WGCL FM Translator in Bloomington on 95.9

[media1170]

Hello Group,

Was in Bloomington over the weekend and heard the WTTS-FM translator ID as WGCL-FM and carrying the AMs programing. (I.D. was WGCL AM and FM. Now on FM at 95.9)
Anyone know the details of the switch over?

95.9 is co-channel Franklin. Seems unlikely the status as a translator could change.

 

[radiorob2.0]

The translator is part of the experimental STA allowing AM's to be retransmitted on an FM translator.

 

[KeithE4]

I never understood the need for a translator for 92.3 in Bloomington. I don't recall ever having trouble receiving the station anywhere in Monroe County when I lived there years ago. I notice on Google Maps that it's located at the original WTTV studio/tower. Could it be a coverage issue on the south side?

1370, however, was another story when their towers were on the far south side of the city. Their nighttime coverage north of downtown was poor.

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

To bad these guys didn't ask me for help finding a frequency. 95.9, on top of the Franklin station was not the
best choice.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

The translator was pre Franklin and has been around since the WTTV Days. "Can't pick that weak Fm up in the City of Bloomington on my tube radio....."

They could look at changing frequency but the coverage is quite good given power, etc. It appears outside the 1 mv of Franklin but does cause problems with the signal of the Class A. Drive 37 South and listen to Franklin disappear.

What a great idea to put the AM on. This is the second or third in Indiana that I know of. The use of it for the FM is a waste but technically the translator is still translator for WTTS. The STA allows use of it for the AM that "doesn't cover Bloomington at night" or in reality, doesn't have an FM signal.

The AM is a fulltime station but the city coverage comical comments are used. The first STA in place was for a station that had good coverage of it's community at night.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

I know 1520 in shelbyville has a translator on 96.5 and now WGCL has taken over for WTTS on 95.9. who is the other AM with an FM Translator.

 

[KeithE4]

To bad these guys didn't ask me for help finding a frequency. 95.9, on top of the Franklin station was not the
best choice.

Based on checking Radio-Locator and my own (fading) memory, wouldn't 93.5 or 97.5 be a better choice than 95.9?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

To bad these guys didn't ask me for help finding a frequency. 95.9, on top of the Franklin station was not the
best choice.

Very true Bruce...nobody wins when two signals slaughter each other, especially when better choices exist. That said, with a little phasing to cancel Franklin, the Bloomington translator is always audible here about 12 air miles from the Franklin station.

 

[KyDXIn]

To bad these guys didn't ask me for help finding a frequency. 95.9, on top of the Franklin station was not the
best choice.

Based on checking Radio-Locator and my own (fading) memory, wouldn't 93.5 or 97.5 be a better choice than 95.9?

I was in Bloomington the Friday after Christmas. Seemed weird hearing "Coast-to-Coast" on FM, and the calls made me think stations had flipped and changed formats.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Coast To Coast is on 93.1 WIBC many nights a week. The AM static & night time interference doesn't take long to become a distant memory once you have the FM option.

 

[KyDXIn]

Coast To Coast is on 93.1 WIBC many nights a week. The AM static & night time interference doesn't take long to become a distant memory once you have the FM option.

But listening to "Coast to coast" on a static filled AM station makes it sound like Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds", and bout as valid!

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Thats what was fun about AM DXING especially when WLS was THE BIG 89 and would be listening to it somewhere way out west or down south and here the music and jocks coming through the static from over 1000 miles away...

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I had that same feeling when my dad had us parked on top of Iroquois Park in Louisville in the early 1960's...hearing WSAI 1360/Cincinnati (in the days before 1350 WLOU was on at night) through all the skip was a thrill. Then there was the time when we went to the New York World's Fair in 1964...I couldn't wait to see if I could actually hear WABC during the day! That was a strange experience for an 11 year old as well.

 

[radiorob2.0]

I had that same feeling when my dad had us parked on top of Iroquois Park in Louisville in the early 1960's...hearing WSAI 1360/Cincinnati (in the days before 1350 WLOU was on at night) through all the skip was a thrill. Then there was the time when we went to the New York World's Fair in 1964...I couldn't wait to see if I could actually hear WABC during the day! That was a strange experience for an 11 year old as well.

In recent years I have experienced WLS during the day while traveling into Central Illinois and Indiana. This of course after the music days. The other gee, if they were only playing music experience happened the last time I traveled the barrier islands of North Carolina and was able to listen to WABC during the day. There is something about WLS, WABC or others like it booming out of your speakers while driving.

I worked with a former engineer of WGCL who lamented about its poor signal. He said they tried every receiver, antenna and method to receive the station at the studio but had little luck. Here in Owensboro, KY one of our FM translator is being used for WVJS. Despite the sob story indicated in the STA, WVJS still covers the population well. The nulls only affect areas that are farm land to the east and south southwest.

It seems like I've read this may not last very long as the FCC is reconsidering translator use for AM night time coverage.