 105.9 translator, their signal should go a bit further.

Right now, If I use my portable radios telescopic antenna, I'm receiving
Thunder 94.5, but if I plug in the 9 foot wire antenna (which disables the telescopic antenna), I am receiving WARO pretty well in stereo.

I also noticed that WTKS real radio 104.1 (Orlando) is playing the same music as Thunder (from Iheart) between their extended commercial breaks. Of course, for those with HD radios, the reception is not a problem if you're within 20 - 30 miles of the Riverview antenna farm depending on the sensitivity of the radio.

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Anybody care to speculate if WFLA is returning to FM and where? Which station would they flip?

 

[badjef]

Anybody care to speculate if WFLA is returning to FM and where? Which station would they flip?

Since, you asked...

I still like the idea of moving 98Rock to 100.7 and 970 to 97.9.

But...

That 105.9 translator has one killer signal. With 250w I received it from Tropicana Field to Palm Harbor Homes in Plant City and South to the Manatee County line. I did not have the opportunity to check it to the North, yet.

It is obvious something is happening.

What I find interesting is that, with all of the available HD-x's available to them, why they never put 620 or 1250 on one of them. I guess they were dissapointed with the performance and dependability of the HD technology.

I was under the impression, since 98Rock's antenna was much further North than the others it was the one to complete the inefficiencies of te 970 signal to the North.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

95.7 the Beat is probably the lowest billing FM in the group. I think it might be more likely to go away than Mix.

 

[badjef]

95.7 the Beat is probably the lowest billing FM in the group. I think it might be more likely to go away than Mix.

It doesn't have to be a high biller. 95.7 is "sacrificial", of sorts, since it pulls enough from Wild, to keep FLZ ahead of them. WFLZ is the CC-Tampa prize station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[byron]

You know, WFLA FM is already on 100.7 in Tallahassee. They've used WFLA in multiple locations, perhaps they'll use the call letter + frequency branding in multiple locations? Who knows.

Byron

 

[badjef]

You know, WFLA FM is already on 100.7 in Tallahassee. They've used WFLA in multiple locations, perhaps they'll use the call letter + frequency branding in multiple locations? Who knows.

Byron

That has been already been discussed as a possibility. It is why the two frequencies - 97.9, since 970 is already on the hd-2 and it covers the Northern Counties, and 100.7 - are felt as stronger possibilities than the other CC-Tampa stations.

I think, in any event, Mix will be gone. It appears to pull from WFLZ more than most other stations.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[iwantontheradio]

Does anybody know a local expert on obtaining and building a fm translator radio signal? If so, email me at [email protected]. Thanks.

 

[flwfg]

License required, first !!!

 

[coolaid213]

Does anybody know a local expert on obtaining and building a fm translator radio signal? If so, email me at [email protected]. Thanks.

Dude, you were supposed to have a major announcement on Cowhead's show like 2 weeks ago? Now you want to know how to apply for a FM Translator? You're killing me!

 

[byron]

Does anybody know a local expert on obtaining and building a fm translator radio signal? If so, email me at [email protected]. Thanks.

Dude, you were supposed to have a major announcement on Cowhead's show like 2 weeks ago? Now you want to know how to apply for a FM Translator? You're killing me!

...Not to mention, also killing this thread. Just do research with Google, buy on Ebay. No local expert needed!

Byron

 

[IckPodcastGuy]

I know a local "expert" but I couldn't refer him to a random online guy.

 

[badjef]

Can we please get back to the topic???

970 is still ID-ing with 105.9 at top/bottom.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[byron]

ThunderTampaBay.com actually takes you to a site now, but it's just a shell of a CC one, has corp logos, lands on main.html, etc. Title of the page is WMTX-HD. Sure makes me wonder if 100.7 will soon be Thunder/rock of Tampa primarily and 97.9 will just move to something else.

Byron