BS: WFDU and others

Subject: WFDU and others
From: Cappuccino
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:17 PM

OK, another question to American-type people from an English-type person who should know better.

Do all the letters used in local radio stations in the States actually mean anything? If so, what does Ron's WFDU stand for?

- Ian B

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:19 PM

East of the Mississippi they start with a W. West, they start with a K. I think the stations can choose from letters that are available, and many try to get letters that stand for something. I'm curious about WFDU.

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:23 PM

I always assumed that WUMB Boston stood for "Women's Union. Music Boring"

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:23 PM

KVOC, where Rog and I met, in Casper, WY stands for K (west of the Mississippi, as Mary noted) and Voice of Casper; some other used to be KY94, not the legal call sign, but the one they used as an ID, because they were at 94.0 on the FM dial.

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:26 PM

Quick check of their website and it says Farliegh Dickinson University, so....WFDU!

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: Pene Azul
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:45 PM

KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is an exception to the west of the Mississippi rule.

Jeff

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: Pene Azul
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:55 PM

This Google search gives several links about KDKA's starting with a K, and the K/W rule in general.

Jeff

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: BH
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 05:36 PM

Yes they do ---and sometimes they don't. East of the Mississippi they all start with W. West with a K.

As to the rest of the letters ---with non commercial stations like WFDU that are owned by Universities so those are their initials---WFDU---Fairleigh Dickenson Univ. WSHU--Sacred Heart Univ. and so on. It does not always work, but sometimes it does if the letters are available. On the commercial side the larger stations have kept the call letters of the corp. parents (CBS/NBC) even thought many are now owend by other entities.

Bill Hahn WFDU/Traditions

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 05:50 PM

The original call letters were originally based on ship radiocall signs. Non-government boats west of the Mississippi were given the letter K and east of the Mississippi they received the letter W. The original ship radiocall signs were given out by the Bureau of Navigation. When land stations were being tested, the Bureau was also given the task of handing out call letters. They adapted this policy.

I'm not positive why KDKA was the exception to the rule. I am fuzzy on this, but I think the original owner of the license may have been located in another part of the country. Not sure about that.

Ron

Subject: RE: BS: WFDU and others
From: BH
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 07:00 PM

You might want to check out the KDKA web page KDKA.com

Very intersting---the original call letters were the experimental 8XK. The only assignments available were the nautical ones starting with "K" , so when the originaters of this broadcasting format wanted to register these were the available call letters.

The web site is a treasure trove of information about the station---and the original garage from whence the first broadcasts originated is in jeopardy. They ask for help on the site.

Bill Hahn