I didn't realize that the KKXA signal hit Olympia.
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What would you do if you had the ability to buy a radio cluster in Seattle?
- Thread starter fordranger797
- Start date
I didn't realize that the KKXA signal hit Olympia.
It does, but its pretty rough. Here in Tacoma you can hear KKXA decently, but it mixes with a Portland station on 1520 in certain areas.
I second that. Were KKXA's towers closer to Puget Sound, they'd have a monster signal.
Bill's right. There are such things as NIMBYs, property values and environmental regulations, something Andy Skotdal of KRKO/KKXA knows all too well. I'm sure Puget Sound was the first place he had in mind, but such are the SNAFUs of AM radio station construction today.
Setting up a new 3-4 tower AM radio station array today is akin to setting up a 3-4 tower nuclear power plant today (again, ask Mr. Skotdal.) You can even set up your towers on Hanford property itself and somebody's going to at least complain about the VIEW.
Everywhere is "environmentally sensitive". And if you're looking at a wetland or a nice, moist area (which is where you REALLY want your AM sticks), animal and plant species you have never even HEARD of, let alone actually seen anywhere locally are GOING to be brought up at the hearings.
Might not look like much to you, maybe a wet stinky swamp or something. But it's like the Galapagos to some people.
And the march of civilization itself hasn't been too kind to AM radio. People move farther away from AM transmitter sites and into the weaker coverage areas, which means signals have to be compensated or tweaked from time to time - if it's even possible at all. Or in the case of KARR, closer and driving the property values to the point where a new subdivision was more important than a radio station no one listens to.
And that's another thing. Why do these same environmental fanatics seem to have no problem with brand new, meticulously developed subdivisions full of annoying neighbors with concrete streets the developers thoughtfully named after the trees they chopped down. But comparitively quiet places like AM radio transmitter sites are the environmental threat. (And when a GOLDEN opportunity for environmental land reclamation presented itself in Kirkland recently, where the f--- was the ELF?)
But stop and think about this:
http://www.vashonproperty.com/
How long will it be before property values get so crazy (as they are NOW) that it's financially more profitable for the conglomerates to sell out their 50,000 watt heritage AM sites on Vashon/Maury for neatly manicured rows of McMansions?
It's already happening in LA, so Seattle can't be far behind.
Luckily Vashon Land values are not what they are in Kirkland. The old KARR site is 6.3 acres with a value of 1.5 million on the king county IMAP site. It sold for 4.1 million in 2013.
In comparison the KOMO transmitter site on Vashon is 107 acres spread across 4 tax lots. King county list it at $1,637,000.
KIRO transmitter site is 33 acres on 3 tax lots, king county says they are worth $950,000. When Bonneville bought it back they paid $907,000 in 2008 to get it back from Entercom. 1090/770 transmitter site 24.96 acres (owned by Bonneville) King county says it worth $544,000. Bonneville paid $648,000 in 2008 to get it back from Entercom.
The 820/950 Salem transmitter site is 18.41 acres, King county says it's worth $255.000 Salem bought it for 2,996.974.00 in 2008 and it's the most I have seen a radio station spend for their land out here. The Salem property is home to the Rent a Goat people you see on TV sometimes, they use it to store the goats when they are not on a job
The residents of Vashon enjoy the open space the tower sites provide. KOMO has a few Deer that call the place home and is a bird watchers paradise. The KIRO property is regularly used by dog walkers, dog recue training and there are 3 bald eagles that love to swoop in and catch field mice and it's the home of one Bee hive for a hobby honey maker. 1090/770 is used to graze sheep and every one on Vashon knows it as the field with the sheep and one Lama (the Lama is a ninja Lama that watches over the sheep). Vashon also has a population control called the Ferry system that seems to keep Vashon from becoming the next Mercer Island.
And there are much better properties to peruse out here. But if someone wants to offer Sinclair 15-20 million for the KOMO Vashon property maybe they will throw in the KOMO am license along with it. The real turning point will be when the scrap value of the towers is worth more that the station license.
In comparison the KOMO transmitter site on Vashon is 107 acres spread across 4 tax lots. King county list it at $1,637,000.
KIRO transmitter site is 33 acres on 3 tax lots, king county says they are worth $950,000. When Bonneville bought it back they paid $907,000 in 2008 to get it back from Entercom. 1090/770 transmitter site 24.96 acres (owned by Bonneville) King county says it worth $544,000. Bonneville paid $648,000 in 2008 to get it back from Entercom.
