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W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days.

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 8, 2026, 12:23 pm

There is a CP to stick a translator on that cell site in Elmwood Park that was home for the 95.1 translator that ended up on Trump tower. This one is for 107.1 fm, but it expires in 8 days. This is from the same company that has been running 95.1 Trump Tower w/ no originating translating signal and they identify as WCFS-HD2 Chicago, when the programming is not there. Don't expect any urgency to respect and follow the rules.

Not sure how well that will work out for CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM WCXP-LP. Their signal, half of it is going over Lake Michigan, the other half would battle with the proposed 107.1 in Elmwood Park. Then you have WSPY Plano blasting 3100 watts as a Class A station. 107.1 is a terrible scenario for LPFM or Translators, except for the one that Polski Radio has in Round Lake. Look at those images below and the overlap with WCXP-LP, especially the backend of the directional W236CG-FM signal.

This is masterful geek stuff. But I posted it curious if they let the CP expire, cancel the license or ask for an extension, or deploy it after the CP expires.

Z

Link: https://radio-locator.com/info/W236CG-FX

Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days.

Posted by JJSPC1372 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=JJSPC1372' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 10, 2026, 5:48 am, in reply to "W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days. "

I'm all for translators to help struggling AM's when the wattage/coverage makes sense, but some of these low watt and/or directional signals rebroadcasting HD2's and clogging up the band gets to the point of ridiculous. Just my two cents of course.

Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days.

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 10, 2026, 11:36 am, in reply to "Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days. "

I think the U.S. should have followed in Brazil’s footsteps and expanded FM down to 76 MHz, and let the AM’s have an adequate-class signal on FM. This could have been done in areas where there is no TV channel 5 (76.1 - 81.9 MHz) and/or channel 6 (82.1 - 87.9 MHz) allocation. In Chicago, WRME-LD could convert to a “real” FM station at 87.7 and the rest of TV channel 6 would become available for radio — which is really what the FrankenFM operators want. Weigel only runs JTV-HD because they have to.

The expansion proposal was reviewed by the FCC, but there was unfortunately opposition voiced to the FCC, and they ruled against it.

As for receivers, some can already tune 76 - 108, and the dozen of cheap Chinese radio makers already selling decent FM radios would love to churn out more of them to fill the void. They would only have to expand their Japan and Brazil offerings to the U.S.

Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days.

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 10, 2026, 11:43 am, in reply to "Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days. "

The FCC is very short sighted. The FM expansion. AM stereo fiasco (no standard selected, typical "let the marketplace dictate it - into the grave). iBOC and bypassing DRM and DAB.

Sadly, it is too late to act on it. But how many more translators can we approve, to cause more interference and raise the noise floor?

Z

Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days.

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 10, 2026, 11:56 am, in reply to "Re: W236CG-FM 95.1 & 107.1 "Streetz 95.1" - CP is expiring in 8 days. "

JJSPC1372, translators work great.... in rural and medium sized towns. In larger cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, they are a joke. The exceptions are for Polenet Chicago market. It allows them to target certain areas, notably Polish speaking residents. Works out great. Especially the 107.1 in the North suburbs up to the stateline.

The HD2 scenario is OK too. Because, to have a translator, you HAVE to translate a signal originating on an AM, FM or an FM HD sub channel. HD recognition is pitiful as most people still do not know what it is. So allowing it to translate into Analog, is acceptable. When does it become questionable? When you have for example, EMF translating the same programming on several frequencies over the same coverage area, especially analog. At that point it is abuse.

Translators would have been much more successful if they were rolled out in the 80s when people were clamoring to get an FM signal. So bad, you had pirate signals everywhere. Even they are gone from SW radio and have migrated legally, online via IP, bypassing the FCC and limited by rules.

Z

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