Any word on WXPA (AM)?

[NewtonSecond]

There is currently a construction permit for WXPA at 850 kHz licensed to Enola. It expires September 5 of this year. From the information it looks like they intend to share WHP 580's transmitter site.

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I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this station. Do you think they'll be on the air before the deadline?

Their construction permit for FM translator W283DN at 104.5 (second adjacent to WNNK) already expired.

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[DXingRadio]

Without a translator I don't see a good reason to build this. Have any new AMs been built in the US in the last 10 years? Plenty have moved and downgraded (and in rare situations upgraded like WIOO).

 

[epmarkr]

A letter to the FCC for WXPA (see their FCC file) says they're waiting on the local iHeart engineer (spread over several markets) to approve the multi-tower proposal (that will diplex off of the WHP towers) to complete construction. I'm not sure the FCC has any choice other than to go along with the engineer's timing - rescind a construction permit for a NEW AM station? I take it Vertical Bridge (tower owners) would get the WXPA revenue, so iHeart has no incentive to move any faster (for a competitor). It appears no action has been taken to rescind the 104.5 translator CP, either.

 

[NewtonSecond]

A letter to the FCC for WXPA (see their FCC file) says they're waiting on the local iHeart engineer (spread over several markets) to approve the multi-tower proposal (that will diplex off of the WHP towers) to complete construction.

Where are you seeing this letter? When I try to find WXPA's public file nothing comes up: WXPA - Search Results - FCC Public Inspection Files

 

[epmarkr]

Apparently, the WXPA CP requires that co-owned WKGE (also 850) in Johnstown moves to 870 (a move that requires 3 sticks instead of current 9). The WKGE CP also expires on Sept. 5.

 

[DXingRadio]

WKGE has been coasting on STAs for some time now, only running 10% power into one tower. It's translator is probably the only reason it's even on.

 

[DXingRadio]

To conclude this thread the construction permit for 850 expired. Now curious about 720's tentative move to WHP's site, that station has been running on a longwire for years.

 

[epmarkr]

720 change is probably a budgetary matter: 1) does the current 720 longwire cost anything to maintain? 2) iHeart could probably charge 720 to confirm the engineering analysis of the potential diplex, and 3) how much would Vertical Bridge charge 720 to lease space on the WHP tower? On radio-locator.com, it doesn't appear that 720's pattern changes significantly with the move.

 

[kevtronics]

Without a translator I don't see a good reason to build this. Have any new AMs been built in the US in the last 10 years? Plenty have moved and downgraded (and in rare situations upgraded like WIOO).

1450 WYNY in Milford, PA first went on the air in 2011. It has previously used two other former NYC-area call signs, WQCD and WDRE. It is now a "Lite" AC format with two FM translators.

 

[DavidEduardo]

720 change is probably a budgetary matter: 1) does the current 720 longwire cost anything to maintain? 2) iHeart could probably charge 720 to confirm the engineering analysis of the potential diplex, and 3) how much would Vertical Bridge charge 720 to lease space on the WHP tower? On radio-locator.com, it doesn't appear that 720's pattern changes significantly with the move.

A longwire is not a permitted permanent solution as they are quite directional and, unless very high up and quite long, don't meet efficiency requirements.

An AM does not rent "space" on a tower. It rents the tower itself or a radiating wire or set of wires hung up and down the height of the tower. While FM antennas are mounted on a tower or structure, the tower itself is the AM antenna.

 

[epmarkr]

104.5 Harrisburg was to be partnered with 850. The CP expired in March 2020, but the FCC file is still active. Possibly an attempt underway to sell 104.5, if there is a facility to sell ?