WRPO-LP Russells Point switches to Oldies.

[KevinFodor]

As one of those involved and, in some respects, responsible for the latest sound of the station, let me echo Limp's comments.

In the past few months, the station was able to purchase a new computer to run the programming, and a new, more versatile computer program to give the station a more professional sound to its' oldies format. We had added some syndicated programming (Cool Bobby B's Doo Wop Stop, and Glenn Sauter's "Hits Of Yesteryear")...we've also added school lunch menus every hour on school days in morning drive, as well as a local community news segment twice per day weekdays. (7:45 AM and 12:45 PM).

And...okay, I'm letting a cat out of the bag here...WRPO will air the 36 hour long Dusty Rhodes Christmas Spectacular beginning at noon on Christmas Eve through midnight on Christmas Day (thanks, Trusty One!).

But, like all LP's, we have expenses to meet, and we would like, if finances permit to do a couple of things to improve WRPO next year, including get our antenna up to the maximum allowable 100 feet. And, perhaps install an internet line to allow us to add some programming remotely and, perhaps get back to streaming on the net. Getting a new digital processor and a computer to run it would be nice, too...and would help us get the signal out better. Maybe even replace a little studio equipment that's beginning to show signs of wear.

All of these improvements can be made if you would be kind enough to support us. I have put my own money into this station. I wouldn't do that if I didn't believe in what Gene and the crew are trying to accomplish.

I will be up there later this weekend, and plan to be on the air as well asking for community support. We are trying to provide a "local voice" to the Russell's Point/Indian Lake Resort Region, but we get no governmental funding...we have to pay as we go. We play oldies from the 1950's to the 1980's to attempt to broadly appeal to people between the ages of 35-65. But we also offer some diverse musical programming on the weekends to appeal to other tastes, too. I thank all of our underwriters and supporters...but I ask, if you can, to help us raise some cash to keep the oldies playing at the Lake. Stop by and say hi, if you're in the area. I'd love to meet you.

 

[Limp73]

NEW WRPO WEBSITE

Same URL as always..with a new logo "WRPOldies" (shaped like a vinyl record) with a link underneath to enter the site. New photos,info about programs on the station plus audioclips along with a plug for the upcoming boat show.

http://www.wrpo-fm.com

 

[xmusicmatt]

NEW WRPO WEBSITE

Same URL as always..with a new logo "WRPOldies" (shaped like a vinyl record) with a link underneath to enter the site. New photos,info about programs on the station plus audioclips along with a plug for the upcoming boat show.

http://www.wrpo-fm.com

The audio starting as soon as the page is loaded is annonying ... What if I don't want to listen? that's seriously the worse thing one can do to drive people away from your website. Let me choose to listen not blast me with audio soon as the url loads.

 

[kirkiefan]

.... yo X

Look again...was on it this just this evening and now it has a "play" button underneath Kirby's photo...so chill out,enjoy the site without the Cowsills intro unless you choose to press play to listen.

.

 

[schmave]

Is there a link for live streaming anywhere? If not, is that in the plans?

 

[Limp73]

WRPO (at present) does not stream...but there are some audioclips.

 

[KevinFodor]

It's our hope that we'll be able to stream this year, but we also plan to make improvements to our audio quality (by way of a digital audio processor) and some antenna improvements.

We are working on internet in the station (for not only streaming, but other reasons as well)...but we'll have to see how that all works out.

Our first quarter additional underwriting (especially toward the end of the quarter with the Indian Lake Boat Show) did pretty well, and we are expecting more to open up after some potential underwriting funds get freed up from the Boat Show.

 

[schmave]

Drove through the area yesterday and today on a trip to Auglaize County to see family and just wanted to say the station sounds great. Good reach, too ... heard WRPO several miles into Auglaize County and coming toward Columbus it was easily heard all the way to the Bellefontaine ridge, which of course is the end of many western Ohio stations coming east. Keep up the good work!

 

[KevinFodor]

Drove through the area yesterday and today on a trip to Auglaize County to see family and just wanted to say the station sounds great. Good reach, too ... heard WRPO several miles into Auglaize County and coming toward Columbus it was easily heard all the way to the Bellefontaine ridge, which of course is the end of many western Ohio stations coming east. Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much for the kind words, schmave. I wasn't aware WRPO made it that far into Auglaize County.

I've just recently did an update on the music...so we're going to give the "stacks of wax" a shake soon. It's always interesting to me to see how certain songs pop out of the stack for a while, then pop back in. But, the updated rotational list is a good one...and we'll be doing some regular imaging updates as well.

So, don't forget to check in on us next time you're in the area!

 

[Limp73]

That's cool! Wonder how far into Auglaize County?

New Hampshire,Santa Fe and Waynesfield comes to mind.

In Shelby County it fades out heading west out of Jackson Center...but noticed on my car radio the signal "skips" in an area just north of Port Jefferson and Maplewood and fades near Logansville,west of Bellefontaine.

Should the station choose to audiostream Road Runner is available at Indidan Lake through Time-Warner's office in Wapak.

