WLIE 540 Wants to go to 10,000 Watts

[xmradiopro]

I have just read that WLIE 540 is planning to go to 10,000 Watts according to the National Radio Club.
as written....

540 WLIE NY Islip - Having just received a CP for U5 4100/175, WLIE has now applied
for U4 10000/250.

 

[FrankF]

Why ???

 

[neo11]

Why ???

Because Jesus ordered them to?

 

[starcastle]

There has to be a 540, within range that would be stomped on, this wont go thru.
Im not into the tech side of things, but Im sure a 540 somewhere within 200 miles is in business.

 

[biggladman]

Better be super directional... and point east.

 

[fybush]

There has to be a 540, within range that would be stomped on, this wont go thru.
Im not into the tech side of things, but Im sure a 540 somewhere within 200 miles is in business.

Nope.

The increase to 10 kw is actually fairly conservative. 540 is a relatively empty channel in the northeast, in part because of the now-silent CJSB Ottawa and the huge signal it once had. There's just WLIE, an unbuilt (and I think now expired) construction permit in New Hampshire, and WGOP Pocomoke City MD. The 10 kw increase will create a bit of new interference to WGOP - but it's in an area of the South Jersey shore that's over a saltwater path from both WGOP and WLIE and is not considered part of either station's primary market. There are also interference concerns to WDDZ 550 Pawtucket RI, to the 560s in Springfield MA, Catskill NY and Philadelphia, and to WMCA in New York. But this application clears all of those by many miles.

If the 540 in Maryland is ever able to build its long-planned move to the DC area, it would clear the way for even more power for WLIE...maybe even all the way to 50 kw.

WLIE can do it with its present 2-tower array, too - not very directional at all.

 

[mcmannors]

There has to be a 540, within range that would be stomped on, this wont go thru.
Im not into the tech side of things, but Im sure a 540 somewhere within 200 miles is in business.

Nope.

The increase to 10 kw is actually fairly conservative. 540 is a relatively empty channel in the northeast, in part because of the now-silent CJSB Ottawa and the huge signal it once had. There's just WLIE, an unbuilt (and I think now expired) construction permit in New Hampshire, and WGOP Pocomoke City MD. The 10 kw increase will create a bit of new interference to WGOP - but it's in an area of the South Jersey shore that's over a saltwater path from both WGOP and WLIE and is not considered part of either station's primary market. There are also interference concerns to WDDZ 550 Pawtucket RI, to the 560s in Springfield MA, Catskill NY and Philadelphia, and to WMCA in New York. But this application clears all of those by many miles.

If the 540 in Maryland is ever able to build its long-planned move to the DC area, it would clear the way for even more power for WLIE...maybe even all the way to 50 kw.

WLIE can do it with its present 2-tower array, too - not very directional at all.

My question, then, is what took them so long? Why were they only at 250 watts daytime for all of those years if there was no problem going to 10 kw? I realize there were several owners over the years, bought wouldn't you think that at least one of them would have looked into this years ago? Especially when they did the local talk format a few years back, and it looked like they were actually attempting to get listeners.

 

[xmradiopro]

[/quote]

My question, then, is what took them so long? Why were they only at 250 watts daytime for all of those years if there was no problem going to 10 kw? I realize there were several owners over the years, bought wouldn't you think that at least one of them would have looked into this years ago? Especially when they did the local talk format a few years back, and it looked like they were actually attempting to get listeners.
[/quote]

I'm guessing FCC rules might have changed where as years ago a station couldn't apply for such a 10,000 Watt increase.
Just to note there are other low power stations that are also applying for a 10,000 Watt increase.

 

[SPRINGFIELDRAD]

There has to be a 540, within range that would be stomped on, this wont go thru.
Im not into the tech side of things, but Im sure a 540 somewhere within 200 miles is in business.

Nope.

The increase to 10 kw is actually fairly conservative. 540 is a relatively empty channel in the northeast, in part because of the now-silent CJSB Ottawa and the huge signal it once had. There's just WLIE, an unbuilt (and I think now expired) construction permit in New Hampshire, and WGOP Pocomoke City MD. The 10 kw increase will create a bit of new interference to WGOP - but it's in an area of the South Jersey shore that's over a saltwater path from both WGOP and WLIE and is not considered part of either station's primary market. There are also interference concerns to WDDZ 550 Pawtucket RI, to the 560s in Springfield MA, Catskill NY and Philadelphia, and to WMCA in New York. But this application clears all of those by many miles.

If the 540 in Maryland is ever able to build its long-planned move to the DC area, it would clear the way for even more power for WLIE...maybe even all the way to 50 kw.

WLIE can do it with its present 2-tower array, too - not very directional at all.

