http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=WTIS
They have applied to move down a slot to 1100, still at 10kw days but also 150 watts nights.
They have applied to move down a slot to 1100, still at 10kw days but also 150 watts nights.
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WTIS applies to move from 1110 to 1100
- Thread starter DannyFL
- Start date
That is indeed big news! Years ago, when the station was Top-40 WALT, they tried unsuccessfully a number of times to obtain nighttime authorization in to better compete with WLCY. But the FCC wouldn't approve nighttime, because the frequency was reserved for clear channel WBT in Charlotte. I guess the real question now is whether the FCC will permit such a move and at the 10kw power level.
Since WTIS on 1110 operates as a clear channel in Florida and Georgia (but not Alabama), they have a large coverage area. On 1100, they'd still be clear in Florida, but there are a couple of Georgia stations on 1100 (but none in Alabama). It looks like 1100 would work for them.
Of course, 150 watts at night isn't much of a signal.
Since WTIS on 1110 operates as a clear channel in Florida and Georgia (but not Alabama), they have a large coverage area. On 1100, they'd still be clear in Florida, but there are a couple of Georgia stations on 1100 (but none in Alabama). It looks like 1100 would work for them.
Of course, 150 watts at night isn't much of a signal.
It will be interesting to see how this all works out. 1100 is reserved for clear channel WTAM out of Cleveland Ohio. Thus the small 150 watt nighttime signal. I believe that the 1100's out of Georgia are all daytimers.
Perhaps the difference on this request as apposed their earlier request is the greater distance between Tampa and Cleveland as opposed to Tampa to Charlotte which might just be enough space to allow WTIS operate at night.
Perhaps the difference on this request as apposed their earlier request is the greater distance between Tampa and Cleveland as opposed to Tampa to Charlotte which might just be enough space to allow WTIS operate at night.
That's the whole idea.
Great, so now I'm not going to be able to listen to WBT or WTAM...
Low
When I worked at WTIS, we had a pre-dawn authorization of 150 watts or 500 watts, I forget which we used 15 minutes prior to sunrise. It was worthless. The signal did not even reach Tampa Airport. WTIS seems to have lost the best radio ministries to other stations. Maybe a format change in is the works.
When I worked at WTIS, we had a pre-dawn authorization of 150 watts or 500 watts, I forget which we used 15 minutes prior to sunrise. It was worthless. The signal did not even reach Tampa Airport. WTIS seems to have lost the best radio ministries to other stations. Maybe a format change in is the works.
I could still hear WBT under WTIS on their predawn power. It is true that they have lost many shows to other stations. I can't confirm it, but someone told me they had a show with a Muslim host bashing Christians and Jews; while I find that amusing, I'm guessing most of their listeners and hosts didn't.
I had heard that they were supposed to flip to 1100 last week, but I've been checking and it still hasn't happened. Oh well.
I had heard that they were supposed to flip to 1100 last week, but I've been checking and it still hasn't happened. Oh well.
It will take a bit of work to adjust their transmitter(s), antenna tuning units and phasor to the new frequency and pattern. They may need to operate non-directional at some extremely low power for several days while their DA system is re-adjusted. It's not a simple matter of hitting a switch and "voila ... we're on 1100." They may need to be off the air for several days as well.
I spent some time in the area, back in the 60s, and listened to 1110 WALT. I noticed it was DA-D. Surely it was not protecting WBT during the day. Couldn't figure out why it was directional, or what station it was protectiing. Did anyone know?
According to my consulting engineer, WTIS may operate on its existing 1110 frequency non-directional but will need to reduce power to 4kw during CH operations. My understanding is the original owners chose to operate at 10kw-directional to avoid the necessity of being required to reduce power 2-hours before sunset; hence the reason for WTIS' 10kw directional daytime pattern.
Going directional to avoid reducing power during Critical Hours is just plain silly.
Their current directional pattern provides a pretty serious null towards WBT.
There is no way that they could operate with anything close to 10kw non-directional during daytime hours.
I doubt that they could operate with 4kw non-directional during critical hours. Too much signal going towards WBT.
Their current directional pattern provides a pretty serious null towards WBT.
There is no way that they could operate with anything close to 10kw non-directional during daytime hours.
I doubt that they could operate with 4kw non-directional during critical hours. Too much signal going towards WBT.
I'm not a technician, but I had some friends who worked as part-time DJs at WALT during the early 1960s, and I remember being in the studio near sunset, and hearing WBT infringing in on WALT's own on-air monitor before WALT even signed off. I wonder if, in the later 1950s when WALT applied to increase their power from 1kw to 10kw, the FCC didn't make that DA-D a requirement in order to protect WBT's fringe area from WALT during WALT's first and last half-hours of the broadcast day. Even though the FCC later opened up lots of former "clear" channels to competitive nighttime signals (such as WHO 1040 Des Moines), they steadfastly refused time after time to let WALT operate at night. I also believe the antenna was in the Seffner-Temple Terrace area back then, but I could be wrong about that.
Regarding the 1110 to 1100 move, no CP has been issued yet.
One of the major reasons for WTIS being directional is WTOF in Bay Minette, AL.
Thanks to the several of you who replied to my inquiry about why 1110 was DA-D. If they applied for that facility today, they might likely have to protect Bay Minette AL. However! This station, originally known as WBCA, was on 1150 1 kw D back when WALT became a 10 kw DA-D station. WBCA did not move to 1110 10 Kw D until much later, around 1967. That was long after WALT was 10 kw.
I know of stations along the coast that operate DA-D just to redirect signal over land/population instead of sending it out into the open water. Thought maybe that was the reason for the 3 tower system, as it seemed to me WBT was too far away to matter in groundwave terms.
I have lived on the Alabama gulf coast for most of my 69 years, and have frequently DXed daytime at the shoreline. There we've never had any trouble hearing Tampa Bay area AM stations... 620 970 1380 roared in ... could also hear the lower powered ones like 1520 1590 680 1040 820 1550 1300. Never could hear 1250 until the last few years; I figured they changed their daytime pattern as they come in well now. Never could hear 1110 even before the nearby Bay Minette station went to 1110. Heck, I could even hear 1340 Clearwater ... oh and 1470 is an easy catch too. But no 1110 ... and 1010 doesn't make it up here either, obviously because of DA. The 570 station barely makes it ... we used to have 570 in Biloxi MS but it's gone now. The 860 station is there, but it's tough to pick it out with WWL 870 next door.
I know of stations along the coast that operate DA-D just to redirect signal over land/population instead of sending it out into the open water. Thought maybe that was the reason for the 3 tower system, as it seemed to me WBT was too far away to matter in groundwave terms.
I have lived on the Alabama gulf coast for most of my 69 years, and have frequently DXed daytime at the shoreline. There we've never had any trouble hearing Tampa Bay area AM stations... 620 970 1380 roared in ... could also hear the lower powered ones like 1520 1590 680 1040 820 1550 1300. Never could hear 1250 until the last few years; I figured they changed their daytime pattern as they come in well now. Never could hear 1110 even before the nearby Bay Minette station went to 1110. Heck, I could even hear 1340 Clearwater ... oh and 1470 is an easy catch too. But no 1110 ... and 1010 doesn't make it up here either, obviously because of DA. The 570 station barely makes it ... we used to have 570 in Biloxi MS but it's gone now. The 860 station is there, but it's tough to pick it out with WWL 870 next door.
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