The FCC just awarded a construction permit to 88.7 WAY-FM to change their city of license to Spring Hill from Columbia. Spring Hill is up the road from Columbia and closer to Music City so I would expect an application that would move 88.7's signal a few miles north to better serve metro Nashville.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WAY-FM could be improve metro Nashville signal
- Thread starter RickRose
- Start date
Hi Rick...
Since my old Way Family put on the first signal with the tower four miles south of Franklin on a hill just east of I-65, Way has been paitent to move as the ability became reality.. They've been near Nolensville on a TV tower the past few years since leaving the first site where they were non-directional at first and then upgraded into the "C's" with a directional pattern.. Now they have a better chance down the road to improve... The main problem has not been 89.1, but 88.5 up on the north pasture near Gallitan.. Volunteer State's 1kw station.. But, Way's history and loyal (and STILL growing audience) has amazed many.. When I came to Nashville to head and coordinate the build out of WAYM, We were the more 'hip' Hot-CHR and WNAZ was soft, even in Christian A/C terms.. But both have worked through the years to find their place.. WNAZ's rockin'/CHR approach has helped to recruit students to Trevecca and they've improved their main signal, but have not taken advantage of the past windows for good translators or satellite stations as Way has... Nashville is blessed to have WNAZ's hot rockin' / CHR, Way's Adult CHR-day and Hot-CHR night / and Salem's A/C Fish... All seem solid in their positions and the 'Christian Radio Pie' get's bigger, instead of one trying to be all things to the majority of available audience in the market.... I still will state that I have never worked with a more caring-professional and close radio family than Way-Fm... That's in both Christian and Mainstream Radio.... I look forward to their 20th Anniversary of the first Way-Fm (WAYJ) in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Florida... It was 20 years ago I left seminary to fly down and help Bob & Felice to sign on 88.7 at 50kw and work with the original crew of: Bob Augsburg (GM), Jim Channell (PD), Steve Dees (Production), John Geyer (off-air doing Underwriting and Promotions), and I ("Skipper T" Thomas, Music Director)....Sally in the office and Felice paying the bills (BLESS HER! She was our ROCK).... I am proud of my 8 years with that group... I've never found another radio job, as satisfying and keeping me on-line with my walk and reality... Thank goodness I work part-time for a real class Mainstream Group (South Central's WIKY) and my Alma Mater at Oakland City University, Indiana (Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Radio Guy).... ;D
Since my old Way Family put on the first signal with the tower four miles south of Franklin on a hill just east of I-65, Way has been paitent to move as the ability became reality.. They've been near Nolensville on a TV tower the past few years since leaving the first site where they were non-directional at first and then upgraded into the "C's" with a directional pattern.. Now they have a better chance down the road to improve... The main problem has not been 89.1, but 88.5 up on the north pasture near Gallitan.. Volunteer State's 1kw station.. But, Way's history and loyal (and STILL growing audience) has amazed many.. When I came to Nashville to head and coordinate the build out of WAYM, We were the more 'hip' Hot-CHR and WNAZ was soft, even in Christian A/C terms.. But both have worked through the years to find their place.. WNAZ's rockin'/CHR approach has helped to recruit students to Trevecca and they've improved their main signal, but have not taken advantage of the past windows for good translators or satellite stations as Way has... Nashville is blessed to have WNAZ's hot rockin' / CHR, Way's Adult CHR-day and Hot-CHR night / and Salem's A/C Fish... All seem solid in their positions and the 'Christian Radio Pie' get's bigger, instead of one trying to be all things to the majority of available audience in the market.... I still will state that I have never worked with a more caring-professional and close radio family than Way-Fm... That's in both Christian and Mainstream Radio.... I look forward to their 20th Anniversary of the first Way-Fm (WAYJ) in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Florida... It was 20 years ago I left seminary to fly down and help Bob & Felice to sign on 88.7 at 50kw and work with the original crew of: Bob Augsburg (GM), Jim Channell (PD), Steve Dees (Production), John Geyer (off-air doing Underwriting and Promotions), and I ("Skipper T" Thomas, Music Director)....Sally in the office and Felice paying the bills (BLESS HER! She was our ROCK).... I am proud of my 8 years with that group... I've never found another radio job, as satisfying and keeping me on-line with my walk and reality... Thank goodness I work part-time for a real class Mainstream Group (South Central's WIKY) and my Alma Mater at Oakland City University, Indiana (Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Radio Guy).... ;D
Its almost like the little radio network that is finding its WAY. I live in Atlanta and use to make visits to Nashville in part due to WAY FM. I first caught it by accident but the music was to hard and heavy for my tastes at first but later on it evolved into something that fit my tastes. I even made trips to southwest florida and Sarasota and got to enjoy WAY-FM. I even found a place that gave me decent signals for the old LIFE 91, WAY-FM 89.1 and The Joy FM. Of course Life sold out to Moody and WAY-FM sold off 89.1 Sarasota but that was a cool trip the 2 years I could do that. I kept wondering how that 88.5 could be moved to another frequency because it has held WAY FM back in Nashville. Now cities across America get WAY and more are coming.