Here's a link to a streaming service link:

http://www.radiostreamingservices.com

 

[techie2]

It's our hope that we'll be able to stream this year, but we also plan to make improvements to our audio quality (by way of a digital audio processor) and some antenna improvements.

We are working on internet in the station (for not only streaming, but other reasons as well)...but we'll have to see how that all works out.

Our first quarter additional underwriting (especially toward the end of the quarter with the Indian Lake Boat Show) did pretty well, and we are expecting more to open up after some potential underwriting funds get freed up from the Boat Show.

Processing makes a big difference. It will be like night and day if you are looking at upgrading from something like an old Optimod 8000 to a modern digital unit. There's some good digital units available even at "budget" prices...the DSP-X, Omnia One, or Optimod 5300 come to mind.

A broadband connection is almost indispensable in my book. Some of the many uses I have found or can think of:
-Internet access for jocks to check news and weather
-FTP server access to upload production
-SSH server access for secure remote desktop to any machine with TightVNC. Using VNC opens up tons of possibilities, such as remote administration, updating program logs remotely, and being able to troubleshoot and fix some technical issues without a drive to the station.
-E-mail notification from monitoring gear such as a silence sensor
-Checking transmitter readings with a web-based remote control
-Web-enabled security cameras at the studio/office
...and tons of other possibilities.

Most ISP's will give you a small office router with their small biz package -- that's good enough to share the connection among a few computers. If you know Linux, you can use it to run servers and it's a completely free OS.

 

[schmave]

Drove through the area yesterday and today on a trip to Auglaize County to see family and just wanted to say the station sounds great. Good reach, too ... heard WRPO several miles into Auglaize County and coming toward Columbus it was easily heard all the way to the Bellefontaine ridge, which of course is the end of many western Ohio stations coming east. Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much for the kind words, schmave. I wasn't aware WRPO made it that far into Auglaize County.

I've just recently did an update on the music...so we're going to give the "stacks of wax" a shake soon. It's always interesting to me to see how certain songs pop out of the stack for a while, then pop back in. But, the updated rotational list is a good one...and we'll be doing some regular imaging updates as well.

So, don't forget to check in on us next time you're in the area!

I wish I could tell you exactly how far, but I forgot to check until I was a mile or so west of New Hampshire and it already was sounding good. With that flat terrain, I'd guess you could be heard most of the way to St. John's. I do know you guys were not there just east of Wapak, which I checked driving out Monday.
It's a nice station to hear on the drive out to western Ohio. As a kid the parents would have WOWO on quite a bit when it played oldies, so this is a flashback of sorts.

 

[KevinFodor]

It's our hope that we'll be able to stream this year, but we also plan to make improvements to our audio quality (by way of a digital audio processor) and some antenna improvements.

We are working on internet in the station (for not only streaming, but other reasons as well)...but we'll have to see how that all works out.

Our first quarter additional underwriting (especially toward the end of the quarter with the Indian Lake Boat Show) did pretty well, and we are expecting more to open up after some potential underwriting funds get freed up from the Boat Show.

Processing makes a big difference. It will be like night and day if you are looking at upgrading from something like an old Optimod 8000 to a modern digital unit. There's some good digital units available even at "budget" prices...the DSP-X, Omnia One, or Optimod 5300 come to mind.

A broadband connection is almost indispensable in my book. Some of the many uses I have found or can think of:
-Internet access for jocks to check news and weather
-FTP server access to upload production
-SSH server access for secure remote desktop to any machine with TightVNC. Using VNC opens up tons of possibilities, such as remote administration, updating program logs remotely, and being able to troubleshoot and fix some technical issues without a drive to the station.
-E-mail notification from monitoring gear such as a silence sensor
-Checking transmitter readings with a web-based remote control
-Web-enabled security cameras at the studio/office
...and tons of other possibilities.

Most ISP's will give you a small office router with their small biz package -- that's good enough to share the connection among a few computers. If you know Linux, you can use it to run servers and it's a completely free OS.

Well...you weren't kidding about the processing being a noticeable upgrade!

The station's old processor was an old Innovonics David 3. We are keeping it as a backup. But, when we switched to the new digital...WOW! The apparent loudness increased by about 20-30%, or at least it seems that way, the "clarity" of the sound is a head and shoulders above the old processor...we also can hear the station a little better in the fringes. Like all processors, it takes a little time to tweak it to where you want it (and we're working on it a little at a time - we'll probably have it completely set within about the next week. It's about the best you can do when you're up there once a week this time of year.)

I completely agree with your views on broadband...and that's where we eventually want to move things to...(there's a number of "real time" local programming features we could add on a daily basis just by having a couple of us being able to access the on-air computer and upload and schedule files to it.) it's just when the right deal comes along for us.

 

[Limp73]

Can't wait to hear it next time I'm at the lake. I know a local computer guy who may be able to start up a home made audiostream...I'm trying to nudge him to come up with me some Saturday morning to talk with you and Gene about it...and perhaps discuss the idea to start up a Facebook page for fans as well. WRQN up at Toledo has a Facebook page as does WSWO-LP.

