WCFB's tower knocked down

[FrankF]

The severe storms & tornados this morning not only caused devestation to many homes and buildings in several towns & citys, a tornado took down 94.5 WCFB's tower in Volusia County. It's mentioned on their website, however the station is still streaming. http://star94fm.com/

 

[Radio-X]

According to R&R, Cox engineers from Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville are all collaborating to piece together a temporary set-up. A small tower will be in place (who knows where) with all the equipment by as early as tonight.

Radio-X

 

[james32746]

According to R&R, Cox engineers from Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville are all collaborating to piece together a temporary set-up. A small tower will be in place (who knows where) with all the equipment by as early as tonight.

Radio-X

They are already back on the air.

 

[MN Maniac]

When I was working radio in O'Town, one of Cox's people told me they had installed a "frequency agile" FM transmitter at the WHOO/990 transmitter site in Pine Hills. This could broadcast any of the Cox FMs (92.3, 94.5, 95.3, 96.5, 98.9) at reduced power in an emergency.

True?

 

[Radio-X]

They are already back on the air.

Any clue how strong their signal is? Does it cover most of the area?

I would guess it's on the Pine Hills transmitter site with WHOO and WMMO...though that doesn't really cut it for a Daytona Beach COL ;D

Anyhow, who cares...good to see them back up and running. And my heart goes out to those in Volusia Co. who were affected by this tornado. I have a friend who lives in Orange City and didn't get anything more than T-storms.

Radio-X

 

[KE4KLS_Radio]

When I heard them this afternoon in Merritt Island, they were a bit scratchy, but considering all that has happened, they did well to get the station back on the air in such a short time.

WKRO 93.1 was off some this a.m., but they are back on, probably a power issue.

Any other stations lose signal due to the storm?

 

[tomservo]

Odd contest...

Just noticed on their website they're holding a contest - "Tell us when STAR came back on the air and you could win $500."

What an odd thing to do.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I'm going to take a wild guess on this and say that WCFB/Star 94.5 is on the air from an Auxiliary Tower somewhere closer to Daytona Beach then their licensed tower was...

In an situation where you have an Auxiliary Site or an STA, you must STILL Cover your COL while, at the same time... not serving any areas not normally served by the licensed facility.

 

[MN Maniac]

It will be interesting to see what Cox chooses as a long-term solution for this.

As Paul mentioned, 94.5 is licensed to Daytona Beach. This was the original WNDB-FM. Memory is a bit hazy here, but I believe New City moved it into Orlando sometime around 1991 (?) as Lite A/C "Love 94.5."

Unlike the other Volusia Co. FMs which target Orlando from the Orange City towers (101.9, 105.9, 106.7, 107.7), WCFB had it's own transmitter facility near Paisley. That tower has now been destroyed, of course.

In order to remain a full Class C, WCFB will have to rebuild to the full 450 meters. If they go short, they will almost certainly be downgraded to C0. Both of their first-adjacent neighbors would likely jump at the chance to upgrade: 94.7/Gifford would gladly extend and enhance their coverage to Brevard Co. 94.3/Lake City would love to either move into Gainesville or sell to someone who would. Both of these scenarios are now prohibited only because WCFB maintains it's full Class C status.

Plus, WCFB needs the full height to cover Orlando adequately from that distance. Even at 1,500 feet, there are a few coverage "holes" in the market. Especially in the fast-growing areas of Osceola Co. Anything shorter ain't gonna cut it. They cannot move to the Bithlo antenna farm because of spacing issues to Gifford.

So, what will Cox do? I see two options: Rebuild Paisley or lease space in Orange City. The latter may not even be possible, due to weight and intermod issues with existing stations.

Anyone know how long a station can hold onto their licensing parameters under an emergency situation such as this? In other words, how long do they have to rebuild without losing their Class C? Also, how long can they broadcast from an auxilary facility which does not city-grade their COL (which is obviously the case if they are indeed transmitting from Pine Hills.)

 

[gabigley1]

Click here to see photos of the damage to their tower site:

http://star94fm.com/slideshows/5092/1.html

 

[billalm]

First off... I would assume insurance would cover the damage and pay for the re-building at that site. You gotta realize that WCFB isn't owned by a smalltime broadcaster and isn't a stand alone station. There's little doubt the station generates plenty of revenue for Cox and it's in the best interest in my opinion to clean up the mess and get it all re-built as it was. Changing locations, class, power, and everything else that goes with that takes time to go through all the legal hoops with the FCC. If they were to move, I would assume the Orange City tower with the other stations on it would be the place (if there's space). Based on other adjacent stations in the area, there isn't much wiggle room when it comes to moving that transmitter closer to Orlando or to the East. I just don't see that happening. What I'm wondering is who actually owns the tower and building that was destroyed? Is it Cox radio or were they leasing from a tower company. That could play a part in all this as well.

