WDFH 90.3 Ossining Sold to WNYC

[Barry]

My guess is that most reading this have never heard of WDFH. It has been Westchester County's only community radio station for many years, and has presented a wide variety of programming. But they had perennial struggles raising funds.
AllAccess reports this morning that this low power station has been sold to New York Public Radio, which is basically WNYC, for $400,000. The article did not state whether WDFH will be used to rebroadcast WNYC or WQXR. I believe that neither station has difficulty reaching the Ossining area.
As a low power FM, WDFH probably had a rather small audience, though they do broadcast online.

Westchester's Only Public Radio Station: http://www.wdfh.org/

 

[luperm]

Seems like a good, productive use for the frequency. WDFH never really got all that much traction as a "community" radio station. It should be a decent compliment to WQXR which starts to deteriorate in Central Westchester.

 

[Barry]

I would be surprised if WDFH's weak signal will help a significant number of people get better reception of WQXR or WNYC.

 

[WNTIRadio]

It's a small signal, but it wouldn't hurt WQXR at all to be on it. It reaches an area where the demographic for WQXR lives and/or WNYC.

To me, it would make the most sense to put QXR on it, but who knows.

Sure, it's Radio-Locator, so it isn't scientific, but at least within the red circle (which is supposedly the 60dBu on RL) it will provide better reception. Especially on the north side of the coverage.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WDFH&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

 

[Barry]

The deal makes more sense with the additional information provided by RadioInsight, Their article states that WNYC has applied to the FCC to increase the power of WDFH from 53 to 250 watts. The sale is said to be contingent on approval of this power boost.
So it is possible the sale will not actually occur. In any case, it could take a while.

RadioInfo: http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/81878/wqxr-expands-northward/

 

[Jeffrey]

there is certainly no need to rebroadcast WNYC in that area which has a very solid signal. While I have no personal experience in listening to WQXR in that area it would appear that northern Westchester might have some issues with reception. I think the signal would compliment WQXR as a whole and offer further reach into what would certainly be one of it's prime listen areas, demographically speaking.

 

[FLjack2]

Don't you find it strange that WQXR, on their website, does not even mention the frequency they are on?

http://www.wqxr.org/

The only place I see 105.9 is WAY at the very bottom, as part of the logo. And it's really small.

 

[Barry]

Linked below is the announcement by WQXR:

Sale announcement: http://www.wqxr.org/#!/blogs/wqxr-blog/2013/may/02/wqxr-files-application-purchase-westchester-county-station/

 

[MoldaMania182]

Linked below is the announcement by WQXR:

Sale announcement: http://www.wqxr.org/#!/blogs/wqxr-blog/2013/may/02/wqxr-files-application-purchase-westchester-county-station/

WQXW. I assume the W is for Westchester.

 

[luperm]

there is certainly no need to rebroadcast WNYC in that area which has a very solid signal. While I have no personal experience in listening to WQXR in that area it would appear that northern Westchester might have some issues with reception. I think the signal would compliment WQXR as a whole and offer further reach into what would certainly be one of it's prime listen areas, demographically speaking.

WQXR is not received very well in Northern Westchester. It will be a welcome addition.

 

[Ai4i]

When KDFC was transferred to a foundation and lost their big 102.1 signal, they gobbled up small stations and translators as a way of regaining as much of their base as possible.
Technically, 'DFH is a full power class A with full legal rights, as a class B or C would have.
A 7db boost would move WQXW's red curve ¾ of the way toward the purple and the purple curve ¾ of the way to the blue one.
Theirs and WQXR's 60dbu curves would meet near White Plains.

 

[Jeffrey]

Don't you find it strange that WQXR, on their website, does not even mention the frequency they are on?

http://www.wqxr.org/

The only place I see 105.9 is WAY at the very bottom, as part of the logo. And it's really small.

It is strange and WNYC doesn't mention their frequency either. Very odd indeed.

 

[Barry]

With WNYC apparently confident that the FCC will approve a boost in WDFH's signal to 250 watts, I wonder why the station had to settle for 53 watts during its time on the air.

 

[brian.marchand]

I can not find the story on the WQXR blog.

 

[luperm]

With WNYC apparently confident that the FCC will approve a boost in WDFH's signal to 250 watts, I wonder why the station had to settle for 53 watts during its time on the air.

My guess is that the WDFH folks did not have the resources to do the work required.
It could also require a directional antenna, which would further add to the cost.

BTW...I did not see the story on the WQXR blog either....

 

[Ai4i]

Oh yeah, that little
WQXR
105.9 FM
WQXR.ORG
down there!

 

[Barry]

With WNYC apparently confident that the FCC will approve a boost in WDFH's signal to 250 watts, I wonder why the station had to settle for 53 watts during its time on the air.

My guess is that the WDFH folks did not have the resources to do the work required.
It could also require a directional antenna, which would further add to the cost.

BTW...I did not see the story on the WQXR blog either....

The page on the WDFH website that is devoted to their signal coverage indicates they have been using a directional signal. WDFH needs to protect 3 other stations on 90.3 that are in the area. They are in Mahwah NJ, Garden City NY, and Westport CT.
Yes, it appears that the article on the proposed sale has been removed from the WQXR blog. There is also apparently no mention of it on the WDFH website.

WDFH Signal Page: http://www.wdfh.org/coveragemap.jpg

 

[Ai4i]

That would explain why none of us have been able to find that mystery vanishing link.
WNYC/WQXR translation: oh oh, never mind, just kidding.

 

[pjc1961]

Inside Radio's article about the (potential? actual?) sale linked here: http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=2648377#.UYWcIb01eSo

 

[SonoSational18]

My guess is that WDPH only wanted to cover their local community. Normally a Class a has to operate witH at least 100w, but with a HAAT of 455 ft., probably the equivalent of 53w at 100 meters. They already are directional.