WJJD

[DanStrassberg]

we signed off for 15 minutes at 7:00 AM to allow some station out West to sign on.

Fascinating history, but why sign off to allow a station out West to sign on? The dominate Class A was KSL with its 50-gallons. I understand about "critical hours" but don't understand why WJJD would have to sign off for 15 minutes for a sign on a time zone away. A pattern change only takes seconds and doesn't affect much after sunrise in your time zone. Just curious. I worked at a station with a half dozen pattern changes a day, but never signed off. I remember power changes, too, but haven't heard of this.

A half dozen pattern changes a day? I don't think so. A Class B AM located west of the primary co-channel Class A on one of the few channels on which the primary class A operates at night with its daytime facilities until local sunset at the secondary co-channel Class A (examples: 1530, 1560) could have a lot of pattern/power changes over course of 24 hours, but SIX per day? I dunno. I think the worst scenario would be the following:

Class B sunrise
Two hours after Class B sunrise
Two hours before Class B sunset
Class B sunset
Secondary Class A sunset

I believe that there may be a 1560 station in KY with a schedule that complicated, but that's still only five pattern changes per 24 hour period. WQEW is the primary class A on 1560; KNZR is the secondary Class A. The Class B in question is the KY station. Maybe the extension of the end of Daylight Saving time into early November (went into effect in 2007, I believe) could add another early-morning pattern change to this schedule. If so, I believe it would apply only during the first few days of November. I must confess that haven't figured that out;>( Hasn't the FCC made an exception and allowed October sunrise times to be used from November 1 until the end of DST?

 

[Prais]

Dan,
You may be right, today...but we are talking about the 1950's, here. Unsure of the rules and the technology back then.

 

[oaktree]

The old WAMS in Wilmington, Dan. I worked there on Sundays where I started before going fulltime and seeing both pattern and power changes several times a day in the late 60s and early to mid 70s. On Sundays, due to Zarapath, NJ, in fact, also on 1380. I know Dave Williams remembers. In fact, I remember a "power/pattern change day" that was done just for grins, I believe, after the new tower fifth tower went up.

I was also there the day the reference tower fell during my shift.

 

[w9wi]

Also at that time, I believe KSL signed off from 12:00am-6:00am local time (MST).
I also recall hearing about some caveat that if other stations on the same freq.
didn't object, your station could power up--or in this case, sign-on, at 4:00am
local time. Since KSL was off the air, I guess they couldn't object.

That sort of makes me wonder, since WJJD was a "limited time" station (L-KSL),
why they just didn't come back on the air at 1:00am CST/2:00am CDT, after
KSL signed off for the overnight.

"Limited time" stations located east of the "dominant" station are allowed to operate during local daytime; until sunset at the dominant station; and during any nighttime hours the dominant station doesn't use. At the time most stations signed off the air for a few hours every night.

I would imagine WJJD didn't sign back on at 1am CST for the same reason KSL didn't operate all night: they didn't figure it was economically worthwhile.

_________________________________________________

I'm pretty confident, from most listings I've read, that WJJD was DA-1 (same pattern day and night) until they finally received permission to operate all night a few years ago.

Not entirely certain why they were directional. Seems to me the limited-time requirement took care of protection for KSL. There weren't any other stations on the frequency to be protected in the 1930s/1940s/1950s. My best guess is they were protecting adjacent-channel WISN Milwaukee, which was on 1150 until the mid-1960s. (and was also DA-1)

_________________________________________________

With regard to the cited listing on WJJD on 1130 in the 1930s, the vast majority of radio stations changed frequency in late March of 1941.
See http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20Radex/Radex%20140%20November%20December%201940%20All.pdf
The point was to expand the band to 1600KHz (it had ended at 1500 except for experimental "hi-fi" operations) and open up some clear channels for Canada & Mexico.

Both KSL and WJJD moved from 1130 to 1160 on that date. Other Chicago stations also moved -- WBBM from 770 to 780; WLS (and WENR) from 870 to 890; WCFL from 970 to 1000; etc... Only WIND, WMAQ, and WGN stayed put.

 

[Prais]

w9wi said, My best guess is they were protecting adjacent-channel WISN Milwaukee, which was on 1150 until the mid-1960s. (and was also DA-1)

In the mid-60's wisn went from 10kw (maybe 5) to 50kw. I remember the big back cover ad iin Broadcasting Magazine. I think WJJD's directional signal went WEST of Milwaukee - maybe Southwet. WJJD always spoke about listeners in Minnesota, back then.

