KPFK (FM) is setting up several Part 15 AM transmitters to cover a large section of Los Angeles.
If you subscribe to Radio World magazine checkout the story on page 32.
KPFK (FM) is setting up several Part 15 AM transmitters to cover a large section of Los Angeles.
If you subscribe to Radio World magazine checkout the story on page 32.
As this station is Listener Funded, they can't justify the expense of running full time programming for the Hispanic listeners. Rather, they are installing several Part 15 AM stations to carry this programming to these listeners.
Here is a LINK TO THE ONLINE MAGAZINE PAGE 32 which you can read. If the link doesn't work, simply go to RADIOWORLD.COM and click on the link at the bottom right side of the page to the online magazine.
As an after-thought, I'd like to know how many of these transmitters will be "ground mounted".
We wouldn't want them to experience the KENC scenareo.
As they are quoted as purchasing Hamilton Rangemaster transmitters, I wonder if they will be elevated mounts?
As an after-thought, I'd like to know how many of these transmitters will be "ground mounted".
We wouldn't want them to experience the KENC scenareo.
As they are quoted as purchasing Hamilton Rangemaster transmitters, I wonder if they will be elevated mounts?
Again.. KENC was never cited for elevated installations, but rather for the extended radiating ground leads (correct?), and that's why his third Rangemaster which was mounted on top of the football stadium did pass, and was permitted to continue transmitting.
This simple fact in itself makes it clear that there are no rules prohibiting elevated mounts.
I'm glad you posted this link to Radio World, and enjoyed the article, but one thing about it disturbs me - and it's the same statement that bothers me on the FCC website.. Although Pasifica Radio doesn't address it in the article themselves, the "200 ft range" is still mentioned by the writer, who also states "only a couple blocks" can be covered.
I wish the writer had dug a little deeper in his research, and reported that the Rangemasters which are to be used are certified under Part 15.219 which specifies power and antenna length limitation., and is not subject to the 15.209 rule that specifies radiation limits.
Further more, rule 15.215 clearly states “(a) The regulations in Sections 15.217-15.255 provide alternatives to the general radiated emission limits for intentional radiators operating in specified frequency bands. Unless otherwise stated, there are no restrictions as to the types of operation permitted under these sections.”
It drives me up the wall every time the 200 foot is cited in reference to certified units such as the Rangemaster AM1000. Getting around that limitation is the very reason why to pay the extra cost of getting a certified unit.
Why didn't the writer write that?
Get the story straight.
Arrrg!
Thank you MRAM for the notice about KPFK in LA planning to use Part 15 transmitters.
The link to online page 32 only has a spinning wheel and never loads, and the "Online Magazine" link, lower right on the RW Website can't be seen on my screen, and so far I haven't found the story.
Once I find a way of seeing Page 32 it will be very interesting to learn everything about KPFK's plans.
Whatever it is they do will be noticed by other stations and this could be very good for part 15.
Here's the link to the pdf version Carl. (see Page 32)
http://www.nxtbook.com/fx/save/dbindex.php?book_id=__NXT__d5ab8e5561d365a901bb525a6fecff51&sid=9e0ca6630f0b83d31daf05e839e039a8&pdf=1
Thank You Rich, the article is now downloaded and printed. I think I wasn't patient enough before, not realizing that an entire copy of Radio World downloads, not just page 32.
What a great story and maybe even the FCC will see this as a reason to give Part 15 slightly more juice. Optimism.
I was thinking the same thing after I read it. Gives Part15 credibility.
Say, what ever happened to that governor last year who retired and was going to start a part15 radio station? I forget his name, but I know I read it here somewhere, and on other forums to. He got some public press about it, but I've seen no updates
Rich, we've got to know about the governor who may start a part 15 station. That is a great low power tip. He must have been a good governor.
Ok Carl, I tracked it down who it was I was referring to.. But I got something twisted around in my head, it's senator, not governor. You must have heard about this before, but here's a glance at where it started;
Tuesday, December 29, 2009:
Former state senator DeCamp to start radio station
http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_215e84d4-f4cf-11de-882c-001cc4c03286.html
Excerpts:
Can you imagine Ernie Chambers hosting a radio talk show? John DeCamp can.. ..DeCamp, a 68-year-old Lincoln attorney and former state senator who lives in Clatonia, said he'll launch KOLD in mid-January, first on the Internet and later on the radio dial at 1710 AM.... ...Halvorson, who has more than 30 years in radio, will serve as program director. Reutzel, also a former state senator, will be the station's communications director. Ed Howard, managing editor at Nebraska StatePaper.com, is general manager.
