WQFL 1640 - Wilmington's newest radio station

[MikefromDelaware]

I was scanning around the AM dial this afternoon when I found myself on AM 1640 hearing an announcement about the City of Wilmington, then the calls WQFL 1640 serving Wilmington. I listened on, it's a tape loop with about 2 minutes of information about Wilmington, sort of like 1380 Del Dot. This 1640 is a low power station as I was in my car near the New Castle Airport and there was a lot of static (which makes sense as the station is owned by the city and supposedly would only be of interest to city residents so the reception is designed, I assume for city listening only). So Delaware now has two government funded radio stations that seem to be pretty useless and take up two AM frequencies that could be used for something that would actually serve the public better (1380 and 1640).

 

[K-Tel]

I knew I've seen those call letters before. WQFL-FM is a CCM in Rockford, IL.

 

[650AM]

I heard this "station" on Friday afternoon, 9/21. I did not know it was new, though. It dawned on me what a waste of taxpayer money it is. They urge residents to turn to 1640 for "emergency" news. Yeah, right.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

I may be wrong, but I thought they said the calls were WQFL. Is it possible that the city of Wilmington is running a pirate station? If that were true, that could make an interesting headline: Wilmington Mayor Sent to Federal Prison for Running Pirate Radio Station. The Mayor of Delaware's largest city said, that no one was using the 1640 frequency anyway, so who did it hurt? The president of city council said, I always wanted to be a DJ. Film at 5:30pm on Channel 12's Delaware Tonight.

 

[MarcB]

It's a legally licensed TIS Station. It's calls are WQFL338. Those are typical calls TIS uses. 4 letters followed by 3 numbers. Here's the listing from the FCC's Website:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/....hts?db_id=3&callsign=WQFL338&application_id=

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Thanks for the info.

 

[simontemplar]

This station has been on the air for months but just started ID'ing a few weeks ago. It was simulcasting NOAA weather radio from Philadelphia 24/7 during the summer.

 

[MarcB]

This station has been on the air for months but just started ID'ing a few weeks ago. It was simulcasting NOAA weather radio from Philadelphia 24/7 during the summer.

That must be the latest thing for TIS Stations to do when they first sign on. A 1670 TIS station signed on in the town I live in in CT and when they first signed on they ran NOAA 24/7. I hate those things. I wish Multi-Cultural would put IBOC on 1660 and 1680 to block out this TIS station at night.

 

[BRUSSTAR]

Wow, I've never seen so much excitement over a TIS.

I'm with Mike on this one. Now folks in New Castle County can sit by as their tax dollars are wasted on TWO meaningless "radio stations".

I guess all that "tax-free shopping" nonsense makes up for it.

The radio industry can barely run radio stations. Government running radio stations makes the radio clowns look competent.

What's next? Will WTMC or this TIS cut a royalty check to iBiquity to run IBOC? Outdated lists of road closures in "HD", at taxpayer expense?! Makes me want to move to Delaware!

 

[DaveWilliams]

Oh Brother! Wonder if I could sell the City of Wilmington a Talking Billboard?

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Dave, if the city thought they could get people (especially suburbanites) to come and shop in Downtown Wilmington (meaning Shipley/Market/King/Walnut from Front St ( I mean MLK Blvd now) to Rodney Square) they'd jump on it with both feet. They've been fighting that losing battle since the late 60's. They've tried all sorts of ideas to "lure" people downtown with no success, so if they could get their hands on a talking billboard.........