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WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Discussion pertaining to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, and Michiana
Trophyhead
Posts: 438
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:36 am

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by Trophyhead »

You will have a report regarding Big Rapids reception on 96.9 in a matter of hours. I remember working as a kid in Cadillac, in the days of Aris and Prudence and shows like Clambake and Music to Watch Cartoons By, where you could pull LAV when you came down 131 to Reed City, and over north of Mount Pleasant on 127. It is a far cry from the talent roster I described, now, but this is about technology, not ambience.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by CK-722 »

WGRD-FM is short spaced to WCKL, WKCQ, and WJLB. Under the old Section 73.213 rules, they could run 20 kW/500 feet, 13 kW at their HAAT, nondirectional. They did apply to go to 30 kW DA. I don't know how far it got. J.J. Duling said that they were concerned about Kalamazoo. They may have done modeling, and the reductions in an actual composite pattern made the situation worse than 20/500, or 13/actual HAAT nondirectional. So that's why they stayed nondirectional.

J.J. During was impressed that my Sony Portable picked up WGRD-FM in Big Rapids, though WLAV-FM was quite a bit better.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

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CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by CK-722 »

The History Cards don't show much past 1980. But I think they backed out after the CP was issued.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/c ... r_id=81091

Although they had a couple applications, CPs, and Extensions for 30 kW DA, it is not clear whether they licensed it. At one point, it would have required 3 nulls to 13 kW or less, and it would have taken at least a 30 degree arc with reduced ERP (2 dB per 10 degrees) around the nulls in those directions toward Chicago, Saginaw, and Detroit. They were all in the 20 kW Zone. WLAV-FM was in the 50 kW Zone, just barely, 125 miles.

Maybe Bosco knows for sure.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by CK-722 »

I printed it all out again including the old Section 73.213 and it looks like they were, though short spaced, in the full 50 kW power zones toward WKCQ (80 miles) and WJLB (125 miles), but in the 20 kW Zone toward WSDM/WLUP/WCKL. I got to thinking about WJLB and WKCQ needing no short spaced agreements like WJR/WDVD and WBCM/WHNN, WNEM/WGER/WIOG and WBRB...WDKL, and WABX...WYCD and WQDC...WUGN. It then occurred to me that WGRD was in the 50 kW Zone also.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
Trophyhead
Posts: 438
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:36 am

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by Trophyhead »

Got a little distracted by car trouble last evening, here's my take on LAV's signal range.

In the city of Big Rapids, Ferris State campus area, not really listenable. Knew it was LAV, my RDS wasn't saying so.

Several miles south, where Old 131 approaches the Muskegon River, patchy, stereo light flashed on and off.

By the Parkers' Landing/Eight Mile Road freeway interchange, RDS is rolling, Rob Brandt was talking, (think his promo card about the Def Leppard/ZZ Top "win it before you can buy it" activities had the wrong show date, right one's Friday, Oct. 9) signal improved.

Much better by 6 Mile Road, or 131's mile marker 129. That's compared to the fuzz that came through on this frequency in that vicinity prior to the power-up. Will try to verify all these contentions on tonight's ride home, on the Lumina's stock Delco.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by CK-722 »

Trophyhead wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:05 pm Got a little distracted by car trouble last evening, here's my take on LAV's signal range.

In the city of Big Rapids, Ferris State campus area, not really listenable. Knew it was LAV, my RDS wasn't saying so.

Several miles south, where Old 131 approaches the Muskegon River, patchy, stereo light flashed on and off.

By the Parkers' Landing/Eight Mile Road freeway interchange, RDS is rolling, Rob Brandt was talking, (think his promo card about the Def Leppard/ZZ Top "win it before you can buy it" activities had the wrong show date, right one's Friday, Oct. 9) signal improved.

Much better by 6 Mile Road, or 131's mile marker 129. That's compared to the fuzz that came through on this frequency in that vicinity prior to the power-up. Will try to verify all these contentions on tonight's ride home, on the Lumina's stock Delco.
The Muskegon River Valley is the main reason it's hard to receive in Big Rapids proper. Once you get South of the Water Tower and the Campus, the High Banks, toward the WBRN tower, the elevation is higher.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
CK-722
Posts: 1284
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 3:53 pm

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by CK-722 »

"Uncle Paul" Harvey was a favorite in Big Rapids on WLAV-FM back in the day. Students in the high rise dormitories may have been able to hear it pretty well.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
Trophyhead
Posts: 438
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:36 am

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by Trophyhead »

I was surprised how well the Delco held "Rewind 99.1" on my travels south, Tuesday. It was listenable down to the Howard City exit, about six miles further south than my Prius' reception. LAV presented very similar signal parameters to what I had noticed on Monday.

Still no meat on the bone, funny-wise in the Tony Gates Morning Show promo I heard yesterday. I'm not against anyone earning a check down the stretch of their radio careers, most pleased to hear Diamond Dave Murray in voicework on KLQ ads during the evening.
statmanmi
Posts: 165
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2018 12:07 am

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - Complete Feb. 2020

Unread post by statmanmi »

Hi All,

Saturday morning (2/22) LAV had the recorded promotional sounders between many songs touting that this relocation effort is complete. Examples (all provided by the same female voice):

We're back, and at 100% power.

Loud and proud, and back at 100% power baby!

Tell your friends--LAV is back, and at 100% power.


Indeed, I was receiving them without any glitches while driving past the Greenville Meijer (just west of downtown--had no reason to be further east this trip), all the way into the north and east sides of Grand Rapids. RDS was always being received as well, with accurate artist and song information. (Prompting me to realize that the new-to-us commuter/teen car has a better stereo than my usual daily driver.)

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi
cckadlec
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: Fremont, Mich. / Seoul, Korea
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Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by cckadlec »

Trophyhead wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:37 am I was surprised how well the Delco held "Rewind 99.1" on my travels south, Tuesday. It was listenable down to the Howard City exit, about six miles further south than my Prius' reception. LAV presented very similar signal parameters to what I had noticed on Monday.
It's not listenable here in Fremont at all, but that station gets out really far everywhere else with the higher elevations and the flatter terrain inland. I can hear it on the portable if I'm aiming in that direction, but on the car radio, it can't get through WMYX, aside from on crappy winter days when conditions are bad and it has more of an opening to peek through. No problem with 107.7 here though, if one were to turn off the 107.9 IBOC to make it clear. 96.5 (//107.7) was the same - very reliable - for the brief time they were on the air last year, and without IBOC issues.
Marine propagation studies, Korean propaganda and jammers (8 hrs. of audio), 500+ Great Lakes TOH IDs (6 hrs.), Chinese AM TOH IDs (53 hrs.), Chinese and Taiwanese propaganda and jammers, plus articles and maps at www.chriskadlec.com • Tuner: Grundig G8 & TEF6686.
weathernut
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 12:48 am

Re: WLAV Tower Relocation - new update 7/29

Unread post by weathernut »

Reception of WLAV to the SW: Driving north on 196 started to notice them at M-140 about 3 miles due south of South Haven. Signal gained strength quickly and by the time I was driving past the Phoenix Street exit(bus196), it was fairly clear with sporadic static. To the NW strong signal to about the New Era exit. Static makes an appearance between New Era and Shelby, but not too noticeable. From Shelby to just south of Hart/Mears exit, static becomes common. And just like most GR stations, drops at Hart.
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