 

[CW]

I'm going to take a wild guess on this and say that WCFB/Star 94.5 is on the air from an Auxiliary Tower somewhere closer to Daytona Beach then their licensed tower was...

In an situation where you have an Auxiliary Site or an STA, you must STILL Cover your COL while, at the same time... not serving any areas not normally served by the licensed facility.

Sorry Paul but AUX sites do NOT have to cover the COL with any signal whatsoever! Several Houston and Dallas rimshots (KQBU, KIOL, KFNC, KSOC, etc) are this way....NONE of their AUX sites cover the COL, but DO cover the metro area (somewhat)...the only stipulation is the 1mV contour of the AUX cannot exceed the main licensed station's 1mV contour.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

And I believe they can broadcast from AUX facilities as long as needed. (For a case in point, see KFI Los Angeles or Scott Fybush's report on 9-11)

 

[CW]

And I believe they can broadcast from AUX facilities as long as needed. (For a case in point, see KFI Los Angeles or Scott Fybush's report on 9-11)

Not quite...AUX stations are allowed to broadcast when needed but if the main is off for 30days or more, the FCC must be notified. When the main can return to the air, it must at the earliest possible time.

 

[james32746]

Cox Radio owned the tower and main building.

I saw somewhere that WCFB will move to Christmas in the near future (i am 99% positive that it is going out to be at the Cox Television/Cox Radio tower which houses WFTV-DT, WRDQ-DT, WHTQ, and WWKA).

It is still possible for Cox to rebuild that tower site and put WCFB back on the air from there as well. Lake County Govt. also leased space on that tower for Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement repeaters along with someone's ham radio repeater as well.

 

[Radio-X]

How much would they have to downgrade to move to Christmas?

It would still have to be a C1 to cover Daytona with a 70 dBu signal from there.

Is that doable with 94.7 in Vero?

Radio-X

 

[Deano]

It is my understanding that Star 94.5 is back on the air with about 3,000 watts ERP from the stick they own in Bithlo where K92FM and 96.5-WHTQ are co-located. As far as the FCC is concerned, in an emergency situation such as what WCFB faces (tower on the ground), they will cut a station as much slack as necessary in order to get any usable signal back on the air. Covering your COL with city-grade is not a requirement when 1500 feet of steel is sitting on the ground. The FCC doesn't consider what they have put on the air at Bithlo as an aux site. It is an emergency site and they will apply for an STA (Special Temporary Authority) from the FCC to use the site until regular service can be restored. The FCC will most likely grant the first STA for 90 days and give them extentions based on the progress being made to rebuild.

I have got to believe that Cox will rebuild the tower site in Lake County. They own the land and it is one of the few places where WCFB can maintain full Class C service.

 

[MN Maniac]

I don't see how 94.5 could relocate to Bithlo/Christmas. They'd have to drop it down to a C2 so as to mantain required separation from WSYR/94.7/Gifford. 50kW @ 500 feet (or equivalent) is not going to city-grade Daytona Beach. Plus, don't forget, there's also 94.3/Riviera Beach, although this is further away and thus not as much a factor as is Gifford.

Hopefully, Cox will rebuild at Paisley and to the full 1,500 foot height or more (a full C is licensed for 2,000, although there would be issues with this...significant cost, aircraft clearance, etc.) In a time when stations voluntarily downgrade their facilities in order to move to markets several miles away, I'd hate to see yet another full C lost forever.

 

[gabigley1]

It is my understanding that Star 94.5 is back on the air with about 3,000 watts ERP from the stick they own in Bithlo where K92FM and 96.5-WHTQ are co-located. As far as the FCC is concerned, in an emergency situation such as what WCFB faces (tower on the ground), they will cut a station as much slack as necessary in order to get any usable signal back on the air. Covering your COL with city-grade is not a requirement when 1500 feet of steel is sitting on the ground. The FCC doesn't consider what they have put on the air at Bithlo as an aux site. It is an emergency site and they will apply for an STA (Special Temporary Authority) from the FCC to use the site until regular service can be restored. The FCC will most likely grant the first STA for 90 days and give them extentions based on the progress being made to rebuild.

I have got to believe that Cox will rebuild the tower site in Lake County. They own the land and it is one of the few places where WCFB can maintain full Class C service.

Dose any one know how high their AUX antenna is above the ground?
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From the WCFB Web Site:

Radio Station Tower Devastated By Groundhog Day Twister

Click here for More New photos:

http://star94fm.com/MARKET/shared/weather/tornado2007_star_tower.html

 

[w9wi]

I saw somewhere that WCFB will move to Christmas in the near future (i am 99% positive that it is going out to be at the Cox Television/Cox Radio tower which houses WFTV-DT, WRDQ-DT, WHTQ, and WWKA).

I don't see any pending technical changes for WCFB in the FCC database.