WayFM Rant

[NashvilleNative]

I just heard WayFM telling listeners to check out Hippie Radio. Well, actually they were referring to their old 94.5 translator in Hendersonville. You would think they'd pull that spot by now.

Speaking of Way, there used to be a construction permit for a translator listed for 105.1 Hendersonville, but I don't see it on radio-locator anymore. I don't know why or how 105.1 would work, as Solid Gospel has a fair signal in that area. I'm sure I've mentioned this on here before, but you used could pull wayFM to Gallatin until 88.5 would bleed over, but now as soon as you pass Exit 7 or 8 on Vietnam Vets 88.7 disappears. Not splatter, just GONE! Very strange. Are they EVER going to cover Hville, Gallatin, and White House? I assume Portland may get some of Bowling Green 88.1. Gallatin no longer can due to that new station in Lebanon.

I LOVE the station, especially Wally, but it drives me INSANE that I have to stream a station only 5 miles south, yet can pull them in nearly to the AL line. I realize they have a directional pattern, but wow!

For those that say Nashville is covered up in that format - I have to disagree, as you can't pickup WayFM in the NE sections of the county and the Fish is like Mix vs. the River in format comparison.

 

[anotherguyTN]

They used to have a translator in Dyersburg that has since been sold and is currently off, but it is still listed in the translators they mention at times in the ads, which I don't understand.

I've always loved WAY-FM, but I'm very disappointed in how they've backed out of West TN. They had CPs to put translators in Jackson and Martin that they backed out of and sold. They've sold the translators in Union City and Dyersburg, and now they've reduced the power for WAYW 89.9 in New Johnsonville to a point where WAYQ 88.3 in Clarksville actually comes in better along I-40 toward Jackson. I know a big factor is probably because of K-LOVE and Air 1's dominance in West TN, but I wish they were still here. I only get to hear them now on trips to Nashville and online. And I also miss WNAZ, but that's a whole other topic.

 

[firepoint525]

They had CPs to put translators in Jackson and Martin that they backed out of and sold. They've sold the translators in Union City and Dyersburg,

To say nothing of the fact that that allowed Paul Tinkle to pick them up for the Thunderbolt stations. I could see having a translator for WCMT-AM, but the others are probably duplicate coverage of existing FM stations.

I'm guessing that WTRO picked up the Dyersburg translator. I remembered hearing them on FM when I was in D-burg last summer.

 

[anotherguyTN]

They had CPs to put translators in Jackson and Martin that they backed out of and sold. They've sold the translators in Union City and Dyersburg,

To say nothing of the fact that that allowed Paul Tinkle to pick them up for the Thunderbolt stations. I could see having a translator for WCMT-AM, but the others are probably duplicate coverage of existing FM stations.

Yes, they 're being used for Thunderbolt's Union City FMs and don't really improve any signal anywhere.

The Jackson translator on 94.1 was sold to Forever and started out retransmitting WYNU 92.3, but later was changed to retransmitting WTJS 1390. But they also have the same station on full power stations on 94.3 and 105.3 and call it the TJ Network (The biggest waste of 2 FMs and a translator in the area). In both cases they did nothing to improve any of the station's signals anywhere. I wish WAY had gone ahead with the translator in Jackson at least.

I'm guessing that WTRO picked up the Dyersburg translator. I remembered hearing them on FM when I was in D-burg last summer.

WTRO's translator was originally owned by Heartland Ministries in KY and was supposed to carry WAJJ, which at the time was a CHR CCM station from McKenzie, TN. But during the time they had the CP WAJJ was sold to a KJV Only anti-CCM group and they changed it to their format. I'm glad WTRO ended up with it instead of the anti-CCM group.

The biggest problem I have with WTRO's translator is that it was moved to 101.7, which is the same frequency for a K-LOVE translator in Brownsville, and the two translators interfere with each other in Alamo, where I live. In this case I'd rather hear WTRO.

I was told that WAY-FM's translator was sold but I'm not sure who bought it. It's off the air with a CP to move to 99.3. I figure that if it comes back on it will probably be used either for another translator for WTRO, or possibly Air 1 from Union City or Hayti, MO (Which is currently off and looking for a new tower, hopefully something closer to Dyersburg).

 

[firepoint525]

They had CPs to put translators in Jackson and Martin that they backed out of and sold. They've sold the translators in Union City and Dyersburg,

To say nothing of the fact that that allowed Paul Tinkle to pick them up for the Thunderbolt stations. I could see having a translator for WCMT-AM, but the others are probably duplicate coverage of existing FM stations.

Yes, they 're being used for Thunderbolt's Union City FMs and don't really improve any signal anywhere.

I suppose those translators serve another purpose for Tinkle: they prevent(ed) Terry Hailey from buying at least one of them to use as a WENK translator. :

 

[onetake]

I'm not the fan of WAY some people are but I do wish Klove had gotten into the market. It's a far better run organization. I was told they didn't think Nashville was large enough to support both Fish and Klove. You're onto a good topic about signals. We like to believe every owner is doing all he can with a frequency and that things from tower height to power to directional patterns are the reason some stations aren't better.
And I regret that most of the stations here seem to drive hot positive peaks of from 130-150 % at times and the FCC doesn't pull anybody back anymore.
But a big surprise hit me when WNAZ went away. From a minimal signal with low modulation it's impressive what Bott has done with 89.1 in coverage and a huge increase in loudness while still being clean. I guess in truth some owners who don't care, and others who preset their modulation from headquarters in Atlanta, the days of engineers and owners driving around looking for holes in the signal to asking "how could we improve this" are long gone for the most part.

