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wpaz

wcradio2 said:
The tragedy of the loss of these stations/formats is that they weren't given enough time. It's true for most experiments. WCHE could have made it if any kind of sales staff existed. There wasn't one. I mean none. So, in that setting, any sale would have been big. At the time, the station was treated as a toy.
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On your first point I totally agree! I think that if you operate a marginal facility that most listeners won't usually tune to, you must give your operation time before it will succeed. With the desire of the powers-that-be wanting to make the quickest buck in the shortest amount of time possible to pay off the debt and other expenses, not many operators are willing to take a chance on a format which has slow growth potential.

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but what is wrong with marginal AM operations using what I'll call a hybrid revenue model where the station survives on advertisement, donations and other fundraising events to keep their operations afloat?

wcradio2 said:
I was especially disappointed to see Skin Radio disappear because I knew some local bands were trying to position themselves behind it.
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I've said this before some time ago, but there's an KNRK-HD-FM Portland simulcasts on KKSN-AM (910) Vancouver WA. Station website:http://www.947.fm/
Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/947too
Audio feed:http://player.streamtheworld.com/_players/entercom/player/?id=KNRKHD

wcradio2 said:
What Randy and Al did was probably the right idea. A small AM with a specialty programming can probably cut it now. Just as Al mentioned, define success. I would, in my definition, include a sales staff that was behind the idea completely, not moaning about having to sell the product (old WCHE). Also, the complete integration of all social media and internet streaming and podcasting. The works.

Perhaps the timing was just a bit off with them... it IS everything.

Now maybe, an AM with a good internet stream and social media adding direction (and traffic along, hopefully, with listeners and eventually advertisers) will work.

Then further define your success, at least at first, by surviving and having fun. Any small station that stays on the air with it's own vision (rather than colon cleanse) is a win.
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If I may play the devil's advocate, what factors are in place now that would make the station succeed that weren't in place before?
 
To respond:

Klutch, I actually completely agree with you about the hybrid revenue model. I have since the first time I saw you mention it.
We are in agreement also with social media/players.

Unless you were someone I worked with at WCHE, you can't know this though so, 'What is in place at' WCHE 'now that wasn't before'? Seriously... A sales staff. Really. There wasn't one. The station was treated as a toy.

There is a sales staff there now. Just need a direction.

Back to the topic at hand? Since WPAZ was struck by lightning yesterday, I'm hoping for an outpouring of love and perhaps of time by the engineers who post here about how they'd change the broadcast signal at WPAZ.
Well, now WPAZ may need your expertise.

I'm afraid it may all be for a sturdy hand shake and a hearty, 'thank you'. But, does anybody get that along with their check nowadays. At least you'd know they meant it.

Think about it folks. Someone could use the help you can provide.
Thanks!
 
wcradio2 said:
To respond:

Klutch, I actually completely agree with you about the hybrid revenue model. I have since the first time I saw you mention it.
We are in agreement also with social media/players.

Unless you were someone I worked with at WCHE, you can't know this though so, 'What is in place at' WCHE 'now that wasn't before'? Seriously... A sales staff. Really. There wasn't one. The station was treated as a toy.

There is a sales staff there now. Just need a direction.
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Thanks for your compliments!

We never worked together. In fact, I'll confess I've never been in the radio industry; although I find it fascinating. I live just outside of Washington DC as I have for the last forty years.

With regard to a 'hybrid revenue' model, I might suggest that those in promotions and sales work together.
 
to the REAL problem at hand everyone is talking around...

Is there an antenna switching box on the new xmtr. The quickest way to get this crippled ship sailing at full power again is this:

Disconnect the antenna from the fried solid state transmitter.

Connect it to the CCA tube back-up. The audio should already be connected to it for modulation.

Warm up the transmitter tubes and let it stabilize for one hour with filaments and blower only. If the unit hasn't been used in a long time, it may smell funny from burning dust. That's ok.

After that hour, (and the antenna is connected) then throw on B+ to the final stage. Run at 250 watts (or preset low power) for an hour or so before throwing to full power at 1kw. If it's not stable, or begins arcing or hissing, lower and run at 250/500 watts. LET THE FCC KNOW and request a TSA until the main transmitter gets repaired.

rene...did I forget anything? Been awhile, Oh...readjust your modulation levels for 120%+ and 100%- peaks. The old transmitter will be different.

Send the solid state transmitter out for repairs. Say a novena the CCA doesn't die. Hey, it's held for 40 years so far!
 
Agreeing with what amfmsw says. I'd add one other thing. A station I contracted for would make it a point to switch to their backup BC1G from their main Nautel. They figured it it was easier for 833's to handle the lightning strikes. In WPAZ's case, once the solid state rig has been fixed, I'd go over the CCA with a fine tooth comb. Give it a good cleaning inside, as dust can also cause arcs. Then, you could keep the filaments/heaters on as standby, and switch the antenna and bring up the plates when needed.
 
I forgot to mention the station I contracted for (WADK 1540 Newport RI)would make it a point to put their backup BC-1G on the air during heavy thunderstorms , figuring that the 833's in the final would handle lightning strikes better than the Nautel. This is what WPAZ should do once they get the solid state rig fixed. Get the CCA in shape, and have it easily brought on air when needed.
 
