Oh, the irony. For years WRDT has been the bane for CFOS 560 in Owen Sound. They've had to supress their signal in a south-westerly direction to protect WRDT. They had to have a separate transmitter for the Port Elgin area.

Just when they've decided to abandon 560, WRDT suddenly goes away. I wonder if it's too late to change their mind and go for a pattern change instead.

Would Kitchener going to 560 be too close to Buffalo 550?

Marc1178 wrote:

I noticed how the old WHND mixed with CFOS in Goderich during the daytime while I was there in the late 1980's. There is a possible frequency shuffle that could happen in theory, but likely won't happen in practice.

1. After CFCO leaves 630, the current CKWW in Windsor could move there with higher power.
2. With 580 vacant, allow WRDT to use it rather making it a Canadian phantom station that will remain silent forever.
3. Let 570 in Kitchener use 560 after CFOS shuts down. 
 

WRDT is on one of the HD streams that 103.5 WMUZ-FM airs. It is either the HD-2 or the HD-3. Most people in the listening area would be unaware of that.
580 CKWW has no FM assignments that they could move over to unless one of the existing Windsor stations shuts down.
The Kitchener station on 570 is News and Talk meaning that the CRTC will not allow them to move to FM. 

The statement that no broadcaster chooses to be AM only is true. They often remind people to stream them online.

With CKNX 920 going to FM and the 900 CHML license revoked, CKGL could also move to 900 AM with 50 KW from the existing transmitter site. 

paterson1 wrote:

I agree with a few on here.  570 Kitchener already has a great signal and coverage area.  Very doubtful that they would ever move to another AM frequency.  They are Waterloo Region/Wellington county/Guelph focused, so any added territory would be of little or no value.  Also a larger signal area isn't going to increase revenue for them.  They could eventually flip to FM and I agree with Aaron, if there were few  objections, the CRTC would almost certainly approve.  As long as the new FM covers Waterloo/Wellington counties, they would be good to go. 

CKGL updated their towers about 15 years ago and like you said they get a great signal into Waterloo / Wellington and well beyond. To get the same reliable coverage on FM would require significant height and power; probably 20 or more kilowatts on a clear frequency. Not sure they could find one. Switching to another AM frequency would be costly and given the existing tower array has a lot of life left in it there would be little to gain. The transmitter land is south of Kitchener in farm country so selling the land would not be as profitable as if it was located at the edge of town like some sites are. I suspect 570 will stay put.
 

Last edited by darcyh (June 20, 2025 11:56 am)

darcyh wrote:

WRDT was once known as "Honey Radio".

I believe this is why CFOS had such a sharp null in their signal to the south west.
 

That is why. CFOS has whined about that injustice for years.

CKGL is still the dominant signal, but here in Toronto, WKBN is pretty strong at night. Sometimes the Ohio station actually comes in better, but normally Kitchener is the one you get the best.

I remember listening to WKBN a long time ago when CKGL was still CHYM operating on a one-lung local signal at 1490.

darcyh wrote:

CKGL updated their towers about 15 years ago and like you said they get a great signal into Waterloo / Wellington and well beyond. To get the same reliable coverage on FM would require significant height and power; probably 20 or more kilowatts on a clear frequency. Not sure they could find one.
 

For longer-term audience turnover, a "just ok" FM is way more important than a great AM.

Once you're talking about overage maps, you might as well be talking about Short Wave.

RadioActive wrote:

CKGL is still the dominant signal, but here in Toronto, WKBN is pretty strong at night. Sometimes the Ohio station actually comes in better, but normally Kitchener is the one you get the best.

I remember listening to WKBN a long time ago when CKGL was still CHYM operating on a one-lung local signal at 1490.

1490 khz is certainly not a desired dial position but CHYM was powered with 10,000 directional to the north watts which was unusual for that frequency. It got out well enough through the day. I think they might have dropped to 1 kilowatt after sunset still covering the KW area satisfactorily.