FCC Busts WSDS

[EdWalker]

A boatload of violations cited:

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-bu ... ion-notice

[edj]

Not the only time they’ve been cited this year.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments ... 7927A1.pdf

[TC Talks]

I can think of quite a few stations with bigger violations than this. No write ups, but they aren't catering to a minority listener.

I wonder why the FCC has decided to ignore these other problem stations and focus on this one.

[hb2]

Street view:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MoWVvaTg9ULx32KYA
Above view: (have to switch view to satellite mode)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VaGgkEWNsJeZMkALA?g_st=ac

No wonder they can't get full power, look at all the overgrowth, its not just one tower, its all of them. The transmitter protection circuitry is almost certainly kicking in and cutting power. Probably just powering it all down for a couple days and cleaning up the overgrowth and trees could allow it to transmit higher or even normal power. Look at the closest tower, the vines are literally climbing the tower. Same with a shorter tower behind the transmitter building.

From above, you can see via the satellite image the mentioned broken fence on the 3rd taller tower counting from the road.

As for the EAS violations, that is just pure negligence on the station owner. Lights out as well, everything going on here is just the result of a negligent station owner. Lights probably haven't been changed in years likely due in part to towers being inaccessible from aforementioned overgrowth. Proper maintenance is key

Likewise with the WDTW translator in violation, I don't really care if it gets shut down entirely. I don't speak or understand spanish and can't really get it in all that well at my location.

[Casey]

Seems like a bad time for Latino broadcasters but then again there's no reason for them to break the laws in broadcasting. I hope the FCC nails all of them. On the subject of 107.9 that translator needs to be permanently shutdown. It's to short spaced from WCRZ in Flint and CKBG in Amherstburg.

[MWmetalhead]

107.9 would be fine if it simply operated as approved.

The null in my direction is extremely deep. I've never picked it up on the car radio in my area even one time.

I will say their signal in Warren seems stronger than it should be.

I'd love to know if WLQV's translator at 101.5 still booms into the southern part of Livonia. If so, zero chance they're operating legally.

[ZenithCKLW]

I'd love to know if WLQV's translator at 101.5 still booms into the southern part of Livonia.

Yes.

[MWmetalhead]

I bet Trump's FCC won't issue a notice of violation to a Salem-owned station.

They've always operated with a very deep null toward downtown Detroit, as required, but the signal to the SW has always been much stronger than it should be.

In southern Livonia, the WLQV translator should be no stronger than 40 dBu, and it should be completely unlistenable in the car there (due to WRVF having a predicted 45 to 48 dBu signal there).

Over a decade ago, WSDS in the daytime was almost certainly operating with higher than approved TPO. I could pick up a listenable signal in Warren back then. It came in nearly as well as 990 WDEO, which I've long suspected suffers from deferred maintenance. 990's daytime signal strength where I live now is abysmal compared to predicted strength.

[NESNerd427]

Personally, I don't think he's going to be able to fix all of it. He told us at Birach that he's losing money with it every day. At one point, he actually wanted to sell it back to us, but that never materialized. Of course, I could be very wrong, but I seriously doubt all of it will be repaired and corrected. I'm very glad we switched formats on WCAR early, because I did not want to have to scramble to get something together and on the air.

As for those translators mentioned, they're all on the same site (and in the same room) as WNZK's W228CJ. Next time I'm over there, I'll check on those ones and see what's up.

[Steve79]

No sign of WSDS AM1480 today. Did they actually shut down?

[edj]

I bet Trump's FCC won't issue a notice of violation to a Salem-owned station.

They've always operated with a very deep null toward downtown Detroit, as required, but the signal to the SW has always been much stronger than it should be.

In southern Livonia, the WLQV translator should be no stronger than 40 dBu, and it should be completely unlistenable in the car there (due to WRVF having a predicted 45 to 48 dBu signal there).

Over a decade ago, WSDS in the daytime was almost certainly operating with higher than approved TPO. I could pick up a listenable signal in Warren back then. It came in nearly as well as 990 WDEO, which I've long suspected suffers from deferred maintenance. 990's daytime signal strength where I live now is abysmal compared to predicted strength.

101.5 has been overpowered for years. I’ve picked it up on 94 by the airport several times.

I noticed 1480 was off today as well. He appears to only own one station. I know there’s some local ads, not sure how many or what they’re billing, or if anything is brokered. Is there even a working studio? If it does go dark, the land is probably worth more than the license.

[hb2]

I bet Trump's FCC won't issue a notice of violation to a Salem-owned station.

They've always operated with a very deep null toward downtown Detroit, as required, but the signal to the SW has always been much stronger than it should be.

In southern Livonia, the WLQV translator should be no stronger than 40 dBu, and it should be completely unlistenable in the car there (due to WRVF having a predicted 45 to 48 dBu signal there).

Over a decade ago, WSDS in the daytime was almost certainly operating with higher than approved TPO. I could pick up a listenable signal in Warren back then. It came in nearly as well as 990 WDEO, which I've long suspected suffers from deferred maintenance. 990's daytime signal strength where I live now is abysmal compared to predicted strength.

If that's the case with WLQV's W268CN, I could possibly see them also letting a Catholic translator potentially drift across the border (W232CA) where there should be no signal, and do nothing about it. Kinda surprised *IF* there is any notable interference to CKSY in Windsor or nearby in Canada that the CRTC isn't coming in to play and doing anything.

Same with WDTW's superpowered/out of spec W300DI 107.9 translator, that the CRTC seemingly was hands off with that situation according to the articles we've seen (as far as we know, they could have been in contact with the FCC behind the scenes and helped prompt the agent to come out).