wvlg

[drt]

My parents have a house in The Villages and WVLG is hella powerfull there. I was surprised to realize that they came in all the way to the Orlando airportt and very well, too. I have no idea how this station is so powerful with so littel power.... I'm curious about how this could be. Radio-locator lists them as an AC station, but bassed on what i've heard, (and yes it is very good station), its more 50's-70's Oldies. Also they are not useing IBOC. I am curious if they would ever consider broadcasting in AM Stereo. My parents have a Chrysler Town And Country 2001, and it would be cool to here WVLG in C-QUAM. One day when i go down there I'd like to get airchecks from them, but on a radio such as the Sony SRF-42 or SRF-A100. My boombox, (which I record cassette airchecks on while in The Villages) just has crappy AM. Perhaps one day I'll get the Meduci AMX-2000 and record from that. BTW it should be noted that The Villages is a great place to DX from... I have the discontinued 6 foot telascoping antenna on my Boombox, have to have that to receive good FM.

WVLG is very locally run, good production, etc.
John

When 640 first signed on in late 1986 or earlly 1987 as WHOF (Heart of Florida), they were a format similiar to today and were in C-Quam AM stereo and sounded great in stereo; then when a religious broadcaster bought them several years later, they dumped the AM stereo; don't have any idea what they did with that equipment.

Then The Village bought 640.

The lower the frequency on the AM band, the better the coverage, as a rule of thumb, but over and above that, I believe WVLG has very good ground conductivity and the engineering staff obviously does a good job of maintaining things.

Since WMEN has moved it's towers south (they're trying to penetrate the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami market, even though it's licensed to serve West Palm Beach) I would hope that maybe WVLG could increase power to 3,000 watts day and 1,500 watts night; I think at those power levels, they could remain non-directional and keep their current tower array. I believe any power increase to more than 3,000 watts would require a directional pattern , which would probably mean relocating the tower array and that is probably not feasible. (as mentioned in a previous post from a WVLG employee)

I just wish I could receive WVLG, even marginally, here in St. Pete.

btw- with WDAE's IBOC hash (WDAE is at 620 with towers located on the Gandy Bridge causeway connecting Tampa to north St. Petersburg), WVLG's signal has been diminished to the south on some receivers and car radios in n.e. Pasco county and parts of Hernando county and I suspect extreme southern Sumter county.

DRT

 

[JH_Radio]

But why would they have dumped it i wonder? I mean its not like IBOC was around at that point.... Odd.
Maybe they can get there equipment from someware. I can't help but wonder what happens to all that stereo equipment from like here in Phillly, from the stations that used to broadcast it? WPHT, WBCB, KYW, WZDZ, WFIL, WPEN etc?

 

[austingrace]

another thing that wvlg has going for it is the sound quality. i think wvlg has damn good sound quality for a.m . i wished i had an am stereo radio but i don't. anyway, that would be awesome if wvlg could go to at least 3000 watts. that would rule...

 

[JH_Radio]

I have been known to check out the AM band here in Philly with my Sony SRF-42 (aMax certified AM Stereo) walkman, and with so many useing IBOC, the great frequency responce of that s and simular Moduci AMX-2000 cannot be realized. On the site, it states that it is not the transmitters, it is the receivers that manufactures make that are the problem in the sound quolity of AM. Actually now with IBOC on AM, its both the receivers, and even with people purchaseing tuners such as the AMX-2000, or Fanfare FTA-100, its impossible to realize how good stations chains are. Sideband hash, plus noise on main carrier, plus a chop off at 4000 or 5000 Hurtz doesn't make for a good showing of just how good properly manufactured AM Receivers can sound.
John

 

[drt]

But why would they have dumped it i wonder? I mean its not like IBOC was around at that point.... Odd.
Maybe they can get there equipment from someware. I can't help but wonder what happens to all that stereo equipment from like here in Phillly, from the stations that used to broadcast it? WPHT, WBCB, KYW, WZDZ, WFIL, WPEN etc?

Many AM stations dumped stereo in the mid to late 90's and as far as I can determine, that was not any rationale reason; other than there were not many AM stereo radios available (the Sony SRF 42- that was sold at Radio Shack and Sony stores and a few other Sony am stereo models were exceptions), but I think many of the radio people that made the decision to dump the stereo didn't know or take into account all the cars that had (and some still do) AM stereo; many of the upscale Chrysler, Ford/Lincoln cars had AM stereo up to and including 2005.

I suspect some stations were being cheap and didn't want to maintain the equipment, some probably sold the C-Quam transmitters for scrap; others just let them gather dust in their back rooms.

