W222AF-WGST Translator

[jabba17]

Listening to Rush today, I heard a second TOH ID on WGST-"W222AF Marietta".  It was spoken in plain voice and separate from the usual imaged "WGST, WUBL-HD3, Atlanta" ID. 

From Johns Creek, I tried to tune it in--nada.  When I got back and looked at Radio-Locator I found out why: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=w222af&sr=Y&s=C&x=3&y=6 .  It was also getting stepped on a little bit by a gospel station on 92.1.

The translator is currently 10 watts at 427' HAAT.  There is a CP to go to 15 watts at a shorter HAAT--and hard directional to the NW to boot.  I can't see this being meaningful for anyone...unless CC plans to raise the power to 250W and significantly raise the HAAT.

Or is this CC's attempt to get all of us to finally shut up about putting WGST on FM 

 

[MCMagicCracker]

For the mildly curious reader, it's on 92.3.

 

[DToTheJ]

And W222AF is one of nearly a dozen translators of "Praise FM" WCCV out of Cartersville:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCCV_(FM)

 

[secondchoice]

The translator is currently 10 watts at 427' HAAT. There is a CP to go to 15 watts at a shorter HAAT--and hard directional to the NW to boot. I can't see this being meaningful for anyone...unless CC plans to raise the power to 250W and significantly raise the HAAT.

WDEF 92.3 in Chattanooga is C0 and less than 90 miles away. How did this thing get licensed?

 

[jabba17]

The translator is currently 10 watts at 427' HAAT. There is a CP to go to 15 watts at a shorter HAAT--and hard directional to the NW to boot. I can't see this being meaningful for anyone...unless CC plans to raise the power to 250W and significantly raise the HAAT.

WDEF 92.3 in Chattanooga is C0 and less than 90 miles away. How did this thing get licensed?

Probably the same way that the translator on 99.1 did, considering WDEN.

 

[artsutton]

The translator is currently 10 watts at 427' HAAT. There is a CP to go to 15 watts at a shorter HAAT--and hard directional to the NW to boot. I can't see this being meaningful for anyone...unless CC plans to raise the power to 250W and significantly raise the HAAT.

WDEF 92.3 in Chattanooga is C0 and less than 90 miles away. How did this thing get licensed?

Probably the same way that the translator on 99.1 did, considering WDEN.

The spacing rules for FM translators are much more relaxed than full power stations. The biggest advantage they have is they can receive interference from full power stations, such as WDEF-FM, but they can't deliver any interference to fulnpower station's 60 dBu (1 mVm contour). Toward Atlanta, WDEF's 60 dBu extends to the south boundaries of Calhoun, GA. The spacing rules between full power stations is much more restrictive as all stations can not create interference to each other. In Georgia, the closest same channel full power FM to WDEF is WMOQ near Monroe. It doesn't matter if the translator is co-owned with the primary station or not, the spacing rules for translators must be followed. Also, it not possible to convert a translator into a full power station even if its contour equates to a full power station's. The difference is a full power station's contour is protected. A FM translator is NOT and is classified by the FCC as a secondary service. This means that any full power station receiving interference from a translator can file an interference complaint with the FCC and the translator is subject to being forced off the air unless it can resolve the interference issue. Unless the FCC changes the spacing rules for full power FM stations, there are NO spectrum openings in the Atlanta area unless some major power FM station in the general proximity of Atlanta were to downgrade in power and classification. Even that possibility appears extremely remote plus now the FCC has a Rural Radio Act policy which severely limits the ability of any AM or FM station to move from a less populated area into an urbanized area such as Atlanta. It shoudl be noted that even smaller markets such as Rome, Athens and Gainesville are urbanized areas according to the US Census Bureau. Several broadcasters recently filed a petition with the FCC to overturn the Rural Radio Act but the mood at the now Democratically controlled FCC doesn't appear to be in the mood to do so.

 

[buddysomeday]

Is there any limit to how many translators a company can own in one market?

 

[artsutton]

Is there any limit to how many translators a company can own in one market?

No sir, there is no limit. Since translators are secondary services, under FCC rules, they do not count under the ownership rules either. Cumulus folks were smart about the opportunity and early to the process. Cox has not gotten into the translator business except in a very few markets where they are leasing. The key to a translator's coverage has a great deal to do with how "open" the channel is on which they operate.

 

[taylorengineer]

An application has been filed for 99 watts at around 900 feet from the same tower used by WKLS/WUBL.
So for all who have pined away for a FM home for WGST......here ya' go!!

 

[radioworld]

When I tune in around Marietta all I hear is a station out of Chattanooga. Is it on the air now?

 

[HGR1290]

When I tune in around Marietta all I hear is a station out of Chattanooga. Is it on the air now?

The TN stations have been loud all day in North Cobb. The translator is on, its audible through about 5-6-7 miles of I-75. Maybe from Hwy 5 south to Delk Rd

 

[jabba17]

An application has been filed for 99 watts at around 900 feet from the same tower used by WKLS/WUBL.
So for all who have pined away for a FM home for WGST......here ya' go!!

And it looks like it's going to have a pretty significant null towards most of Gwinnett and central DeKalb.

 

[BIGSTICK]

An application has been filed for 99 watts at around 900 feet from the same tower used by WKLS/WUBL.
So for all who have pined away for a FM home for WGST......here ya' go!!

And it looks like it's going to have a pretty significant null towards most of Gwinnett and central DeKalb.

When is it coming on????

 

[BIGSTICK]

Anyone know when this could happen?

 

[secondchoice]

If they (CC / WGST) get a FM signal that covers over half of the market will they remain overly dependent on national shows or will they try something local. IMHO even if they had their current line up on one of their market covering class C's (96.1 or 94.9) I do not think it would make much difference. If a tree falls in woods does anybody hear it. Now it is two trees falling in the same woods.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

If they (CC / WGST) get a FM signal that covers over half of the market will they remain overly dependent on national shows or will they try something local. IMHO even if they had their current line up on one of their market covering class C's (96.1 or 94.9) I do not think it would make much difference. If a tree falls in woods does anybody hear it. Now it is two trees falling in the same woods.

Morning and afternoon drive on WGST are both local.

 

[secondchoice]

If they (CC / WGST) get a FM signal that covers over half of the market will they remain overly dependent on national shows or will they try something local. IMHO even if they had their current line up on one of their market covering class C's (96.1 or 94.9) I do not think it would make much difference. If a tree falls in woods does anybody hear it. Now it is two trees falling in the same woods.

Morning and afternoon drive on WGST are both local.

Looking at the last ratings, two trees did fall and nobody heard them. Seriously living north of Canton, WGST 640 AM will not stop scan on any of my radios and has a lot more interference than either 680, or 750. Which are the same power but at higher frequencies which should give WGST some advantage. I stopped checking them out after Tom H. and the Kimmer left. IMHO When they were using 105.7 to help 640 with coverage on the northside of ATL, they should have gave 750 more of a challenge. They were years ahead of the "talk on FM" fade. Maybe they were too far ahead of the industry. IIRC WGST went news talk befoe WSB 750.