why should WVCP 'get out ot the way'? (I get it)...
they were on the frequency first.
I still have a problem seeing the difference between WAY's "underwriters" and paid commercials
they were on the frequency first.
I still have a problem seeing the difference between WAY's "underwriters" and paid commercials
S
scottwmro
Guest
romer979fm said:
I come back to this board to clear some things. Jim "Turbo" Turvaville, Corporate Chief Engineer over the WAY-FM group went to Howard Espravnik (who's) over the WVCP to and OFFERED to build them a tower site on the campus. Howard refused the offer because the volunteer students on at night couldn't reach thier "heavy metal" audience at night (teens 12-20) from the proposed campus site.
Anyway, they apply to go on CEMC's tower up the street from me in 2004. That whole process was a pain in the ass due to the commission forced them to do impedence meausrements on WMRO and WYXE towers in the CP for WVCP to move to CEMC's Tower. There was some resentment because Jim Turvaville was involved in making the impedence measurements on my tower and WYXE's tower, being the three towers are so close together. What a mess it was!
WVCP was off the air for several months because thier consultant engineer in Texas was misinformed on what was going on in constructing the new site and things were not carried out like what was described in the CP.
I'm not sure how long Scott Shelton at CEMC is going to let them stay on that tower. They only had a 3 year (FREE) lease deal.
Chris, I know you doubt what I'm tell you, but I have all the documentation on file and it cost me some money and off air time for all this to happen for WVCP. The commssion was concerned because of that large coax cable going up that tower, and they figured this might distort WYXE's & WMRO's Non-D. Patterns.
WAY-FM still hold an offer to move WVCP transmitter site to the campus, put up a new tower, and file the applications with the commision, on thier WAY's nickle. Turbo has told us this is not a matter of who was there first.
scottwmro said:
I don't doubt any of it: I just doubted you perception of the value of the listener in an earlier post.
wasn't WVCP on the old KX104 tower up on Music Mountain at one time?
S
scottwmro
Guest
romer979fm said:
WVCP’s transmitter was in next to the old “CATS” building up on Music Mountain. WVCP had an old Harris-1 FM Box in that building that was used as a main for about 20 years or so, until they bought a new, smaller Harris Box. WVCP and WGFX (Old KX-104) was never on the same tower. 104’s Tower was on up the dirt road, and at one time was the tallest tower up there on there ridge, until Trinity built Channel 50.
I think, the old building that housed WVCP’s transmitter up there on the ridge once house the studios for the old WHIN-FM, when it was WFMG, in the early 70’s. Most people don’t know this, but 104.5 were born on the square in Gallatin. The old monopole that held the FM antenna is still intact behind the Enlow Center upon the square. In side the building, the walls and studio windows are still there. I think Doug Smith can give us more info as to when WFMG moved to Music Mountain, or I call it, “The Ridge”.
