KUTR FM Translator on 103.9

[David]

The FM translator for KUTR in Northern Utah is now broadcasting on 103.9. As I suspected it would, KUTR's translator is completely obliterating KGNT (KOOL 103.9) in Ogden.☹ That's unfortunate, because KGNT has always been one of my favorite stations, especially before KOOL 105.5 signed on. IIRC, this is the translator that CA mentioned as having its COL listed as "Freeport, UT". Of course, that's the Freeport Center in Clearfield.

In other Cache Valley radio news, KVFX's 98.3 translator in Tremonton is now rebroadcasting "Lite FM 103.3" and its 24/7 Christmas music. I'm not sure if it's a temporary arrangement for the holiday season, or if it's permanent.

[CAwasinNJ]

The KUTR translator is K280GX and yep that's the one licensed to "Freeport." They filed their License to Cover on Thanksgiving.

Since you're negatively impacted by the translator signing on, I'd urge you to file a grievance with the FCC ( consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us scroll down to radio) and/or contact KGNT to coordinate with other listeners to see about moving or removing K280GX.

[kenglish]

I can't understand why 50KW AM "Flamethrowers" need FM translators, in most instances.

KUTR-AM has a great omni-directional signal in the daytime. During Critial Hours, they cover much of Northern Utah, sacrificing a bit of coverage toward the south.
At night, and on low power, they beam a strong signal to the north.
Their CH and nighttime signals are stronger over the Salt Lake City/Ogden/Provo than their daytime signal. I wonder if a Central Utah translator would be a better investment.

David, what area of Ogden are you in? Do you have a directional FM antenna (maybe with a rotor)? Ogden is pretty close to Clearfield, and KGNT (even at 6 KW) is pretty far away.
If you can even find a good-sized FM Yagi, it might take stacking a pair of them, phased, to create a good rear null toward K280GX.
An alternative might be a small sense antenna for the Clearfield translator, phased against the directional antenna aimed far up north.

[David]

I'm in the northeast part of Ogden, Ken, just off of 12TH ST and Jefferson Ave. A roof mounted FM antenna is out of the question at present, because I'm physically disabled and unable to put up an antenna on my own. Hiring someone to put up an antenna might be an option in the future, but my income is pretty limited due to my disability. For the time being, I'll just have to settle for streaming KGNT online.

I don't understand why KUTR needs an FM translator in Northern Utah either, but the perception is that "nobody" listens to AM radio anymore. Even if KUTR needs an FM translator in Northern Utah, I think there's some vacant FM channels that would have been a better choice than 103.9. But apparently as long as the "junkalators" have the FCC's blessing, not much else matters.

[CAwasinNJ]

Whether it's true or not, and if so the reason it's true, the suits at radio companies believe that they need to be on FM to get listeners. That's just a reality in 2021.

Ken, I can understand your confusion in thinking that a station licensed to an area of Clearfield (regardless of whether that is a community or not) would actually reach that area. K280GX doesn't. It's actually directly west of Ogden and its protected contour barely reaches any people. See fccdata.org/?call=k280gx

David, I'm sensing that you aren't even interested in trying to take action? I'm also curious what channels you think are vacant.

[kenglish]

Of course, I'm confused.
I was going by the coordinates that had been on the FCC site, which are for the site east of HAFB.

This new site is the old KOOG-TV tower, now home to 100 KW KYFO-FM, on Little Mountain. Why would they build there, with that pattern, unless they are programming to sailboat pilots on the lake?

That's pretty much east of Ogden, so David might be out-of-luck without a big roof antenna or two. KGNT and K280GX would be coming almost right angles from each other. That KYFO signal might be strong enough to de-sense a receiver in Ogden anyway.

[David]

CA, I'm going to file a complaint with the FCC, but I have my doubts as to how effective it will be. If the FCC were to get some complaints from Cache Valley residents or the Cache Valley Media Group about the KUTR translator on 103.9 causing harmful interference, that would probably have more impact than one complaint from an old disabled guy who's upset that he can no longer hear KGNT on his car radio during his work lunch break. It reminds me of the old adage about not being able to fight city hall. I'm going up against a broadcasting company with more cash on hand than I'll have in my lifetime, and I have my doubts about how much impact listener complaints have with a huge federal government agency. And it's not like I haven't got other options available to me. KOOL 105.5 comes in clearly in NE Ogden on both the 105.5 translator and 105.1 HD2.

As far as other open FM frequencies where KUTR's translator could be moved to, I don't have a listing without going through the FM band to find some open channels. But just off the top of my head, the only FM translators that are audible where I'm at are whatever Spanish station is on 95.1, and KSVN's translator on 99.9.