- Posts
The powerhouse clear channel station from NY at 1560 is gone so that may be a good spot to go as may be little interference at night.
Yeah, gone for now, from that specific location. Dollars to donuts says they’ll be back on the air in the not too distant future. They didn’t sell the license, just the property, and they didn’t forfeit the license either. To quote the news:
“On February 12, 2021, WFME went temporarily silent following the sale of the station’s Maspeth, Queens transmitter site by Family Radio for future redevelopment. Family Radio intends to return WFME to the air upon relocating the transmitter to a new site.”
I wouldn’t get too excited about establishing a new Part 15 on the frequency just yet.
TIB
As of last night they were still there and after listening to the preacher for awhile it was finally announced that in “a few days” we will be off so Monday maybe.
When they are off I will see how quiet that spot is at night in Toronto. Should be good as it was a clear channel station. Hope if they come back it is somewhere else lower down on the band or FM, HD or something. Wanted to go there before to still keep close to the 1600+ section to still have good range and be received on all radios but that station booming in before sunset wasn’t good. I am still on 1630 for now.
Wish CKJJ would go also but it’s not that bad.Trust me, Family Radio will have WFME-AM back on. They didn’t pay ABC/Disney all that money in I think 2015 for nothing. All Family Radio is doing is looking for another piece of property to rebuild the transmitter site. They got great money for the property the WFME-AM site is on now.
WARNING TO ALL: 1560 WFME-AM is a United States, Class A, Radio Station. They are still licensed. Just because the station is silent doesn’t mean anybody can be playing around on the frequency, nor licensed broadcasters that are co-channel with them that are Daytimers that must reduce power or sign off completely at night can break the FCC rules and do what they want because WFME-AM is off. Family Radio moved it’s headquarters to Nashville, TN. If anybody tries to pull anything on that channel that is causing trouble, trust me, they will find out about it. Be cool about playing around on 1560!
WFME-AM 1560 has been granted “Special Temporary Authority” from the FCC to use one of their FM Towers WNSH/WFMU as Tower for a temporary radiator. On May 21, 2021 WFME submitted Engineering Data showing using a slant wire and 10 KW, Non Directional, Day and Night. I’m not sure if it’s on yet, but knowing Family Radio, it will be soon.
To some of you, a slant wire maybe directional, but now the FCC doesn’t see it that way. I got permission from the FCC to do a slant wire with the FCC, they granted it.
The property at the Licensed WFME site has been sold and will be used for housing. Family Radio is looking for another site for 1560 WFME. They are a Ministry based out of Nashville, Tennessee. I know for sure the will find WFME a permanent transmitter site. I know Family Radio is serious.
Finally, if you want to play Part 15 on 1560, go by the the Part 15, 15.219 rules. Personally, it would be interesting to see if you can catch it on at night. With their engineering statement saying a input of 12.5 KW, that would mean a solid 10 KW out and you may hear it.
I can’t hear much on 1560 at all at night at the moment. When all this gets ironed out, their signal will probably be barely audible down the east coast and in the southeast US if at all, just like WOWO 1190 in Fort Wayne, IN when the then owners gave up the grandfathered nighttime pattern to give a sister station in NYC a better nighttime pattern.
True, the signal will be weaker, and Family Radio knows this. I’m sure they planned all this when they sold the property to the licensed site. They went to the most expensive engineering company in this country to make this move.
You won’t see Family Radio give up thier “Class A” Status on 1560 like WOWO in Fort Wayne, IN. did. In the situation with WOWO, then Inner City Broadcasting, owner of WLIB in New York City, NY. bought 1190 WOWO. When Inner City Broadcasting went to the FCC to downgrade WOWO, the was a outcry from many to stop it. I remember it all very well and I knew the Commission would allow it. This allowed co channel WLIB in NYC, which had to go off at sunset because of WOWO, a nightmare coverage with a directional pattern. Then Inner City Broadcasting sells WOWO in Fort Wayne. Very slick trick.
Family Radio is a Ministry. It was found by Harold Camping, a very controversial minister that had dates set when the world was going to end. I remember “if I’m right” was in October 1994. Like self proclaimed prophet R.G. Stair who just passed away that ruled the Shortwave Airwaves and a few Class A “AM Stations did the same thing. I got a kick out of listening to those guys and grew up hearing Dr. Gene Scott.
Back on 1560, Family Radio is like all the churches. They want to reach as many people as they can. That’s why they bought the station from Disney/ABC when it was WQEW. Family Radio change the call sign. It may take them a while, but rest assured, Family Radio’s Consultant Engineers are on top of it, finding WFME 1560 a new home to go back to 50 KW Daytime and Nighttime. One idea perhaps they can diplex with one of the other NYC AM Stations that is Directional, like 1010 WINS or 1130 WBBR. If the Consultant Engineers can make it work, that profit for those stations and they don’t want to turn that down, especially from a Ministry.
For now, I don’t know what the site looks like WFME is using. I do know they own it, they have a FM on it. Consultant Engineers could add radials, counterpoise system. Another thought is add a folded unipole to their FM tower they are using with some kind of radial system, they take field readings, then the Consultant Engineer Firm submits to the FCC a antenna change improvement and WFME can run more power on the channel without causing “Cuban Interference” if that is the case. WFME can get this site licensed as a auxiliary site if needed. In the New York City area, it would be in Family Radio’s best interest to do so. For now, yep it will be kind if silent on 1560 at night until Family Radio gets in some sort of a new home for permanent site. It started as W2XR, then WQXR, and held those calls until 1992. It was a popular classical music radio station in AM Radio’s Heyday.