I think Skip Sparkman (who is at WHIN-AM) moved WVCP to the ridge around 1980 or 81, and took it to 1 KW. Before then, the transmitter was on campus, with 1 FM bay and 400 watts.
Next time I talked to Jack Williams (at WHIN) or Charlie Goad, they might remember some of the moves of 104.5. I just know bits & pieces.
Most people don’t realize this, but today’s 1130 WYXE, was in my building and was WAMG. They still to this day (a few people) call my station WAMG.
Great banter on ENG.... I remember when Bob Augsburg and I met with 'VCP, prior to Way's first configuration and sign on ... They seemed open, at first to doing some low-pass filtering at Way's expense, but nothing came of it... If you've ever delt with Bob, he is very humble and very fair to 'who's on first'...'VCP has every right to be protected and yet, if we put heads together, everybody wins... I was there from '91 to '95 and have not kept up with the details, though a good friend to 'Turbo' during the recent years... Thanks for the insight Scott... Hope all is well at your facility.. 
S
scottwmro
Guest
We're making progress thorough replacing a stolen ground system that had been there since 1966, when my facility was built for WAMG, in addition, a stolen feed line. The natives love that copper, to cash it in to have $$$$$ to buy that power stuff to put up thier noses! My signal here in the county has suffered quite a bit, but it's a good thing I have a 3 wire, folded unipole on that tower. If it was series fed, I'd really worry!
Old Captain Jim Turbo is great engineer, and outside of WAY-FM, still does contract work. He took on WMRO, WYXE, WTNK, WBRY, WJIG, and a few other small stations. Tell ya what, you can't beat Jim Turbo, Dale Howard, Watt Hairston, or Gary Brown. Best AM engineers in this area.
Old Captain Jim Turbo is great engineer, and outside of WAY-FM, still does contract work. He took on WMRO, WYXE, WTNK, WBRY, WJIG, and a few other small stations. Tell ya what, you can't beat Jim Turbo, Dale Howard, Watt Hairston, or Gary Brown. Best AM engineers in this area.
Hmmm... Wasn't one of those engineers you cited responsible for constructing that pirate station at the Caberet club on Murfreesboro road a couple of years back? A move that shook the walls all the way to the corporate offices of the SBE? Inquiring minds want to know.
scottwmro said:
Scott - hope this makes up a bit for the hard time I gave you the other day (hopefully no hard feelings, right?). Glad you came back.
I remember WAMG and even still have a bumper sticker from them:
Gallatin's Favorites 1130 -WAMG
I think there was a Golden Flake Snack Foods ad attached to the sticker. I think I got this in '89 or '90.
In fact - when I first saw a post from Scott on here, I tuned to 1130 expecting to hear WMRO there. I have no idea why. I don't know why I would associate the building with 1130 since I haven't driven past it in years.
Scott - what is the history behind 1560AM in Gallatin? I don't remember it at all from the early 90's.
I definitely think that WAY-FM has been the best thing to happen in Christian radio in not only Nashville but all of the Midsouth area. Although I like WNAZ's current format, it seems like they have never had any desire to expand outside of Middle TN. WAY-FM has continually expanded until they have stations or translators all across TN and also into KY, AL, and GA, not to mention the expansion into other parts of the country now as well. They have translators in Dyersburg and Union City and also WAYW in New Johnsonville that I get to listen to when I'm in those areas, and several apps for more translators in Jackson and other parts of West TN that hopefully will be coming on soon.
I think that if it hadn't been for WAY-FM coming into West TN there would still be no CCM radio here other than possibly a few weekend shows. K-LOVE came later, but WAY-FM was first. The owners of the existing Christian stations wouldn't give CCM a chance until WAY-FM and later K-LOVE came in and proved that there was an audience for CCM in West TN. I definitely God is blessing WAY-FM's efforts.
