CBEF now using 1550

[Shawndx]

CBEF is now using 1550 // to 540. This was their CRTC approved frequency and now with more power

[Goldilocks94941]

10kw at 1550 vs 5kw night or 2.5 kw das on AM 540 - I can't imagine why they think they'll get better reception at the top of the dial.  AM 540 was my introduction to a lot of interesting francophone music, classical and new age, too.  CBEF inspired me to eventually take French lessons.  But they couldn't seem to keep the pattern on 540 consistently in the same pattern year to year. 
While I no longer live in the area, I used to monitor it from my old hometown in Toledo and take it with me as far south as I could on my drive down US 68 to southern Ohio.  But for months at a time the directional array wouldn't put a clear signal south, then it would be fixed and you could hear it again.  The low dial position brought a little hiss with the signal, and may have been more vulnerable to electrical buzzing.  But it got out a long long way -- to Cleveland and almost to Columbus.  Now, I'm guessing it's just Windsor and a few miles across the river - no more coverage to Ann Arbor, Toledo, Sandusky (MI and OH), etc.  Quel dommage.  Trop provencal, bien sur.

[Dan]

According to the application the towers and transmitting equipment for 540 were in dire need of replacement. Rather than spend the big bucks on upgrading the facility the CBC took the cheaper route by utilizing equipment from the now defunct CBE 1550 which was still in pretty decent shape.

The CBC also had a construction permit for a 2,400 watt nested repeater on 105.5 in Windsor which was authorized to simulcast CBEF 540. It is unknown if this is still in the cards now that CBEF has moved to 1550. The cp for this facility expired this past May and I have not heard about any extension being applied for or granted.

[azumanga]

The low dial position brought a little hiss with the signal, and may have been more vulnerable to electrical buzzing.  But it got out a long long way -- to Cleveland and almost to Columbus.  Now, I'm guessing it's just Windsor and a few miles across the river - no more coverage to Ann Arbor, Toledo, Sandusky (MI and OH), etc.  Quel dommage.  Trop provencal, bien sur.

1550 is a 10kw Class A, but it's directional towards the north to protect another Class A in Mexico.  Back when CBE was on 1550, I could tune in to both that and CBEF on 540 in Bay City. Despite being 2.5kw daytime, CBEF came in very good in either direction; however, while reception of CBE on 1550 was good towards the north and east, the reception was quite staticky in Ann Arbor and non-existant in Toledo. (Don't know how it is in places like Lansing and Grand Rapids.)

The CBC also had a construction permit for a 2,400 watt nested repeater on 105.5 in Windsor which was authorized to simulcast CBEF 540. It is unknown if this is still in the cards now that CBEF has moved to 1550. The cp for this facility expired this past May and I have not heard about any extension being applied for or granted.

The repeater on 105.5 began broadcasting this past April.

[Dan]

Thanks Azumanga. I never saw mention anywhere that the nested repeater had hit the air last April. Any idea when CBEF-3 98.3 in Sarnia will be launched?

Another question for you. Do you know if CFLZ 101.1's synchronous repeater in St. Catharines is still on the air? I was under the impression that it was shut down several years ago when upgrades were made to CFLZ's primary signal (as CKEY back then, of course). However CFLZ-1 101.1 St. Catharines is still listed as being "operational" on the Industry Canada database and it was also on the list as one of the stations Vista took control of from Haliburton in the CRTC decision released last month.

[Tincap]

I must say, that the signal from CBEF seems to have degraded over the past several years, with the SRC's Grand-Anse NB signal coming in over top, at times.

~BG

[M.J.]

In London, I could barely get CBE 1550 at all. CBEF came in very well on 540.