I agree. Never thought about the Estonian angle, but I can't argue with your observations as they are well thought out. Somehow I am sure this can be tied in with the ground lead issue. 🙂
Everything can be tied to earth ground, including Estonia and everywhere else.
I have been reading the really good comments
on this thread and I just wanted to put a brief
word in here.
I think KENC still has a really great thing going!
All you have to do is look at the pictures of the live bands performing
in the studio and the comments from happy listeners on the KENC website.
Best Wishes to All!
Bruce, MICRO1690/1700
It is possible that the FCC inspector is a happy listener also....
On other "hobby broadcast" reflectors, Ken is indicating the sale of three (3) Rangemasters and two (2) Inovonics 222 Am processors. If I'm not mistaken that should take him to zero Part15 transmitters. Does this mean that one of the most interesting and successful Part15 community broadcasters in the country is now out of the business? Say it ain't so.
If Ken does, indeed, give up on Part 15 AM, there would probably be no particular reason for the OET to take another look at Hamilton's new ground lead filter, which is now being re-designed.
It would be a great loss for his community of listeners.
Perhaps he is trying a different approach; selling the existing to replace with one of the Part 15 certified "systems" designed to work with remote antennas.
It would be great for his community if Ken could get a LPFM license. If anyone would make good use of it, he would be the man! I hope he considers this and that the community backs his efforts. A licensed LPFM would provide such a better quality signal; it would be well worth it.
Two things to add to the discussion.
1) Stayton, Oregon already has an LPFM licensed to the community.
2) Recently, the FCC decided anyone who has received a citation or notice of unlicensed operation would not qualify for an LPFM license.
Ken is stuck for now unless something changes.
they specifically refer to "pirate" activity not notices. Is is apparent that Ken has cooperated with the FCC on the Part 15 AM issue or the engineer would not have come out to re-evaluate the ground issue. I seriously doubt they consider Ken a radio pirate.
I hope Ken keeps putting out RF.
If he doesn't, I hope he will still
stream, because I sometimes listen to his
station here in Connecticut on the
computer. He has a really interesting
mix of music.
Too bad he couldn't share time with
the LPFM in his town, like broadcasters used
to do in the old days.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, MICRO1690/1700
It looks like Part 15 is too restrictive for Ken Cartwright, and he is trying to move up to licensed broadcasting. He says on his website that he is negotiating to acquire a 1000 W Class D AM station.
The station in question may be KCKX, Stayton, OR, Class D, 1000 W daytime, 15 W nightime, 1460 kHz, Spanish religious format, non-directional antenna.
Don't wanna let the cat outta the bag, but there is an old NDB system up for bid. It could probably be adjusted up to the AM band easily enough, but it's only 25 watts ... I believe the minimum daytime power for a class D is 250 watts.
Nice triangular tower and guy set, though, about 40 feet.
The navigation beacon does not, of course, have an AM license; so, you would have to start with applying for a construction permit in trying to get your station licensed. The minimum AM power is, indeed, 250 W. The minimum height of an AM antenna is required to be 45 meters, unless you can prove that your shorter antenna can produce a field strength of at least 121 mV/m at 1 km with 250 W of power applied from the transmitter.
It is the minimum field strength requirement that prevents antennas like the CFA or the EH from being used for licensed AM broadcasting. These short antennas simply don't have enough efficiency. Nevertheless, the CFA and EH promoters give presentations at NAB conventions to try to sell their antennas for broadcast use.
Class D AM BCB stations are allowed several minimum power levels. Remember, former daytime only stations are now considered Class D. Some of these stations have as little as 10-15 watts at night with no consideration as to coverage of the city of license. These are also the same stations who are being allowed to use FM translators to extend city of license coverage after dark.
BTW, KCKX in Stayton, Oregon is just such a Class D station. It was formerly a daytime only station.
I used to engineer the station and built a set of studios and converted the transmitter to be a full KW from its original 500 watts or so daytime. If I remember the transmitter was an old CCA with tube type line amps and audio processors (compressor/limiter). On top of everything else, the tower is not 90 degrees tall (or at least the original tower was shorter than 1/4 wave length).
And the FCC has approved a short AM for BCB use built by a company called Valcom Manufacturing Group, Inc. ( http://www.valcom-gueloph.com/products/V-33085AMCL2.html) . The antennas come in 75 and 85 foot versions and are only FCC certified for use above 1200 KHz due to antenna efficiency.