I think that if it hadn't been for WAY-FM coming into West TN there would still be no CCM radio here other than possibly a few weekend shows. K-LOVE came later, but WAY-FM was first. The owners of the existing Christian stations wouldn't give CCM a chance until WAY-FM and later K-LOVE came in and proved that there was an audience for CCM in West TN. I definitely God is blessing WAY-FM's efforts.
S
scottwmro
Guest
yorkie9 said:
Oh, no problem, I try to let things roll off my back…….
Believe it or not, I worked for 1130 WAMG (1990) part-time on Saturdays, before my dad (Bill Bailey, who passed away this past February) and I bought the building and property from the IRS in 1991. Mike Hight was President and part owner of WAMG when I worked that part-time in 1990. WAMG went dark on September 21, 1991. Ron Campbell was the last jock on there. I had already put down earnest money down with the IRS while WAMG was still on, but the license was in a dispute, which is a LONG story and I could write a book about.
I was working 7 PM to 12 Mid Monday thru Friday at WQQK 92Q, when we (my dad & I) took possession of WAMG. At 92Q, I had just taken over for long time 92Q evening jock Vic Clemons, who now is on one of XM’s urban formats. I think before Vic Clemons, Stu Evans was evening jock at 92Q, but I’ll have to ask Chris Romer about that & that’s a different show.
Speaking of Chris Romer, Chris worked at WAMG under the ownership of Lee Raines. I see Lee every now and then, and he’s amazed of the technology that keeps Magic 1560 going.
Oh yes, I do remember the “Golden Flake”, WAMG bumper stickers. Big old long sticker that would cover almost half the rear bumper! There was a bunch of those stickers I found after the station went dark and dad and I were cleaning up the building and making repairs.
My dad & I bought the licensee of WWGM from Lindsay Christian Broadcasting, during that time, Faye Lindsay and husband Rudy, owned WWGM. We filed a CP to move WWGM to Gallatin, being it would be best for the station to survive in the Nashville suburbs (Gallatin), than in the heart of the metro. Gary Brown did all the engineering paperwork to help me file the CP for the move, which was done in 1993. I was at 92Q until October of 1993. I had went from full time to part time at 92Q, in order to devote my time to get Magic 1560 (WMRO) on the air.
WAMG, which is now today WYXE, was forced to find another transmitter site, and sign back on as “Wixie in Dixie”, with a Classic County format. We sign on Magic 1560, WMRO February 19, 1994, and the format was 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Oldies. It stayed that way until June of 2006, when I changed WMRO, Magic 1560 to its current format. WYXE sold in 2003, and went to a Hispanic-Religious format.
I will be posting on my website real soon the history of WMRO (was WLVN in the beginning, then on to WWGM) and the move of WWGM to Gallatin, and the call letter to change to WMRO. Before I post it to the Magic 1560 website, I’m trying to reach former WWGM jocks like Tom Bryant to get more WWGM history.
scottwmro said:
I'll be looking forward to that history. Lyle Dean (now retired from WGN [and WLS]) was another alum of the old WWGM. I think the history of 1560 in Nashville would have been quite different had they been able to get the 92.9 frequency back in the 60's for which they were among the applicants. By the way, Scott, I enjoyed meeting you a few years ago when I was visiting town and came up with Hoyt from WNAH. It was very ``radio-phonic'' and a totally ``hi-fi'' experience.
scottwmro said:
I definitely remember "Wixie in Dixie". My dad used to listen to it all the time. I had no idea WMRO had been on the air since '94 but I know I listened to it when I was around town. I must have a complete mental block on WWGM!
The odd thing is I don't know how I got that WAMG sticker - 17 years makes things foggy. Being a radio freak even then, I assume I walked into the building and asked for it!
I'm curious about the comment you made (too much to quote!) that Lee Raines is amazed at the technology that keeps WMRO going. What is the story behind that?
I know we've sort of hijacked the subject and taken this thread in a different direction, but there was a lot of excellent information in that post!
