Attenuated Signal on 97.1 the River

[RadioDoogie]

I live in Gwinnett and I’ve noticed the WSRV signal has been real weak the past few days. Normally it is clear as can be in Gwinnett. No RBDS either. Probably because of the weak signal. Any idea why this is?

 

[secondchoice]

They could be using their backup which uses a lower antenna on the same tower. I don't know if they have RDS or HD on their backup.

 

[secondchoice]

I don't think the weather is correct for tropoducting or E skipping which can really mess up reception

 

[jabba17]

WSB was saying on the air that they were getting complaints about WSBB 95.5, which is on the same tower. They blamed it on a weather inversion.

 

[BarryATL]

WSB was saying on the air that they were getting complaints about WSBB 95.5, which is on the same tower. They blamed it on a weather inversion.

I did not know what a "weather inversion" was, so I looked it up. So, for our engineering types that are here, can the temp differences really cause that much of a problem for transmitting?

 

[davideduardo]

I did not know what a "weather inversion" was, so I looked it up. So, for our engineering types that are here, can the temp differences really cause that much of a problem for transmitting?

An inversion layer is caused (non-scientific explanation follows) when there are two temperature layers at different altitudes, causing what amounts to a duct or funnel between them for high frequency radio signals.

At worst, local stations can be obliterated by co-channel stations over 100 miles away. This is particularly common with local FMs on very tall towers, where the top of the tower is in the higher layer and prevented from laying a signal down in the market which is in the lower layer.

This sort of phenomenon is even more common along coastal areas, where there are differences between the over-land and over-water areas, creating warm and cooler zones above them.

This is also common in enclosed areas, like LA, are surrounded by mountains where the signals high above the metro (5,000' Mt. Wilson) can be deflected giving poor local coverage while San Diego stations roar in.

These conditions are as erratic as the weather.

 

[jabba17]

This is particularly common with local FMs on very tall towers, where the top of the tower is in the higher layer and prevented from laying a signal down in the market which is in the lower layer.

That would explain WSRV 97.1, which is one of only two full class Cs in the market on probably the tallest tower on some of the highest grounds (1585' HAAT, 2615' HASL) in the market. WSBB 95.5 is only about 150' down from that on the same tower. TOSOTR 97.7 is about 100' down from WSBB.

For comparison, the Fish Stick is taller but on somewhat lower ground; both WYAY 106.7 (the other full C) and WFSH 104.7 are 1657' HAAT, 2533' HASL.

 

[secondchoice]

Yesterday 97.1’s signal was crappy going up 515 too. I wonder if anyone thought to try 95.5’s axillary site. It is a lot lower and might have a “cleaner” path. I have heard of stations around the Gulf Coast having a relativity lower height auxiliary site just for intense foggy mornings which can happen quite frequently. When I was in the Air force, one morning on a Trac 97 microwave shot I had to switch to tropo (troposphere scatter) mode during a JCS exercise for a 6 mile shot at Eglin AFB. There was about 3 miles of swamp / backwater along the path.

 

[kf4rca]

WXKT (103.7) Gainesville, "The Chuck", (a Cox property also) has been coming in pretty scratchy lately also.
Normally they come in well in the Spaghetti Junction area. But, at times, I can hear a religious station underneath them, which I believe, is Jacksonville.

 

[jabba17]

WXKT (103.7) Gainesville, "The Chuck", (a Cox property also) has been coming in pretty scratchy lately also.
Normally they come in well in the Spaghetti Junction area. But, at times, I can hear a religious station underneath them, which I believe, is Jacksonville.

I thought Chuck FM's recent woes were due to Dickey's cochannel translator for 1340: https://radio-locator.com/info/W279CZ-FX

Despite a null to the north...and there's a CP that's going to make interference with Chuck even worse.

 

[davideduardo]

WXKT (103.7) Gainesville, "The Chuck", (a Cox property also) has been coming in pretty scratchy lately also.
Normally they come in well in the Spaghetti Junction area. But, at times, I can hear a religious station underneath them, which I believe, is Jacksonville.

Question: when is the construction phase of the repack in Atlanta taking place? Many stations that are on towers that are used for TV as well have to use auxiliary sites, low power, etc. during the rigging work.

 

[Kelly A]

Question: when is the construction phase of the repack in Atlanta taking place? Many stations that are on towers that are used for TV as well have to use auxiliary sites, low power, etc. during the rigging work.

The other day I was speaking with Dale, the Repack project manager for a large TV group. Seems like all but a few markets are behind schedule. Combinations of delays getting new antennas, permitting, and combiners and tower work done plus of course weather, have many markets just at Phase One or Phase Two. Here's who is affected in Atlanta: http://radioactiverf.com/home/troubleshooting/us-rf-map/#1494947224897-53cc04e4-4c82