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Gold32
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1220 WSRQ is now on the FM dial at 106.9 in Sarasota. WSRQ is now the one and only News, Talk and Sports station on FM here in Sarasota. You Thoughts.
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They bought and moved that translator up from Osprey. My thoughts, I say good for them. This mom and pop (and the kids) needed a boost to help with their AM signal issues and jumped right on the FM translator for AM stations bandwagon. Now, lets see what they do with it!!Gold32 said:
What happened to the original WSRQ 1220 tower?
Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
Email: [email protected]
Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
Email: [email protected]
The original WQSA towers were taken down years ago during the time the station was silent. They built a cell tower where one of the towers used to be and connected a slant wire to the cell tower. That arrangement really got out well. Last time I went by there, the slant wire was gone and it appeared the signal was originating somewhere else. 106.9 doesnt appear to be a good choice for the translator frequency as it is plagued with co channel interference. Same thing with the LPFM on 96.5 as there is a translator in Manatee County on the same frequency. They just trash each other. The FCC database shows a new transmitter site with 2 towers east of I75 not the WLSS site either.
FCC probably won't do anything unless there is a legally filed complaint.rfrus said:
In any event, why do you think they are operating illegally?
A "slant" wire is not illegal as long as it is not causing interference and I'm not even sure they are still using it.
They also have CP's for other sites.
At this point, the FCC may be more lenient to the operators of a licensed local AM station if they see a desire to make it financially viable.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
The FM is in competition for the ears with the AM... or is it the other way around?jmtillery said:
This sounds like the tail running away from the dog.
The signal from 1220 is not that good. The tanslator will have roughly the same signal.
AM signals are crappy in Sa-ra-so-ta! I had to put an external antenna on my car just to listen to 970 without ignition interference.
People will be listening to the FM translator more than the AM "main signal".
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
badjef said:
I understand what you are saying and why you feel the way you do. However, the point I was making is the idea of enhancing local AM radio. Whether the listeners are listening to the main AM signal or the FM translator, they are still listening to the station's programming. And, so long as the listeners are happy with what they are hearing, everyone wins. The listener benefits and so does the local station. More listeners = higher ratings. Higher ratings = more ad $$$. This is consistent in serving the general public interest as opposed to not having the FM translator re-broadcast option resulting in a loss of listeners and revenue resulting in the licensee filing for bankruptcy and the station ultimately going dark. The former is in the public interest. The latter is not. Would you agree?
Additionally, as an AM and FM station owner, media broker and media consultant, I am always looking for better ways to improve my clients stations and ultimate success as well as improving my own stations. I'll be the first to admit that a low power FM translator may not be the best solution, but it is at least "A" solution to improve AM listenership as opposed to doing nothing. I am a very open minded individual, so I am very open to the idea that if you have a better solution in mind, I'm sure all the AM licensees on here, including me, will be very pleased to hear (or read) your idea and better solution. We're all looking for a bigger and better proverbial "mouse-trap".
I will eagerly await your response and AM "Standard Band" improvement ideas.
This is not "enhancing" AM radio any more than people climbing into lifeboats enhanced the Titanic. It's an attempt to rescue AM radio operators from the very bad mistake they made in buying AM stations anytime in the past 20 years. Unfortunately, the AM license has to be kept to enjoy the benefits of the translator, so it encourages questionable practices.
It becomes obvious that the whole reason that station operators are turning their silent stations on once a year (defending their undeserved protection from other signals, and thumbing their noses at policy intended to clean out the trash) and hanging wires down towers (which in 1220's case, splattered all over the place at first) is try to hang on and get that sweet little FCC goodie of a translator.
1220 was a groundbreaking radio station when it ran an ALL-LOCAL news talk format from 1977 to 1987. It lost its reason for existing in the late 80's, when it surrendered to all-syndicated talk on 1420 and went to a canned music format, gradually sliding toward its original plunge into silence in the late 90's. It should have died years ago -- FOR GOOD -- when the tower went away. In the meantime, an underpowered signal whose interference creation far outweighs the illusion of service it grants to a small corner of Sarasota, continues to spew redundant syndicated talk that is mostly already available from Tampa stations and serves as one more roadblock to the license cleanout that is necessary to clean up AM -- assuming, of course, that we as a country want to do anything other than just let it deteriorate into oblivion like a rusty old tower.
It becomes obvious that the whole reason that station operators are turning their silent stations on once a year (defending their undeserved protection from other signals, and thumbing their noses at policy intended to clean out the trash) and hanging wires down towers (which in 1220's case, splattered all over the place at first) is try to hang on and get that sweet little FCC goodie of a translator.
