The signal for the "Q" at 106.9 FM is very spotty. It "pops" in and out with a "buzzing" sound. I seem to remember that there was a a "repeater" at 106.9 FM that boosted a signal from the Pahrump valley and also in the southern Henderson area. It was a religious formatted station. It seems like it is jamming the signal for the "Q". Any ideas? ???
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What's going on with the Q's signal at 106.9 FM?
- Thread starter kenb
- Start date
To Demodave, The signal definitely goes up and down -- some days when I'm on Valley Verde and 215 area, there is no signal, except the buzzing. Then as I drive north on Valley Verde and reach Sunset the music and the station pops in. I have this mental picture which is crazy, because it is like the hamsters are running faster in their wheels, generating output power and the music power is cranked up. I'm wondering, do they split the antenna output with 670 AM? When the AM cuts power, is their more output for the FM side?
I tuned into 106.9 and I am happy to report that they have improved the signal now to the southern part of the valley. No more dropouts in the Henderson area as of 5/7/10.
It's funny to listen to the station say they play the music of the 70's & 80's, but include early/mid 60's stuff. But it is the 60's stuff that keeps me tuning in. Otherwise I would be gone! The 70's & 80's are available on plenty of other stations in town.
They have an interesting mix of music that is upbeat and is worth setting a button to!
It's funny to listen to the station say they play the music of the 70's & 80's, but include early/mid 60's stuff. But it is the 60's stuff that keeps me tuning in. Otherwise I would be gone! The 70's & 80's are available on plenty of other stations in town.
They have an interesting mix of music that is upbeat and is worth setting a button to!
The music on the Q has been all over the place since it was AM-only, and is only marginally improving. No one who appreciates a live Springsteen or Clash track, is going to stay around for "This Will Be," and vice versa. They need to pick a format, drop the automation, and hire some live, local talent. Otherwise it's little more than "Jack Lite." It is a no-brainer considering the lame choices listeners have in Las Vegas at the moment.
Consider where the Q is on the dial... 105.7-- the Oasis trying to build an audience is also all over the place, depending when you tune in... Sunny 106.5 which is boring and then the alternative rockers 107.5 & 107.9. The Q is sandwiched in that crowded corner of the FM dial. I think they are right to make a little noise. I would like them to play more 60's music. I enjoyed hearing SKY PILOT by Eric Burdon, BROWN EYED GIRL by Van Morrison, WINDY by the Association and then jumping into stuff from the 70's that I haven't heard for awhile. They can leave the 80's behind...
Organizer, I am that rare person who likes both the Clash and Natalie Cole. London Calling is one of my favorite albums of all time. "This Will Be" is a great song but it got overexposed as the theme song to the e-harmony commercials...every ounce of "oh wow" has been drained from that song. But I do agree with you, 106.9 is too wide. They do need to pick a format. I would either go older or younger. These are what I think are their two best options.
Oldies. 60s based with some 70s. Kenb would love this, so would many others. Use the taboo word "oldies" to give the station a clear identity. Yes the demos would be older. But we are not talking about an established signal here. This is an obscure station that nobody listens to...this format would give them an audience and put them on the map. If they market the station they could grab some of KKLZs audience that doesn't want 80s in the mix. Perhaps they could run Scott Shannon's "True Oldies Channel" (which has been top 10 25-54 in Chicago in recent months). It would be cheap to run and give them some personality.
Or I would go in the opposite direction and do a 90s based "Gen X" or "Rewind Radio" format. This is a very trendy format to flip to right now. KVGS has been playing a lot of 90s recently but they also play currents so this would be different. Plus the Rewind format isn't limited to alternative, it plays all the hits from that era. It would have to be marketed so listeners know it exists but this format could be big right from the start, plus the demos would be prime. The only downside I can see is that after a while it could burn out the way that all-80s formats did.
