WSLQ
Encyclopedia
WSLQ is an Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Roanoke, Virginia
, serving the New River Valley
and Southwest Virginia. WSLQ is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc.
(FCC) through a grandfathered license that dates from before the legal limit of 100 kW was implemented. The station is not the only station, however, that broadcasts above 100,000 watts, but does have the highest power limits of any of these stations. From the station's transmitter on Poor Mountain
near Roanoke, the station is able to reach much of central and southwest Virginia
, in addition to much of southern West Virginia
, the Piedmont Triad
of North Carolina and northwestern and north central North Carolina
.
To the south and southeast in North Carolina, WSLQ's fringe singal makes it as far as the U.S. Highway 64 corridor from Lenoir, Caldwell County to Pittsboro under most atmospheric conditions. Typically, any further south or southeast of picking up WSLQ in most cases would experience a gradual signal loss due to declining line of sight from Poor Mountain and/or the increased interference from WZFX-FM out of Fayetteville. Without WZFX, it is likely that WSLQ's signal would penetrate even further south into the southern central piedmont and the eastern piedmont counties of North Carolina. WZFX's transmitter is located southeast of Fayetteville in northwest Bladen County.
To the east in North Carolina and Virginia, the fringe signal also makes it as far as the Interstate 85 corridor from Durham County north into Virginia to Dinwiddie County, near Petersburg. Typically, any further east of Interstate 85 in most cases will experience a gradual signal loss due to declining line of sight from Poor Mountain and/or the increased interference from WXGM-FM out of Gloucester. WXGM's transmitter is located near the corporate limits of Gloucester.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, serving the New River Valley
New River Valley
The New River Valley is a region in the eastern United States along the New River in the Commonwealth of Virginia . The valley comprises the counties of Montgomery , Pulaski, Floyd, Giles and the independent City of Radford...
and Southwest Virginia. WSLQ is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc.
Power Distinction
WSLQ has the distinction of being one of the most powerful FM Radio stations licensed in the United States. The station broadcasts 200,000 watts of power, which is 100,000 watts over the legal limit. The station is allowed to do this by the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) through a grandfathered license that dates from before the legal limit of 100 kW was implemented. The station is not the only station, however, that broadcasts above 100,000 watts, but does have the highest power limits of any of these stations. From the station's transmitter on Poor Mountain
Poor Mountain
Poor Mountain is a ridge of high peaks located in Roanoke County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Virginia. At 3,928 feet, Poor Mountain is the tallest mountain in the immediate area. The mountain is under consideration for the placement of a wind farm...
near Roanoke, the station is able to reach much of central and southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. Southwest Virginia has been defined alternatively as all Virginia counties on the Appalachian Plateau, all Virginia counties west of the Eastern Continental Divide, or...
, in addition to much of southern West Virginia
Southern West Virginia
Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Generally considered the heart of Appalachia, Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and southern affinity...
, the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
of North Carolina and northwestern and north central North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Fringe signal issues in North Carolina and Virginia
To the north in Virginia, WSLQ's fringe signal makes it far as the US Highway 33 corridor from West Virginia to Elkton under most atmospheric conditions. Typically, any further north or northeast of picking up WSLQ in most cases would experience a gradual signal loss due to declining line of sight from Poor Mountain and/or the increased interference from WLZL-FM out of Annapolis, Maryland. WLZL's transmitter is located near Bowie, Maryland in Tenleytown.To the south and southeast in North Carolina, WSLQ's fringe singal makes it as far as the U.S. Highway 64 corridor from Lenoir, Caldwell County to Pittsboro under most atmospheric conditions. Typically, any further south or southeast of picking up WSLQ in most cases would experience a gradual signal loss due to declining line of sight from Poor Mountain and/or the increased interference from WZFX-FM out of Fayetteville. Without WZFX, it is likely that WSLQ's signal would penetrate even further south into the southern central piedmont and the eastern piedmont counties of North Carolina. WZFX's transmitter is located southeast of Fayetteville in northwest Bladen County.
To the east in North Carolina and Virginia, the fringe signal also makes it as far as the Interstate 85 corridor from Durham County north into Virginia to Dinwiddie County, near Petersburg. Typically, any further east of Interstate 85 in most cases will experience a gradual signal loss due to declining line of sight from Poor Mountain and/or the increased interference from WXGM-FM out of Gloucester. WXGM's transmitter is located near the corporate limits of Gloucester.