 

[spew]

doesn't God speak to them directly? Why do they need a radio station?

 

[firepoint525]

doesn't God speak to them directly? Why do they need a radio station?

Go "spew" someplace else. You're done here.

 

[Kent T]

If you can't get it, put up an outside antenna. Buy a better tuner and sink some money into making sure it's aligned. Classical fans will do this, why can't Christian fans? They seem averse to spending money on their music. And many a Christian broadcaster has an aversion to spending money on equipment upkeep until it breaks. Not trying to put down, but some of them need to budget for equipment maintenance and upgrades. It takes money, commitment, and ownership and top notch engineering to really run a radio station. P.S. I like better Christian radio, but listen to other things.

 

[anotherguyTN]

doesn't God speak to them directly? Why do they need a radio station?

Go "spew" someplace else. You're done here.

Definitely agreed.

 

[anotherguyTN]

If you can't get it, put up an outside antenna. Buy a better tuner and sink some money into making sure it's aligned. Classical fans will do this, why can't Christian fans? They seem averse to spending money on their music. And many a Christian broadcaster has an aversion to spending money on equipment upkeep until it breaks. Not trying to put down, but some of them need to budget for equipment maintenance and upgrades. It takes money, commitment, and ownership and top notch engineering to really run a radio station. P.S. I like better Christian radio, but listen to other things.

I'm on the road a lot for work, so I'm as much or more concerned with what I can get in my car. For me K-LOVE is no problem, Air 1 comes in in NW TN, but WAY-FM is gone from West TN except for right along the Tennessee River from 89.9 in New Johnsonville (Whose power has been reduced) or 88.3 in Clarksville, so online is my only choice

I've put up an antenna in the past for Air 1 in Union City from home, but listening online is more convenient now. When they get their station in Hayti back on (Hopefully soon) I ought to be able to get them from there.

And I do listen to other radio besides CCM, mainly oldies and classic rock.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I'm not the fan of WAY some people are but I do wish Klove had gotten into the market. It's a far better run organization. I was told they didn't think Nashville was large enough to support both Fish and Klove.

From what I've seen K-LOVE tends to not go into areas that already have strong CCM stations, and Nashville is definitely in good shape with WAY-FM and the Fish stations. I guess that's the reason WNAZ wasn't able to continue. Atlanta, Birmingham, and Dallas are other cities with strong CCM stations that K-LOVE hasn't gone into.

 

[xmusicmatt]

From what I've seen K-LOVE tends to not go into areas that already have strong CCM stations, and Nashville is definitely in good shape with WAY-FM and the Fish stations. I guess that's the reason WNAZ wasn't able to continue. Atlanta, Birmingham, and Dallas are other cities with strong CCM stations that K-LOVE hasn't gone into.

and Orlando FL where Christian AC "WPOZ Z88.3" is constantly #1 in the 6+ book.

 

[oldiesgirl]

Is there a difference musically between WayFM and K-love? I don't usually listen to K-love when I'm in the Knoxville area because I prefer southern gospel when I listen to Christian music, but I'm just curious. I guess I'll have to check it out.

 

[NashvilleNative]

Is there a difference musically between WayFM and K-love? I don't usually listen to K-love when I'm in the Knoxville area because I prefer southern gospel when I listen to Christian music, but I'm just curious. I guess I'll have to check it out.

Forgive my passionate answer, but, YES! K-Love nearly makes me want to vomit. It's like a sappy, sleepy version of the Fish. Personally, I feel that WayFM is a perfect blend. Not too sappy and not too want-to-be rock junk. Plus the on-air dialog is usually pretty good. (Not big on Melissa and Matt though). Kind of annoying.

Also, I listened to cookeville's wayFM this weekend and again, they were translating New Johnsonville, just at Chattanooga. That makes NO sense to me!

 

[xmusicmatt]

Is there a difference musically between WayFM and K-love? I don't usually listen to K-love when I'm in the Knoxville area because I prefer southern gospel when I listen to Christian music, but I'm just curious. I guess I'll have to check it out.

Yes, if you look at them in the scope of Mainstream formats..

WAYFM = Hot AC

Fish / KLove = Christian AC

Klove is very AC focused.. and has a very tight playlist.

WayFM is a Hot AC / Adult CHR type station.. They do play some artist overlap as KLove (such as Chris Tomlin, newsboys, building 429 etc..) however Way is also willing to touch stuff like Skillet, Family Force 5, Seventh Day Slumber, Need2Breathe and other more rock-alternative type stuff that is geared more towards a younger demo.


*note* KLove's sister station Air1 is more long the lines of Way FM.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I got a pleasant surprise today. I found out WAY-FM's translator in Dyersburg is back on. I guess the sale didn't happen. I hope they're back for good. If they do sell it hope it will be to EMF for Air 1.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Another update: The translator in Dyersburg is back off again. I'm wondering now if they were on just long enough to stay legal, and that there are still plans to sell.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Another update: The translator in Dyersburg is back off again. I'm wondering now if they were on just long enough to stay legal, and that there are still plans to sell.

I am not in the area.. Are you talking about 99.3 W257CQ? If so it's possible they could have some issues with it? I checked FCC records and it shows that they had a CP for it and that the license to cover on that CP was granted on 05/31/12.

Speaking of ... Looks like KLove has a very powerful signal in Dyersburg. WZKV 90.7

 

[anotherguyTN]

I was checking the old frequency at 89.1, so that might explain it. I'll check it again the next time I'm in Dyersburg. And yes, K-LOVE there has a 50,000 watt signal. I've picked them up into Southern IL at times.