Re: WLLH-AM Lawrence transmitter off-air

["Bill O'Neill" <billo@erols.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <lglavin@lycosmail.com>


Many times in
> recent years, it would be off for days or weeks
> but the Lowell stick kept on going.

In fact, the former WLLH owners used to intentionally go dark in
Lawrence during the day to minimize hash and go on at night,
particularly due to its then leased time ethnic.

I assume that
> they have an auxiliary on the banks of the
> Merrimack near UMass Lowell, but not in boarded-
> up downtown Lawrence.

Doubt that.  When they moved from atop 4 B'way (roof install) they
went with new stuff (Harris, I think) on the river, but I don't recall
a back-up xmtr.)  The Lawrence site had been pretty much ignored for
years.  You could tell the audio difference once you were under that
footprint.

This seems strange for a
> Spanish-language broadcaster;  Lowell is a more
> populous city, but Lawrence has a bigger Hispanic
> population.

Much bigger, in fact.  I suppose the Lowell signal does a good enough
job hitting Lawrence, either way.  When they newer Lowell site was
approved, I understand that in order to not increase interference with
WLLH-s, that the ERP was dropped to around 650w from 1kW in Lowell.
True?  I wonder if they'd have been better off going full 1 kW in
Lowell and turning in the Lawrence license, altogether.  Can't be
worth the electric and rent, especially with 1150 Boston reaching the
northeast aspect of the Lawrence coverage area.  Perhaps that is in
the future?  As for ceasing one of the last synchronous AMers, I
suspect Mega is not one of those sentimental radio history type of
orgs. ...

Bill O'Neill