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New sports format launches on 97.3
- Thread starter Mediafrog+
- Start date
You, like Guel, can apply for as many licenses as you want...translators, AM, FM, TVs and such. Guel has had issues with the FCC however, they only act on applications where there might be an issue, not every application. As I recall there were some questions about some LPFM applications.
Please keep in mind that the application would meet all the requirements per FCC Rules to be granted. With that said, an applicant that does anything other than what is stated on the license is illegal (overpowering, etc.).
Please keep in mind that the application would meet all the requirements per FCC Rules to be granted. With that said, an applicant that does anything other than what is stated on the license is illegal (overpowering, etc.).
Interfering with what? And where??
There was a commentary about this in one of the trades not long ago. I think it was in Radio World.
In a nutshell, the author was saying social engineering has replaced RF engineering with regard to the enforcement division, and I think that's what's actually happening here.
I was told not long ago that one of our local translators was inspected (not sure if it was a Guel translator or not) and found to be running substantially over power, and possibly not even in the licensed location. It was ordered off the air.
The inspector tried gaining access to other transmitter sites owned by this translator operator and was refused access.
I've heard whenever an enforcement action is attempted against some of these operators, they find a congressman sympathetic to them and claim religious persecution. This halts the FCC enforcement action, and the illegal operation and interference it causes continues.
I didn't say they were all causing interference. What I am saying is that these translators are reaching places they shouldn't be reaching. But now that you mention it;
92.5 has wiped out KWUP from Northeast Harris county (KWUP
95.1 has made KNDE non existent in Montgomery county
98.7 is causing static to KTJM
105.3 has erased KTWL, which had a strong signal in the Northwest part of the metro
106.1 took out KTTX, which was once clearly heard in Katy, Cypress, and Tomball.
To the FCC, this type of interference doesn't matter because it's all fringe areas anyways. But KTWL, KFNC and KTHT all probably have a case against these disruptive translators. Translators are meant to cover immediate areas and not a wide area. Something is very fishy when a little directional translator with 99 watts can beat up a C3 station's 50 dbu contour.
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That's a damn shame. Especially since many of these translators aren't even broadcasting religious content (or so I think...I don't know any of the languages on any of them)
It really doesn't take much effort to recognize a Spanish religious station. Just listen for "Dios" (DEE-OSE) -- God -- or "Jesucristo" (HAY-SOO-CREES-TOH) -- Jesus Christ.
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AnyHuman
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Or crying on the air. I've heard people from stations crying on air for whatever reason, most Spanish Christian but there was one up in Round Rock TX that was English Christian (KNLE) and he was crying apparently because his station lacks support.
Well, you would think so, but I'd wager Jesus doesn't have an awful lot to do with these operations.
For example, secular Spanish "La Mejor 104.5" is owned by "Centro Cristiano De Vida Eterna" and operates as "Latino Broadcasting Corporation."
The "God" element here appears to be merely a ruse to keep the Commission at bay.
From what I have learned this Translators are low power, so low they're not strong enough to interfere with any of the stations you have mentioned. I used to think the same of 98.7 fm, and I doubt KSBJ is worried about 92.5 wiping out any part of KWUP in houston that 89.3 KSBJ doesn't already cover here.
Some of the translators are at amazing heights... over 1000 feet in some cases. While limited to 250 watts, at those great heights a translator covers better than a conforming Class A FM.
My first FM was about 250 watts, but at over 2000 feet above a large metro. It had perfect full market coverage.
And many of the translators here have built out facilities which would allow them power levels closer to 1kW to 1.5kW ERP.
Why a translator would need a three bay antenna and 1kW transmitter when the transmitter is mere feet from the antenna (no transmission line loss to speak of) is beyond me.
Unless...
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AnyHuman
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So how are those stations set up? I thought transmitters were in sheds on the ground with long cables going up to the antennas for most stations and translators. LOL but then again I've never visited a transmitter site.
Some hilltop or mountain top FM sites have very short coax runs. Building top sites have short cable runs from a room at the top of the building to the antenna, often on a mast on the roof.
The FCC site lists both HAAT (height above average terrain) and tower height.
Different kinds of cable have different loss factors. Flexible cable, ranging from foam insulated to heliax, will have higher loss than large diameter rigid coax... and much lower cost, too. Most coax is pressurized with dehumidified air or an inert gas.
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...and the translators aren't even rebroadcasting any sort of AM or FM signal, let alone the one they claim to rebroadcast per their license.
Many of the tall towers in Houston have platforms on them at various levels. Some of the translators have their transmitters in enclosures mounted on the platforms.
Several translators can rebroadcast HD subchannels... depending on how many KODA is generating. In theory, there could be three without the quality of the HD channel being thoroughly compromised.
K231CN is rebroadcasting KODA-HD3. KODA-HD2 is running a CHR format, not rebroadcasted on any translator.
I shouldn't be able to hear 98.7 in Humble...yet there it is. As a matter of fact, 98.7 should be close to completely faded in League City, South Houston, Downtown, Aldine, & Spring, yet the station booms in unfaced with KTJM right next door. That should not be happening. KTJM suffers from interference well within their protected service contour, plain and simple. Why LBI hasn't taken action is puzzling.
And just because you think KSBJ doesn't care isn't a reason to dismiss interference from these translators. Interference should be dealt with by the FCC.
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