S
scottwmro
Guest
Bob E. Nelson said:
Hi Bob,
Gee, I do remember Lyle Dean. Hoyt told me not to long ago he stays in touch with Lyle. IMHO 1560 was sort of a waste to apply for in early 60's, but the good part was I was able to pull something off that I didn't think could be done with that allocation.
I didn't realize that anyone was even interested in the 92.9 channel back in the 60's, but maybe Bill Barry. Bill was and still is very sharp at this stuff. How he figured out to that 1490 would work in Lebanon was something! I didn't even think about until Gary Brown told me about it one day.
Bob, what ever you come up with on WLVN/WWGM, I would be interested. I only have bits and pieces from Hoyt and Tom Bryant who was at one time at WWGM as well.
Oh, in reference to yorkie9's comments, Lee Rains was using old tube technology, and so was I up until the late 90's. No Computers! Now it's one PC and a Armstrong Solid State Transmitter that fits in a 19" rack, with Omnia 3 processing, and the air chain is ready for IBOC.
Lee had to deal with a old Gates BC-250GY and when WAMG got the power increase to 2.5 KW, it was a CCA-2500D box. I had to use both of them in the beginning for WMRO. I had Gary Brown help me retuned those boxes from 1130 to 1560. There's so much we can discuss that I can go all night coming up with facts.
In a way, I miss that old Gates, 250 watt box. Bob will tell you I got ahold of the Gates (BC-1T) 1 KW transmitter used at 1240 WKDA in the 60's. My plans were to restore it, but other stuff got in the way and I gave it away to a guy who was going to take it to a ham operator.
Yorkie9, you'll have to give me a call sometime and we'll chat and share notes, when I'm not so tied up.
To both of you, thanks to Hoyt Carter at WNAH, I am where I'm at today!
And to Bob, let us know when you come back through Nashville. It's getting late for me and I'm mistyping words!
It did not take long for WAYM to file to modify the signal.
5 kW ERP
330 meters HAAT
proposed:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1198277.html
current:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1180921.html
5 kW ERP
330 meters HAAT
proposed:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1198277.html
current:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1180921.html
S
scottwmro
Guest
Question for Doug Smith:
Hi Doug,
When you get time, I would like to ask you some questions to sort of "fill in the blanks" about when the transmitter site of WAMG was built. Dale Howard and I wanted to know some tech stuff. I asked Bill Barry, but the way he talked, he may have forgot what Big Foot did. Bill did tell me he sold Big Foot the 200', Windcharger tower that WAMG used from 1966-1991, and WMRO used from 1994 to 1999.
Thanks a bunch!
Scott
Hi Doug,
When you get time, I would like to ask you some questions to sort of "fill in the blanks" about when the transmitter site of WAMG was built. Dale Howard and I wanted to know some tech stuff. I asked Bill Barry, but the way he talked, he may have forgot what Big Foot did. Bill did tell me he sold Big Foot the 200', Windcharger tower that WAMG used from 1966-1991, and WMRO used from 1994 to 1999.
Thanks a bunch!
Scott
scottwmro said:
I'm afraid I'm not the right person to be answering this question - I've only been in the market since 1990...
I do have a 1966 Yearbook which doesn't list WAMG. It lists for Gallatin:
WFMG-104.5, 50kw/380'. Box 598, Gallatin 37066, phone 452-2257.
Ownership: Ellis F. Jones Jr.. He's also listed as general manager & chief engineer.
A Patricia L. Jones (presumably Ellis' spouse) is listed as commercial manager, and Tommy Liggett as program director.
WHIN-1010, 1kw-D. Hwy. 109 North, Route #1, Gallatin 37066, phone 452-4747.
Ownership: Sumner Co. Broadcasting Co.
N.S. Baker, Sr., President
Charles W. Brewer, treasurer & GM
Bob Perry, commercial manager
Lottie Shaw, assistant manager
Lee Raines, ND & CE (interesting combination)
The '91 Yearbook does list WAMG (2.5kw-D) and says it signed on on Nov. 1, 1966.
- Status