Oldies. 60s based with some 70s. Kenb would love this, so would many others. Use the taboo word "oldies" to give the station a clear identity. Yes the demos would be older. But we are not talking about an established signal here. This is an obscure station that nobody listens to...this format would give them an audience and put them on the map. If they market the station they could grab some of KKLZs audience that doesn't want 80s in the mix. Perhaps they could run Scott Shannon's "True Oldies Channel" (which has been top 10 25-54 in Chicago in recent months). It would be cheap to run and give them some personality.
Or I would go in the opposite direction and do a 90s based "Gen X" or "Rewind Radio" format. This is a very trendy format to flip to right now. KVGS has been playing a lot of 90s recently but they also play currents so this would be different. Plus the Rewind format isn't limited to alternative, it plays all the hits from that era. It would have to be marketed so listeners know it exists but this format could be big right from the start, plus the demos would be prime. The only downside I can see is that after a while it could burn out the way that all-80s formats did.
B
bilco
Guest
Actually the FM and AM's never share power, although they may share a tower. They are completely independent and FM's have no day/night power division.kenb said:
Sounds to me like common receiver induced intermodulation interference due to dial crowding by stations trying to shoehorn into the LV market. That's called a rimshot station.
Bilco
Jay F said:
If you compare 96.3 KKLZ with WLS-FM, you'll find that WLS has tipped the balance into the 70's this year, and the percentage of pre-65 stuff is much lower. In other words, they position on the air as oldies, but they are pretty much a classic hits format.
Since WLS-FM can't stay inside the top 10 25-54 (I'd put money on them being 11th or 12th in the next book release simply because that is the historic high end for them) it indicates a need to get a bit more 70's in feel.
Las Vegas is a slightly younger town, and has a huge percentage of less acculturated Hispanics, both of which make a 60's play a pretty dim bulb... particularly since there KKLZ is there with big shares, often #1 in 25-54 and validating the 70's premise. There is not enough local business to sustain a 60+ format, as the original Jewel found, despite top 12+ ratings for years.
I disagree, The Las Vegas valley has a younger, hip crowd and Hispanics, but don't forget the folks who moved here to retire. I think if the "oldies" station or "Jewel" type station were to have solid upbeat oldies from the late 50's, 60's and early-mid 70's . They could do well. I'm not talking just playing the tired/overplayed top 300 hits of all time, but expanding the list to 1500-2500 great oldies from a larger period of time. Add some djs with rapid fire "excitement" to their delivery and bring back the old time flavor of the original TOP 40 RADIO. Don't forget the acapella jingle package linking it all together. Then, throw in to the mix some big contests that will draw listeners in. Yes, KKLZ is doing great in the ratings and in most markets, from looking at the ratings, most "Classic Hits" stations are near the top in the targeted demographics. If you have old ratings books, KOOL 93.1 was also at/near the top in the same demographics, before they abandoned their listeners and changed to the "Party" format. It is music that appeals to a broad audience. I'm just asking for a niche "oldies" type station that makes you feel good, rather than boring you to death.
kenb said:
There are plenty of examples of stations that "do well" in 12+ ratings, but when most of the listeners are 55+ or 65+, they do horribly in sales. The #1 12+ station in the Tampa Bay area is about 14th in billings, because it is, strange coincidence, 14th in 25-54 listening. That station is trying to update itself, but they are a good example of how stations that don't appeal much to 25-54 are seldom more than minimally successful
And if you look at the American Community Survey (ACS) data updated to last year, you see that Las Vegas does not have an older median or an older average age than Chicago (with which another poster made a station to station comparison).
You will find that stations like 96.3 average around 600 songs with 80% concentrated in about a 15 year spread.
There are not 1,500 to 2,000 songs that any significant number of listeners want to hear today. And with the PPM, playing songs that significant numbers of listeners don't want to hear is mortal. The issue, as has been explained here many times, is that stations play songs that are hits today... if a song was a hit 40 years ago, but is unappealing today, it is no longer a hit.
Whether it would work or not, this is an expensive operation which would get, maybe, a 0.8 in 25-54. How would it sustain itself? Pledge drives? ;D
Remember, Top 40, while very broad in appeal in the 60's, was by no means liked by all. And many people who liked it back then have moved on now, and don't want a lot of old songs. So the appeal of the format, no matter how it is presented, is not universal or anything close to universal in the age group that might be targeted. Some, in fact, never liked that music as they were country fans or partisans of some other kind of music.
