New Orleans radio station

By Darren Weeks

A follow up to my post early this morning that I text-messaged to the site...

First, the correct call letters to the station are WWL, not WLW.

More importantly, WWL is what we call in the broadcast industry as a "clear channel" station, not to be confused with the broadcast company which goes by the name of Clear Channel.

Being a "clear channel" station means that they have held their broadcast license longer than any other AM station that is assigned that frequency by the FCC. Therefore, they have clear rights to broadcast on their assigned frequency at full power day and night. No other FCC-licensed station can interfere with their signal. Studies are done to determine which stations might interfere with "clear channel" stations. Those stations that could interfere must either turn their power down or turn their transmitters off completely at night.

Low frequency radio waves are subject to numerous atmospheric phenomena. While much of the atmospheric adjustments interfere with broadcasts, there are a few things that aid the transmission of broadcast signals.

About 60 to 80km above the earth's surface, there is a layer of electrically-charged molecules that were created by the sun. During the day, radio waves from a broadcast tower penetrate the ionosphere. At night, when the sun goes down and the atmosphere cools, this layer of particles, called the ionosphere, come together and the ionosphere becomes less penetrable. Low frequency radio waves like those from far-away AM radio stations are then able bounce off the gaseous layer. That's how we're able to hear the New Orleans station.

There are several broadcast stations in the New Orleans area that are simulcasting their broadcasts together. WWL is one of those stations. They are calling their joint effort "The United Broadcasters of New Orleans".

When I was listening last night, they were taking calls from listeners from the local area. One man said he had lost his father in the storm. He had several people staying at his house, and announced their names, along with a website where any of their loved ones could get ahold of them.

I'm not sure how much of the country the signal covers. As I said, I'm in Michigan and I can hear it at night. In fact, it comes in almost as good as any local station. I can only assume that there are several states that can get it at night.

While I'm sure the broadcasts are somewhat controlled (if not entirely), given the filter of the national media and the reality that some things are reported on a local level that are filtered by the national media, it might be worth a listen. That is true especially for someone who has family or friends from the area that are still missing.

Check it out, if you want. Again, it is 870AM WWL after sunset.