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Will WMAL AM be downgraded?

Any time you move, you have to consider how it will affect other stations on the same frequency. So there's a lot to consider. But the land value makes it impossible to pass up. I'm surprised it lasted this long.
 
joebtsflk1 said:
If AM and FM are a simulcast, then WMAL on 630 is a "dead man walking". Cumulus couldn't be bothered trying to diplex WMAL on another facility.
Click to expand...

It's not that simple. The FM is a suburban Woodbridge facility, and does not cover the northern and NE parts of the metro well.
 
semoochie said:
Aren't those frequencies too close together to diplex?
Click to expand...

Good point. Probably are, although they have done ones that close in Hawai'i... but those are all non-directional.

Next best would be the 980 facility, but I don't know where that one is.
 
DavidEduardo said:


Good point. Probably are, although they have done ones that close in Hawai'i... but those are all non-directional.

Next best would be the 980 facility, but I don't know where that one is.
Click to expand...

I haven't been able to find anything regarding frequency separation for diplex operation. My guess is that if it's too close, it can't meet specs.
 
DavidEduardo said:


Good point. Probably are, although they have done ones that close in Hawai'i... but those are all non-directional.

Next best would be the 980 facility, but I don't know where that one is.
Click to expand...

WXYG 540, WBHR 660, WVAL 800 and WMIN 1010 are four Class B DA2s. They are located in Sauk Rapids, MN. All four stations are diplexed into a seven tower array that works for all four stations on all patterns. Don't ask me how he did it but they are all on air and sounding good!

He can diplex 630 on 570's towers if it can be done!
 
iyiyi said:
WXYG 540, WBHR 660, WVAL 800 and WMIN 1010 are four Class B DA2s. They are located in Sauk Rapids, MN. All four stations are diplexed into a seven tower array that works for all four stations on all patterns. Don't ask me how he did it but they are all on air and sounding good!

He can diplex 630 on 570's towers if it can be done!
Click to expand...

High-Q networks. The issue is resultant bandwidth.
 
570 and 980 are both owned by Red Zebra. So maybe they use 980.

WTEM's transmitter site is in the Anacostia part of DC, near Rosa Parks school.

I think it's just a two tower array, so they may need to do some construction.
 
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frankberry said:
The frequencies may be too close together to diplex them.
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IIRC, Alan Roycroft had KORL 650 and KGMB 590 on the same Honolulu tower.
 
iyiyi said:
WXYG 540, WBHR 660, WVAL 800 and WMIN 1010 are four Class B DA2s. They are located in Sauk Rapids, MN. All four stations are diplexed into a seven tower array that works for all four stations on all patterns. Don't ask me how he did it but they are all on air and sounding good!

He can diplex 630 on 570's towers if it can be done!
Click to expand...

None of those frequencies seem to close to each other. Putting together a workable electrical height may be another matter.
 
semoochie said:
None of those frequencies seem to close to each other. Putting together a workable electrical height may be another matter.
Click to expand...

The 570 towers would be assumed to be the right height and more. 570 is 526 meters and 630 is 476 meters. The WSPZ towers are 83º high, so they would be much nearer 90º for 630. The WTEM towers are almost perfectly 90º at 980, so they would be short but likely acceptable at the Commission since they are really aware of the issues affecting AM sites today.

I believe WMAL was an original 5 kw day 1 kw night non-D regional station. I wonder if they might consider going back to that facility using one of a number of single sticks that could be available. The new night rules might drop them to under 1 kw, but they do now have an FM to cover the areas they might lose.

Or perhaps they could do a KRLA and use a wire dropped from a guy as a second tower to create a directional pattern. I think they have quite a few options with creative engineering.
 
I can also assume that they would not have started the process if they did not have a plan. We just don't really know what it is.
 
When I was CE of Red Zebra a study was commissioned by Citadel to see if WMAL could move to our 570 site in Germantown, MD. With the existing towers, the study showed that it wouldn't be an issue to move there with 10kw D, 5kw Night - without losing much coverage during the daytime hours. This was even before 105.9 became a factor.

David - while 105.9 is licensed to Woodbridge, the stick literally sits on the beltway in Annandale Virginia, and the monaural signal of WMAL-FM covers the metro area without issue.

I was actually under the impression that ABC/Disney kept the transmitter site in their holdings, but land records show the property to be owned by "DC Radio Assets LLC" - which, of course, is Cumulus.

Roth
 
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