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Rules for identification of translators

C

CTListener

Locally and in my travels, I have listened to several translators or stations that are part of a network that includes translators, and all seem to have different ID rules. The New England Public Radio network, with WFCR Amherst, MA, as its flagship, identifies all of its stations, including translators, by call and location at the top of the hour. Vermont Public Radio's VPR Classical network identifies all of its full-power affiliates by call and location, but only identifies the translators by frequency and location: "94.3 Brattleboro," for example, as opposed to "88.1 WNCH Norwich." And WMNR Monroe, CT, identifies its three full-power affiliates and some of its translators by call and location, but doesn't mention its 91.9 translators -- W220CE Middlefield and W220CH West Hartford -- at all, not even by frequency/location, at any time.

I note on radio-locator.com that W220CE and W220CH are listed as translators of WGRS Guilford rather than of WMNR, but I've listened to WGRS itself and it uses the ID package that comes down the line from WMNR, not one of its own.

So who is doing it right and who is doing it wrong, and does the FCC care?
 
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CTListener said:
Locally and in my travels, I have listened to several translators or stations that are part of a network that includes translators, and all seem to have different ID rules. The New England Public Radio network, with WFCR Amherst, MA, as its flagship, identifies all of its stations, including translators, by call and location at the top of the hour. Vermont Public Radio's VPR Classical network identifies all of its full-power affiliates by call and location, but only identifies the translators by frequency and location: "94.3 Brattleboro," for example, as opposed to "88.1 WNCH Norwich." And WMNR Monroe, CT, identifies its three full-power affiliates and some of its translators by call and location, but doesn't mention its 91.9 translators -- W220CE Middlefield and W220CH West Hartford -- at all, not even by frequency/location, at any time.

I note on radio-locator.com that W220CE and W220CH are listed as translators of WGRS Guilford rather than of WMNR, but I've listened to WGRS itself and it uses the ID package that comes down the line from WMNR, not one of its own.

So who is doing it right and who is doing it wrong, and does the FCC care?
Click to expand...

Basically if you're not hearing the translator IDing itself through a verbal announcement through the parent station, they're likely using a form of frequency shift keying (FSK) that isn't audible. Most new translators are equipped with FSK capability.

§ 74.1283 Station identification.
(a) The call sign of an FM broadcast translator station will consist of the initial letter K or W followed by the channel number assigned to the translator and two letters. The use of the initial letter will generally conform to the pattern used in the broadcast service. The two letter combinations following the channel number will be assigned in order and requests for the assignment of particular combinations of letters will not be considered.

(b) The call sign of an FM booster station will consist of the call sign of the primary station followed by the letters “FM” and the number of the booster station being authorized, e.g., WFCCFM-1.

(c) A translator station authorized under this subpart shall be identified by one of the following methods.

(1) By arranging for the primary station whose station is being rebroadcast to identify the translator station by call sign and location. Three such identifications shall be made during each day: once between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., once between 12:55 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. and once between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Stations which do not begin their broadcast before 9 a.m. shall make their first identification at the beginning of their broadcast days. The licensee of an FM translator whose station identification is made by the primary station must arrange for the primary station licensee to keep in its file, and to make available to FCC personnel, the translator's call letters and location, giving the name, address and telephone number of the licensee or his service representative to be contacted in the event of malfunction of the translator. It shall be the responsibility of the translator licensee to furnish current information to the primary station licensee for this purpose.

(2) By transmitting the call sign in International Morse Code at least once each hour. Transmitters of FM broadcast translator stations of more than 1 watt transmitter output power must be equipped with an automatic keying device that will transmit the call sign at least once each hour, unless there is in effect a firm agreement with the translator's primary station as provided in § 74.1283(c)(1) of this section. Transmission of the call sign can be accomplished by:

(i) Frequency shifting key; the carrier shift shall not be less than 5 kHz nor greater than 25 kHz.

(ii) Amplitude modulation of the FM carrier of at least 30 percent modulation. The audio frequency tone use shall not be within 200 hertz of the Emergency Broadcast System Attention signal alerting frequencies.
 
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