Hello everybody:
I'm not going to go into too many
specifics with this right now, but
I think it is interesting.
About 10 miles(?) from me, maybe farther, a new LPFM
just came on. Talk about low power,
It is running 3 watts ERP!
I have heard it on the air, and it is
covering a wide area (with a car radio,) because the
transmitting antenna is in a very very
high location.
At home, my Tecsun PL-380 strength readout is
showing that this station is just a teeny
bit above the noise at my house. With the
receiving whip antenna in the right direction,
I hear the station full quieting. (Grundig S350,
version 1.) But if I
move the antenna a few degrees, I receive
another station on the same channel.
I wonder what the "strong signal coverage"
is with a station this small. In other words,
if a listener is using the typical awful clock radio
for a receiver, how close does that person have
too be to the transmitting tower?
The station is running automated contemporary
Christian rock, at least right now. I don't mind
Christian rock at all, but I am disappointed that
this station isn't doing something (Anything) with local programming.
There are rumors of several other LPFMs coming on in
Connecticut eventually. So far, the small bit of info
on what these stations will be programming is disappointing.
I haven't heard anything about any accessable public local
programming.
Reality is a funny thing. Way way back when there was
talk about a 1 watt LPFM license, I was very interested
in having one. Many years later, I know I never would
have been able to make it really be worthwhile. I think that
is too hard for one person with so many other things going on.
My experiments with DOGRADIO 1690/1700 and carrier current
on 1020 Khz were wonderful, and there were a few
listeners, but I did not serve the public at all.
I'm having trouble with this computer, I
apologize for any typos.
Back Soon,
Bruce, DOGRADIO
.
Morning Bruce:
If nothing else, the arrival of the LPFMs will provide a bit of DX opportunity, as we check out there signals and programming, wondering how far they'll make it before giving it up.
Of course I hope they all succeed, but like you said, there is a lot of work involved and people don't always stick to a hard job.
The FCC database shows two LPFM stations in CT with an ERP of 3 watts. Both of them use the same transmit site and antenna height, and have the same 1 mV/m contour (see below).
They both use omnidirectional transmit antennas, but their coverage areas are not perfect circles due to varying terrain elevations in that area.
The new one is licensed to the Spiritual Revival Church, S. Windsor and operates on 103.3 MHz. The other one is licensed to the New River Community Church, Manchester and operates on 102.5 MHz.
LPFM stations are expected by the FCC to have a 1 mV/m service contour of about 3-1/2 miles, max, when radiating 100 watts ERP from 100 feet above average terrain in that area. If the transmit antenna is installed at an elevation (HAAT) greater than 100 feet, then its authorized ERP is reduced to provide the same coverage area "footprint" that it would have if it used 100 watts ERP at 100 feet HAAT.
Thanks for the comments, and Rich -
you told me a lot that I didn't know.
I have no specifics on this other item: but you will
find it amusing. (Or, maybe not.)
There are some blatent pirates operating
with fairly high power on the FM band around here.
They are selling commercials and making
money. Somebody in the grapevine here
has said that some of these pirates are on
the same frequencies as some of the new
LPFMs that are coming on. I don't know
any specifics yet.
I have also heard through the grapevine
that the FCC has conducted busts on pirates
in New York and Boston, and that U.S. Marshalls
were with the FCC agents. Although these
are rumors that I can't verify yet, it might have
happened in these 2 places. (???) Again, these Connecticut pirates
are using high power and are making money with
ads on the air.
One funny thing. When my
DOGRADIO Part 15 station was
at it's peak, I had to move from
1700 to 1690 kHz, because somewhere
in the Hartford area, somebody had
started a 1700 kHz operation. Not
knowing where it was located, I couldn't say if it
was Part 15 compliant or not. Even now,
several years after my station has gone
dark, that 1700 Khz signal is still receivable
at my house and over a wide area.
Bruce, DOGRADIO
I have no computer at home. So
I am using one at work quickly
just to input a few comments into
Part 15.US when I can. So if a message
has spelling errors, or doesn't read
quite right, it's because I just don't
have the time I had to contribute --
it's the work computer -- and I'm supposed
to be working.
My wife, daughter, and son all have
laptops, but I can't see well enough
to use them. I hope to have something
going at home soon.
Bruce, DOGRADIO
...And also there are new stations firing up in the new consruction permit window. This happened because they have been waiting to pounce but unable to because of the translator debacle (thousands of translator licenses applied for in the same OA category as LPFM stations), and the changes in adjacent channel specs under the new rules.
This is a major reason why I'm choosing to go after a full 1000 watt commercial-style AM station down the road a couple years from now. It can reach a lot of the mainland, plus Vancouver Island (Canada). The idea is to give local businesses a better outreach than they could ever get from an LPFM, and I also can market mainland businesses in a kind of co-operative even tho' the station will be a commercial station. This means I can get support from a wider audience, while at the same time serving the local community better than anyone has ever done before.
