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W263BX Montgomery

tomservo

tomservo

This translator keeps showing up on my radar. First it was a possible home for WMSP before they picked up the HD-2 simulcast with WXFX, and later I mentioned it as a possible outlet for MSP or WLWI on FM.

A CP mod came through today that casts some new info. The parent station was originally WDJR in Dothan but now it's WQKS in Montgomery. The translator is sited on the WQKS tower right in town. The mod also gives it a boost from a paltry 38 watts to a city-covering 80 watts.

WQKS is of course a Bluewater station and Bluewater's only AM is already on 104.9. So I am definitely "curiouser and curiouser" as to the plans for this translator.
 
Just a theory from the outside - but could Blackwater be purchasing WNZZ from Cumulus? When the Cumulus merger takes place, their 4 FM / 3 AM grandfathered status becomes void, and WNZZ will be the AM divested. Bluewater certainly could add the AM and have a new translator immediately ready on channel 263. Cumulus has to divest, and no doubt it will be for a bargain price. AM 950 doesn't have high ratings, but they provide a niche programming and the simulcast of WSFA news 6 hours a day is significant, not to mention the broadcast of the Alabama sports which aren't broadcast on FM.
 
Bluewater probably will not be the buyer of 950. Bluewater did not even bid or participate in the auction for 93.1, which if they had won that auction would have given them ownership of 4fms's and they could drop the expensive LMA payments to Alexander Broadcasting for WMRK 107.9. There was no bid from Alan Stroh, even though Stroh filed the form to particiape in that auction for the new area FM frequency. Interestingly, Alexander Broadcasting dropped out of the auction bidding early on. My guess is problems with Mr. Green caused the above not to bid for the FM. And Clear Channel with only 3 market FMS did not bid.
 
Buster, once again, a little bit of understanding equals a big heap of wrong. Bluewater could not bid on Coosada as the LMA with Alexander was "attributable" and thus, Bluewater was maxed out with a full 4. I'm sure they would have bid if they could have, but the auction rules prohibit it.
 
Hope you'll put ALEX FM (WALX) on this translator, once it's built out Mr. Gower. 

Give the Gump a taste of one of most awesome radio stations, to ever exist.

After all, this station continues to have an influence on me.

Been listening to them, since the late 1970s. 

I like the way they present themselves. 

They continue to amaze me, every time I check them out.

R.D.P. <><
 
RDP, you can't put Alex on this translator because it's coverage goes beyond that of Alex's 60dbu coverage, and therefore is not "fill-in" service. The restrictions on "extended" service FM translators are onerous to say the least. Not financially viable.
 
At least I gave it the old college try.

Thanks for sharing that with me.

I appreciate it.

Whatever you end up doing with this new station, I hope it'll have success and work out for you.

R.D.P. <><
 
Since my suggestion for ALEX is a flop, I have a few other ideas for you study Mr. Gower.

WHPH 97.7 FM (Oldies) Jemison/Clanton
WAOQ 100.3 FM (Classic Country) Brantley/Luverne
WQNR 99.9 FM (Variety Hits) Tallassee/Auburn
and of course WEGL 91.1 FM (College Radio) Auburn

I believe one of those stations will lead to instant success, on this new translator, if you were able to drag them in and do a rebroadcast of them.

R.D.P. <><
 
R.D.P. said:
Since my suggestion for ALEX is a flop, I have a few other ideas for you study Mr. Gower.

WHPH 97.7 FM (Oldies) Jemison/Clanton
WAOQ 100.3 FM (Classic Country) Brantley/Luverne
WQNR 99.9 FM (Variety Hits) Tallassee/Auburn
and of course WEGL 91.1 FM (College Radio) Auburn

I believe one of those stations will lead to instant success, on this new translator, if you were able to drag them in and do a rebroadcast of them.

R.D.P. <><
Click to expand...

I'm afraid those all have 60 dBu contours even further outside of Montgomery than ALEX FM.
 
Wouldn't it also be possible for an out of range station (perhaps Auburn's "The Rock", WKXN, or that new station in Pine Level) to lease (LMA?) an HD-2/HD-3 channel from say Cumulus (I think they need the money right now) or Clear Channel and use that HD-2/HD-3 simulcast to feed this translator?
Warmer or colder?
 
The rules are that you cannot extend the coverage or range of an FM Station and receive. The kind of compensation that would make it viable. The rules are very strict. However AM and HD channels can be put on a translator within the 2mv (AM) or 60 dbu (FM) contours. There are no compensation restrictions on fill-in service. Warmer still!
 
Since it's now fashionable to do an AM and/or HD station on a translator, I have a few ideas for you to check out Mr. Gower.

See if you like any of these.

WMSP 740 AM
WMGY 800 AM
WNZZ 950 AM
WIQR 1410 AM (Not one I would run with)
WLWI 1440 AM
WXVI 1600 AM

Personally I would do a rebroadcast of either WMSP and/or WLWI for starters.  Those two already have a HD setup on FM and it would be awesome to hear one of them on this translator and do a fill in service, for those who don't own a HD Radio and/or have a hard time picking up their main station(s) at night.
 
I'm still sticking with the 950 AM theory. However, there are several FMs (most notably WKXN/WKXK) rebroadcast in Montgomery. I'm all for the WALX-FM rebroadcast, although I don't know if there would be a problem with local rights granted to AM 740 (for the Finebaum show) and WLWI (is that who has the Rick and Bubba show now)?

Would be nice to be able to hear St. James football loud and clear over the air in Montgomery. Of course, I'm always at the game.
 
Here's the reason why you can't put WALX on this translator.

Because it's coverage goes beyond that of Alex's 60dbu coverage, and therefore is not "fill-in" service.  The restrictions on "extended" service FM translators are onerous to say the least.  Not financially viable. [From our friend and fellow broadcaster Mr. Gower.]

R.D.P. <><

P.S. I'll continue to stick with my idea for either 740 AM and/or 1440 AM for this new translator. 
 
Mr Gower said:
The rules are that you cannot extend the coverage or range of an FM Station and receive. The kind of compensation that would make it viable. The rules are very strict. However AM and HD channels can be put on a translator within the 2mv (AM) or 60 dbu (FM) contours. There are no compensation restrictions on fill-in service. Warmer still!
Click to expand...

Either I'm too sleepy to read or you put an extra period in your post Mr. Gower. I'm a little confused.

W263BX will not be a "fill in" translator. It will rebroadcast a local Montgomery AM or HD2/HD3 station. Right? Assuming it's going to translate an HD-2 or HD-3 station to analog 100.5, the HD-2/3 station is not currently on the air (it will be a new local station or a simulcast of a "special" nearby station.) It will not be a non-commercial station.

I would assume "The Tiger" would love to be back in Montgomery, but with "The Gump" already on the The Tiger's old FM 104.9 translator, there couldn't be a big enough audience for two Alternative stations in Montgomery... unless The Gump is going away... to be replaced by something else? Then "The Tiger" would be my top guess.

Hasn't WKXN also lost all their old translators in Montgomery? My best guess here is that WKXN/WKXK is on it's way to someone's HD-2 or HD-3 and the new W263BX-FM 100.5 translator.

Who has an HD-2/3 available for an LMA in Montgomery?

Could someone local to Montgomery list the commercial band translators currently on the air and what they are translating? I don't trust radio-locator, things are a changing too fast and I don't travel north very much these days.
 
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