1220 was a groundbreaking radio station when it ran an ALL-LOCAL news talk format from 1977 to 1987. It lost its reason for existing in the late 80's, when it surrendered to all-syndicated talk on 1420 and went to a canned music format, gradually sliding toward its original plunge into silence in the late 90's. It should have died years ago -- FOR GOOD -- when the tower went away. In the meantime, an underpowered signal whose interference creation far outweighs the illusion of service it grants to a small corner of Sarasota, continues to spew redundant syndicated talk that is mostly already available from Tampa stations and serves as one more roadblock to the license cleanout that is necessary to clean up AM -- assuming, of course, that we as a country want to do anything other than just let it deteriorate into oblivion like a rusty old tower.
smedge2006 said:
What questionable practices?
on very poorly designed receivers - another problem with AM
This may be another FCC attempt to rid the band of broadcasters by letting them have a taste of FM for themselves. I wonder what the raw data would indicate from companies such as (the former) Birch or even PPM
again, there are signal problems from the Tampa stations that prohibit or inhibit satisfactory reception. And remember money is local no matter whose talking about it and from where
The politics, more than the technology has been allowing it to happen for 50 years! It is amazing it has lasted this long. It has to say something positive about AM management.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
It never ceases to amaze me that all I am hearing (or reading) hear are all the problems with AM radio, but no real solutions are offered to improve the service other than delete AM frequecies and cancel AM licenses which ISN'T a solution at all. There was a reason these AM stations were licensed in the first place - to serve the local public interest. The Tampa Bay stations serve Tampa Bay and not Sarasota even though the Tampa stations may be heard in the Sarasota-Bradenton area.
I had asked if any of you have any solutions you can bring to the table that would actually improve the service you are camplaining about. As I stated in my previous post, I, too, am an AM broadcaster. I can tell you I can find problems with it all day long if I care to think that way. I'm well aware of all the problems and potential problems associated with AM radio on a daily basis and with radio in general. However, instead of dwelling on the problems, I look for the solutions, and believe me, there ARE, INDEED, solutions to all the problems that have been clearly stated in this thread. So, I'll make it easier. Just offer one good viable solution to the AM broadcast dilemma other than shutting down AM stations and relinguishing the licenses. Believe it or not, the licenses happen to be very valuable. AND, I have absolutely no problem investing in another AM radio station should I find one that meets my requirements.
Yes, I agree than many AM broadcasters have made poor choices in the past which has contributed to the problem(s) we face today. Also, as mentioned, receiver manufacturers have done a poor job in the past 20 + years in making any kind of AM receiver that has any real quality and fidelity. There are several factors that over the years have contributed to the decline in AM listenership, but not all AM radio stations are "trash" as indicated by one poster.
Let's hear about the solutions, for a much welcomed change, rather than debating all the "problems". Negative thinking always begets negative results. Positive thinking begets positive, solution oriented, results.
I had asked if any of you have any solutions you can bring to the table that would actually improve the service you are camplaining about. As I stated in my previous post, I, too, am an AM broadcaster. I can tell you I can find problems with it all day long if I care to think that way. I'm well aware of all the problems and potential problems associated with AM radio on a daily basis and with radio in general. However, instead of dwelling on the problems, I look for the solutions, and believe me, there ARE, INDEED, solutions to all the problems that have been clearly stated in this thread. So, I'll make it easier. Just offer one good viable solution to the AM broadcast dilemma other than shutting down AM stations and relinguishing the licenses. Believe it or not, the licenses happen to be very valuable. AND, I have absolutely no problem investing in another AM radio station should I find one that meets my requirements.
Yes, I agree than many AM broadcasters have made poor choices in the past which has contributed to the problem(s) we face today. Also, as mentioned, receiver manufacturers have done a poor job in the past 20 + years in making any kind of AM receiver that has any real quality and fidelity. There are several factors that over the years have contributed to the decline in AM listenership, but not all AM radio stations are "trash" as indicated by one poster.
Let's hear about the solutions, for a much welcomed change, rather than debating all the "problems". Negative thinking always begets negative results. Positive thinking begets positive, solution oriented, results.
I don't believe in deleting or canceling licenses. Just as analog TV, the FCC should have let it die on its own.jmtillery said:
Public Interest is always the buzz word. But the Public's Interest is not in riding horses to work anymore, either. - And in Sa-ra-so-ta! it isn't a Subway system, either.
Some of the solutions are programming, awareness, and technical. The first two of those are solved locally the 3rd is done on a synergy level and takes more time.
Show me one AM radio bilboard in Sa-ra-so-ta! There are none. Except for a 105.3 billboard in Oneco that expired within the last year, non left in Manatee County, either. I am and have been in NJ/NY the last several months taking care of my father, there are billboards all over the place for AM & FM (except for Monmoth and Ocean Counties). "If it is out of sight, it is out of mind." Where are your billboards? If there are is a small 1/8 page ad in a free circular, it better be a good one.
I don't know what radio stations you own, and in a forum such as this, it may not be one at all. I am not currently in radio but spent 13 of 16 years working in the sometimes described as a closet. But the passions never left and probably never will.
A station that attracts me is the station's belief in the product and the track record for the care of the listener/product. That will be there no matter what the vehicle is used to bring it to me.
I hope that starts to answer your question.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
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