"If the transmit antenna is installed at an elevation (HAAT) greater than 100 feet, then its authorized ERP is reduced to provide the same coverage area "footprint" that it would have if it used 100 watts ERP at 100 feet HAAT."
Correct, but you can increase the ERP if you use a directional antenna system. Looks to me like they could do that in order to reach a fair chunk more of the populated area(s). But it would have to be re-engineered, plus directional antennas are more expensive and complex to align for compliance (more field measuring and testing, data collection, confirmation, paperwork filing and acceptance with the FCC). Have to weigh it out in issues of financial and knowledgeable volunteer support, and time.
...you can increase the ERP if you use a directional antenna system.
Per the quotes from FCC Part 73 below, it appears that except for LPFM TIS stations, LPFMs must use omnidirectional transmit antennas, and are expected to produce a 60 dBµV/m contour no further than 5.6 km from the transmit site.
An ERP of 100 watts from an HAAT of 30 meters has a 60 dBµV/m contour of 5.6 km, so that is the reference set used in derating the ERP of LPFMs with antennas greater than 30 meters HAAT.
It is unclear (to me, anyway) if § 73.816(d) would permit the 60 dBµV/m contour of a directional LPFM TIS station to exceed 5.6 km in some directions from the transmit site.
---------
§ 73.811
LPFM power and antenna height requirements.
(a) LP100 stations: (1) Maximum facilities. LP100 stations will be authorized to operate with maximum facilities of 100 watts effective radiated power (ERP) at 30 meters antenna height above average terrain (HAAT). An LP100 station with a HAAT that exceeds 30 meters will not be permitted to operate with an ERP greater than that which would result in a 60 dBu contour of 5.6 kilometers.
§ 73.816
Antennas.
(a) Permittees and licensees may employ nondirectional antennas with horizontal only polarization, vertical only polarization, circular polarization or elliptical polarization.
(b) Directional antennas will not be authorized and may not be utilized in the LPFM service, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) Public safety and transportation permittees and licensees, eligible pursuant to § 73.853(a)(ii), may utilize directional antennas in connection with the operation of a Travelers' Information Service (TIS) provided each LPFM TIS station utilizes only a single antenna with standard pattern characteristics that are predetermined by the manufacturer. In no event may composite antennas (i.e., antennas that consist of multiple stacked and/or phased discrete transmitting antennas) and/or transmitters be employed.
(d) LPFM TIS stations will be authorized as nondirectional stations. The use of a directional antenna as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section will not be considered in the determination of compliance with any requirements of this part.
I am one of those holding a new construction permit for an LPFM. With few exceptions, directional antennas were not allowed.
My CP (WDXD-LP 101.9, FCC Facility ID 190286) is a case of a lower ERP and a higher antenna. I hired a consulting engineer to handle the tech part. I am building a 180 foot tower to have the antenna at 53 meters (about 173 feet.) This reduced the ERP to 33 watts. The CP is available on the FCC CDBS database.
I am one of the few LPFM'ers building a totally functional studio with turntables, cassette decks, CD players, etc. in addition to the usual computer and mp3 player. We will have SRN News, but otherwise will have a locally-originated classic country/nostalgia crossover format during the week. We will have classic Christian music on Sundays and a Southern gospel show on Sunday night.
Financially, this is tough. I still have to raise money and purchase the transmitter, antenna, and EAS. And get the tower built.
The remainder - studio equipment, building, the tower itself - has been purchased and paid for, or donated. I have raised, and subsequently spent, $6,921 on these items. It will easily cost $15k to build it out.
The tower is here, the control room is close to completion, and I will build it someway, somehow.
My website at http://www.bigdcountry.com is undergoing a facelift. The total number of financial donors, equipment, music and other item donors, and pledges for paid underwriting, is at 30 sponsors total as of today.
I will be live on the air myself six days per week and have three others who will do part-time DJ work.
LPFM is not for the faint of heart.
I explored AM stations, but the owners here live in fantasyland. They own no real estate, one has no studio but is supposed to, and none own their tower site. But they want prices the stations themselves will not support. $400k for a station with zero billing and no real estate is not going to sell. Been on the market 18 years. I think he doesn't want to sell it, but he doesn't want to do anything with it either.
In that regard, it was LPFM or forget radio. Got the CP, so I'm not done yet.
Radio Boy, the Christian records on Sunday should be funded by the recording artists that you will be promoting by playing thier records. You are not starting a church, the religions have deep pockets because they pay no taxes and they can afford anything.
A serious radio business has no faith obligation to "give."
I doubt that the Sunday radio audience wants to be drowned in messages all day Sunday. Once they come home from church it's a day off until next week. If you aren't paid to "preach the message" it shouldn't be a second volunteer job since you already have a main volunteer job (running the station).
I'm studying the idea of offering paid time to religious brands for $250 an hour.