I don't know if this is the right thread or not, but I'm wondering, since we already have a thread on strong full-powered FM stations, why not translators? Boosters are included here as well (why are they pretty much always directional?)
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Strongest FM Translator Signal?
- Thread starter Tomgsinger
- Start date
It would probably be the 250 watt translator with the highest HAAT, although translators usually do not specify HAAT.
As for why boosters are usually directional, it is because FM signals are coherent, and as such boosters interfere with the main signal and produce interference fringes. DAs help to minimize the areas with interference. They also help keep the booster contour within the protected main station contour.
And what would that be?
250 watts is the limit as far as I know.
P
purpledevil
Guest
Well, Tomsinger, I'll submit to you K236AR, licensed to Missouri City, Texas. A southwestern suburb of Houston, it boasts a population of around 65,000 souls. It is the FM translator for 1460 KBRZ, also licensed to Mo. City.
It is not 250 watts, but likely one of the largest coverage areas you will find. Operating at 99 watts, K236AR is proof positive of one thing. Height matters.
This will give you the full specs on the translator, but the map really doesn't do the real world application any justice. 95-1 can be heard easily in north Houston, and minimal interference near IAH. It is,arguably, the equivalent of a full C3.
http://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=K236ar&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&arn=&party=&party_type=LICEN
It is not 250 watts, but likely one of the largest coverage areas you will find. Operating at 99 watts, K236AR is proof positive of one thing. Height matters.
This will give you the full specs on the translator, but the map really doesn't do the real world application any justice. 95-1 can be heard easily in north Houston, and minimal interference near IAH. It is,arguably, the equivalent of a full C3.
http://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=K236ar&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&arn=&party=&party_type=LICEN
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The following is based on the somewhat simplistic formula of doubling the height equalling quadrupling the radiated power.
A 250 watt translator on the roof of a six floor building, 20 meters (70 feet) would be like an LPFM
A 250 watt translator on a normal TV tower approximately 346 meters (1,150 feet) would be like a 3KW class A
On Chi-town's Willis Tower at 490 meters (1470 feet), it would be like a 6KW class A
One on a mountain, 2,100 meters (6,300 feet), it would be like a full class B
One on a mountain or hot-air balloon 12,000 meters (just under 40,000 feet), would be like a full class C
I can't go any higher because the curvature of the earth produces diminishing returns, but in typical low earth orbit, 800km or 500 miles, it might cover Texas or France
In geostationary orbit, would be like SiriusXM Satellite Radio, but in all directions
From the moon, the signal would be very weak and subject to all sorts of QRM, QRN & distortion over nearly half the world
A 250 watt translator on the roof of a six floor building, 20 meters (70 feet) would be like an LPFM
A 250 watt translator on a normal TV tower approximately 346 meters (1,150 feet) would be like a 3KW class A
On Chi-town's Willis Tower at 490 meters (1470 feet), it would be like a 6KW class A
One on a mountain, 2,100 meters (6,300 feet), it would be like a full class B
One on a mountain or hot-air balloon 12,000 meters (just under 40,000 feet), would be like a full class C
I can't go any higher because the curvature of the earth produces diminishing returns, but in typical low earth orbit, 800km or 500 miles, it might cover Texas or France
In geostationary orbit, would be like SiriusXM Satellite Radio, but in all directions
From the moon, the signal would be very weak and subject to all sorts of QRM, QRN & distortion over nearly half the world
Boosters are limited to 20% of the ERP of the main facility, and the 60 dBu must be within the 60 dBu of the main facility. I have seen opinions that a Class B could use the 54 dBu protected contour. If this 20% was on the other side of a mountain, it could work well. Most boosters work best with very low ERP in small terrain holes.
Locally, the best translator signal would be W259AV,, relaying WJBE at 99.7. 508ft. above average terrain, 99 watts. http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=W259AV-FX
Charleston has multiple 250 watt translators. W257BQ (99.3 The Box, a urban station) is one of the best translator signals around, off of one of the local AM station's towers.
It can be heard at least 15 miles out with a good signal, involving a large part of the metro's population. It gets about a 2 share in the ratings, beating several full power signals.
http://fccdata.org/?facid=149563&appid=1317342&i=2
It can be heard at least 15 miles out with a good signal, involving a large part of the metro's population. It gets about a 2 share in the ratings, beating several full power signals.
http://fccdata.org/?facid=149563&appid=1317342&i=2
I do not suppose many hip-hop listeners would be on 1390, WSPO.
