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WFHK 1430 Pell City Tower Collapses

WFHK 1430 Pell City:It's been a year,almost...

In a few weeks it will be a year since WFHK's 1430 tower collapsed.

So far they have not returned to the air on AM but have been on
their 94.9 translator.

Do they have a Special Temp. Authority for this?
If so,is it for an unlimited time?

Remarks heard some time ago by on-air staff implied
they were quite happy to be FM only.

Wonder how that sets with the Commission?
 
I got word from someone following the station that they were supposed to move the translator today from "water tank hill" as rtc calls it in Pell City to their old authorized location atop Bald Rock Mountain.

Is anyone in the area able to verify that change? They are not authorized as far as I know to go anywhere; the FCC site doesn't show anything new. At one time, they held permits for Bald Rock for both 30 watts and 230 watts, so it wouldn't surprise me if they went for the higher power "just because".

I'm 99% sure they shouldn't be doing this — if they really are — because Rock 94.9 was moved and put on air after the WFHK translator moved into Pell City with low power. In fact, Rock 94.9 has a CP themselves to bump up to 88 watts. Not earth shattering, but with the good tower location they can be heard clearly IN Pell City when 94.9 The River is off. If the Bald Rock site goes on air, it's going to wreak havoc over a lot of populated areas.

And yes, WFHK the AM side is STILL not broadcasting. But I guess they learned from WJLX in Jasper that you needn't operate your AM to run a translator, and all you need to do to get the FCC off your back is send in a power bill if someone complains.
 
Was out today and noticed their 94.9 appears to be a lot stronger.
No dropouts like before,good steady signal now.
Are they still going to be "The River"
or "The Bald Rock" or "The Bald River" or... .:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
rtc said:
Was out today and noticed their 94.9 appears to be a lot stronger.
No dropouts like before,good steady signal now.
Are they still going to be "The River"
or "The Bald Rock" or "The Bald River" or... .:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I have been thinking and there may be another way WFHK 94.9 The River is doing this. A translator must be fed of another signal which would be 1430 AM unless they have an STA. However, I am wondering if they might be running a 1 watt signal on 1430 ( which couldn't make it far at all ) yet 1430 the parent station would still be on the air. I also suspect 94.9 is being run at 230 watts now because that was their original construction permit.
 
tomservo said:
It's possible but I still haven't found any evidence of a STA at either the FCC out RECnet. I know the government can be slow to get those up but the AM's been of for what... Nearly a year now?
Click to expand...

This just in, new application for 94.9 in Pell City 230 watts directional ( highly east, away from 94.9 in Birmingham) translating WFHK

http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?appid=1655326&facid=150917/

Also, 94.9 in Birmingham new application 250 watts really directional west ( looks terrible on paper) translating WQEN HD 3

http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?appid=1655551&facid=158047/
 
There is no such STA. The AM station MUST have broadcast within the past 24 hours or the translator is (for all practical purposes) a pirate.
 
Rrrrzzzz419 said:
I have been thinking and there may be another way WFHK 94.9 The River is doing this. A translator must be fed of another signal which would be 1430 AM unless they have an STA. However, I am wondering if they might be running a 1 watt signal on 1430 ( which couldn't make it far at all ) yet 1430 the parent station would still be on the air. I also suspect 94.9 is being run at 230 watts now because that was their original construction permit.
Click to expand...

FM translators for AM stations are not fed with the AM signal, that'd be digustingly messy sounding. Thats a common misconception since many FM translators for FM stations are fed voer the air.

The FM translator for an AM station is generally fed in the same method the AM is, however that is done.
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
FM translators for AM stations are not fed with the AM signal, that'd be digustingly messy sounding. Thats a common misconception since many FM translators for FM stations are fed voer the air.

The FM translator for an AM station is generally fed in the same method the AM is, however that is done.
Click to expand...

I'm sure the other user is aware of that distinction. It's the source, even if it's not the same output. I have heard an AM actually feeding a translator right off the air and it didn't sound very good at all. But it was passable and nobody complained. HD stations feeding FM translators are the same way, which explains why translators fed by HD feeds are always six+ seconds ahead of the feed they're supposedly carrying.
 
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