Regarding WCMA-AM and Perihelion's radio stations:
I am involved in the radio business and have been for many years, having done programming, airtime sales, and station management on and off since 1979.
Recently on a radio website, someone asked 'What happened to WCMA AM 1560 out of Dothan?' In searching for an answer,
I came across the STAs on the FCC website, plus Doggone's YouTube videos, and the Terry Reaves WKNI video.
I can tell from the Terry Reaves video, that this is a Harris
MW-50B transmitter, which is an analog unit. There really should be nothing wrong with that trsnmitter as far as operating at 2.5 kw. Making the tolerance adjustments can be done in a matter of minutes..certainly in a few hours.
As far as security issues on the computer and automation..not a major deal. An overnight fix if you wanted to stay on the air.
The STA on WCMA expires later this month. At which point, they will need to either a.) get WCMA back on the air, or b.)
apply for a new STA.
In either case, if the station is not back on the air by 3/19/09 the FCC will delete the license at 12:01 a.m. and there is NO WAY to get it back. It's G-O-N-E, gone.
WCMA is an eaaily fixed situation, but I'll bet that Harris
makes for a big power bill. A station I worked for down here in North Florida used to use the MW-5A, a 5000 watt unit of the same transmitter. It cost about $750 a month in electric bills.
WTKN in Corinth has more serious problems. It has got to enclose that tower, find a main studio location, and have a real radio station established there. The previous owners seemed to have been able to do it.
Both stations need to have at least one employee on site during normal business hours.
I have resurrected dead AM radio stations a few times in the last 15 years. I can honestly tell you, these stations are not gold mines, nor will they ever be.
A one-man operation, dedicated to operating a station like these full time, might eke out a living if he has good relationships within the business community.
I hope somehow these stations are able to operate again. I hate to see them die like this.
Doggone..really liked your videos!
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