WJZO, Oliver Springs..

[radio30]

Hey folks. I know the stations transmitter is located on Windrock Mountian but, does anyone have any Idea where the are locating office and studio?

 

[knoxbob]

Their tower is way up there. They are only pushing about 200w so they seem to be going for automobile range instead of building punch. Their mailing address on the FCC web site is in Florida, nothing local as of yet.

 

[radio30]

Thanks Bob. This station seems to be a "best kept" secret. No one knows anything about it. No one around town (Oliver Springs-Oak Ridge Area) even knew anything about a new station coming on in our area. No news write-ups or anything of the sort. Heck, I wouldn't have known anything about it had it not been for me reading this forum. I, like everyone else am wondering what type of format they will go with? Guess we'll find out when they come on. Saw something in an earlier post about a March 1st target date.

 

[WUCP]

WJZO began test operations on Monday February 23. I copied a strong signal from them from Farragut to Alcoa and back.

WUCP LP moved to 99.9 on February 19. Initial signal study shows strong coverage in Farragut, but significant loss in fringe because of the 100,000 watt station in Ashville. We, WUCP, knew that would happen, but no other frequency available but 99.9. All the FCC is concerned about is local coverage within 5 to 8 miles for an LP station anyway, and thats about what we have now.

WUCP is streaming on the Internet, www.wucplp.com

 

[csneed5]

Pretty sure they were able to get 99.9 because WKSF-FM in Asheville isn't 100.000 watts anymore.. it's 48,000 watts. All the Class C stations in Knoxville and Tri-Cities are not 100.000 watts anymore, I looked them all up on the FCC's website. I guess they were mandatory lowered, so that other FM stations could be squeezed into the spectrum in ET.
Despite the lower power, I can still get WKSF northeast of Jeff City and up I-81 into Kingsport, and it starts fading away from Loudon southwest down I-75. They're also booming north of Lake City up 75.

 

[TheLongArm]

A stations coverage area is dictated by not only it's power but also it's height. Every class of stations has a maximum height. If you excede that number, then there is a formula applied to derate your power to equal the same coverage area.

In the case of a Class C station, the maximum height for that class is 600 meters. In many areas of the country, you can't afford to build a 2000' tower and so max height is never a factor. On the other hand, if you have tall mountains, it's not hard to be over height and therefore, have Class C coverage, using a reduced power level. This doesn't equal an inferior station. Quite the contrary. Engineers regard more height as better.

But there does come a limit to where the height gets so excessive that the allowed power gets so reduced that you have problems with not penetrating buildings.

This would appear to be the battle that will face WJZO. Coverage will be large, but power is so low an inferior antenna (anything but a metal auto antenna) will have problems.

To apply the derate to WJZO, as an example, the max height for a Class A is 328ft or for foreigners, 100m. Their extreme transmitter site height requires derating to the licensed 190 watts. But the equivalent coverage in the eyes of the FCC is still the same as a 6kw at 328ft facility.

 

[chainofcommand02]

Hello all, I'm new to the Radio-Info boards here but I just wanted to come here and say that I love love love the music that's being played on 106.1 right now, even if it's just some filler signal until something else comes on-line on March 1st. I was just marveling at how I could hear James Taylor and then Nickel Creek and then a wild techno mix of a Fleetwood Mac song on the same station. It feels like slightly broader AAA programming like WFIV.

Anyway, hello all, and I'm pretty much a radio noob but I'll try to stay quiet and intelligent.

 

[BRH]

Sounds like they are playing all Hot AC tonight instead of the hodge podge they have had on. Any chance this might be the real format when it debuts? I hope so. As I said before, the big hole in the market is either Hot or Bright AC.

 

[ratman2005]

I figured it was getting close when WLHR vacated 105.9 and the WDVX translator also vacated 105.9 right around the same time. But now, months later, the WDVX downtown translator is BACK ON at 105.9.

The only reason for the delay has to be money. Maybe start-up funds are running low at WJZO?

IMO, WDVX should have to vacate 105.9 immediately. It bleeds over the 106.1 signal heavily downtown. How many translators and how much free publicity and county money does WDVX need?

