The Curious Case of KGIG: LPFM jammed by adjacent IBOC

[KB1OKL]

KNCI a CBS California 50,000 watt HD station which is 65 miles away from an LPFM in Salida California just about completely covers the WGIG LPFM signal on it's own turf after KNCI turned up the hash. KGIG is gathering evidence to file an FCC IBOC interference complaint. Brad Johnson a former chief engineer at several Citadel and and Clear Channel stations who is behind the WGIG had this to say:

"I hope some day soon a corporate bean counter at CBS will ask why the company is wasting money broadcasting this signal that only 1% of radios can receive while costing thousands of dollars to maintain," says Brad. "If HD Radio is ever shut off, KGIG will be able to serve most of the county."

read more at:

http://diymedia.net/archive/0812.htm#083112

[Zach]

This might actually attract some attention at the FCC since it involves one of their beloved LPFM stations. 

The right thing to do would be for CBS to pay to relocate KGIG's transmitter and/or change frequencies.  I'm curious though how the HD signal could be strong enough at 65 miles out on a 50 kW station with a relatively short HAAT to interfere with this little LPFM.  Or maybe the LPFM is grossly overstating their coverage area.  I know Radio-Locator isn't gospel but there's no way in Hades that tiny signal could in any way theoretically cover all of their county.  It doesn't even cover but a tiny sliver of the city of license, Modesto.  Perhaps they're trying to pretend to be a blowtorch when all they are is a Bic lighter.

[KB1OKL]

This might actually attract some attention at the FCC since it involves one of their beloved LPFM stations. 

The right thing to do would be for CBS to pay to relocate KGIG's transmitter and/or change frequencies.  I'm curious though how the HD signal could be strong enough at 65 miles out on a 50 kW station with a relatively short HAAT to interfere with this little LPFM.  Or maybe the LPFM is grossly overstating their coverage area.  I know Radio-Locator isn't gospel but there's no way in Hades that tiny signal could in any way theoretically cover all of their county.  It doesn't even cover but a tiny sliver of the city of license, Modesto.  Perhaps they're trying to pretend to be a blowtorch when all they are is a Bic lighter.

I would tend to believe them especially since they said it wasn't that bad and didn't complain until KNCI turned up the buzz.

[iyiyi]

This might actually attract some attention at the FCC since it involves one of their beloved LPFM stations. 

The right thing to do would be for CBS to pay to relocate KGIG's transmitter and/or change frequencies.  I'm curious though how the HD signal could be strong enough at 65 miles out on a 50 kW station with a relatively short HAAT to interfere with this little LPFM.  Or maybe the LPFM is grossly overstating their coverage area.  I know Radio-Locator isn't gospel but there's no way in Hades that tiny signal could in any way theoretically cover all of their county.  It doesn't even cover but a tiny sliver of the city of license, Modesto.  Perhaps they're trying to pretend to be a blowtorch when all they are is a Bic lighter.

I would tend to believe them especially since they said it wasn't that bad and didn't complain until KNCI turned up the buzz.

OK.  CBS decides to take 105.1 dark to protect KGIG.  When would you figure KGIG might garner 1% of the audience in their coverage area?

Also ;  wouldn't you figure that the 1% HD listeners of 105.1 are more than any possible numbers KGIG could ever get?

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[Chuck]

[OK.  CBS decides to take 105.1 dark to protect KGIG.  When would you figure KGIG might garner 1% of the audience in their coverage area?
Also ;  wouldn't you figure that the 1% HD listeners of 105.1 are more than any possible numbers KGIG could ever get?

I don't know about them, but some LPFM stations have been successful enough to actually show up in Arbitron, which is more than you can say for most HD signals, unless they have an analog translator.  If you lived in KGIG's service area (which probably extends well past their protected contour) you might be more interested in hearing them, rather than a loud hissing noise generated by somebody 65 miles away. Of course, LPFM's are considered a secondary service, so they are probably screwed.   

[Zach]

OK.  CBS decides to take 105.1 dark to protect KGIG.  When would you figure KGIG might garner 1% of the audience in their coverage area?

Also ;  wouldn't you figure that the 1% HD listeners of 105.1 are more than any possible numbers KGIG could ever get?

-

It depends on KGIG's format and how well they serve their community, I guess.  Some LPFMs have decent listenership numbers from what I've gathered, if they're doing something unique and community oriented, or at least providing music not available elsewhere. It's entirely possibly KGIG has more listeners on 100 watts than 105.1 does in HD anywhere in the valley.

I'm curious by what the OP meant by "turn up the hash" - was the station already running HD and completed an upgrade for more power, or did it go from analog only to HD? 

[Nick]

1% of the radios are HD radios? Try 0.01%, and fewer are actually in daily use. I could ask 1000 people if they own an HD radio and most of them will not even know what an HD radio is, and there's a high chance that no one will own an HD radio. The people that claim to own an HD radio will actually have a satellite radio and not know the difference.

[Chuck]

I believe I actually own seven HD radios.  I use two of them to receive distant analog signals.  A couple of them crapped out- dead as a doornail - but they are still here. One (a Sangean) is still sealed in the original box, never opened.  Why bother?
 
I'm sure I own more of these radios than most people, but it seems to me that a minus 7 should be factored into that 0.01%.  The number of operational radios used to actually receive HD is probably even less.  Except in the top 20 markets, HD appears to be stillborn to me.

[TheBigA]

The right thing to do would be for CBS to pay to relocate KGIG's transmitter and/or change frequencies. 

According to the article, KGIG moved its frequency to the current location knowing that it was going to get interference from KNCI.  Engineer Brad Johnson admits this.  So that will be a big negative in any FCC complaint.  And it absolves CBS from the need to pay for any relocation.

Keep in mind that HD radio is approved by the FCC.  It will be interesting to see if a commercial HD station is considered higher in the food chain than a non-commercial LPFM.  And the FCC doesn't care how many people own HD radios, so that won't be a factor in their decision.  Based on past experience, I actually expect them to simply dismiss the complaint without even considering the data.

[Chuck]

Keep in mind that HD radio is approved by the FCC.  It will be interesting to see if a commercial HD station is considered higher in the food chain than a non-commercial LPFM.  And the FCC doesn't care how many people own HD radios, so that won't be a factor in their decision.  Based on past experience, I actually expect them to simply dismiss the complaint without even considering the data.

I think you are right. As I mentioned earlier LPFM is a secondary service.