Just thinkin'

 

[oldiesfan6479]

In the mid-60's wisn went from 10kw (maybe 5) to 50kw.

WISN moved from 1150 with 5 kw-U, DA-1 to 1130 with 50 kw-D/10 kw-N, DA-2.

I don't know if that enabled WJJD to alter its pattern any, however I recall three
stations then on 1130 (Milwaukee plus Detroit and Minnie) all had night patterns
where the main lobe shot north in order to protect each other, and I suppose to
stay out of Shreveport's (class 1-B) way also.

 

[radioman148]

Ballard road transmitter site in the 50's is correct. I visited shortly after wjjd changed from top 40 to beautiful music. It was in a house -with the xmtr in the basement.

They also had a office/studio downtown as well (see prior post) during the top 40 years.

By the time they switched to country, it all came from Ballard.

Prior transmitter site was at "Moosehart", sw of Chicago in Dupage County, where I believe wjjd had lower power and played "hillbilly" (not country) music starting in the morning with Randy Blake.

When I first listened to WJJD in the late 50s they were located downtown and their phone number was State 2-5466.
In the 60s they moved the studios to Des Plaines and their number was Cypress 9-3301.
Does anyone know what year they built the Des Plaines transmitter site?

 

[cyberdad]

w9wi said, My best guess is they were protecting adjacent-channel WISN Milwaukee, which was on 1150 until the mid-1960s. (and was also DA-1)

In the mid-60's wisn went from 10kw (maybe 5) to 50kw. I remember the big back cover ad iin Broadcasting Magazine. I think WJJD's directional signal went WEST of Milwaukee - maybe Southwet. WJJD always spoke about listeners in Minnesota, back then.

Just thinkin'

I'm pretty sure 'JD was using the same pattern in the '60s as their current daytime pattern. I don't think there were any changes to the pattern at all....including any critical hours or pre-sunrise type stuff to protect KSL.

As for WISN, my guess is that their pattern was likely designed to protect WJJD, not the other way around. There was also an 1150 in Rockford....WJRL, which operated with 500 watts....probably with a DA (you'd lose it by the time you got to Belvedere). WISN moved to 1130 in early 1965, and WJRL...a nice little top 40 station....went bye-bye at around the same time.

 

[radioman148]

w9wi said, My best guess is they were protecting adjacent-channel WISN Milwaukee, which was on 1150 until the mid-1960s. (and was also DA-1)

In the mid-60's wisn went from 10kw (maybe 5) to 50kw. I remember the big back cover ad iin Broadcasting Magazine. I think WJJD's directional signal went WEST of Milwaukee - maybe Southwet. WJJD always spoke about listeners in Minnesota, back then.

Just thinkin'

I'm pretty sure 'JD was using the same pattern in the '60s as their current daytime pattern. I don't think there were any changes to the pattern at all....including any critical hours or pre-sunrise type stuff to protect KSL.

As for WISN, my guess is that their pattern was likely designed to protect WJJD, not the other way around. There was also an 1150 in Rockford....WJRL, which operated with 500 watts....probably with a DA (you'd lose it by the time you got to Belvedere). WISN moved to 1130 in early 1965, and WJRL...a nice little top 40 station....went bye-bye at around the same time.

I remember both the Rockford & Milwaukee 1150s. In both places you could hear JJD but greatly reduced.

 

[BOBBY.B]

WHEN WJJD WENT OFF THE AIR AT 10;00pm. DURING JUNE AND JULY. I WOULD THAN TURN TO WGES FOR LUCKY CORDEL.FOR IT WAS A PART TIME R&B STATION. IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO GET MY FIX AFTER WJJD WENT OFF. THIS WAS THE LATE 50'S' OR TRY TO GET THE DOWN SOUTH STATION'S PLAYING THE BLUES. OR ROCKABILLY AT THAT TIME. ANYTHING THAT HAD A STRONG BEAT. HAVE A GREAT DAY. BOBBY

 

[DanStrassberg]

The old WAMS in Wilmington, Dan. I worked there on Sundays where I started before going fulltime and seeing both pattern and power changes several times a day in the late 60s and early to mid 70s. On Sundays, due to Zarapath, NJ, in fact, also on 1380. I know Dave Williams remembers. In fact, I remember a "power/pattern change day" that was done just for grins, I believe, after the new tower fifth tower went up.

I was also there the day the reference tower fell during my shift.

