Latest FCC application has Draper's rock 93.5 downgrading from 50Kw to 11.5Kw; same tower and height but losing the directional antenna. Range takes a hit but still seems to cover their main shore markets.
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WZBH "The Beach" Turning Down the Power
- Thread starter DXingRadio
- Start date
A couple viable reasons:
Directional antennae cost a good deal more compared to Omni-directional ones. Granted, theirs is a basic carotid pattern which is fairly common and a basic “off-the-shelf” design.
If the antenna is 20-30 years old, especially in an environment with salty moisture in the air, it may be in need of replacement.
Considering radio is not a huge moneymaker like it was 20-30 years ago, considering the market they sell ads to is still covered with the downgraded coverage, they’re not as worried about losing 5-10 miles of city grade coverage in the country over spending $20-50k for a new directional antenna (plus installation)
Plus, they’re probably halving their transmitter power output, which isn’t an insignificant expense in small-market small-business radio…that’ll probably save them $2k/year in power usage!
Directional antennae cost a good deal more compared to Omni-directional ones. Granted, theirs is a basic carotid pattern which is fairly common and a basic “off-the-shelf” design.
If the antenna is 20-30 years old, especially in an environment with salty moisture in the air, it may be in need of replacement.
Considering radio is not a huge moneymaker like it was 20-30 years ago, considering the market they sell ads to is still covered with the downgraded coverage, they’re not as worried about losing 5-10 miles of city grade coverage in the country over spending $20-50k for a new directional antenna (plus installation)
Plus, they’re probably halving their transmitter power output, which isn’t an insignificant expense in small-market small-business radio…that’ll probably save them $2k/year in power usage!
It wouldn't shock me to someday see Draper put the WZBH programming on WINX or WCEI in Trappe/Easton.
I live in Wilmington and WZBH is the only Delmarva station that I have not heard up here. On tropo evenings I've heard every little Class A station up here in stereo but no WZBH. I wonder in the non-directional antenna will allow me to hear it? WSTW is very close but I may be able to give it a try.
Quickly looking at the FCC data site. It just says Omni direction antenna. I thought you had to list the antenna make, model and number of bays. From the height in the filing, I am assuming 3 bays again. I guess they could turn down their existing transmitter or would it be cheaper if electric power is locally expensive to get a newer more efficient transmitter assuming the old transmitter is 20+ years old. Tax wise it you could lease one it could be a good thing essentially if you can buy it at the end of the lease.
Electric rates have gotten steep; among other things, the only local power plant of any size was right there in Millsboro, coal fired, and was shuttered last year. Most of our electric now is "imported" from off the peninsula from my understanding.