Hi fellows, My name is Jim Brownback and I've been working weekends at WPAZ for 56 years as an announcer/dj, newscaster, etc. There were brief periods when my full time employment as a communications manager for the Reading Railroad took me out of WPAZ. Want to set straight the transmitter situation. As some of you know there are two transmitters switchable to the antenna through a relay system. An omnitronics solid state which took the lightning strike. This transmitter was the first made prototype by omnitronics purchased as a bargain by the Great Scott owners of the station after the CCA (tube transmitter) became unreliable about 15 or 20 years ago. The omni company then went out of business turning things over to LPA who since has gone out of business, so the transmitter is an orphan. The omni consists of 4 circuit boards developing 250 watts each which are fed into a summing network and then to the antenna. The lightning strike damaged transistors, which are to be replaced, on each of the boards. In the meantime the old CCA is in use at 500 watts. Used to be for years I'd run the CCA on sundays to keep dampness out, and, actually, it sounded better than the Omni. But, with shift changes it wasn't easy for me to do it anymore so it sat/sits idle for months at a time, hence, because of dampness that has crept into the modulation transformer, the transformer archs at 1,000 watts. No funds for a new transformer at this time. A few other things about the current WPAZ, it is all volunteer including the new owners, the fm translator business is in the works yet not finalized, a format change to come soon. Funds are low yet hopes are high. May I invite you to listen to my two programs, big bands, and old time radio shows sundays starting at noon till 4PM. Thanks
 
PRPTCO said:
Hi fellows, My name is Jim Brownback and I've been working weekends at WPAZ for 56 years as an announcer/dj, newscaster, etc.
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56 years!!! Is there anybody, anyplace, who has worked at the same radio station for the past 56 years?
 
Per search of FCC CP database, two new CPs for Pottstown: 103.5 MHz (Four Rivers Community Broadcasting rebroadcasting WBYO) and 92.1 MHz (Temple Univ, rebroadcasting WRTI)
 
I'd be skeptical about the diagnosis of the CCA's modulation transformer's arcing because it has taken up moisture. If there was actual transformer arcing that would indicate damaged/burned windings in which case it wouldn't work at all. I would suspect dried out and leaky interconnecting-cable insulation or dirt such as cobwebs on the terminal board or in the vicinity of the spark gap, if one is provided. Be sure the power is killed to the ENTIRE transmitter (including often-overlooked 117VAC control and light circuits,) discharge all HV caps repeatedly and clean and snug up the terminations. Closely inspect all wiring to the transformer, bending sections sharply over your finger, looking for cracking insulation or brittleness. Also: if the box has been used infrequently the HV caps in the power supply may have gone bad.

In short: my bet would be that a qualified engineer, experienced in old plate-mod tube rigs, could get that CCA up and running. I would still relegate it to standby use, as suggested, in storms, etc. WPAZ will save a lot on the electric bill with a little solid-state rig made by a reputable manufacturer. The payback in reduced power costs is only a couple of years - and I'm not even including tube and engineer maintenance costs. Best of luck!
 
If the modulation transformer is bad, you could bypass it and use the Heising scheme of modulation. If the modulation transformer is bad, it probably could be rewound.
 
Well since the station has a CP for a translator and will be buying new equipment, why not just strike a deal with BSW for a package for a new or reboxed Omnia or modern Orban, FM transmitter, and a new AM transmitter. They can then feed the AM from the new FM processing composite mono through whatever they're using for their current NRSC compliance. That would solve their AM modulation problems as well. Probably sound pretty damn sweet, too. I mean, is the 9kHz pre-emphasis really that necessary with the crap radios today anyway? Would anyone on AM (other than GE Super Radios and old Marantz rigs) hear it?

And Dave's probably right on the dried out caps...clean, tighten, reshape, relpace caps if necessary.
 
Getting the transformer rewound is an expensive proposition these days. That's a lot of iron to ship back and forth. I'd look for a used replacement if one is necessary (some improvisation might be required) but unless the station has had a long history of really heavily modulating the CCA with very dense music processing, I'd buy a round of drinks for everyone if the transformer is really bad. More likely wiring, dirt or caps, as stated before.

Just a word to the wise. We used to be a 1kw NDA daytimer on 1030 using two RCA BTA-1R's in alternate-main configuration. For those unfamiliar with this very popular transmitter, made from the 50s to the late 70s in various series, it uses 4-440Cs. In 1997 we went 1040kHz DA-2 with a new BE AM2.5. We went from 1kw daytime only to 2.5kw day, 500w at night, operating 24 hours - and our electric bill went DOWN a third. Plus no $250 power tubes to hunt up, or obsolete parts to crap out and hunt up replacements for, etc.

Like I said: the CCA might make a very nice standby!
 
Hi Fellows, CCA was gone over by our old engineer some time ago who is very familiar with it and who diagnosed the arching modulation transformer. This problem goes back 10 years or so. I just assumed it was dampness since the transmitter room is often damp. No repairs or new transmitter at this time account of no funds. The CCA was used a few years ago at 500 watts for a whole summer account a previous lightning strike to the Omni when the summing network was burned up. LPB was still in business at that time and rebuilt it. The FM is the 103.5. Four Rivers actually owns WPAZ and is selling it on time to the 3 fellows who are operating it, and is "lending" the 103.5 to WPAZ for the time being. As of last Sunday the 103.5 wasn't actually in the hands of Four Rivers, it was still in the works. Thanks, Jim
 
Another thing to check with the modulation transformer would be to put it on a couple of 2 by 4's, go back to 1 kW, and see if there's still arcing. That would be a stopgap measure that would let the station run at full power till they can get a replacement.
 
DG is correct if the xfmr is arcing because of bad insulation at the bottom. Gently lifting the beast and slipping a pair of 2x4 for added air insulation between it and the grounded cabinet will likely stop the trouble. A sheet of properly placed roofing tar paper / rubber membrane will also likely do the trick. Investment: $5...and dollars to donuts, that stuff is laying around the tower shack already.
 
I just dont know how they keep going on they dont have that many paid programs. At least it seems they got rid of that terrible kens koffee shop and thier commercial inventory is low the same 10 commercials. and thier music is just so out of whack the way its formatted.
 
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