IIRC, WAWZ operated from 6:00 to 9:00AM, and 6:00 to 7:30PM M-F. On Saturday's I think WAWZ was not on at all during the 90 minute late-afternnon/early evening period. Sunday was WAWZ's big day and I don't remember the Sunday schedule. Anyhow, WAMS had two 5-kW day patterns, one used when WBNX was on; the other when WAWZ was on. The 1-kW night pattern was the same regardless of whether WBNX or WAWZ was operating. In months when New York/Central Jersey sunrise came before 6:00AM and sunset came after 7:30PM (those months would have been April, May, June, July, and August, I think) WAMS would have had A LOT of pattern changes! Wilmington SR, 6:00AM, 9:00AM, 6:00PM, 7:30PM, Wilmington SS. There's your half dozen. So I was wrong. BUT you've gotta admit that WAMS was a special case. Also, wouldn't it have been permissible for WAMS to use the more restrictive "WAWZ" pattern when WBNX was on? Clearly, WAMS wanted to cover the southern parts of the Philadelphia market when it could, which is why it had two day patterns, but I would think that the "WAWZ" pattern met all of the CoL coverage requirements.

 

[oaktree]

You got it, Dan! Thanks for the kind reply. Now, I can put an office full of pattern maps from those wonderful days away for a rainy day ...

Great memories of those days high atop "Heaven Hill" on Mt. Cuba. I'll never forget that tower crash. And, yes, the station was a special case. It never recovered well after the Rollins ownership days and that signal just died, especially when developers came bearing sums of cash for housing. A once great looking radio station after the studio move from 4th and French. Great to be a part there "in the day."

 

[Icangelp]

I'm pretty sure 'JD was using the same pattern in the '60s as their current daytime pattern. I don't think there were any changes to the pattern at all....including any critical hours or pre-sunrise type stuff to protect KSL.

As for WISN, my guess is that their pattern was likely designed to protect WJJD, not the other way around. There was also an 1150 in Rockford....WJRL, which operated with 500 watts....probably with a DA (you'd lose it by the time you got to Belvedere). WISN moved to 1130 in early 1965, and WJRL...a nice little top 40 station....went bye-bye at around the same time.

You are correct that the WYLL daytime pattern is the same as WJJD's day and night directional antenna. I have a copy of the National Radio Club (NRC) Pattern Book from 1980 and it shows the same pattern as today's WYLL daytime and aimed towards N/S Carolina. Interesting that WJJD pattern did radiate a significant signal (equiv. of 5- 10 KW?) in other directions including towards Salt Lake.

 

[DanStrassberg]

You are correct that the WYLL daytime pattern is the same as WJJD's day and night directional antenna. I have a copy of the National Radio Club (NRC) Pattern Book from 1980 and it shows the same pattern as today's WYLL daytime and aimed towards N/S Carolina. Interesting that WJJD pattern did radiate a significant signal (equiv. of 5- 10 KW?) in other directions including towards Salt Lake.

By day, WYLL's signal toward KSL is the equivalent of 13.4 kW ND. Interestingly, WYLL has an application to use its night antenna system as a daytime auxiliary with 15 kW. That would protect KSL even better than it is protected at night when WYLL runs the same pattern at 50 kW. My guess is that the reason WYLL can't use 50 kW from the night array by day is that the 0.5 mV/m contour would extend outside of the normal daytime 0.5 mV/m, which is a no-no for an aux. There might or might not also be an issue with protecting WHBY. WYLL's daytime 0.25 mV/m must not overlap WHBY's daytime 0.5.

 

[radioman148]

You are correct that the WYLL daytime pattern is the same as WJJD's day and night directional antenna. I have a copy of the National Radio Club (NRC) Pattern Book from 1980 and it shows the same pattern as today's WYLL daytime and aimed towards N/S Carolina. Interesting that WJJD pattern did radiate a significant signal (equiv. of 5- 10 KW?) in other directions including towards Salt Lake.

By day, WYLL's signal toward KSL is the equivalent of 13.4 kW ND. Interestingly, WYLL has an application to use its night antenna system as a daytime auxiliary with 15 kW. That would protect KSL even better than it is protected at night when WYLL runs the same pattern at 50 kW. My guess is that the reason WYLL can't use 50 kW from the night array by day is that the 0.5 mV/m contour would extend outside of the normal daytime 0.5 mV/m, which is a no-no for an aux. There might or might not also be an issue with protecting WHBY. WYLL's daytime 0.25 mV/m must not overlap WHBY's daytime 0.5.

Forgot about WHBY.