FM Technical Profile: WJHO

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Station Name:
Classic Rock

Frequency:
89.7

Format:
Classic Rock
Transmitter Location:
[map] West of Millerville on AL-148, just west of Brian Road.

Power (ERP):
21 kW vertical only

Antenna:
Directional

Antenna HAAT:
482 feet

Other Information:
60 dBu protected contour map, from the FCC.

More Information:
[FCC]
[FCCdata]
[Radio-Locator]

[Facebook] For 89.7 The Classic
[Website] For Volunteer Broadcasting, who runs the station.
[Wikipedia]

Silent
Owner:
RadioAlabama Foundation

History:
WJHO signed on in September 2008.  The format was Southern Gospel music, provided by SRN's Solid Gospel satellite feed.  The station received a permit to increase power from a new tower site well north of Alex City in 2009 and modification to that permit for less power from a greater height in September 2011.  In the spring of 2012 they received a third modification to increase power from 5,500 watts to 10,500 watts vertical and put that facility on air right before summer.  In September 2012 the format flipped from Southern Gospel to Contemporary Christian music with the Salem CCM satellite format, as "Praise 89.7".  The owners cited a lack of listenership support for the change.  In June 2013 the station received a permit to effectively double power while reducing height by about 10 feet.  It also includes a different directional antenna pattern, which should allow for improved coverage around Sylacauga and Childersburg.  That facility went into use in early April of 2014.
 
A format change occurred in April 2014, with the station flipping to a more upbeat Contemporary CHR/Hip-Hop Christian format by Take Back The Airwaves Ministries, known as "Revocation Radio".  TBTA acquired the license for the station in May, 2016.

In April 2021, the station was reported to be simulcasting WFAZ's "God's Country" format. The Facebook page says a new format called "89.7 The Classic" will debut at some point in the future.  As of January 2022, the station is airing a Classic Rock format as "89.7 The Classic", while carrying WFAZ's morning show.

In July 2022 it was reported the station was being sold by TBTA Ministries to Volunteer Broadcasting (run by Kevin Moon) for $65,000.  Volunteer has already been operating the station via a Local Marketing Agreement.

The station filed a silent STA with the FCC in early October 2023, saying they'd be off the air while moving to a new studio.

In March 2024 it was announced that the non-profit RadioAlabama Foundation (an offshoot of Lee Perryman's Marble City Media/Radio Alabama group) would be acquiring the station.  This came just a week after they purchased WFAZ Goodwater.