They were not even top 10... and mostly not even top 15... in the 2005-2006 pre-Party era. The demos they had were not sales demos.
And, again, how is this going to be profitable for a station owner. This is a very visible format, and were it viable, somebody would try it. But 96.3 will own the sales demos, and whoever might do 60's oldies will own a niche they can't sell profitably.
I understand the points you are making David. But this particular station..106.9 has no audience at all and probably never will if they keep their current format. It's like a JACK FM except much wider with everything from 60s oldies to 90s alternative. They are mom and pop owned and on a rimshot signal. They would have a difficult time competing against the major players with a mainstream format. So wouldn't having an older audience be better than no listeners at all?
David,
Without a doubt.....that was the best explanation for the current state of the Classic Hits/Oldies format I have heard from anyone yet! Wee done. KKLZ is doing exactly what they should be doing...very very similar to WOGL out here in PA....hmmm, doesn't Beasley own 92.5 WXTU in Philly?! An interesting coincidence.
Kevin
Without a doubt.....that was the best explanation for the current state of the Classic Hits/Oldies format I have heard from anyone yet! Wee done. KKLZ is doing exactly what they should be doing...very very similar to WOGL out here in PA....hmmm, doesn't Beasley own 92.5 WXTU in Philly?! An interesting coincidence.
Kevin
Jay F said:
The problem is that KVGQ does not have a 64 dbu signal over any significant area of population in the metro.
64 dbu is where about 95% of the in home and at work listening occurs; people only go out of their way to listen outside of that signal area when a format is quite different... such as classical. But, with 96.3 in the market, there is not much reason for most people to listen to a really bad signal.
And, with a bad signal and the wrong demographics, there is little or no sales potential. Remember, there is essentially no 55+ business from agencies and large accounts... so with or without any listeners, a 55+ station is going to be limited to a few direct accounts, and with the signal, will likely not get results for them anyway.
Ok you guys, I'll admit it, I'm an old guy at 59. I still love all the oldies I grew up with, went to college with, listened to at work and commuting. I draw from all the various decades from the 50's and on up. My favorite period is late 50's thru the 70's, but I will tolerate all kinds of music. When I lived in San Diego, I listened to LA radio stations about 65-70 miles away and so the stations were on the weak side, to where I lived at the time. Yeah, they faded in and were "spotty" in certain areas, with dropouts, but I still listened because they were the niche station that played the right songs that I wanted to hear. I feel like 106.9 is like the "the little station that could". Jack FM has good signal power, but I don't like the mix. At least 106.9, the Jewel and even 1280 on the weekends play most of the music I want to hear. And yes, I do listen to 96.3 and 105.7 at times. I won't hold it against 106.9 , that their signal is weak. I like variety and push the button to hear something better, then I come back or put on my own MP3 player.
I WAS TRYING TO LISTEN TO HOT 97.5 IN LAS VEGAS ONLINE I NOTICE THEY ARE BROADCASTING Q 106.9 FOR AWHILE NOW WHEN I CLICK LISTEN LIVE THE SERVER CANT BE FOUND AT ALL ARE THEY CHANGING HOT 97.5 IN VEGAS?
To me, the Q is what Ted Tucker has done with KCDX outside of Phoenix... the only difference is that Ted's hard drive is filled with old album rock songs instead of old pop songs. But it serves the same purpose: it keeps the station on the air while they figure out how to move it closer to civilization.
I found it when in town for NAB and stream it often... I recognize pretty much every song that they play and you never know what you're going to get next, so it's good to have on at my desk.
But don't hold your breath trying to pick up the 99.3 in Phoenix...
I found it when in town for NAB and stream it often... I recognize pretty much every song that they play and you never know what you're going to get next, so it's good to have on at my desk.
But don't hold your breath trying to pick up the 99.3 in Phoenix...
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