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WKDD 98.1 HD-3
- Thread starter CleveFan
- Start date
CleveFan said:
If 98.1 HD-3 is airing Air1 you can bet it will be on a translator somewhere
Based on looking (a quick glance) at translator apps I would say 106.1's getting it's signal via this HD-3.
Air 1 is now using WKDD-HD3 to feed 102.5. I noticed a delay between their 90.9 transmitter in Hinckley and 102.5 in Akron. They even have a new station ID at the top of every hour identifying Cleveland's 92.7, 103.7, and 102.5 in Akron (which Akron is slightly mispronounced). I'm not sure if they flipped the switch to the power increase to 74 watts, but it's coming in very clear in Bath.
Air 1 was off the air yesterday and this morning on 102.5, and they came back on around noon today. They're clearly feeding from an HD subchannel, because the audio sounds just a bit compressed but not too bad. I'm too far south to notice anything from either 92.7 or 103.7, but these should all have a power boost if you see the FCC construction permits. 92.7 is proposed to have 250 watts. 103.7 has an application for 250 watts. After all is said and done, it looks like they'll have Cuyahoga and Summit counties blanketed very well.
That would give listeners in both counties a good option for those who don't like The Fish. Air 1 has an edgier sound appealing to young adults and teens in the Christian faith. The station has a nice sound when I tune in.
With 98.1 HD-3 also airing it, it can give them an even bigger coverage boost.
With 98.1 HD-3 also airing it, it can give them an even bigger coverage boost.
I have three Christian music stations programmed in my radio... 95.5 The Fish, 90.7 K-Love, and 102.5 Air 1. I listen to all of these regularly. I'm happy that Air 1 is improving their signal around here. I love that station, but the only problem is that 102.5 and 90.7 are both weak signals. So I can't always pick them up everywhere. But it's good to see improvement!!
I sent a message to Air 1, and got a quick response which stated the following… “Thanks for taking the time to ask about Air1's expansion into the Akron, Ohio area! We are working on several projects that should provide decent reception - our signal on 102.5 FM has increased in strength at the end of last week and we can be heard on 98.1 WKDD-HD3 on an HD-compatible radio.
We did have two other translators more in the Cleveland area: W220DM and W279BT - they are currently off the air while we work through some problems.”
I’m glad to hear that they’ve increased their power here in Akron. The signal seems to have improved in my car in what used to be spotty areas.
We did have two other translators more in the Cleveland area: W220DM and W279BT - they are currently off the air while we work through some problems.”
I’m glad to hear that they’ve increased their power here in Akron. The signal seems to have improved in my car in what used to be spotty areas.
EMF slipped in app to move Air-1 from the 90.9 frequency in Hinckley to 101.7 with 250 Watts. 92.7's new app is listed as a site in Parma with 99 Watts but on a taller stick than the previous site. EMF is making all the moves they can because of the next LPFM window. Heck, even WKSU revised a 2003 app for a translator in Beachwood (now listed as 101.1).
Something has to happen with 106.1, it's just rebroadcasting WGAR in a black majority populated area. :-\
Something has to happen with 106.1, it's just rebroadcasting WGAR in a black majority populated area. :-\
Wolverine said:
Radio-Locator lists 106.1's city of license as Solon, which surprises me since the 106.1 translator is unlistenable there due to interference from full-power 106.1 in Youngstown. I admittedly don't know the FCC standards on translators, but I'd guess part of the deal is they have to serve some part of the city they are licensed to with a usable signal, and 106.1 doesn't.
Is anyone else surprised that EMF would file an application on 101.7 for their Hinckley translator? I don't see this one making it pass the FCC due to WHOF on 101.7. Although with WKDD-HD3 now, I'm sure EMF isn't just limited to the noncommercial portion of the FM dial and can now move to whatever open frequency available... like 93.5, 94.5, or 96.9 just to name a few.
By the way, 102.5 in Akron is noticeably more powerful. With an increase from 10 watts to 74 and located high up the WVPX TV tower, it seems to be delivering a clearer signal everywhere I go. I was out in Medina a couple days ago, and the reception was great.
By the way, 102.5 in Akron is noticeably more powerful. With an increase from 10 watts to 74 and located high up the WVPX TV tower, it seems to be delivering a clearer signal everywhere I go. I was out in Medina a couple days ago, and the reception was great.
Yeah, I don't see that one being granted...
By my reading the translator site is 52km (about 33 miles) from WHOF.
WHOF's interference-protected 60dBu F(50,50) contour extends 25.6km.
The translator's 40dBu F(50,10) interfering contour extends 37.8km.
Add those together and I see the translator 11km (about 7 miles) too close to WHOF.
The translator application was filed in 2003. At the time, 101.7 was still WJER-FM in Dover -- and was plenty far enough from WHOF to co-exist. While the FCC was sitting on the translator applications, 101.7 moved & became WHOF & was no longer adequately spaced... Eventually, the FCC will get around to looking at this application, find it's no longer technically acceptable, and dismiss it.
