POCAHONTAS COUNTY RADIO - I HAVE QUESTIONS

[kentuckymedia]

Okay, I know its next to impossible for radio to exist in the county because of the NRQZ (National Radio Quiet Zone) however in doing some research with a company that owns stations in nearby Virginia it looks like Todd Robinson Inc is moving stations even further away.

I guess this involves both West Virginia and Virginia

WXCF and WIQO are both moving into Lynchburg and WKCJ is moving into Roanoke. This literally leaves over five counties with 2 FM stations. Close to 100,000 residents with only 2 FM stations?

With the NRQZ, would the FCC ever allow for another FM to be built? They actually ask that stations change their output and give them special treatment to help keep signals out of Greenbank.

What are your thoughts?

[genlock]

Very low population density.
A couple of the stations there were "public" type stations.
I don't remember their calls.
If they have two stations, they have both types of music.
Country and western.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wasn't there a home-brew AM station down there?
Locally programmed from sunup to sundown.
Sort of a block programming (non-commercial) format.

[genlock]

From web site

Allegheny Mountain Radio is a network of three community stations which are public and non-commercial. They are operated by volunteers and a small paid staff. Pocahontas Communications Cooperative, the licensee of the stations, is a non-profit organization formed in April 1979 for educational and charitable purposes and to operate community radio stations. Financial support is derived from individual donations, business underwriting, and grants.

PCCC is the fiscal agent and policy setting board. The board of directors is composed of nine members elected by the volunteers and members of the station.

WVMR went on the air in August 1981, WVLS in May 1995, WCHG in June 1995, and Radio Durbin in July 1998. We are currently planning for a new station to serve the Hillsboro area.


WVMR
Frost WV
1370 AM


WVLS
Monterey VA
89.7 FM


WCHG
Hot Springs VA
107.1 FM


Radio Durbin
Durbin WV
103.5 FM

[Hoosier Daddy]

1370 WVMR. That's the one.

[kentuckymedia]

They have those, but with the other 3 FM's leaving town this leaves them with just the non-comm stations, a country station in Lewisburg and a Hot AC in Lexington.

I have always been intrigued about the Green Bank area, its so strange and cool at the same time. Do you think the FCC would ever grant a full powered FM near the border to replace all three FM's leaving town?

[Cameron]

I have always been intrigued about the Green Bank area, its so strange and cool at the same time. Do you think the FCC would ever grant a full powered FM near the border to replace all three FM's leaving town?

I doubt it. They're doin' more than looking for ET at Green Bank.

WXCF was a t-total mess when I saw it about five years ago. Has the ownership changed? Moving it to Lynchburg is the best thing that could possibly happen to that signal. I think the FM was in the valley and someone had the bright idea to move it to the top of the mountain overlooking Covington/Clifton Forge. I don't believe the Commission was informed to that end - and they got some kinda' flea-power that was a multipath nightmare. It was fertile-ground for the Enforcement Bureau at that time. I hope it has changed for the better.

[Dave Loudin]

WVLS's antenna directivity, required to sufficiently protect Green Bank, needed a waiver of the rules.

[Lester]

I doubt it. They're doin' more than looking for ET at Green Bank.

I like telling people that WV has a naval base, and listening to them laugh. I never tell them it's NOT a joke.

[kentuckymedia]

Thats interesting about XCF. Yeah the new owner (is ironically related to Mel Wheeler) is Todd Robinson. He has those FM's and the FM in Lewisburg.

I traveled thru that area but never heard of Green Bank before in my entire life. I just thought it was odd that no cell phone worked, no laptop worked and not even my radio except for a crappy AM signal I was getting that was playing Polka.

I just think its interesting that the largest satellite in the United States is tucked in a mountainside in the middle of nowhere. I was looking at pictures of this thing, and it is freakin eerie! I dont know if I would live in that area without my cell phone!

[Kitesgot]

Well,
That is exactly why it is where it is located. Tucked away to keep out of radio interference.

There's another good one between Parsons and Rowlesburg. The Etam earth-station ONCE was the largest array of communications dishes
in the US. It's basically used now for a hop to European satellites----then on to Europe. AT-T bought the whole thing years ago.
It used to be heavily guarded but now anyone can drive into the parking lot and knock on the door. The guard-house is empty.

THAT one is more weird looking because from Route 72-----you see an old barn with "Mail-Pouch" on it----and directly behind the barn are three
GIGANTIC dishes-----one of them is about 200' diameter.

Back to Green Bank--- I remember years ago a cell-phone tower company got stopped in their tracks after the foundation was poured when Green Bank
found out about it. There's one guy down there that makes the call on waivers-----and from what I understand----the argument didn't last very long, and jack-hammering up the new foundation began immediately.
Cell-phone frequencies are a big no-no.

They have lightened up tremendously on FM signals from what they used to be.

[genlock]

Naval Security Group (NSA), Sugar Grove, WV.

[kentuckymedia]

Now Green Bank is one thing, but holy cow...Sugar Grove, talk about some insane stuff. I never researched about Green Bank prior to my visit to the area. The cluster I am working with told me to go enjoy the countryside one afternoon on a market visit, so I made a wrong turn onto 614 in Virginia and ended up on Sugar Grove Road. Trying to find some kind of life-form I turn down Moyers Gap and then five armor guarded trucks pull up and told me how to get back to Virginia, they only said that I was not allowed to be back in the area.

I have to check out Etam, never knew about that before, but sure sounds interesting.

The cluster said that they had been working with the FCC to grant another FM in Goshen. I was on my way to try and find the town when I discovered the area. Very well kept secret to say the least. Well story goes, the FM has not yet been granted and Robinson is moving out these FM's to Lynchburg. The Goshen FM could potentially reach both Rockbridge and Bath Counties.

[Brian G.]

We cover Parkersburg Catholic and they played football at Pocahontas Co. last season. The high school is right down from Green Bank. This season, Allegheny Mountain Radio asked for a feed of our broadcast as Pocahontas probably has their best team in school history this season. They thanked us with some authentic WV Maple Syrup (yum!)

Sorry if the pic is waaaayy too big.

[Lester]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 9&t=h&z=15

[kentuckymedia]

I guess the FCC approved them for another FM to be located just outside of Marlinton which will help their overall coverage of the area.

I just really think its interesting how this is such a secretive area and really no one ever talks about it, but its such a huge thing if you really think about it, and its in the backyard!

Thanks for the picture and the map

[Kitesgot]

I know a guy that used to work for WQWV in Petersburg with a translator in Franklin.

Apparently, they have done TWO summer concerts AT Sugrar Grove Naval base as the title sponsor.

I forget who they were------but they were pretty big "B"-list names that I found hard to believe that would bus
in there.

I never could understand why the US Navy were doing this, unless it was just a publicity thing to thank the community or something.

[Hoosier Daddy]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 9&t=h&z=15

Damn! The Green Bank observatory is right next door to Cass Scenic Railroad.
I went there as a kid and rode the train to the top of the mountain.
Never knew something so cool was literally just over the hill.
All I remember was the God-awfully long ride on horrid West Virginia backroads to get to Cass.
Small world.

[kentuckymedia]

I like how most every website tries to fool you into thinking that Sugar Grove isnt important anymore...ha!

Part of the base is open to the public, but another part isnt. Isnt McGuire Broadcasting owned by Eric? That makes it technically a part of West Virginia Radio Corp right?

[Arp2]

Okay, somebody want to guide the ignorant?