Once talent is in place, the station will sell advertising, Reutzel said.
Because it's low-power -- operating at one-half watt -- KOLD is not required to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission....
....Much of the equipment, including a sound board and computer servers already are in place.
DeCamp will put up seven antennas in Lincoln and several more in towns including Wilber, Crete, Hallam, Wahoo, Clatonia and Waverly. He declined to say how much the venture is costing him.
"I have no idea," he joked. "It's like most other things I do."
DeCamp was a state senator from Neligh from 1971 to 1987. Chambers represented part of Omaha from 1971 until January. Reutzel was a senator from Fremont from 1977 to 1981.
... "We're going to have some fun and see what we can do."
Sunday, January 10, 2010:
KOLD 1710 AM is up and running -- sort of.
http://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/article_a7f6de1e-fe3a-11de-bfa4-001cc4c002e0.html
Excerpts: ......available soon, if not already, at www.kold1710.com....
KOLD hopes to be on the AM dial later this spring in Lincoln and surrounding communities once antennas are in place, according to Communications Director Barry Reutzel.
Former state senator and Lincoln attorney John DeCamp is launching the new low-power, commercial AM radio station..... ...Reutzel said he's aware of local radio message boards with posts saying DeCamp's venture is illegal. He said KOLD has checked regularly with the Federal Communications Commission - as recently as last week -- to make sure everything is OK with its signal and call letters. "We've been very careful to toe the line (with the FCC) on this," he said....
June 14, 2010
KOLD 1710 AM is making progress
http://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/television-and-radio/article_1198be52-758f-11df-917a-001cc4c03286.html
Excerpts: KOLD 1710 AM, the new oldies radio station, is now available in Hallam. Next up is downtown Lincoln... ...Progress, according to station communications director Barry Reutzel, is slow but sure as the station places antennas around Southeast Nebraska... ....has been available on the Internet at www.live365.com/profiles/kold1710 since mid-January.
“It takes time to do all this,but we’re moving right along,” Reutzel said. “We’re kicking butt on the Internet.”
KOLD plans to air in Lincoln and several surrounding communities, ...
“When will it be available in the entire town (of Lincoln)?” Reutzel repeated my question. “It’s hard to say. It depends on ‘grounding’ issues.”
He said he expected the low-power signal to cover downtown, the Capitol and city and office buildings within the next few days....
Conclusion.. ?
And then lastly, here is the KOLD1710 website which is very sparse on info, and had no mention of using transmitters to actually broadcasting on the air. http://www.kold1710.com
It appears to me that his venture must have gone to the wayside or something, because there's been no more mention of it that I can find.
I just emailed John DeCamp inquiring what ever became of it. Hopefully he'll respond, cause I'm really curious about it.
Thank you Rich Powers for this low power tip.
The call letters KOLD sound familiar, like they're in use by someone else, but I guess in Part 15 that doesn't matter.
I wish our senators were that smart.
Found the website for KOLD in Lincoln, Nebraska
ex-Senator John DeCamp is on the air.
Yep! Thank you Carl. In case someone missed it above!
RichPowers,
I am the guy who missed it above, so in case I missed it, I put it again, little knowing.
Thank you, not me.
1) I couldn't listen on KOLD's website. The hyperlink text doesn't open a player (Winamp is the default for Explorer hers). Check that against my own page which offers numerous ways to listen, including the Flash player in the top of the Now Playing widget, plus Listen Now under the header for browser default, plus icon links for Winamp, WMP, RealPlayer, iTunes, iPhone.
I finally was able to listen via Live365 search.
2) AFAIK, you aren't supposed to use fake call letters that appear to represent a licensed station for Part 15 operations, although I assume you can use whatever you like on the internet, with the exception that it doesn't violate someone else's registered trademark or other copyright.
3) Since AFAIK, there is no trademark for "LPAM", you could say it on the internet, but there is no such official FCC designation ... IOW, officially, there no such thing as "LPAM" as there is for "Low Power FM Community Radio". Personally, I would say that between the call letters and the the use of the term, it constitutes misrepresentation.
4) I haven't seen any indication that KOLD is actually broadcasting under Part 15 on the AM band, other than the "1710" in the page title and header.
It will be interesting to see what precedences are set with these.stations, as it appears they are at least partially politically hooked up.
From the quoted articles above:
"Because it's low-power -- operating at one-half watt -- KOLD is not required to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission...."
And:
"He said KOLD has checked regularly with the Federal Communications Commission - as recently as last week -- to make sure everything is OK with its signal and call letters. "We've been very careful to toe the line (with the FCC) on this," he said...."
Inaccurate reporting or something else going on?
Neil