 

[Mid West Clubber]

So anyway regarding the new 99.9.. I bet when Tropo kicks in this summer WKSF is going to kill the new LPFM,,, its ashame for both the new LPFM and for Kiss Country to have to share that same Co Channel within the fringe area of WKSF.. I know Knoxville has plenty of local Country stations, but I used to be able to pick up WKSF about 100 miles north of Knoxville at Livingston Kentucky,, and im betting that you still will be able to hear WKSF when you get a few miles away from the LPFM... Couldnt the FCC put them on 100.7, or even 101.1 99.1,,,,,,

On another note, WKSF was never Transmitting at a full 100 KW,,, back in the CHR top 40 days they used to call themselves the 100,000 watt blowtorch,,,, thats because their extreme TX height which hasnt changed, up on Mount Pisgaw on CH 13s tower it equals way more than 100kw watts.. same as WMIT,, its really only 35kw, but its so high up, it equals well over 100kw.... WKSF with the height probably has more closer to 300kw watts if you factor in the height,, you can hear it almost to Columbia S.C....

Now I think 100.3 WOKI,,, UMM Wnox is still at 100kw as far as I know,, and it is located up pretty high,, If they lowered power too, then radio locator needs to fix that... I dont know why WNOX needs a translator in Gatlinburg on 99.1 I think it is,,, WNOX comes in good there.

 

[ratman2005]

So anyway regarding the new 99.9.. I bet when Tropo kicks in this summer WKSF is going to kill the new LPFM,,, its ashame for both the new LPFM and for Kiss Country to have to share that same Co Channel within the fringe area of WKSF.. I know Knoxville has plenty of local Country stations, but I used to be able to pick up WKSF about 100 miles north of Knoxville at Livingston Kentucky,, and im betting that you still will be able to hear WKSF when you get a few miles away from the LPFM... Couldnt the FCC put them on 100.7, or even 101.1 99.1,,,,,,

On another note, WKSF was never Transmitting at a full 100 KW,,, back in the CHR top 40 days they used to call themselves the 100,000 watt blowtorch,,,, thats because their extreme TX height which hasnt changed, up on Mount Pisgaw on CH 13s tower it equals way more than 100kw watts.. same as WMIT,, its really only 35kw, but its so high up, it equals well over 100kw.... WKSF with the height probably has more closer to 300kw watts if you factor in the height,, you can hear it almost to Columbia S.C....

Now I think 100.3 WOKI,,, UMM Wnox is still at 100kw as far as I know,, and it is located up pretty high,, If they lowered power too, then radio locator needs to fix that... I dont know why WNOX needs a translator in Gatlinburg on 99.1 I think it is,,, WNOX comes in good there.

WNOX 100.3's owner has a translator at 104.3 in Gatlinburg. 99.1 WNML-FM is a seperate signal in Loudon that simulcasts AM 990 WNML-AM in Knoxville.

 

[RMarino]

I dont know why WNOX needs a translator in Gatlinburg on 99.1 I think it is,,, WNOX comes in good there.

Actually it doesn't. I drove through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on Christmas Day trying to listen to the holiday tunes on FM 100 but eventually we had to switch to something else because my passengers got tired of the static and "picket fencing" throughout that area. The high-powered Knoxville stations do ok for the most part in Pigeon Forge, but in Gatlinburg the only stations that are clear are the local 105.5 and 106.3.

Speaking of translators, why does B-97.5 have a translator at 101.1 in Sevierville? The translator has a good signal for about a mile in an area where the 97.5 signal already comes in just fine.

 

[knoxbob]

That has always been something that rubs me the wrong way. Why these high powered FM's need translators so close to home. WNOX FM has one right in the middle of Oak Ridge @ 101.1. Why? They don't need it. Neither does 97.5 need one in Sevierville, it's running 250w @ 300 ft. The Oak Ridge translator for WNOX is also 250w but only 50 ft. The FCC should make the translators available for daytime AM stations and low power night facilities first and then whats left for FM stations.

 

[Raingus]

That has always been something that rubs me the wrong way. Why these high powered FM's need translators so close to home. WNOX FM has one right in the middle of Oak Ridge @ 101.1. Why? They don't need it. Neither does 97.5 need one in Sevierville, it's running 250w @ 300 ft. The Oak Ridge translator for WNOX is also 250w but only 50 ft. The FCC should make the translators available for daytime AM stations and low power night facilities first and then whats left for FM stations.

I agree with Knoxbob.

I also get tired of these big stations hogging up the FM dial with their translators. If a certain radio station isn't heard well in a certain area or if the coverage isn't good, well that's just the way it is.

