KTSN and KJFK transmitter changes coming

[Mediafrog+]

KTSN 1060 today filed an application to downgrade from 2kw directional to 690 watts nondirectional. Operation would be from the south tower of the current three tower array. COL would change from Lockhart to San Leanna, Texas (which I have never heard of.) Will continue to be daytime only.

The filing also advises that an application will be filed to move the KJFK 1490 transmitter to the north tower of the current KTSN array, abandoning its longtime site in southeast Austin. I suspect the land for that is being sold.

Details are in the attachments to the filing.

Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC

Licensing and Management System

enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov

 

[Ryan Williams]

The filing also advises that an application will be filed to move the KJFK 1490 transmitter to the north tower of the current KTSN array, abandoning its longtime site in southeast Austin. I suspect the land for that is being sold.

Looks like a win-win to me. 1060 gets a better, non-directional signal that can still legally serve as the primary for the 100.1 translator, while using less power and a more simplified antenna system.

The area around the current 1490 site is very up and coming with lots of development in the neighborhood, including right next door.

We'll have to see what the 1490 application says, but it would seem to me that a Community of License change is probably coming for 1490 too. I can't see how 1 kW that high on the dial would cover all of the city of Austin from the new location with a 5 mV/m signal, unless they can get some kind of waiver or the percentage of coverage is higher than it would seem (I think you need to cover 80% of your community if i remember right), or they can do a minor change to an adjacent frequency with more power.

Who will the winning community be? Wells Branch? Jollyville? Garfield? Webberville?

 

[Mediafrog+]

We'll have to see what the 1490 application says, but it would seem to me that a Community of License change is probably coming for 1490 too.

I had the same thought. Should note that 1490 is Austin’s oldest radio station, having gone on the air in the capital city in 1929. It had been moved from San Antonio, where it originally began in 1926.

Longtime Austinites will remember it as KNOW, the call it had from 1932 to 1988.

or they can do a minor change to an adjacent frequency with more power.

Not sure how they could squeeze that in. Perhaps on 1470 since the San Marcos station on that frequency is long gone, but nearby KELG 1440 might be a problem. Would also require a directional antenna with a tight westward pattern. 1480 is out due to to KCHL in San Antonio, and 1500 has KBRN in Boerne.

 

[jras20]

KJFK HD Still reads KTSN.

 

[Mediafrog+]

KJFK HD Still reads KTSN.

It has been like that since the call letter change, at many checks when visiting Austin. They've never bothered to update the HD ID info.

KTSN and KJFK are pretty much zombie stations at this point, only existing to feed the translators. If translators are ever allowed to become primary outlets both 1060 and 1490 will quickly disappear.

 

[Ryan Williams]

It has been like that since the call letter change, at many checks when visiting Austin. They've never bothered to update the HD ID info.

KTSN and KJFK are pretty much zombie stations at this point, only existing to feed the translators. If translators are ever allowed to become primary outlets both 1060 and 1490 will quickly disappear.

I get what you are saying, but who's going to listen to music on Jack FM on 1490 AM instead of 96.3 FM? Even if the station name data was current and your radio had a solid HD signal, 1490 is still worse in every way.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I get what you are saying, but who's going to listen to music on Jack FM on 1490 AM instead of 96.3 FM? Even if the station name data was current and your radio had a solid HD signal, 1490 is still worse in every way.

KJFK 1490 in HD has similar audio quality to the lower bitrate SiriusXM music channels. You are correct, no one is going to choose it over 96.3.

 

[kc4rae]

We'll have to see what the 1490 application says, but it would seem to me that a Community of License change is probably coming for 1490 too. I can't see how 1 kW that high on the dial would cover all of the city of Austin from the new location with a 5 mV/m signal, unless they can get some kind of waiver or the percentage of coverage is higher than it would seem (I think you need to cover 80% of your community if i remember right), or they can do a minor change to an adjacent frequency with more power.

The antenna for KTSN is 77 meters tall. The antenna for KJFK is 45.7 meters tall. The max is 1kW on class Cs, so assuming they can fit it in, they can run 1kW on the 1060 tower and cover more area than the slightly less than quarter wave antenna KJFK is on now. At 77 meters, KJFK would have a ~137º radiator. It's better and it's probably all it needs to make it work. Ground conductivity around Central Texas is pretty decent, so that will play into it. There may not be any need to change the COL.

 

[jras20]

I still have not been able to pick up KTSN AM since the tower damage.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I still have not been able to pick up KTSN AM since the tower damage.