The 820/950 Salem transmitter site is 18.41 acres, King county says it's worth $255.000 Salem bought it for 2,996.974.00 in 2008 and it's the most I have seen a radio station spend for their land out here. The Salem property is home to the Rent a Goat people you see on TV sometimes, they use it to store the goats when they are not on a job
The residents of Vashon enjoy the open space the tower sites provide. KOMO has a few Deer that call the place home and is a bird watchers paradise. The KIRO property is regularly used by dog walkers, dog recue training and there are 3 bald eagles that love to swoop in and catch field mice and it's the home of one Bee hive for a hobby honey maker. 1090/770 is used to graze sheep and every one on Vashon knows it as the field with the sheep and one Lama (the Lama is a ninja Lama that watches over the sheep). Vashon also has a population control called the Ferry system that seems to keep Vashon from becoming the next Mercer Island.
And there are much better properties to peruse out here. But if someone wants to offer Sinclair 15-20 million for the KOMO Vashon property maybe they will throw in the KOMO am license along with it. The real turning point will be when the scrap value of the towers is worth more that the station license.
20 to 25 acres will get you a nice 2-3 tower array. Yes KOMO does have a nice 25 acre plot they could sell that has a water view plus Mt Rainer in the background. They might get 1-2 million for. But there are several comparable parcels on the Island like it. If you added 10 houses to the Vashon Inventory I bet some will sit Vacant for 2 years before selling. For top dollar they would have to sell to someone ready to develop, otherwise it's just a land investment and until there is a way to grow ferry service to Vashon, the population grows rather slowly.
Most of the AM sites in California that sold were ready for redevelopment like the old KARR site. The pigeon point, West Seattle transmitter site for 1250 is valued at 1,391,746 for 2.07 acres. If my transmitter was at West Seattle or Bainbridge Island, I would have a backup plan. The Bainbridge Island transmitter site has housing development on 3 sides and prime beach access just down the road. I would except to see West Seattle or Bainbridge transmitter sites sell for redevelopment before any site on Vashon.
Luckily for 1250, 1590 and 1620 there is a nice transmitter farm that Bellevue City parks rents out to 880, 1150 and 1540. I'm sure they could accommodate them on the existing sticks there with some re engineering. 1250 and 1620 would be easy since they need just one tower. Or 1250, 1590 and 1620 could engineer themselves a nice new site somewhere in the swamp to accommodate night modes for 1590 and 1250 (1250 may have to reduce at night but might be able to get a decent sunset pattern). And Bellevue Parks get more money for parks.
Most of the AM sites in California that sold were ready for redevelopment like the old KARR site. The pigeon point, West Seattle transmitter site for 1250 is valued at 1,391,746 for 2.07 acres. If my transmitter was at West Seattle or Bainbridge Island, I would have a backup plan. The Bainbridge Island transmitter site has housing development on 3 sides and prime beach access just down the road. I would except to see West Seattle or Bainbridge transmitter sites sell for redevelopment before any site on Vashon.
Luckily for 1250, 1590 and 1620 there is a nice transmitter farm that Bellevue City parks rents out to 880, 1150 and 1540. I'm sure they could accommodate them on the existing sticks there with some re engineering. 1250 and 1620 would be easy since they need just one tower. Or 1250, 1590 and 1620 could engineer themselves a nice new site somewhere in the swamp to accommodate night modes for 1590 and 1250 (1250 may have to reduce at night but might be able to get a decent sunset pattern). And Bellevue Parks get more money for parks.
And what also must be considered is that the site must provide city grade coverage to City of License, and protect other stations. When KOL was on Harbor Island, it had a null towards Mason City, Iowa. That null happened to be towards Eastgate, so nighttime coverage was very poor in that direction.
And I meant 1680 KNTS on Bainbridge not 1620 KYIZ. 1590 and 1250 might want to rethink their night time pattern from the Swamp or maybe even reduced power at night (500 watts) and stay non directional might do well since your in such a lovely high population area (saves money on your electric bill and less to build out). I wonder what the population coverage would be for the Swamp versus Bainbridge or West Seattle.
Didn't they move off of Harbour Island due to the power output being hazardous to explosive materials? I would really like to know in what way the 50kw KOL signal could cause an explosion.
KKOL were fine on Harbor Island. Except for one thing. They sold the land beneath their tower to the Port decades ago and the lease was ending. So they moved to the Port of Tacoma and tried to go 50,000 watts. But the Port of Tacoma said there was too much of an explosive hazard with all the refineries around there and so they temporarily used the ship. I don't think they ever actually went 50,000 watts, did they?
Yes...they were 50K but dialed it back when the sparking at neighbor refinery started. Not sure about status of license but SINCE that point I don't think anyone has turned the POT back up to 50K. Towers still in same location, though @ Port of Tacoma.
Can a powerful signal actually ignite an explosive?
KOL was on borrowed time on Harbor Island. I worked there through the 70s The Port kept adding containers, cranes, and asphalt. The cranes interacted with our directional array, often unpredictably, and on a regular basis we had to add new ground radials prior to each new asphalt layer.
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