At least, that's what I *assume* will happen...
By my reading the translator site is 52km (about 33 miles) from WHOF.
WHOF's interference-protected 60dBu F(50,50) contour extends 25.6km.
The translator's 40dBu F(50,10) interfering contour extends 37.8km.
Add those together and I see the translator 11km (about 7 miles) too close to WHOF.
The translator application was filed in 2003. At the time, 101.7 was still WJER-FM in Dover -- and was plenty far enough from WHOF to co-exist. While the FCC was sitting on the translator applications, 101.7 moved & became WHOF & was no longer adequately spaced... Eventually, the FCC will get around to looking at this application, find it's no longer technically acceptable, and dismiss it.
At least, that's what I *assume* will happen...
It sounds like Air1 needs to work on some technical audio problems. Since they’re using WKDD-HD3 to feed the translators, I notice some brief drop-outs in audio when nothing can be heard. I went for a walk in the Cuyahoga Valley a couple days ago, and literally walked by WKDD’s tower on one of the trails, and I was still having drop-out issues with receiving HD3 on my handheld HD radio. I didn’t have any problems with their HD2 channel.
And on another note, their new station ID mispronounces Akron as “Ak-Ron”, not “Ak-run” as it should be. Hopefully they’ll work out the bugs soon with these problems and getting the Cleveland translators up and running because I really love listening to Air1.
And on another note, their new station ID mispronounces Akron as “Ak-Ron”, not “Ak-run” as it should be. Hopefully they’ll work out the bugs soon with these problems and getting the Cleveland translators up and running because I really love listening to Air1.
w9wi said:
I looked up the 101.7 application to verify and it was filed this year.
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101548170&formid=349&fac_num=142423.
I questioned the short distance to the co-channel WHOF too. According to the application (exhibit 10), the signal pattern looks directional away from WHOF. However, from the EMF applications I've seen before, they include documentation showing that the applicant won't interfere with existing stations. This application doesn't include that document.
Also, I would think since CC owns the Air-1 feeding station WKDD HD-3, as well as WHOF, that EMF would get the approval from CC before applying. Otherwise, your jeopardizing a relationship between CC and EMF that spans across multiple markets.
Wolverine said:
Oops.. this is a modification to an existing translator, sorry! The FCC has been busy granting 10-year-old applications for *new* translators & I was making the unfortunate assumption this was one of them.
I still don't see how this is supposed to work. Yes, it's a directional antenna protecting WHOF, but it doesn't provide nearly enough protection. The exhibits explicitly state it's too close to WHOF but doesn't explain why they think it should work. It also says it's too close to WDOK, but it shows how any interference to WDOK would happen in areas where nobody lives. It's possible the same applies to WHOF but I don't see an exhibit to show it.
They may well have Clear Channel's approval but I'd think that approval would have to be cited in the application. (it's not there that I can see)
Andrew K said:
Receiver drift. The channel separation rules were written in the early 1960s when FM receivers weren't very stable. You might tune to 102.1, but in an hour or two your radio might have drifted to 101.8 or 102.4 or anywhere in between. And if there's a station on 101.7... well, you might no longer be listening to the program you wanted to listen to.
The FCC had to set a standard somewhere between requiring a level of stability that would make FM radios prohibitively expensive, or requiring so much space between stations that there wouldn't be enough channels available to meet demand.
They chose 0.8MHz. (and that's why Cleveland has full-power stations on 103.3/104.1/104.9/105.7/106.5/107.3)
Radios have gotten a LOT better over the last 50 years. Tune to 102.1 and your radio will stay on 102.1. The rules, for the most part, haven't caught up. Canada has chosen to reduce channel separation to 0.6MHz for full-power stations, and allows 0.4MHz for low-power operations. They're obviously using the same radios we are, and there hasn't been massive interference.
I haven't read the applications on the other ones but I'm betting they're also predicted to cause interference. But like in this case, they were able to show the interference would happen in places where nobody lives.
w9wi said:
Sorry, I should've look beyond the chart to see the co-channel and adjacent channel interference list I was looking for. I don't understand why EMF wouldn't try a location further to the west if possible (frequency change if needed). EMF needs to look into serving the western suburbs.
I'm just guessing, but maybe this is an attempt to hold the 101.7 frequency before the next LPFM window opens. I wouldn't be shocked if this is app is approved, and EMF sits on the CP for awhile like they have with 103.7 and 92.7.
Wolverine said:
I just read this and it reminded last week when I drove up Carnegie on the way to Case for a dental check-up, a huge WGAR 99.5 Billboard on Carnegie at E. 82 (or about E. 82). Why? Or is the billboard targeting doctors, nurses, patients, etc, who just happen to use Carnegie to get to Cleveland Clinic and Case?
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