WCFO has a CP to co-locate night transmitter with WMLB

[BarryATL]

I just noticed on radio-info.com that WCFO has a construction permit to move the night transmitter. The new location will be co-located with WMLB 1690 AM. The current night power at the Powder Springs site is 160 watts. The night power at the new site will be 138 watts. It is still very low power, but at least the coverage will in the city.

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=WCFO&service=AM

 

[jabba17]

Technical question. Could WGST use the WCFO field (or WDWD's, once it dries out), for a night signal? This goes back to my earlier idea of WGST using a directional array west of town to throw a directional signal eastward instead of their current night signal. I was just wondering if this was even technically possible, not if there were other stations that might be in the way of a strong eastwardly directional signal. Maybe WGST could use the WCFO field once WCFO switches to the WMLB stick at sunset.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

At 138 watts, they'll come in good at the Landmark Jr. on Cheshire Bridge. You'll also be able to enjoy them at the Varsity Jr.

 

[secondchoice]

WGST’s signal could be reworked. They should find some cheap, dry land as far west-northwest of Atlanta and still have city grade signal at their City of License point (I think it is a Post Office). From this new location, they could change the directional pattern at night to protect 640 WFNC Fayetteville NC and 630 WBMQ Savannah Ga. The big question is it worth CC’s money and energy. I think, just based on signal strength of their 2 big FM’s 94.9 and 96.1, they could do better. If CC is serious about talk in Atlanta check the ratings in Pittsburg PA. The FM talker WPGB is #3 (a CC station) against #1 WDVE (they are doing something better than 96 Rock!) and #2 News Talk KDKA (The First US Radio Station).

 

[taylorengineer]

You may be surprised at how well WCFO will cover the midtown/Buckhead area with 138 watts! WCFO's night signal was/is worthless at the current location - the new night signal will be much marketable.....but for what? Does Jeff Davis have a plan for some type of "Intown" format that might possibly attract listeners in the limited coverage area?
Is there ANY format for ANY AM station that will work at night besides sports and talk? Would talk, possibly some type of progressive left leaning programming work - maybe Mike Malloy? The signal would cover 100,000 or so and many would be sympathetic listeners....

 

[Art Sutton]

WGST’s signal could be reworked. They should find some cheap, dry land as far west-northwest of Atlanta and still have city grade signal at their City of License point (I think it is a Post Office). From this new location, they could change the directional pattern at night to protect 640 WFNC Fayetteville NC and 630 WBMQ Savannah Ga. The big question is it worth CC’s money and energy. I think, just based on signal strength of their 2 big FM’s 94.9 and 96.1, they could do better. If CC is serious about talk in Atlanta check the ratings in Pittsburg PA. The FM talker WPGB is #3 (a CC station) against #1 WDVE (they are doing something better than 96 Rock!) and #2 News Talk KDKA (The First US Radio Station).

WGST improving their nighttime signal would not be that simple. They no longer have to protect WBMQ since it dropped its protected nighttime coverage. There would be new limits toward WNEG on 630 in Toccoa since it now has a protected nighttime signal. However, the big limits are there are two 640s on the air in Florida at night. One in central Florida has a low limit with nearly a kilowatt at night non directional. They have to protect Fayetteville, NC, Memphis and Tri-Cities TN plus KFI skywave. When the FCC first broke down the clears, the eastern seaboard got several 640 nighttime operations. These new stations could uperate with up to 1000 watts and didn't have to protect each other for a period o f years just the dominate 640 which is KFI in Los Angeles. Now the 1000 watt stations have to protecte each other. Also, the FCC allowed US Stations to ignore the 640 in Havana Cuba which was the main reason WGST got by with just two towers and 1KW and the two 640s in Florida could get on at all. This is why WDUN in Gainesville was able to increase from 500 watts to 2500 watts on three towers. THe 550 in Cuba could be ignored. Now the FCC makes you protect Cuba again. My guess is with a tight lobe toward the southeast (Savannah) they could get 5000 to 10000 watts using five probably six towers. They still have to put a interference free contour (10 mVm) over ALL of the corporate limits of Atlanta...not just the central post office location. So now, you are looking for about 50 acres of relatively flat land in Cobb County around Smyrna. Good luck finding the land and even more luck will be needed to get a permit to build them. Clear Channel has better things to do with the fortune it would take to make it happen..i f you could. Also if you find flat land, odds are there is a creek nearby and you have to protect the water way and not disturb if it the Corp of Engineers has authority over it as was the case with the 1160 site (elevated ground radials over creek) or 1550...pine trees left along creek in middle of the four tower array.

 

[secondchoice]

Art, as I said CC would be better off to do something with their FM’s. Thank you for the info on covering the whole city. I just remember in the early 1970’s at a small station I worked, they were concerned about signal strength for their PSA and having to file some forms with the FCC because the USPO was moved into expanded city limits on the other side of the town (guess that was the whole city limits not just the PO but all I heard was the PO) during license renewal. They even measured right after a snow. Two months later they tore up the parking lot and reworked the ground system. I had to walk a dark road at 5am (being careful not to disturb the cows) to sign on for three wet and cold weeks. The new ground system did help the AM. It also helped the FM not get hit by lightning every time a cloud went by.

 

[jabba17]

Would talk, possibly some type of progressive left leaning programming work - maybe Mike Malloy? The signal would cover 100,000 or so and many would be sympathetic listeners....

Progtalk at night isn't a bad idea, considering that the expectations would be low.