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Translator for 970AM WDCZ

W

WJPYFM

Crawford has requested a translator for their Buffalo AM 970 station in this latest FCC round. 970 currently rebroadcasts WDCX FM. So, 110,000watts is not enough? I get it, they want it because they are allowed to get it. Plus in the future the AM is worth more if they sell it with an FM translator. But do we really need another Religious FM frequency in an already crowded band?
By the way, I think they have requested one for the Rochester AM also.
 
An FM translator would certainly make 970 more valuable if they decided to sell it. A translator could also make it easier to cover the same city-grade signal area with a less complex tower array. Right now, it's a 5 tower directional day and night with 5KW - a significant electric bill. Dropping the power and the number of towers could be a cost-cutting move in the future, as well as putting them on the FM dial.
 
ROX, they are already on FM at 99.5 with 110kw! I think the reason they bought 970 was for the laser pattern to GTA. A translator seems like a waste but gives future value upon a sale.
 
I know that they have that big FM. They had that long before they bought 970. In the commercial band as well. Lots of people have salivated over the prospect of getting their hands on it. That's a separate issue from a translator for 970. They qualify for a translator, and it's cheap FM real estate that they can make 970 of value as a separate facility that they can LMA or sell. I'm as unenthused about another syndicated sin-buster as you are, but it's a smart business move on their part.
 
If my memory is correct, when Crawford bought 970 one of their stated reasons was that the station had a listenable signal in Toronto. They beam generally north 24/7. An FM translator would not be any good much beyond Buffalo.
 
In all the times I've listened to WBUF, aka Jack FM, I've never heard a translator ID which is required three times each broadcast day, once between 7 and 9 a.m., once between 12:55 and 1:05 p.m. and once between 4 and 6 p.m. As far as 970 is concerned, Crawford bought the frequency to program Christian instruction, whereas 99.5 WDCX is more contemporary. 970 has a strong signal in Buffalo and north of the city, but it's strength in Toronto is over-stated because of interference created by 1010 CFRB and 1050 CHUM. 1050-1010=40kHz. 1010-40=970 kHz.
 
As noted on another thread by WJPY-FM, WBUF is using their translators to broadcast their HD2 channel which has separate programming, possibly Family life radio. Still seems to me like they've exploited an FCC loophole that should be closed. Leave the translator frequencies for the AMs.
 
Element9 said:
In all the times I've listened to WBUF, aka Jack FM, I've never heard a translator ID which is required three times each broadcast day, once between 7 and 9 a.m., once between 12:55 and 1:05 p.m. and once between 4 and 6 p.m.
Click to expand...

The aural translator ID is only required if a translator isn't being automatically (and inaudibly) identified via Morse code frequency-shift keying of its carrier. Family Life uses FSK keying for all its translators.
 
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