wche

[RunWithScissors]

Are they operating under their new CP, I was able to pick them up in Center City today, they never had any signal in Philly, they now call themselves Static Radio and they were playing a song by Traffic at around 2:30pm, yes Traffic, are they now a Rock station, is X-czn jock Sal April still with them....

 

[RandyDascher]

RunWithScissors,
We will be broadcasting at 1000 watts very soon. You must have heard us during a test.
Sal April no longer works for WCHE. I meet him in 1998 and he was a really nice guy.
We are now a rock station playing a lot of obscure stuff like Soul Coughing, Beck, G Love, Fiona Apple, Bloodhound Gang, Fun Lovin' Criminals, White Stripes, etc.
Thanks for checkin' us out,
Randy Dascher
Program Director
1520 AM WCHE
West Chester
Where The Static Is
www.wche1520.com

 

[RunWithScissors]

Thanks for the info Randy, hey same first name...I must of caught you on a test because I tried today and KB was blasting in, yesterday you were loud and clear. It was nice to hear Traffic (Winwood, Mason, Capaldi and Wood) on the radio once again, I guess when you power up I can listen in the South Philly area, do you think you will stream on-line in time. Rock on AM sounds very interesting and exciting.

 

[amfmsw]

Good Luck! It reminds me of WSAN 1470 Allentown when I was in tech school. I LOVED the AOR on AM, even through the noise in Pottstown.

 

[fred flintstone]

Doesn't West Chester University have a student radio station?
Oh, wait! They do. It's on FM, too.
Carrier current in the dorms would be more listenable than The Big Cheese (more accurately, the stale moldy cheese).
Obscure rock on AM? This is the dumb radio idea of the century.
Here's a better idea: Give the license back to the FCC. Cut down on interference and clutter on AM radio.
Stations like Cheese and "WAMS" are like weeds - crab grass - strangling real AM stations.
Speaking of real AM stations, you can hear traffic every 10 minutes on KYW.

 

[buzzrockradio]

I am looking forward to listening to this station. Seems like a good idea.

 

[TheRadioPolice]

Carrier current in the dorms would be more listenable than The Big Cheese (more accurately, the stale moldy cheese).
Obscure rock on AM? This is the dumb radio idea of the century.

I'm still wondering why there are people who insist on "peeing in somebody's Wheaties."

WCHE has been in stasis for quite some time. The move to 1000 watts (from 250) and rock programming is a real innovation in an industry dominated by a corporate-run lack of creativity. Yes, it's a risky move, but something that could really work if it's sold correctly. An under-served market (alternative rock) with a small station filling the gap? At least it's not brokered BS or phony religion. Good for them!

I know Randy and he has a near encyclopedic knowledge of this kind of music. He has grown as an air personality over the years I think this could be a very interesting and exciting move. An independent station trying something different? This is the way radio used to be.

Randy Dascher has been a great influence on the station, along with Jay Shur, the owner. Since the death of David Shur, who owned the station along with his brother, the station has made some nice improvements. This will be extremely interesting. Beats the hell out of rehashing WPHT's (new??) schedule to death.

Good luck to WCHE!
Steve Bryant

 

[fred flintstone]

I'm still wondering why there are people who insist on "peeing in somebody's Wheaties."

Some pee on Wheaties.
Some will do infomercials or home shopping pitches for pee on Wheaties.

 

[TheRadioPolice]

Some pee on Wheaties.
Some will do infomercials or home shopping pitches for pee on Wheaties.

Yes, Fred, I have done and continue to do television infomercials. I hate to disappoint you, but I don't do infomercials for any ingestible products. Too many legal issues. I'll leave you to your "breakfast of champions."

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

Way to go WCHE, i hope the testing goes succesfully.

I wish you guys streamed, Id definately listen....

 

[RandyDascher]

I would like to thank you all for your support:
Mr. Russo (we hope to be streaming soon), amfmsw, buzzrockradio, Mr. Bryant (our little audience really enjoyed your Mel Gibson parody) and Mr.Walker.
As for fred flintstone, according to radio-locator.com, WCUR has a 5 mile local coverage area and WCHE will have a 20 mile local coverage area when we go to 1000 watts. Also, what "real AM station" are we strangling?
Randy Dascher
1520 AM WCHE

 

[fred flintstone]

AM has become an over-grown patch.
The only way to save AM is drastic pruning.
Get rid of all Class D/Local stations and all stations licensed since the 1941 Havana Treaty.
Re-allocate frequencies for greater spacing and allow increased brandwidth (modulation) for each station.
Allow I-A stations to increase power to 500K. and keep clear channels clear.

Remaining AM stations must operate under old rules, including ownership caps and requirements for local-live programming.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

You're very old fashioned Fred. WHile I agree with some of that, it'll never happen.

I hope you let us ALL know when you guys have streaming up.

 

[Captain Happy]

Music on Am in chester county, sounds great. I hope they try to grab some of WCOJ's audience as far as local listenership goes.
I really don't know much about WCHE, except where it's located and what they used to do. I hate Ira and Kevin Jaibber and hope WCOJ goes for a dirt nap. anything else local is better

 

[WTUX]

We know music on AM is dead. Particularly if there is an FM alternative anywhere within ear shot. But if a format is unavailable, there is a chance to build a cult following. And if it manages to attract ad revenue, an FM may pick up the format. It's worth a shot.

 

[fred flintstone]

Speaking of alternative on FM -- and school stations -- isn't WXPN alternative (at least some of the time)?

 

[RunWithScissors]

I don't buy the myth FM is superior than AM when it comes to listeners. If there is a format on AM that FM does not have available the AM station will have the listeners. A good example is WMID vs WTKU, only if the formats are the exact same, FM will win out, due to overall sound quality, strength and mind set, "hey its FM, supposed to be better than AM". I know for a fact many people would rather listen to Hard Rock or Country Classics on AM, than Rap and Hip Hop on FM, if that is their musical taste. Why listen to a format you cannot stand on FM when its available on AM. I commend WCHE for trying this, and I hope other AM'ers would try it with a variety of untapped formats. With the signal and area coverage of WCHE, if they can have a 2,000 to 5,000 listener base that would be incredicble, I am sure they will surpass that. Just hope the signal makes it into Philly, count me in as a full time listener and many others.

 

[Don Niles]

Isn't the 1540 in Philly going to make listening to 1520 there pretty difficult..Then you've got KB to contend with,too.

 

[Rockin Rob]

I suppose all the carping about WCHE is because *gasp* THEY'RE PLAYING ROCK!!! Oh, God forbid....what shall the dance kiddies do? All stations should be some form of dance, rap, or hip hop. How did we let this happen? HAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAH!!! OK, so it is AM ... ya gotta give a little.

I say kudos to Randy and the crew at WCHE.

 

[RunWithScissors]

Isn't the 1540 in Philly going to make listening to 1520 there pretty difficult..Then you've got KB to contend with,too.

Believe it or not, south of C.C. there is no bleed from 1540 on 1520, when the WCHE signal is not there, you hear nothing, except KB on occasion during the day, especially in early morning hours, KB is coming in. If WCHE can put a decent signal into the area, 1540 will have little impact, unless you are near the Roxbourough/Manayunk areas.