Mr. Fybush, you're a wealth of info for several radio boards. Thanks for the info & coming here to post. Good luck with your brand new baby.

Back in the late '70s, when dxing was worth it & fun, I used to pick up the radio station in Maryland. One jock sent me a dub of their small jingle package.

 

[fybush]

Mr. Fybush, you're a wealth of info for several radio boards. Thanks for the info & coming here to post. Good luck with your brand new baby.

Thanks for the kind words! (And buy a calendar while you're at it... )

So...why didn't 540 apply for more power sooner? There were a series of applications and unbuilt construction permits standing in the way for many years - primarily a 550 that was originally granted to Lakeside NJ, then moved to Harriman NY (where it would have been diplexed with WRKL 910, I do believe), before it was eventually deleted. There was also a 540 up in NH that sat on the books for many years without ever being built. Those were the biggies.

 

[bub]

Mr. Fybush, you're a wealth of info for several radio boards. Thanks for the info & coming here to post. Good luck with your brand new baby.

Thanks for the kind words! (And buy a calendar while you're at it... )

Scott: Let me 2nd that with all the good work you do! And congrats!

 

[islanddxer]

Now if only it would change to Island News 54. ;D

 

[MyCatKnight]

Now if only it would change to Island News 54. ;D

NYC is too nearby and successful in luring away Long Island listeners, resulting in the decimation of every locally-focused news team from WALK to "Good Morning Long Island" to WGBB to Island Talk, IMO. It was probably due to lack of revenue, not poor programming. More than a decade ago, my dear old Ops Manager suggested that News 12 air its audio over the radio. Although far from my first choice, I assume it would be cheap. I wonder how feasible it would be for News 12, 55, or RNN to make a radio outlet. Throw in the Islanders, the Ducks, Ken Grimball reporting live from the street, and commericials from L & L Camera and "The Yankee Trader," and call it a station.

 

[ontheair247]

Mr. Fybush, you're a wealth of info for several radio boards. Thanks for the info & coming here to post. Good luck with your brand new baby.

Thanks for the kind words! (And buy a calendar while you're at it... )

So...why didn't 540 apply for more power sooner? There were a series of applications and unbuilt construction permits standing in the way for many years - primarily a 550 that was originally granted to Lakeside NJ, then moved to Harriman NY (where it would have been diplexed with WRKL 910, I do believe), before it was eventually deleted. There was also a 540 up in NH that sat on the books for many years without ever being built. Those were the biggies.

Scott, you are correct again about that 550 kHz that was at one time going to diplex at WRKL 910. They even placed unused empty stainless steel ATU boxes next to the WRKL towers that still sit there.

 

[lgdavis]

Hi All,
Writing this from Chicago, but I grew up on LI, back in the 60's..

Seeing that 540 is getting 10Kw is incredible - and another example of the demise of AM....

This station used to be 250w daytime, and had probably the best AM signal on the island, I remember I could listen to them while driving upstate.

10Kw for them is a joke - at 540, with their killer groundwave, it just isn't necessary. Can't believe that Pokomoke City, MD isn't screaming bloody murder about this.

Anybody remember when their tower was at Islip Speedway, and some kids cut the guy wires? I believe one of them died.

(Yeah, I know that's all gone now)

Larry Davis
Geneva, Il

(formerly Setauket, LI)

 

[MarcB]

I heard the station in Maryland isn't even broadcasting legally. I hear they're operating with an STA. If that's the case they can't say a damn thing.

 

[stevations]

Wasn't 540 a Hit Parade station back in the 70s? I will probably not be able to listen to Maryland 540 from Virginia Beach soon, thanks for the warning.

 

[50kguy]

Yes, WLIX was a Hit Parade station during its days atop the Islip post office. (To this day, I expect to hear that one guy's voice backselling certain songs when I hear them on the radio.) After giving up the automation, they operated briefly from the transmitter before moving into one of those model-house-converted-to-office operations along Sunrise Hwy.

Yes, the tower did fall and kill a young man (one of my father's former students).

I visited the WDMV operation in Pocomoke City once. At the time, the station was owned by Frank Field and partners from WNBC-TV.
I agree with Scott, if they move inland then WLIE shouldn't have a problem.

 

[kc1ih]

Even though the Ottawa station on the frequency is off the air, doesn't the FCC have to treat it as though it is still there because of Canadian treaty rights?

 

[DG02816]

540 is still internationally notified by Canada, so the now silent CJSB has to be protected as if it were still on the air. When I was still in Rhode Island, WLIX was listenable on a car radio. The 3 foot loop I had at the time brought it up to near armchair copy with a night power of ~220 watts.