WBMQ technical problems?

[PrivateSector]

Just remember, the head of engineering for Cumulus is a bean-counter, with just enough engineering knowledge to make him dangerous.

So in other words, they did it on the cheep instead of spending a little money and getting it right. Figures.

Quite honestly, no radio company is going to invest mega-bucks in an AM signal restoration or upgrade in this day and age. It's hard enough just getting the revenue to pay the electric bill for the transmitter. If there's an investment to be made it's going to be directed to an FM.

 

[Diamondtwo]

Quite honestly, no radio company is going to invest mega-bucks in an AM signal restoration or upgrade in this day and age. It's hard enough just getting the revenue to pay the electric bill for the transmitter. If there's an investment to be made it's going to be directed to an FM.

You missed the point, PrivateSector. Cumulus DID invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades/repairs - call it whatever you want - for WMAC, THEN they spent even more money buying the high-priced land the towers sit on. WMAC is one of the cluster's higher-billing radio stations (or at least it WAS for a long time), but the point of all of this is, they blew well over a million dollars and essentially ruined the station's signal. I know because I was there when it happened. So yes, it may be true that no company with any sense is going to invest in upgrading an AM signal AT THIS TIME... but Cumulus did, in 2003-2004; from a signal standpoint it hurt them, and if they had just done their due dilligence at the time, they probably wouldn't be dealing with the signal issues they have now.

Just a few years ago I could pick up AM940 during the day while driving between Columbus, Georgia and Eufaula, Alabama, with a listenable signal. Now, if I'm lucky, I can get it in Lizella. I know there's a lot more electronic interference these days than there used to be, but we're talking about a 50 gallon AM on a fairly low part of the dial. 50kw should carry a lot farther than Byron.

TDO

 

[Witchlover]

And as for the 50 kW station: Isn't there an unbuilt CP for 50 kW on 1520?

Apparently that CP has either expired or been returned to the FCC: I did not find it on the fcc.gov data base. I wonder if they got very far with the project before it was abandoned.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Considering how tight the northwest nulls are, I wonder if they could have moved it further out Forsyth or Zebulon Road. Perhaps into Monroe County. That would keep the city of Macon in the main nighttime lobe.

 

[Radio-X]

It's been a year, at least, since I found the CP in the FCC database while looking at directional arrays. As far as I know, nothing is happening with it. Someone suggested at the time that the CP would probably expire without anything being built. Seems more likely with each passing month. Is SCAD still operating that low-power station on 1520 kHz?

No. SCAD had a rangemaster AM transmitter on top of Oglethorpe House next to the civic center. Been by there dozens of times and can't pick up a 1520 signal. The transmitter is still up there along with the antenna as of earlier this year (look on the top of the elevator room on the roof of the building).

There has always been rumblings about SCAD getting back on the air terrestrially. I know they lost the 88.1 license application and to rub salt in the wound, hosted that station's physical plant on the tower located where SCAD Radio is! LPFM has not worked for them, part 15 AM didn't either. There was even talk at one point of LMA'ing an AM station (not sure which one, probably 1400), but the cost was inflated at the time. I feel people were happy when 102.1 allowed them an hour on Sunday nights to broadcast!

Radio-X

 

[Witchlover]

SCAD's web site for the station would make one believe they are still on 1520 kHz. Perhaps they're streaming their station. Savannah is not very ADA friendly yet, but you are correct: I need to get down there with a good portable with fresh batteries, look around, and see what I can pick up.

The problem with college radio is that your staff tends to go away when classes aren't being held. Short of hiring a professional staff to run the station or going automated ... .

Would SCAD be interested in managing a commercial stattion, or would they tend toward a non-commercial? I'm a big fan of the school. That being said, oftentimes, I just don't comprehend some of the things they do.

I'd love to take a few courses there -- if they would let me in. Maybe it has been too long. :-\

 

[FilmCritic3K]

SCAD's web site for the station would make one believe they are still on 1520 kHz. Perhaps they're streaming their station. Savannah is not very ADA friendly yet, but you are correct: I need to get down there with a good portable with fresh batteries, look around, and see what I can pick up.

The problem with college radio is that your staff tends to go away when classes aren't being held. Short of hiring a professional staff to run the station or going automated ... .

Would SCAD be interested in managing a commercial stattion, or would they tend toward a non-commercial? I'm a big fan of the school. That being said, oftentimes, I just don't comprehend some of the things they do.

I'd love to take a few courses there -- if they would let me in. Maybe it has been too long. :-\

Every time I've listened, I thoroughly enjoyed the music that's played on scadradio.org. I really wish that they'd get an FM station; it'd be a breath of fresh in the staid Savannah radio landscape, that's for sure.

 

[upstate29651]

Savannah needs a 50 kw station, either 630 or 1290.

Agreed....and 1290 has a shot to make that happen, due to recent happenings down in Ocala, FL.

G

Doubtful either would happen. In order for 1290 to go 50 kW, they'd have to force 1290 Sumter, SC off the air. 630 could do it, but they'd have to have a null to the NW to protect WNEG-AM and the NE to protect 630 Wilmington.

A while back, this same subject was discussed, except I don't recall any mention of 1290 in Sumter. 1290 in Hickory NC was discussed. Lo & behold, there's 1290 in Sumter!