The shadows show how much taller the day tower with the translator is,
but if they could only get on a TV tower.
We used to have one like that for WIOD in Miami,
until we were reminded that translators are still a secondary service subject to the whims of primary FM stations.
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1390 does not simulcast the urban signal. 1390 runs a urban gospel format instead, but they get around it by simulcasting the gospel and the urban signals on 95.9 (another station they own)'s HD signal. That's how they feed the signals.
When 1390 ran a sports format a few years ago, the two signals (1390 and 99.3) were simulcasted.
When 1390 ran a sports format a few years ago, the two signals (1390 and 99.3) were simulcasted.
WMKT's 102.3 translator near Boyne City can be heard reliably in Traverse City, about 40 miles away. They're 250 watts on a very tall hill from a tower shared with a 100kW sister station.
Some ones that I can get somewhat often:
93.3 W227CH Sturgeon Bay, WI (WLGE 106.9) - 80 watts, 65 miles
95.3 W237AA Appleton, WI (WSCO 1570) - 250 watts, 100 miles
96.1 W241AG Sheboygan, WI (WXER 104.5) - 250 watts, 78 miles
98.9 W255AQ Sturgeon Bay, WI (WAUN 92.7) - 55 watts, 65 miles
106.3 W292DR DePere, WI (WZOR 94.7) - 250 watts, 82 miles [ever since the local 106.3 moved down the dial to 96.3].
In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten three translators (93.7, 97.9, 98.7) and an LPFM (101.3) from Milwaukee (115 miles)
Some ones that I can get somewhat often:
93.3 W227CH Sturgeon Bay, WI (WLGE 106.9) - 80 watts, 65 miles
95.3 W237AA Appleton, WI (WSCO 1570) - 250 watts, 100 miles
96.1 W241AG Sheboygan, WI (WXER 104.5) - 250 watts, 78 miles
98.9 W255AQ Sturgeon Bay, WI (WAUN 92.7) - 55 watts, 65 miles
106.3 W292DR DePere, WI (WZOR 94.7) - 250 watts, 82 miles [ever since the local 106.3 moved down the dial to 96.3].
In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten three translators (93.7, 97.9, 98.7) and an LPFM (101.3) from Milwaukee (115 miles)
Maybe not THE best, but K216AA, a translator of KFSK/100.9 in Petersburg, Alaska, licensed to Point Baker, Alaska, is a whopping 140 watt signal that seriously gets out. It gives many parts of central Southeast Alaska ONE, albeit weak and scratchy radio signal. I can pick it up in Port Alexander, and other people there listen to it too.
We have a new translator on 98.5, a simulcast of our local 1340 AM talker in Charleston. It is 240 watts from almost 400 feet above average terrain. It is clear for at least 10 miles around its transmitter, and can be heard 25 miles out.
That is incredible what 250 watts can do off the top of a mountain. Our biggest translator, 99.3, can be heard probably 25 miles away in all directions. It is off the top of one of the local AM station towers, about 360 feet above average terrain.
Even with 1/3 or half the signal of the two other urban signals in town, it still draws over a 2 share in the ratings, coming within .3 of a 100kw country station last book.
We have a couple other translators that launched with full 250 watts since, with one at 102.1 at 394 feet above terrain, but they haven't gotten in the ratings yet.
Even with 1/3 or half the signal of the two other urban signals in town, it still draws over a 2 share in the ratings, coming within .3 of a 100kw country station last book.
We have a couple other translators that launched with full 250 watts since, with one at 102.1 at 394 feet above terrain, but they haven't gotten in the ratings yet.
Minneapolis has some translators which are on top of the IDS Building which is 900 feet tall. So most of the translators are at lower power due to full power stations within 90 miles away. There has been some examples where translators either dropped power or moved due to FCC complaints of interference
The one 250w that is there is 102.5
Some are under 100 watts due to possible interference.
What irks me is there are some distant stations I use to love to listen to but now have interference due to the translators.
The one 250w that is there is 102.5
Some are under 100 watts due to possible interference.
What irks me is there are some distant stations I use to love to listen to but now have interference due to the translators.
That's the truth. Look at the contours for some of the Albuquerque translators that are up on Sandia Peak at an average height over terrain of 4,100 feet! They cover nearly all of the main county in the metro with 250 watts, and a couple that are in the 100 to 150 watt range do almost as well!
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