Where do you live? I heard it just the other day and it was pretty far from the transmitter site.

 

[jras20]

In the Lockhart area which I also use to could pick up 1060 fairly well.

 

[Ryan Williams]

The antenna for KTSN is 77 meters tall. The antenna for KJFK is 45.7 meters tall. The max is 1kW on class Cs, so assuming they can fit it in, they can run 1kW on the 1060 tower and cover more area than the slightly less than quarter wave antenna KJFK is on now. At 77 meters, KJFK would have a ~137º radiator. It's better and it's probably all it needs to make it work. Ground conductivity around Central Texas is pretty decent, so that will play into it. There may not be any need to change the COL.

The modification application was just filed and there is no community of license change requested for KJFK. The application states that the new signal "will cover 60.9% of the area of Austin and 70.3% of the population" and that is with 390 watts of power daytime (890 watts at night).

Also of note, the application states the licensee was "unable to negotiate favorable lease terms and must vacate the station’s licensed transmitter site".

​

 

[Mediafrog+]

The modification application was just filed and there is no community of license change requested for KJFK. The application states that the new signal "will cover 60.9% of the area of Austin and 70.3% of the population" and that is with 390 watts of power daytime (890 watts at night).

That’s a dinky amount of daytime power given the frequency as well as the market size. But, as said earlier, KJFK is now merely a zombie station feeding a translator. Nobody is going to be listening to 1490.

Also of note, the application states the licensee was "unable to negotiate favorable lease terms and must vacate the station’s licensed transmitter site".

Translation: “The landowner jacked (no pun intended) up the lease price to a level they knew we were not willing to pay for our zombie station and they wanted us gone anyway so they could sell it for new development.”

Wonder how long the 1490 transmitter has been at that location? It was there when I lived in Austin in the 1960s.

Edit to add the filing, see attachments: Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC

 

[kc4rae]

That area has changed a lot since I was there last a little over a decade ago.

Also of note, the application states the licensee was "unable to negotiate favorable lease terms and must vacate the station’s licensed transmitter site".

There's a AM in Nashville that faced the same problem late last year. Landowners know they can get the money. At least KJFK has a place to go to. There's a few AMs in Nashville that are trying to diplex with another existing site and at least two recently have been able to. Some have not and are operating with wire antennas or something similar to keep the AM on.

Wonder how long the 1490 transmitter has been at that location? It was there when I lived in Austin in the 1960s.

Late 1939. The covering license application was filed on November 29, 1939. It was still operating on 1500 kc then. Not long afterward, a modification application was submitted to relocate it to Pfulgerville with a directional on 740 and from 250 watts to 10 kW. It was returned and eventually, it changed to its current frequency.

 

[Mediafrog+]

That area has changed a lot since I was there last a little over a decade ago.

I think that area of southeast Austin has become inner-city hipster territory, similar to what is going on in a lot of other cities. The new KMFA studio complex is nearby.

Late 1939. The covering license application was filed on November 29, 1939. It was still operating on 1500 kc then. Not long afterward, a modification application was submitted to relocate it to Pfulgerville with a directional on 740 and from 250 watts to 10 kW. It was returned and eventually, it changed to its current frequency.

Thanks for that info. I had never heard about the attempt to move to 740 with higher power. I suspect the effort at that time of KTRH in Houston to also move to 740 scuttled the Pflugerville plan.

The move from 1500 to 1490 was due to the NARBA reorganization in 1941.

 

[fredcantu]

KTSN 1060 today filed an application to downgrade from 2kw directional to 690 watts nondirectional. Operation would be from the south tower of the current three tower array. COL would change from Lockhart to San Leanna, Texas (which I have never heard of.) Will continue to be daytime only.

The filing also advises that an application will be filed to move the KJFK 1490 transmitter to the north tower of the current KTSN array, abandoning its longtime site in southeast Austin. I suspect the land for that is being sold.

Details are in the attachments to the filing.

Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC

Licensing and Management System

enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov

San Leanna is just outside South Austin on FM 1626 east of Manchaca.

 

[Mediafrog+]

San Leanna is just outside South Austin on FM 1626 east of Manchaca.

Fred, it’s good to have a post from you again. Been a while!

 

[Mediafrog+]

Update: The KTSN 1060 application to downgrade to 690 watts nondirectional was approved by the FCC today.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Update: The KTSN 1060 application to downgrade to 690 watts nondirectional was approved by the FCC today.

Looks like it was about seven and a half months from filing. Considering they are already at that location and using a STA, I would expect the "cover" application to follow quickly.