There was also a myth that stereo would decrease the coverage area and many radio executives believed this myth; there is the platform issue at night and some stations would turn off the stereo at night. New technology supposedly to keeps the platform issue at bay, by blending the reception to mono, if the receiver senses platform motion. (The 2008 Meduci is supposed to do this)

At one time I know two Orlando stations were AM stereo, 540 (which was WGTO and played oldies) and 990; there were probably others, but these were the only two AM stereo stations from Orlando that I could receive on my car at the time. Closer to St. Petersburg, WONN - 1230 -Lakeland was stereo, and in the Tampa/St Pete and Sarasota/Bradenton area there were at least 8 others; the last one to turn off the AM stereo pilot light in the immediate Tampa Bay area was WGUL 860, which took the backward step to going mono around May of 2000. (WGUL is now owned by Salem and is conservative talk; no need for stereo these days).

To the best of my knowledge the only AM stereo station remaining in Florida is WWBR 1130, Bartow. (Polk County)

WVLG does have good audio processing for a mono station and their outstanding format would certainly show people how good an AM stereo station can sound. I suspect the C-Quam transmitter was probably long gone or broken beyond the point of repair when the Villages bought 640.

DRT

 

[austingrace]

hey guys. i just realized that wvlg has one of the broadest playlists i have ever heard on radio. that is real cool.

 

[fennessy]

Before things spin way out of control, WRZN-AM 720 is the #1 AM station in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market, and is the only 100% Standards radio station serving the Villages. They listen, they listen a lot, and they respond.

 

[Jeff2]

I don't understand why Pamal never did a simulcast of 720 with 980 in Gainesville. 980 had a standards format (Westwood One?) that they did absolutely nothing to promote. I would think an updated standards format in Gainesville would work but guess no one wants that demo. The current 720 is a little too big band sounding for my taste. I was in Ocala on Sunday and switched back and forth between 640 & 720. 640 seemed to be a 50-60's oldie type station with some songs you don't hear that often. When 106.9 first went on the air with 100kw they were adult standards as Kozy-FM and had the only decent ratings they've ever had (in the 4's).

 

[smedge2006]

Before things spin way out of control, WRZN-AM 720 is the #1 AM station in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market, and is the only 100% Standards radio station serving the Villages. They listen, they listen a lot, and they respond.

It's a satellite feed. How would they know who's responding?

 

[drt]

Before things spin way out of control, WRZN-AM 720 is the #1 AM station in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market, and is the only 100% Standards radio station serving the Villages. They listen, they listen a lot, and they respond.

It's a satellite feed. How would they know who's responding?

I believe someone (Fennessy?) posted earlier that recently they have dropped the satellite feed and are live and local. When I was up that way 3 weeks ago; they did appear to be live and not satellite for the 10 or 15 minutes I listened during the day.

Their daytime signal of 10,000 watts does penetrate the Villages, Ocala, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, Bushnell etc, but....... at night with 250 and directional antenna pattern to protect WGN 720 Chicago; you better to in Lake Panasoffkkee, Floral City, Hernando, Homosassas Springs or points in between to be able to listen.

During the day they come in just as well as WVLG in the Villages, but at night, it's no contest for people in the Villages, WVLG is receivable and WRZN 720 is not.

drt

 

[austingrace]

wvlg and wrzn both come in here in altamonte during the day. but wrzn has a stronger signal here. i bet that is because wrzn has a stronger signal than wvlg either way. wvlg is just shy of 1000 watts and wrzn has 10000 watts if i am not mistaken. sometimes i could hear wrzn back when i lived in palm bay. personally i prefer wvlg but wrzn is another good one as well.

 

[austingrace]

hey guys. i understand there is a wvlg fm as well? it is a low power station. i found it on radio-locater. i was wondering what this station is? is it a simalcast of wvlg am? that would be cool if it was. radio-locater said the owner was The Villages Chamber of Commerce. if anyone knows about this station let me know. thanks. i found that vary interesting that there was a wvlg fm as well. i never would have recieved it because it is 27 watts on 103.3 fm witch has interference from wloq 103.1 over here anyway. thanks.

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

WVLG-LP isn't associated with WVLG 640 and runs nothing but what you would call "background" music... a far far cry from what their application SAID they would do.

 

[jmtillery]

Hey guys. i have wvlg on right now. it is like i am adicted to it. it is all i listen to on the radio right now. now if only they had 1000 watts at night i think i could hear them here in altamonte. during the day they come in ok but a car radio works best here. I hope they go to 2000 watts days. that would be vary cool. if only that 640 station was not in west palm. now that would be great!!! wvlg 50000 watts? ahhahahhah that would rule. show these corperate people how radio really is, but i am dreamign there. anyway, i am glad to see someone that works at wvlg reading this thread. no wonder wvlg sounds soooo good. I am 20 but i will tell you what, the only times i use my radio is to listen to wvlg and to my fm transmitters that i own. you guys keep it up and i hope nothing happens to wvlg because if something does, the people that did something to it would regret it a great deal.

I agree that WVLG is an outstanding radio station. I like the fact that is sounds the way radio sounded during its glory days back in the 60s and 70s. The music is from "my" time which was the mid to late 70s and early 80s. It's refreshing to actually have "LIVE" radio instead of the stale "same-ole' same-ole" "juke-box" radio that is so prevelant today.

