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Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Discussion pertaining to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Port Huron and SW Ontario
billmich88888
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by billmich88888 »

Have not tuned in much since their flip to country many moons ago. Growing up in Grosse Pointe, they were a preset on my car in the 80's playing decent adult contemporary music (along with 580 and 710/730)
I believe they are still broadcasting in C-Quam stereo last I checked (during pandemic) -

This FM signal will be microscopic compared to the AM, but they sell ads in that 20KM radius, not in metro Detroit, or parts further away.

Low on the dial, those 10,000 Watts really got out far, and when they went from 1k to 6K at night, that also covered very large area of Michigan as well.

It makes perfect economic sense.....
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Ben Zonia
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

Of course, 630 will stay in the International Database forever. They should look for a way to upgrade another Canadian station. Their 630 facility is one of the best in Ontario. They can't move it to Toronto, unless it was possible or beneficial to move the Richmond Hill 640 station near there to 630.

The AM Band is being deconstructed in a random illogical way. They need to preserve the better facilities, on both sides of the border, and replace AM stations with comparable facilities. The proposed Class A facility with 1250 watts ERP is nowhere near that.

The FCC may finally be prepared to relax the rules to accommodate better replacement facilities, but the proposed Class A10 is nowhere near enough. Of course, the NAB and Big Broadcasting will even fight Class A10.

The only real solution would be to expand the FM Band.
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TC Talks
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by TC Talks »

Radio, AM and FM are declining mediums. No one will have a device to hear an expanded FM band, as new cars won't be have radio in the next 5 years. Who wants to spend millions of dollars building a station very few people would be able to hear. I'd never recommend ever advertising on an expanded band station.

Expanded band concept is past the point of financial likelihood.
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Marcus
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by Marcus »

In the application Blackburn mentioned that the condition of the CFCO transmitter site is deteriorating. Using 91.3 will be much less costly. It will only require a 316-watt output into the antenna bays to send out 1,250 watts ERP.
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Ben Zonia
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

Marcus wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2024 10:59 pm In the application Blackburn mentioned that the condition of the CFCO transmitter site is deteriorating. Using 91.3 will be much less costly. It will only require a 316-watt output into the antenna bays to send out 1,250 watts ERP.
That sounds about an average output, if the antenna is 8 circularly polarized bays.

Still not that much ERP.
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edj
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by edj »

https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&facid=790552

If this is to be believed, the proposal won’t put a strong signal in all of Kent County. Tilbury isn’t really covered by CJWF either.
KeenerGold
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by KeenerGold »

CFCO hasn't been on my radar or presets in a long time.

20+ years ago, 630 and CHOK-1070 were mainstays in my rotation. Loved that CanCon.
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ZenithCKLW
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Re: Blackburn seeks to abandon 630 AM in Chatham, Ont., move to 91.3 (item # 7)

Unread post by ZenithCKLW »

I do miss Classic Gold CFCO in AM Stereo. Back then, I thought that signal was pretty comparable to FM quality in my location, although the higher frequencies in the music were more mellowed. I enjoy AM for music due to my hearing challenges; for some reason it’s easier for me to hear AM. CFCO and CHOK both had great playlists.
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