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Wamb signal

R

radionekkid

Of All you brains anybody know why wamb moved from 1160 to 1200 and if they will have night time operation? Wamb not as strong on 1200 than 1160 even tho 50,000 watts. Never could get 1160 or wmqm at night. Wlac comes in and out even at 50,000 at night not very good signal as it was years ago. wsm always strong 55 miles sw of town.
 
radionekkid said:
Of All you brains anybody know why wamb moved from 1160 to 1200 and if they will have night time operation? Wamb not as strong on 1200 than 1160 even tho 50,000 watts.
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Same family owned both 1160 and 1200. Of the two stations, they could get more money out of selling 1160, and they found a buyer very quickly. They figured since they already had a CP to improve 1200 in hand, they'd move WAMB now and then improve it later. Kind of like when you're getting ready to build a new house so you put your current house up for sale, and somebody wants to buy it now and move in right away, so you move into an apartment until your new house is ready.
 
I'm not in Nashville, although I was there once when WAMB was very young. I seem to recall that they on 1190 at that time, so isn't the latest move to 1200 one of several over the years? Weren't they 1190, 1180, 1170 and 1160 at various times?

Oh, and there's something interesting on the WAMB site under "Airstaff/Schedule," (www.wamb.net/80.html) where you'll find this notation at the bottom of the page: Program Operating Hours for 1200 WAMB: 6AM-Sunset Program Operating Hours for 900 WKDA: Sunset-6AM That's strange, isn't it? WKDA is licensed for just 136 watts at night, so the signal barely makes it out of Lebanon: www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKDA&service=AM&status=L&hours=N
But they have an auxiliary (backup) station with 100 watts, licensed to Lebanon, and it's located just east of downtown Nashville! (The link is much too long to post here, but go to www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=71289 then scroll down to the second record and select "Area Map.")

So why is WKDA mentioned on the WAMB site? Is WAMB programming aired on WKDA at night, from an auxiliary site?
 
WAMB was on 1190 as a low power daytime station, moved to 1160 with 50/1 KW. They sold the 1160 and moved to co-owned 1200 WKDA. The WKDA calls moved to the 900 owned by another family member. The format moves from 1200 to 900 at susnset. 1200 has a low power at night that is not in use. The signal will go NE away from downtown if they use it.
 
Hell, before i was a little confused, but now i am really confused. I know 900 as wcor radio in lebanon. Have to have play card to keep up with it all.
 
radiodx said:
WAMB was on 1190 as a low power daytime station, moved to 1160 with 50/1 KW. They sold the 1160 and moved to co-owned 1200 WKDA. The WKDA calls moved to the 900 owned by another family member. The format moves from 1200 to 900 at susnset. 1200 has a low power at night that is not in use. The signal will go NE away from downtown if they use it.
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This is pretty strange, indeed. So based on what you're saying the WAMB nighttime programming is being aired in Nashville on 900kHz? Meanwhile over in Lebanon, they really can't hear it at night. What's wrong with this picture?

The 100-watt station on 900 is an auxiliary (backup) for WKDA Lebanon, licensed for nighttime operation only. It uses tower #1 at the WCRT 1160 site in Nashville. If it is on the air on a regular basis, it's in violation of FCC regulations. (Quoting from an FCC letter that denied a unrelated waiver request from South Carolina, "Auxiliary broadcast facilities are authorized to allow a station to continue service while the licensed main facility is not operating due to repairs or other reasons.")

How did the FCC ever approve a "nighttime only" backup operation for a station that can't provide service to their community of license? But even more puzzling is how WAMB is using the WKDA 900 backup for their own programming, in what looks like a violation. The FCC approved an application in August in which WAMB requested "deletion of the authorized nighttime operation." So instead of using 90 watts on 1200kHz directional away from the city, they're putting their nighttime programming on 900 with 100 watts non-directional? I don't have any hidden agenda here; I'm simply curious and if I'm missing something, let me know...
 
Okay, here we go! The 900 kc class "D" night power (100 watt) operation is diplexed onto the 1160 kc non-directional tower. Bill Barry has a license to do this. Bill was the first to get the FCC to grant him a low power, nighttime only, FM to recover lost nighttime AM coverage due to Cuban interfearance on 1160. No one (including me) ever thought he could get this through the FCC, yet he did. Don't try to think this through or you will wind up with more questions than answers and a headache. He is a student of the rules and the loop holes as well. The original intent was to use the 900 kc night to replace what was lost with the sale of 1160 kc to Bott, but I think the Spanish programming pays cash and as you say, that is "king". 1200 kc is worthless at night here due to the skywave incoming from WOAI. Confusing? Yes it is. As a side note, the reason most of the Nashville area FM stations are where they are on the dial is the direct result of an allocation table developed by Bill Barry and a fellow who was known as "Big Foot" Jones and accepted by the FCC. I can also tell you Mr. Barry is well known, liked and respected at the FCC.

w/
 
So, then, I guess the answer to the original question is...no, there is no WAMB at night. But, didn't Barry apply for some kind of power increase, or is that daytime only as well?
 
Watt Hairston said:
Okay, here we go! The 900 kc class "D" night power (100 watt) operation is diplexed onto the 1160 kc non-directional tower. Bill Barry has a license to do this.
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Thanks for the explanation. Now it makes sense. In reading your reply, I remembered hearing about WAMB's repeater on 98.7 a few years ago to compensate for Cuban interference (like the one in Jackson MS that was okayed for 1180). And kudos to Mr. Barry for his work!

As a side note, however, it would be nice if the FCC ever thought to include explanations of things like this in their database, wouldn't it?
 
The only thing that makes no sence to me is why did WCOR move to 1490. If they were going to sell out their AM 900 signal and simucast WANT-FM, they really did not need 1490. It is an extremely poor signal even during day time hours. I could pick up a 500 watt WCOR at AM 900 much better than I can a 1000 watt WCOR at 1490 AM and I live in Mt. Juliet, not far from Lebanon.
 
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