Regarding a possible power increase for WVLG, back in the late 70s and very early 80s, I had conducted a frequency search for Ocala and had determined 640 khz would work in this area at 50kw-Unlimted, meaning it would work with 50,000 watts non-directional day AND night at that time. Unformtunately, I was too late in filing an application and the 640 in Royal Palm Beach (West Palm) ended up getting 25,000 watts daytime and 1,000 watts night-time with a directional 2 pattern. Following West Palm Beach, a broadcaster friend of mine filed for and got the CP for WHOF-AM 640 Wildwood (now WVLG Wildwood-The Villages), at a reduced power in order to avoid interference with West Palm.

I believe WVLG could still get a power increase now, both day and night, but it will require a directional pattern in order to accomplish it due to the fact that WMEN Royal Palm Beach has an active CP to increase its day power to 50,000 watts daytime and 25,000 watts night-time with a six tower directional array. The good news is WMEN is moving its tower site further South in order to cover Miami. The predicted 05.mv/m countour for WMEN ends at Sebring, some 200 miles South of Ocala. So, it would appear, with a critical directional pattern, WVLG may be able to accomplish 50kw day-time, possibly with six towers in-line with two pair of three towers parallel to each pair. However, towers are expensive and so is land to accommodate them.

And, on another note, it may very well be that WVLG management is perfectly happy with covering ONLY the Villages and parts of Lake and Sumter County. It would, however, be outstanding to receive that signal day and night here in Ocala which would also be an excellent marketing location for additional sponsors.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

They would need at least 2 more towers.. and between the study, filing, attorneys fees, towers, building, ground system, atu, engineering time... it would be well above $125,000 and probably not worth it.

 

[jmtillery]

They would need at least 2 more towers.. and between the study, filing, attorneys fees, towers, building, ground system, atu, engineering time... it would be well above $125,000 and probably not worth it.

I wish it would only cost $125k. If that were true, I'd build it out myself. However, in this current economy, I would agree that any expenses beyond "normal" operating expenses would not be "worth it". However, any such undertaking will cost more than $125,000. Even with three towers, as you suggest, the least expensive would be 1/4 wave-length towers and would come at a minimal cost of around $125k each. That would be $250k just for the two additional towers assuming there is enough land at the current tower site to accommodate them. If not, then land would have to be located and acquired. A 50kw AM-MW transmitter will cost you upward toward another $100 grand and will run you several thousand dollars each month in power to operate it.

There are pros and cons either way. Once the economy is stable, it may be worth at least looking into whether anything further is done or not. That's just my opinion.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

1/4 wave towers for 640kHz would run about $30 to $40K per.. and a 50KW AM transmitter runs about $150K to $185K.. just ask Ray Kassis at WWBC 1510.

 

[jmtillery]

wvlg and wrzn both come in here in altamonte during the day. but wrzn has a stronger signal here. i bet that is because wrzn has a stronger signal than wvlg either way. wvlg is just shy of 1000 watts and wrzn has 10000 watts if i am not mistaken. sometimes i could hear wrzn back when i lived in palm bay. personally i prefer wvlg but wrzn is another good one as well.

The reason WRZN has a stronger signal is because AM 720 operates with a 10,000 watt omni-directional antenna pattern during the day while WVLG operates with less than 1kw during the day. WRZN reduces power to 250-watts with a three tower directional South antenna pattern at night, and that is why you cannot hear AM 720 during the night hours in Orlando. WVLG, on the other hand, operates day and night omni-directional with very littel power change from day to night.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[jmtillery]

1/4 wave towers for 640kHz would run about $30 to $40K per.. and a 50KW AM transmitter runs about $150K to $185K.. just ask Ray Kassis at WWBC 1510.

That's pretty much what I said except I left a little "wiggle" room since I didn't quote an exact figure. And what comes after "$30 to $40.."? Per foot? The towers are still going to run you at least $100k each, possibly more after you add in the installation cost, and it also depends largely on who you buy the tower(s) from. There are many factors that play into such an undertaking. The only possible exception would be if you find an existing tower or set of towers and diplex because, in that case, the tower(s) structure(s) are already there.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[radioguybroadcasting]

1/4 wave towers for 640kHz would run about $30 to $40K per.. and a 50KW AM transmitter runs about $150K to $185K.. just ask Ray Kassis at WWBC 1510.

That's pretty much what I said except I left a little "wiggle" room since I didn't quote an exact figure. And what comes after "$30 to $40.."? Per foot? The towers are still going to run you at least $100k each, possibly more after you add in the installation cost, and it also depends largely on who you buy the tower(s) from. There are many factors that play into such an undertaking. The only possible exception would be if you find an existing tower or set of towers and diplex because, in that case, the tower(s) structure(s) are already there.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

$30,000 to $40,000 per tower installed.

I saw the invoice for a 3 tower array for a station sin the Avon Park/Lakeland/Sebring area on the low end of the band, and 3 towers, and everything, all installed.. less then $175K.