WJKR 103.9 Jack-FM tower move is getting close

[Allfirdup]

I was driving on 70 at Wilson Rd on the west side today and noticed that the cell tower that WJKR is moving to now has an extension on the top of it, with a new 2 bay FM antenna. also the STL dish has been added about half the way down the tower. So depending on how long it take to get the Transmitter installed, it looks as if the mover should happen soon.

 

[gabigley1]

I hear this may happen as soon as early next week. Maybe this explains the poor audio at the present WJKR tower site north of town. Maybe are in the process of moving some equipment
from the present tower site to the new tower site. Expect much improved audio when they
move WJKR 103.9 Jack-FM to this new tower site.

 

[AnalyticalMonkey]

I still don't understand why they're going there instead of 10TV.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I still don't understand why they're going there instead of 10TV.

Strange indeed. There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west. Is cost a factor?

At least this will be the closest commercial class A tower to downtown (7-8 miles) aside from 98.9 and 107.5. (Somebody please correct me if that's wrong.)

 

[AnalyticalMonkey]

Strange indeed. There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west. Is cost a factor?

I wonder if it has anything to do with 103.9 in Dayton and the signals canceling each other out.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Strange indeed.  There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west.  Is cost a factor?

I wonder if it has anything to do with 103.9 in Dayton and the signals canceling each other out.

Well, that doesn't seem to happen now until you get at least 15-20 miles west of the west Outerbelt, in an area that isn't very populous anyway.  Besides, the Channel 10 site would already accomplish that to some degree since it is closer to Dayton than 103.9's current site to the northeast.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

...also, on the east-west axis, there's a lot more population in the east and southeast fringes than to the west, so that makes the westside move all the more surprising. Could it have something to do with spacing from Rewind 103.5 in Baltimore?

 

[xmusicmatt]

...also, on the east-west axis, there's a lot more population in the east and southeast fringes than to the west, so that makes the westside move all the more surprising. Could it have something to do with spacing from Rewind 103.5 in Baltimore?

My guess is spacing with 103.5 and 104.3 played in this possibly-- I don't know the FCC specifics as I am not an engineer.. If I am not mistaken they also have to look at the FM IF (10.6 away + or -) .. and for 103.9 that would be 93.3.. so they may had to also factor in 93.3's signal (I could be wrong).

I know this is one of the reasons 101.1's tower site is south of Grove City because of 90.5's IF being 101.1...

 

[AnalyticalMonkey]

...also, on the east-west axis, there's a lot more population in the east and southeast fringes than to the west, so that makes the westside move all the more surprising. Could it have something to do with spacing from Rewind 103.5 in Baltimore?

If 93.3 was a factor (that's my guess), I wonder if the old Channel 4 tower would work?

Being so far to the west I wonder how much of an impediment the downtown buildings are going to be going east. But working in their favor is high ground to the northeast. That's maybe how WSFJ can get away with such a tiny stick.

One thing I've noticed is that 90.5 gets out pretty far with less power because the frequency isn't crowded. Maybe that's also the thinking here? Crowded on the Dayton side so they need more juice in that direction, but less so to the east ?

 

[Allfirdup]

Strange indeed. There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west. Is cost a factor?

I wonder if it has anything to do with 103.9 in Dayton and the signals canceling each other out.

What i read in the application to the FCC, is that they put the tower to the west of Downtown so that when they apply the required directional antenna for protection to WXEG 103.9 in Dayton they are still throwing the strong part of the signal toward Columbus and downtown as what they have now they are directional with protection to WNKE 104.1 in Portsmouth. ( That station downgraded from C to C0 recently which made any move of WJKR possible.

I do think some consideration for WNNP to the east also had to come into play considering Franklin (Sega) fought this application to the very end.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Strange indeed. There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west. Is cost a factor?

I wonder if it has anything to do with 103.9 in Dayton and the signals canceling each other out.

What i read in the application to the FCC, is that they put the tower to the west of Downtown so that when they apply the required directional antenna for protection to WXEG 103.9 in Dayton they are still throwing the strong part of the signal toward Columbus and downtown as what they have now they are directional with protection to WNKE 104.1 in Portsmouth. ( That station downgraded from C to C0 recently which made any move of WJKR possible.

I do think some consideration for WNNP to the east also had to come into play considering Franklin (Sega) fought this application to the very end.

Ah, that explains a lot. I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that in your last sentence you meant WNND (Pickerington) instead of WNNP (Richwood).

 

[Allfirdup]

Strange indeed. There's certainly no big advantage to be being stronger to the west. Is cost a factor?

I wonder if it has anything to do with 103.9 in Dayton and the signals canceling each other out.

What i read in the application to the FCC, is that they put the tower to the west of Downtown so that when they apply the required directional antenna for protection to WXEG 103.9 in Dayton they are still throwing the strong part of the signal toward Columbus and downtown as what they have now they are directional with protection to WNKE 104.1 in Portsmouth. ( That station downgraded from C to C0 recently which made any move of WJKR possible.

I do think some consideration for WNNP to the east also had to come into play considering Franklin (Sega) fought this application to the very end.

Ah, that explains a lot. I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that in your last sentence you meant WNND (Pickerington) instead of WNNP (Richwood).

Yes my mistake

 

[xmusicmatt]

I do think some consideration for WNND to the east also had to come into play considering Franklin (Sega) fought this application to the very end.

I think your right -- but WNNP is also a factor because now SAGA is land locked with 104.3... They are pretty much stuck in Richwood now and can't move any closer to Columbus. At one point prior to 104.9 being forced by the NIMBY crowd to their current tower site SAGA had planned on moving 104.3 to a tower near Grove City .. now they are pretty much stuck in Richwood -- I don't think 104.3 can move any closer to Columbus now not only because of 104.9 but because of 103.9 now being on the west side. [ That has to cheese SAGA big time .. of course if NABCO ever sells -- SAGA would be stupid not going for 99.7 and the new 103.9 signals ]

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

[ That has to cheese SAGA big time .. of course if NABCO ever sells -- SAGA would be stupid not going for 99.7 and the new 103.9 signals ]

True, but then Saga always seems to let the best local acquisition possibilities slip away. It's kind of sad that in their largest market they have only a single city-grade signal. Of course, no one but CC has more than one, which is really unique (in a bad way) for a market this size. It's also a testament to CC's aggressiveness and savvy with acquisitions and upgrades.