 

[knoxbob]

If these high power FM stations need to fill holes in their area let them use boosters on their own frequency as long as it doesn't increase their primary contour.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

This is BS unless 100.3 lowered power since the I-100 days... I could get I-100 in Gatlingurg with a strong signal,,,, sure, it had some multipath static due to the mountains, but even 105.5 does as well.
I could get I 100 all the way to Climgmans dome, and didnt loose the signal till almost to Cherokee N.C.... Also Electric 94.9 throws a pretty good signal into Pigeon Forge, but they do in fact get pretty spotty in Gatlinburg. WIVK is also pretty clear in Pigeon Forge,,, not sure about Gatlinburg, but even when Star was on 93.1 I could pick it up in Gatlinburg, and when Electric was on 99.3 as well.... I remeber in about 2000 or so, I was at the long John Silvers in Seiverville and they were playing Star 93.1 through the Speakers. I think if the Knox County stations, and Tri Cities, and Asheville ever go HD it will be a big mistake.

The only place I used to have trouble with 100.3 was on I-640 going past the Sharp Ridge Antenna Farm,, and many of the stations got jammed through there.... The only Knox Station I know of that doesnt reach Gatlinburg with a listenable signal is Hot 104.5.... I could even get 94.3, and 106.7 and 95.7 there,, weak, but listenable... I would think you mountain guys would be used to Mountain Mutlipath static by now.lol

 

[RMarino]

This is BS unless 100.3 lowered power since the I-100 days... I could get I-100 in Gatlingurg with a strong signal,,,, sure, it had some multipath static due to the mountains, but even 105.5 does as well.

BS??  Are you claiming that I don't know what I am talking about or that I am deliberately deceiving you?  I've lived in Sevier County for years and I think I know the signals pretty well.  The multi-path on FM 100 was bad enough for my passengers to complain about the static that day and we had to switch to 106.3 for awhile. 

If the last time you've been to Gatlinburg was when I-100 was around, that should tell you something.

By the way, WJZO is apparently done testing and is now "106.1 The River" with the Hot AC format.

 

[BRH]

Listening to the new 106.1 The River, it is Hot AC, but it sounds like they are using satellite. Actually, it sounds like that new personalized automation service like Horne uses on WLOD in Sweetwater. I've never really understood how it works, but I'm guessing it is like a satellite format that uses the Internet for daily customization. Anybody know what the name of this service is and exactly how it works?

Also, any word on if there will be any truly local shows, like mornings maybe?
I would have certainly preferred a real local station, even if it was automated. Anybody think they will have any luck. I think it's highly unlikely, but at least it is yet another option.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I was in G-Burg in FEB of 07 last time, but I wasnt listening to 100.3 cause their formats since I-100,,, Eagle 100, and the River havent appealed to me... I always listen to Star 102.1 or Electric 94.9 when down there, and when it was around, I listened to Mix 95.7 some times,,, it had static, but it had static in knoxville too. When WOKI was Rock-Top 40 I could pick it up from Atlanta to Lexngton KY, and then when you got away from Lexington where 100.1 blocked it out, I could get it Dang near to Ohio or Louisville KY... Also, during the Summer when Skip kicks in, it wasnt uncommon to hear 100.3 hear near Indianapolis,

 

[RMarino]

Listening to the new 106.1 The River, it is Hot AC, but it sounds like they are using satellite. Actually, it sounds like that new personalized automation service like Horne uses on WLOD in Sweetwater. I've never really understood how it works, but I'm guessing it is like a satellite format that uses the Internet for daily customization. Anybody know what the name of this service is and exactly how it works?

Also, any word on if there will be any truly local shows, like mornings maybe?
I would have certainly preferred a real local station, even if it was automated. Anybody think they will have any luck. I think it's highly unlikely, but at least it is yet another option.

I believe this is what they use on WLOD:

http://www.wrnonline.com/

The site has an explanation on how it all works. You're right, it does sound like they are using this system at WJZO. I too would have preferred a locally-programmed (automated if necessary) station over this, but I guess this was cheaper.

The music is very close to Star 102.1, but with less signal, less talent, and less heritage. How do they expect this to be successful? If WJZO had turned out to be a decent station, I was going to complain to WDVX about their translator interfering with 106.1 downtown, but now, why bother. Heck I'd probably rather hear the fiddle music anyway.