It appears there would be room to throw a solid signal north to Beaufort, west past Statesboro & south past Jacksonville.

G

 

[Witchlover]

Short of providing some incentives for stations to shift frequencies (assuming this would be possible) I do not foresee any station in Savannahland going to 50kW. Today, there are too many stations which would be affected by such a move. How would the FCC decide which one of them shifts or alters its pattern for the benefit of another station? I understand that the FCC has the authority to allocate the band as it sees fit to serve the greater public interest, but defining what that might be ... well, let's just say the result would be a trial attorney's fondest dream: The ensueing disputes would be in the courts, probably for decades. I dare say no one involved would be willing even to consider such an undertaking with any seriousness.

 

[beachguy3b]

Just to add to earlier comments, there are also other 50 KW AMs in Georgia (at least, during the day) such as WGST and WGUN, and I believe there may be another as well. Daytime, WSB is far from being the only 50Kw signal in Georgia. (Added: 680 and 1160 Atlanta are also 50kw signals, daytime.)

As to 630 going to 50kw, considering how they neutered the night signal there, I have trouble imagining the ownership wanting to invest in the spaghetti pattern it would take to make 630 a 50kw signal.

 

[Witchlover]

Good points, all of them. When I said that I was surprised that there was only WSB pumping 50-kW, I was thinking clear channel, legacy stations. and I should have said so. I did not know about WMAC 940 until it was pointed out earlier. I did know about WGST as well, although not about the others. The fact is, there is a curious lack of similar stations in this part of the state, and the lack is sorely felt after the sun disappears behind the horizon. As I said before, the sparse population very likely made it seem a poor investment to establish such a station in Savannah. An intrepid investor who is patient could do quite well with one perhaps, but I don't see any stepping to the fore and willing to undertake the long-term investment we have been talking about here. A pity, that.

 

[Radio-X]

Would SCAD be interested in managing a commercial stattion, or would they tend toward a non-commercial? I'm a big fan of the school. That being said, oftentimes, I just don't comprehend some of the things they do.

I went to SCAD about 5 years ago. That kinda made me fall in love with the Savanah/HHI area. When I lived in Oglethorpe House at SCAD, I could not get a 1520 AM. I tried to work with the radio station faculty sponsor on putting a part 15 FM transmitter on all the high-rise dorms, but it was a bit too expensive for the result.

If the guy who was the station sponsor then is still there I can assure you it would be his dream to see SCAD Radio on any station...commercial or non-comm. I even think they had a plan to sell ads if they ever did LMA an AM station.

And as much as I loved SCAD, the city of Savannah, and all those crazy art school girls...I do not recommend SCAD for anybody grossing less than $75k/year! Tuition was prohibitively expensive...$12.5k/semester when I was there. Not to mention all the expensive equipment youn gotta buy.

So, how does this relate to radio? Oh yeah....I sent my airchecks from my old radio job in VA as part of my "application portfolio". I got a scholarship of $3k/semester to attend...still waaaaay too expensive for me!

Radio-x
(Now a proud USC alumni...go Gamecocks!)

 

[jmtillery]

WMAC is one of the oldest radio stations in the country, having recently celebrating its 84th anniversary. The station began regular broadcast service on October 30, 1922, the same year as WSB-AM 750 Atlanta and only three years after KDKA Pittsburg which began broadcast service in 1919.

I agree it would be a great coup for Savannah if a 50,000 watt AM station were to commence operations in that market. The challenges are finding a frequency and antenna configuration that will protect existing stations.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
Email: [email protected]

 

[Diamondtwo]

Um, Mark, you might need a new calculator.

2009 (minus) 1922 = 87 years.

Although the last time I flipped WMAC on, their legal ID was still saying "85 years". Nice to know the PD of that station (Krok) is right on top of things. That sweeper hasn't been updated since Kenny Burgamy was the PD/morning guy at 940, and he left in 2007.

TDO

 

[jmtillery]

Well you got me on the years, but after 80 years, 3 more years makes very little difference. Whether it be 84 or 87 years, it's still a LONG time. The point is WMAC (WMAZ) has been on the air longer than most stations in this country. Thanks for pointing out my mathematical error. I'll retune my calculator for future reference.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
Email: [email protected]

 

[Rattlesnake]

Today is September 22, 2020
RE: WBMQ, Savanah, GA.

Any reception reports at this time. Dead air in central Florida on 630, both day and night times

 

[DXingRadio]

Going to be hard to hear them now, license canceled.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_det.pl?Facility_id=54800

 

[upstate29651]

End of an era. HUGE blow to the Savannah radio community.

 

[davideduardo]

End of an era. HUGE blow to the Savannah radio community.

Why is it a blow? It's been dark, was not billing much... reportedly last year less than $2 thousand a month.

All the AMs in the market together don't bill even half of what the top billing FM does. And there are 14 commercial FMs in the market, most home to Chatham county. This is a good case of a market where AM stations are not needed any longer; the only two AMs that have even half decent billing both have FM translators.

 

[charlestondxman]

Yup. It has been basically talk radio off the bird for the last 5 years. Only local stuff at TOH with the ID. And they carried minor league baseball before the team moved out of town.