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WCFB's Signal

D

danikayser84

Does WCFB really have one of the best signals in the entire state of Florida? In theory, it should be at least listenable in both Jacksonville and Tampa, barring any pirates... which made me wonder why they didn't move Star to 96.5 and put WDBO-FM on 94.5 instead...

I've caught WCFB on E-skip here in the Albany, NY area before in the past, too :)
 
danikayser84 said:
Does WCFB really have one of the best signals in the entire state of Florida? In theory, it should be at least listenable in both Jacksonville and Tampa, barring any pirates... which made me wonder why they didn't move Star to 96.5 and put WDBO-FM on 94.5 instead...

I've caught WCFB on E-skip here in the Albany, NY area before in the past, too
Click to expand...
WCFB 94.5 does have a good signal and range, whether it's the best in Florida or not, I don't know. On another thread WPCV, Winter Haven (97.5) was discussed as the possible best geographic range over land in Florida. (being between the east and west coast; not much of their signal is wasted over the Gulf or the Atlantic.)

I used to be able to pick up WCFB fairly regularly at night and sometimes during the day; until a religious translator came on the scene several years ago on that frequency in St. Petersburg.

Another candidate for a great signal range is 102.5 WHPT Sarasota.

drt
st. petersburg,fl
(An online Magic 590 listener after a visit to Albany last September)
 
It's a good stick, pick em up loud and clear up and down most of Florida's east coast. Don't know of any other 94.5's in Central or South Florida. I think there's another 94.5 in the Panhandle area.
 
In addition to Daytona's WCFB 94.5 C, Florida also has WARO 94.5 C0 Naples - Fort Myers, and WFLF 94.5 C0 Parker [Panama City], all 100kw FMs. There are also a hand full of Florida translators operating on 94.5.
 
danikayser84 said:
Does WCFB really have one of the best signals in the entire state of Florida? In theory, it should be at least listenable in both Jacksonville and Tampa, barring any pirates... which made me wonder why they didn't move Star to 96.5 and put WDBO-FM on 94.5 instead...

I've caught WCFB on E-skip here in the Albany, NY area before in the past, too :)
Click to expand...

And make Star's very large audience go find them on a new frequency? Bad idea.
 
You have a point there, Parttimer... even though WDBO-FM's signal is a bit weaker and less centered in the market, WCFB has a very strong following and moving it to 96.5 would probably hurt its ratings even if they advertised the move in advance :)

Normally I'd go with the strongest FM signal in the market when simulcasting an AM; however, it's the same reason why, say, Clear Channel in Albany didn't kill WKKF/Kiss FM instead of WHRL/Channel 1031 to simulcast WGY 810... WHRL and WKKF are about equal in signal, but WHRL had poorer ratings/revenue than WKKF (and moving WKKF to 103.1 would have confused people as well ;))
 
I live right on the Gulf in Citrus County (Homosassa Area) and can pick up WCFB on my Stereo System in the house, Alarm Clock Radio and even my MP3 Player. The only issue is I sometimes get tropo from a Moody Bible translator.
 
Then if you "normally go with the strongest FM signal in the market when simulcasting an AM", then Cox pretty much did that. While WCFB covers a large area of the state, it would not be considered the strongest signal "in the market". Those would be the stations on the Bithlo and Christmas broadcasting towers (92.3, 96.5, 100.3, 101.1, 104.1, and 105.1). And honestly, I'd even argue that the Orange City tower (101.9, 105.9, and 107.7) puts out a signal that outperforms 94.5's Paisley site. Fact is... you don't mess with more than you have too. Typical listeners don't like change.
 
billalm said:
Then if you "normally go with the strongest FM signal in the market when simulcasting an AM", then Cox pretty much did that. While WCFB covers a large area of the state, it would not be considered the strongest signal "in the market". Those would be the stations on the Bithlo and Christmas broadcasting towers (92.3, 96.5, 100.3, 101.1, 104.1, and 105.1). And honestly, I'd even argue that the Orange City tower (101.9, 105.9, and 107.7) puts out a signal that outperforms 94.5's Paisley site. Fact is... you don't mess with more than you have too. Typical listeners don't like change.
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Doesn't WCFB have difficulty out in Orlandos Southern Suburbs. Lets say Disney World, Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Its a full Class- C but with its signal well Northwest of Orlando is an issue.
 
Looking at the map however I would contend that WCFB has a very good signal. Covers Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia Counties. Not to mention the most populated areas of Osceloa County.

I would say that Star 94.5's signal is in some ways better than the Bithlo site. The Bithlo stations put a good amount of signal over water. Not to mention desolote swampland. (Osceloa County south of Kissimme and St. Cloud. ) The signal of WCFB and to a lesser extent the Orange City sites put a more uniform signal over the entire market.

Not to mention around the Golden Triangle you start having issues with the Bithlo Stations. Which is pretty much the Lake County side of The Villages. (The Sumter and Marion sides don't matter. Not part of the market.)
 
I've lived in South Orlando, Casselberrry, and Winter Park (the metro) at some point over a number of years. 94.5 was always a problem on my home stereo systems. Good market coverage? Yes. Local and powerful enough to penetrate and be clearly heard on indoor cheap stereos and radios? No. The tower is far away. That's what I'm saying. Not trying to start an argument here but any local radio engineer will agree with my analysis. The Bithlo sites are superior.
 
billalm said:
I've lived in South Orlando, Casselberrry, and Winter Park (the metro) at some point over a number of years. 94.5 was always a problem on my home stereo systems. Good market coverage? Yes. Local and powerful enough to penetrate and be clearly heard on indoor cheap stereos and radios? No. The tower is far away. That's what I'm saying. Not trying to start an argument here but any local radio engineer will agree with my analysis. The Bithlo sites are superior.
Click to expand...

Couldn't that also be sayed at the Orange City Stations. I do see what your saying though. 94.5 was a Move-In from the Daytona Beach Market. I wonder did you have the same issues with 101.9, 105.9 and 107.7.
 
All Orlando FM stations are move-ins other than the FM stations that are actually licensed to Orlando including 103.1. All the others are from Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, Mount Dora, Tavares, Deland and Deltona. There are only five FM frequencies licensed to Orlando which are WMMO, WOMX, WWKA, WRUM, and WDBO-FM.
 
Interesting info Mark. I think its worse in Jacksonville, just seems like so many of the stations there are not even licensed to the city of Jacksonville.
 
Yes, that's correct. I had the same issues with the Orange City stations. Turn on a boom box of some sort in a building near the geographical center of Orange County and you'll see what I mean. Having that kind of height and power is awesome, but once you get 30-40 miles from the transmitter, it's just not a 100% solid signal in buildings without some kind of antenna adjustment or hook up.
 
Best Ever that I recall was the old 99.9 Palatka before Renda took the downgrade and moved the station North to Near Jax. 99.9 was listenable from Daytona/St.Augustine to parts of Tampa (under the right conditions and with a good tuner).
 
99.9 was a flamethrower back in the day. When I worked there the stick was in Espinola (near Bunnell, Florida). We blanketed the most of the state with that signal. The Legal ID was WNFI Palatka, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando. Florida's Hot Rockin, Flame Throwin I-100.
 
vadar said:
99.9 was a flamethrower back in the day. When I worked there the stick was in Espinola (near Bunnell, Florida). We blanketed the most of the state with that signal. The Legal ID was WNFI Palatka, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando. Florida's Hot Rockin, Flame Throwin I-100.
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You must have worked at WNFI when Randy Van Halen was PD. I was with the newly created WMMZ "Z 93" during that time.
 
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