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WMPG granted power increase

Surprised to see this missed the watchful eye of Scott Fybush. Here's the skinny from PD Dave Bunker (excerpted from his PD note to volunteers). I don't believe they've heard word on a second application for a translator (or is it a transmitter?) aimed at serving Lewiston.

------
On behalf of the entire management team it is my pleasure to announce that the FCC has granted WMPG's request, made more than a year ago, to move our main transmitter to a better location [RT! note: Blackstrap Hill, Falmouth--the tower is currently located on the side of an academic building in Gorham] and increase our broadcast power from 1100 to 4500 watts. This is a very big deal.

What does it mean? Planning, to start with, then fundraising, and, in time, big changes. We have up to three years to get the job done. When we do, our main 90.9FM signal will come in strongly for about five times as many potential listeners as it does now.

This will be a long and challenging project, and we'll do everything we can to keep you informed and involved. For now, if you have any questions or concerns, please let anyone on the management team know. WMPG is growing!
 
Good to know. My Panasonic AM/FM/CD "Walkman" (Sorry Sony!) doesn't get them too well walking up and down Congress Street. The reception was OK when I visited Hadlock Field on Memorial Day though.
 
When this happens they shouldn't need the 104.1 translator on Munjoy Hill.They could probobly sell 104.1 to help fund the move to Blackstrap Road.104.1 would be a good translator for WBQW 104.7.With the economy the way it is,probobly a religious broadcaster would probobly end up buying it.
 
Andy Taylor said:
When this happens they shouldn't need the 104.1 translator on Munjoy Hill.They could probobly sell 104.1 to help fund the move to Blackstrap Road.104.1 would be a good translator for WBQW 104.7.With the economy the way it is,probobly a religious broadcaster would probobly end up buying it.

Not to go off topic, but they could also flip 96.9, the translator for 99.9/99.3 The Wolf to the classical network too...
 
I think they would have to be directional, so as to avoid interference to Bowdoin College's WBOR 91.1.
 
rjoc said:
I think they would have to be directional, so as to avoid interference to Bowdoin College's WBOR 91.1.

They are. Cardioid southwest. I just looked up the service contours filed with the FCC.

WMPG's current city-grade service contour:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?t=FM120390.html

WMPG's post-upgrade city-grade service contour:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?t=FM1183672.html

Their PD needs to do his homework, though... he appears to think you get one listener per watt. They won't be getting "nearly 5 times as many potential listeners" (it's physically impossible; they'd need 4 more Portland-sized cities in their upgraded city-grade contour to acheive that), but the signal will certainly be tremendously strapping compared to now. Given the more-than-double increase in height above average terrain and 4.5x kick in effective radiated power, it shoud fill in the current shadows rather nicely and carry further down the coast towards Portsmouth than it currently does.

However: I'd like to know how the UMaine system can be looking at spending money on this when they're crying poverty over their other radio/TV holdings? It will probably happen in a mad rush just before the permit expires in three years, like most broadcast upgrades do, after everyone has forgotten the financial shell games they're currently playing.
 
kc1ih said:
So I guess you can forget about getting WBUR in Southern ME after this is built?

That ship sailed years ago when WMPG's last power increase came though. Likewise, WBCN disappeared in much of Southern Maine when WMPG's 104.1 translator on Munjoy Hill in Portland signed on.
 
Well, you don't really need to the magic of FM to listen to WBUR anyway. I've had it on all day on my desktop at work... and I listened to it on my highway commute via my mobile device. I'm a long time supporter of MPG because... like it or hate it--they generate actual live programming, 24/7. It might not always be good, but like live theater, you know it'll be entertaining.
 
Is this power increase possible because of Channel 6 analog shutting down? If so, can any other of the stations down on that part of the dial increase their power?
 
radiothis! said:
I don't believe they've heard word on a second application for a translator (or is it a transmitter?) aimed at serving Lewiston.
There's an article in this weeks West End News that says WMPG is "requesting a new low power frequency in the Hallowell area.If approved and implemented,this signal would reach Lewiston strongly."I don't think a LPFM or a translator in Hallowell would reach Lewiston that well.
 
I think the West End news has it wrong. It's not technically an LPFM (although it is lower power than the *soon to be built* main signal). See the request below.

HALLOWELL ME US
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM
46 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
AUGUSTA ME 04330
2076213462
FCC Facility ID: 173231
Service Type: Full Power FM Station
License Status: CPAPP
Current Channel: 201 (88.1 MHz)
1. BNPED-20071019BAO Tendered 10/22/2007|View Map
Application ID: 1208688
Geographic Coordinates: 44-9'15 N / 70-0'37 W
Channel: 201B1
Domestic Status: Application
Directional Antenna
Antenna System ID: 82369
Antenna Rotation: 0
Horiz Vert
Effective Radiated Power 0 kW 1 kW
Maximum Effective Radiated Power 0 kW 0 kW
Radiation center above average terrain 0m 277m
Radiation center-height above ground 0m 152m
Radiation center-above mean sea level 0m 362m
Maximum HAAT: 308 m
Overall antenna height above ground: 193m
2007 NCE Window Station: Check for MX
Border Zone: Located 139 km from Canada
REC measured distance to Canada: 139.1 km - bearing 331.5
9/2/2008: Accepted on channel 201B1 by Industry Canada in 8/20/2008 letter. Note: not specially negotiated.
 
radiothis! said:
I think the West End news has it wrong. It's not technically an LPFM (although it is lower power than the *soon to be built* main signal). See the request below.

It's not a LPFM, it's a fully licensed non-comm that was applied for in the last window for non-comms (Light of Life/95.3 in Augusta got a bunch of apps approved, U Maine System had a couple applications for a few of their colleges)
 
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