Forgot 1992 to 2015, it was WQEW. In 1992, the Classical Music Format was dropped for Adult Standards because 1130 WNEW was sold to Mike Bloomberg and he change 1130 WNEW to WBBR with a Business News Format, as it is today. Towards the end of December 1998, Disney/ABC had bought WQEW, and changed it to Radio Disney. I did changed Wikipedia and all the information they have listed on WFME is correct. All the NYC Radio Stations History on Wikipedia is correct as they maintain good records over the years.
Forgot 1992 to 2015, it was WQEW. In 1992, the Classical Music Format was dropped for Adult Standards because 1130 WNEW was sold to Mike Bloomberg and he change 1130 WNEW to WBBR with a Business News Format, as it is today. Towards the end of December 1998, Disney/ABC had bought WQEW, and changed it to Radio Disney. I did checked Wikipedia and all the information they have listed on WFME is correct. All the NYC Radio Stations History on Wikipedia is correct as they maintain good records over the years.
Well, sounds like 1560 will be good for us especially here in Ontario as it won’t be heard in the day and won’t be booming in at night like it was before even if they come back from what you said. I am on 1630 but keep track of the other spots to go. Don’t want to go higher than 1630 as most analog radios before 1990 will still make it there but not much more.
As for WOWO I listened to that all the time in the 70s and eighties! They were a great oldies station and they came in here loud and clear at night!Hi Mark
Seems like back in the 70s, as I was a kid and into my teen years, 1190 WOWO experimented with the Adult Contemporary Format of the day. This may sound strange, but this is very true, back in the 70s, WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee was Adult Contemporary during the Daytime Hours, then sometime around 6 or 7 PM Central Time, WSM switched back to County Music, and of course being WSM has be the radio station of “The Grand Ole Opry” since November of 1925 to this very year of 2021 and beyond.
Many other big stations did AC in the 70s like WHAS, WMAQ, WSB, KMOX, WLW, etc. all “Class A” Radio Stations or back then we called them “The Clear Channel Stations (not the company that became iHeart Media) with 50 KW, Night and Day. WABC in NYC was Top 40-Pop/Rock like WLS, CKLW, and KAAY. I remember all of that. WABC went News/Talk in 1982, but Disney/ABC kept WLS Top 40-Pop/Rock until August of 1989, then it shifted to News/Talk. This is just me, but I hate using the term ‘Flipped” when a Radio Station changes format.
As far as WFME is concerned, my Consultant Engineer worked for two Radio Ministrys. Family Radio didn’t buy 1560 WFME in 2015 just to give up and turn it off for no reason except the property the towers sat on had value for housing that NYC needs as the United States us being surged with Migrants, and we have got to put them somewhere in homes so they may have a decent chance for their families here. Family Radio is a Ministry and knows this. Trust me, the will find a permanent home to go back to 50,000 Watts Daytime and Nighttime. The WFME-FM/WFRS–FM Tower Family Radio owns is only around 433 Feet. The two FM’s they own are licensed as “Class A” FM Stations in the United States and they don’t cover the New York City market well. Second reason why Family Radio purchased WQEW, now 1560 WFME-AM in 2015. It was to cover not just the NYC Market, but any other religious outreach they can. Remember, a ministry’s purpose is to “save souls”, and Family Radio is not giving up any “Class A” Status on on the United States AM Band. You have my email address, my Consultant Engineer can explain any questions you have. Thanks Mark.
Hi Mark
Seems like back in the 70s, as I was a kid and into my teen years, 1190 WOWO experimented with the Adult Contemporary Format of the day. This may sound strange, but this is very true, back in the 70s, WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee was Adult Contemporary during the Daytime Hours, then sometime around 6 or 7 PM Central Time, WSM switched back to County Music, and of course being WSM has be the radio station of “The Grand Ole Opry” since November of 1925 to this very year of 2021 and beyond.
Many other big stations did AC in the 70s like WHAS, WMAQ, WSB, KMOX, WLW, etc. all “Class A” Radio Stations or back then we called them “The Clear Channel Stations (not the company that became iHeart Media) with 50 KW, Night and Day. WABC in NYC was Top 40-Pop/Rock like WLS, CKLW, and KAAY. I remember all of that. WABC went News/Talk in 1982, but Disney/ABC kept WLS Top 40-Pop/Rock until August of 1989, then it shifted to News/Talk. This is just me, but I hate using the term ‘Flipped” when a Radio Station changes format.
As far as WFME is concerned, my Consultant Engineer worked for two Radio Ministrys. Family Radio didn’t buy 1560 WFME in 2015 just to give up and turn it off for no reason except the property the towers sat on had value for housing that NYC needs as the United States us being surged with Migrants, and we have got to put them somewhere in homes so they may have a decent chance for their families here. Family Radio is a Ministry and knows this. Trust me, they will find a permanent home to go back to 50,000 Watts Daytime and Nighttime. The WFME-FM/WFRS–FM Tower Family Radio owns is only around 433 Feet. The two FM’s they own are licensed as “Class A” FM Stations in the United States and they don’t cover the New York City market well. Second reason why Family Radio purchased WQEW, now 1560 WFME-AM in 2015. It was to cover not just the NYC Market, but any other religious outreach they can. Remember, a ministry’s purpose is to “save souls”, and Family Radio is not giving up any “Class A” Status on on the United States AM Band. You have my email address, my Consultant Engineer can explain any questions you have. Thanks Mark.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
