Hi Friends,
I have a few things to report, some of which may be interesting to certain ones of you…
Hi Friends,
I have a few things to report, some of which may be interesting to certain ones of you…
1. Once again, I have moved the antenna, again to the original position. This area affords WCRV a better signal. Interestingly, it is MUCH taller than it was, and the signal continues to improve.
I must once again install the ground system, which again will improve the signal way above what it was….this will not take a long time to accomplish.
In fact, I’m looking at a big Labor Day push off for WCRV!
I need to make this point clear; the current signal is as good as WCRV has ever been. The reinstallation of the new ground system will
improve the signal of WCRV. Whats more, there is a possibility of raising the antenna another 10 feet.
I tested our signal on 1510, despite the underlying signals, and the WCRV signal is now on top of the 50,000 watters coming into the area! While there is still a possibility of returning to 1540, there is no
need for programmers to be alarmed about this while producing shows: The ID’s are now running as 1510 and 1540, simply because the tuning
has been a terror.
Whatever you are saying on air, be it 1510 or 1540 is fine. I appolgize but I haven’t been able to settle on a particular freqency just yet. As fall and winter approach, evening programming will revert to earlier times, so as to be heard locally and not be drowned out by distant stations. This info will be updated on the website (below)…thank you to webmaster Joyce. The jingles are available like I said, if you choose to use them.
2. Programming: WCRV continues to attract top-notch programming. As you know, we now have Album Zone on the air, LTOBS, comedy is coming,
and Charles Blandings’ formats; a standards format, and a 50’s format, are both coming to WCRV. Vic Fusco’s jazz format will also be on WCRV soon. I am also emailing Ken Lamb, who was the boss at WPAT, wondering if he can help WCRV with beautiful music programming. I am sure this would be a big plus for WCRV. The talk about beautiful music programming continues on the web, and there is no doubt in my mind that it can be an asset to WCRV. Ken knows this inside-out, so I am hoping he can contribute to WCRV.
3. Programming continued: The most exciting thing happening at WCRV right now is two-part: the
possibility of being automated, which means wcrv will be on air when we are at work, and the change of overall format; a bigband/standards format which is being provided by our engineer, Charles Blanding. Being a low powered station, WCRV will need to be a station that caters to all kinds of listeners. I’d love it to be a 70’s format, but we
actually have several stations in the area doing exactly that. What we don’t have is a station that programs big bands, standards, traditional
and soft jazz, and that is the way WCRV is going to be going. Yes, we will still require talk, progressive rock, and most of the format I currently have on the air.
To cater to the people who will potentially listen to WCRV, I need to bend the format that way. I am seeking and continue to seek standards/traditional programming for WCRV. Charles has also provided information for automating WCRV, which will not only help in rotating music, but will help when I can not be at the controls. I also pointed out that as fall approaches, WCRV’s signal will be impaired by the 50k’s, so to be heard, I want the best programming on the air at the best times. This means moving Saturday night Dance Party up a couple hours, otherwise it may not be heard.
Getting the automation on will be difficult because I am not a computer whiz. Editor’s Note: Perhaps Carl or Joyce could stop by the Forums and ask a few questions? Joyce will be spearheading this part of the project, but we are not experts at computer programming. Thanks to the engineers, I have a good idea on how to connect the studio to the computer. However, lately I’ve been lucky, as the antenna is more efficient, and the signal is as good as it ever has been and it is becoming consistant.
Just one more thing: the sound of WCRV is excellent: it is a blend of highs and lows and although it is not stereo, WCRV sounds excellent….I’m very proud of the sound of the station. The signal at this point is good too; again we are covering the entire town, and then some, and like I said the ground system is not yet in. In the future, should finances let themselves be, WCRV could put on a FM; again, this is a big IF, only because of the need to hide an antenna. FM part 15 is difficult because it does not lend itself to a wide signal; I could put on a wide signal easily, but it is difficult to hide.
Putting on a FM would be a lot easier to do than putting on the AM, but the AM lends itself to a much wider and stronger signal, and I believe the population will listen to it, should we program it the right way. Charles’ ideas about putting standards on the station is the right direction at this point. The specialty shows will stay, definitely.
But the basic format will change from 70’s based to a standards/bigbands/jazz format with help from Charles and Vic.
That is the report for now; if anything changes, I will let you know. Thank You for Emailing WCRV. We welcome your requests and dedications.
Please support WCRV as your own community radio station by listening and sponsoring us.
Thank you!
Carl and Joyce Van Orden
WCRV Cherry Ridge Radio
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!
http://wcrv1540am.tripod.com/wcrv.html
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