 

[techie2]

Well...you weren't kidding about the processing being a noticeable upgrade!

The station's old processor was an old Innovonics David 3. We are keeping it as a backup. But, when we switched to the new digital...WOW! The apparent loudness increased by about 20-30%, or at least it seems that way, the "clarity" of the sound is a head and shoulders above the old processor...we also can hear the station a little better in the fringes. Like all processors, it takes a little time to tweak it to where you want it (and we're working on it a little at a time - we'll probably have it completely set within about the next week. It's about the best you can do when you're up there once a week this time of year.)

I completely agree with your views on broadband...and that's where we eventually want to move things to...(there's a number of "real time" local programming features we could add on a daily basis just by having a couple of us being able to access the on-air computer and upload and schedule files to it.) it's just when the right deal comes along for us.

It does make a big difference. WSWO started out with a really old analog Optimod, which had to go back on the air recently for some equipment work. The sound of the analog box could be best described as "thin" with no density or punch to it at all versus a more capable digital processor. I've never played around with the Inovonics processors so I have no idea how they compare, but I could see how the advanced algorithms in a digital unit would outperform a David-2 or -3.

A new processor can help with fringe coverage with either more density to overcome noise or by producing a cleaner stereo composite signal in general. Any trash getting into the composite signal can sound like multipath in the fringe area or even increase multipath effects in coverage dead spots.

The hard part with any processor is that the Oldies format can be difficult to process because the quality of the recordings varies so much. I think also that some of the things that were done with stereo on some tracks can drive a processor nuts, either because of weird phasing between the stereo channels or plain lack of relation between the two (such as placing the vocal track on one channel and the instruments on the other.) It all depends on how the processing algorithms work. The other problem I've run into is that mixing mono and stereo tracks can cause listeners who are switched to mono or have a radio that is blending to mono to notice some volume variations. Mono tracks will sound louder to them because more of the overall audio is concentrated in the sum channel (L+R) and not the difference (L-R) component that is being discarded by the receiver. That's just a limitation of the FM stereo system that can't be worked around.

Have fun adjusting the new toy. One of these days if I get a trip north I will have to see if I can pull in WRPO.

 

[KevinFodor]

Well...you weren't kidding about the processing being a noticeable upgrade!

The station's old processor was an old Innovonics David 3. We are keeping it as a backup. But, when we switched to the new digital...WOW! The apparent loudness increased by about 20-30%, or at least it seems that way, the "clarity" of the sound is a head and shoulders above the old processor...we also can hear the station a little better in the fringes. Like all processors, it takes a little time to tweak it to where you want it (and we're working on it a little at a time - we'll probably have it completely set within about the next week. It's about the best you can do when you're up there once a week this time of year.)

I completely agree with your views on broadband...and that's where we eventually want to move things to...(there's a number of "real time" local programming features we could add on a daily basis just by having a couple of us being able to access the on-air computer and upload and schedule files to it.) it's just when the right deal comes along for us.

It does make a big difference. WSWO started out with a really old analog Optimod, which had to go back on the air recently for some equipment work. The sound of the analog box could be best described as "thin" with no density or punch to it at all versus a more capable digital processor. I've never played around with the Inovonics processors so I have no idea how they compare, but I could see how the advanced algorithms in a digital unit would outperform a David-2 or -3.

A new processor can help with fringe coverage with either more density to overcome noise or by producing a cleaner stereo composite signal in general. Any trash getting into the composite signal can sound like multipath in the fringe area or even increase multipath effects in coverage dead spots.

The hard part with any processor is that the Oldies format can be difficult to process because the quality of the recordings varies so much. I think also that some of the things that were done with stereo on some tracks can drive a processor nuts, either because of weird phasing between the stereo channels or plain lack of relation between the two (such as placing the vocal track on one channel and the instruments on the other.) It all depends on how the processing algorithms work. The other problem I've run into is that mixing mono and stereo tracks can cause listeners who are switched to mono or have a radio that is blending to mono to notice some volume variations. Mono tracks will sound louder to them because more of the overall audio is concentrated in the sum channel (L+R) and not the difference (L-R) component that is being discarded by the receiver. That's just a limitation of the FM stereo system that can't be worked around.

Have fun adjusting the new toy. One of these days if I get a trip north I will have to see if I can pull in WRPO.

Basically, coming from Dayton, you can start picking it up reasonably well on the north side of DeGraff, and within a mile or two you should be getting it fairly solid (unless propagation bad that day), I'm told in the past week or so, we get into the north side of Bellefountaine, and up to about Wapakoneta and places like Jackson Center and Anna, too. (A friend of mine told me tonight we were making his car stereo speakers "thump" and he says that never happens! And on oldies, that's got to be saying something!)

And I agree processing oldies is a challenge. But, from the sound of the processor, it seems to handle things pretty well...I'll be tweaking the new toy again this weekend a bit, but we're getting some rave reviews. Listeners are actually noticing the change.