WLCO Lapeer, off the air

[Colonel Flagg]

Anything new on this? Last time I dialed past WLCO while driving on I-69, the audio sounded like a faraway station during Critical Hours. But now that I think about it, WFNT sounds only slightly better.

[CK-722]

You can't replace transmitter and DA guys like Don McComb and Bill Sanderson with Corporate Engineers, overextended cluster engineers, and IT staff. People have contacted the stations and Townsquare about issues like this and have received no response, people who could help, and it's the same at other companies. And in other areas besides Michigan.

Obsession with chain of command, HR, etc. paralyzes corporations to do things other than selling off valuable assets like land and towers, and acquiring and divesting other stations. As Quincy, ME used to say, "[Radio] didn't die, IT WAS MURDERED!"

[Colonel Flagg]

Is WLCO required to reduce power during CH?

[CK-722]

Is WLCO required to reduce power during CH?

No, it gets its CH protection from the DA. Otherwise, it would have to go down to less than 250 watts (WYGR is a little farther from WCKY and is only 250 watts CH).

[Colonel Flagg]

Thanks. I knew one of the 1530's had a Critical Hours restriction, but could not recall which one. It's a shame there's not a lower frequency this clunker facility could operate on. Daytime only is bad enough. High on the dial makes it worse.

[originalzzmfmjock]

When WYGR first went on the air as WERX in 1964 they were a 500 watt day timer. Early in 1965 WCKY complained to the FCC that WERX was interfering with their signal in Ohio. At that time the WERX license was changed to 250 watts during critical hours.

[CK-722]

Looks like they were 500 watts Directional to protect WCKY CH, and when they moved, they went 500 watts Nondirectional and 250 CH Nondirectional.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/c ... r_id=69124

[Colonel Flagg]

How much "daytime skywave" interference does WLCO receive from WCKY? Here in Bloomfield Township, the daytime skywave on WDTK 1400 kicks in around 2PM. It's clear enough for me to identify song titles on WSAM.

What's with the low audio on the Clownsquare AM's? That was a problem on WLCO, and WFNT. If you flip from WTRX or WWCK over to WFNT, you need to adjust your volume for WFNT. Nobody in the building knows how to adjust the Optimod 9100 or the old Volumax?

[CK-722]

The solar activity is definitely low, which will increase Daytime skywave for the near future.

When you get to Northern Michigan, WLCO often booms in, with little interference from WCKY, as the extent of strong Daytime skywave is 250 to 300 miles.

WSAM actually has a significant ground wave in SE Michigan. If you turn the radio the right direction and null out WDTK, you'll hear WSAM most days. In Genesee County, WJLB...WDTK could and can be heard by nulling out WSAM.