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WOLD-LP question

AMRocks

AMRocks

I know they are licensed as a low power station at 107.9, but they are also now on a translator at 95.1. Is that legal? Can a low power station have a translator? (Or maybe they are now on someone's HD-2 or 3?)

W236CT-FM is actually a higher power and higher antenna height than the original! (Looks like they share the same tower.) Although it's highly directional, I'm assuming due to WZZO
 
Yes LPFM stations can have translators, maximum 2. The loophole is they can lease all the translators they choose.

One LPFM broke off their programming to a separate service to place it on other non-LPFM stations. In fact there is one with several translators, a few full power and the original LPFM afforded them by separating the entity from the LPFM itself. Interestingly all are operated non-commercially and are considered a regional public broadcaster. By separating programming from the LPFM they became in essence what any satellite delivered format might be. The LPFM is technically an affiliate. The programming entity has leased and owned and operated full power stations.

For a comparison, a church might have a LPFM that carries EWTN programming that can be heard around the nation on commercial and non-commercial frequencies and LPFM stations. EWTN is simply a programming service. EWTN can legally own full power stations and they can lease or own translators. Except in certain circumstances, anyone can own a translator and then lease it to a station that can legally retransmit their signal. Several AM stations facing no available channels choose to lease a translator from a translator owner.

In the case of WOLD-LP, they may have leased or applied for a translator. Perfectly legal.
 
kevtronics said:
WOLD-LP also has an unlicensed (and non-FCC-compliant) simulcast transmitting on 1710 kHz AM in Manville, NJ.
Click to expand...

Is this being run by a fan who loves the station (or an employee gone rogue) so much that he's set up a pirate operation to relay it, or are the operators of the LP trying to get away with something?
 
CTListener makes a good point. A LPFM I know of was rebroadcast by a pirate at one point. We must assume from the earlier post that the 1710 is not FCC Compliant. If it is and if it is operated by the LPFM, it will be found out. I have heard of other LPFMs utilizing Part 15 AM in addition to the LPFM.
 
kevtronics said:
WOLD-LP also has an unlicensed (and non-FCC-compliant) simulcast transmitting on 1710 kHz AM in Manville, NJ.
Click to expand...

I actually would listen to this when I traveled down 206 but haven't heard it in a couple months... maybe its been turned off. At least there's online listening when I can't get the 107.9 signal... can't imagine much listenership to anything on AM especially something so low in power.
 
Radi0411 said:
I actually would listen to this when I traveled down 206 but haven't heard it in a couple months... maybe its been turned off. At least there's online listening when I can't get the 107.9 signal... can't imagine much listenership to anything on AM especially something so low in power.
Click to expand...

In my neighborhood during the mid-'00s, someone was rebroadcasting Howard Stern's show on Sirius on a transmitter that covered a couple of blocks. I believe it was on 1610 KHz. This was right after Stern had left terrestrial radio for satellite, and I understand there were quite a few fan-run operations like this, especially in areas that used to get Stern on AM or FM. This neighborhood Howard translator lasted about a year, not sure if the FCC busted it or the operator just lost interest.
 
The 1710 AM signal was on the air recently but when I drove through yesterday it was off. Maybe they saw this thread. The highest frequency that the FCC allows for 100 mW Part 15 "microbroadcasting" is 1705 kHz, so transmitting on 1710 is non-compliant.

The mailing address that WOLD-LP has listed with the FCC is in Manville, so I presume it was run by the owner of the station.

They used to be on 1640 kHz but moved when a nearby TIS began broadcasting on that frequency.
 
Maybe you can call them and ask if they are affiliated if you’re curious. Although I guess if it’s off then it’s kind of a moot point, kind of like AM radio in todays day and age. If I recall you’ve mentioned this AM repeater several times before so at least they had a P1 listener LOL! Like I said I used to hear it traveling down 206 from Somerville but haven’t for a couple months so I doubt the timing is quite right for this post to have had an impact. They should be honored at how much attention their small AM is getting, now only if the rest of the AM’s industry-wide could get this much “buzz.”
 
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Interesting that someone would have taken time out to put something together like that for something so small scale... Nice imagery with the slides though. I sure do wish I had free time to create something like that, I could really hone my skills instead of my day job. It seems word has traveled that its no longer on the air as someone seems to have updated it as of today's date ironically enough, 12/13/2018... Maybe they saw this thread... Maybe the person who posted the promo video VWestlife is associated with the station?? Pretty cool find, thanks for sharing!
 
I originally uploaded that video in 2014 but deleted it after "The Jersey Shuffle" flipped to a simulcast of WOLD. But then I re-uploaded it because it was relevant to this thread and is a tiny little piece of NJ radio history that would otherwise be forgotten.
 
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