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105.1 Booster

I

Interstate 78

So all this talk about the WBYN translator at 107.9 in Reading got me to thinking about WIOV.
WIOV has a "booster" in Reading on the same frequency as 105.1.
Any techy people out there want to explain to me what a "booster" is and how it compares to a "translator." All I know is that a booster can run on the same frequency as the main station, making the main station stronger in a select area. Is there a separate antenna in the Reading area relaying WIOV? How does this work without causing phasing problems?
Just curious.
 
A booster is a separate transmitter on the same frequency as the main station. It can run up to 20% of the main station's power. Since WIOV-FM runs 25 kW ERP, the booster could run up to 5 kW. But the booster also can't put out a signal that extends beyond the 60 dBu contour of the primary signal. That's one reason the booster runs only 2800 watts.

Boosters are designed to fill in areas that should be part of the primary station's coverage but have obstructions to the signal. Out west, that's typically mountain ranges. Here in the east, where the terrain is more gentle, boosters tend to have to limit their power to avoid creating destructive interference to the main signal. Many stations have experimented with boosters only to find that the destructive interference is too destructive, and so they've turned off the booster.
 
Scott Fybush said:
A booster is a separate transmitter on the same frequency as the main station. It can run up to 20% of the main station's power. Since WIOV-FM runs 25 kW ERP, the booster could run up to 5 kW. But the booster also can't put out a signal that extends beyond the 60 dBu contour of the primary signal. That's one reason the booster runs only 2800 watts.

Boosters are designed to fill in areas that should be part of the primary station's coverage but have obstructions to the signal. Out west, that's typically mountain ranges. Here in the east, where the terrain is more gentle, boosters tend to have to limit their power to avoid creating destructive interference to the main signal. Many stations have experimented with boosters only to find that the destructive interference is too destructive, and so they've turned off the booster.
Click to expand...

Interesting. The interference is what I figured could be a problem. I guess the formula somehow works for 105.1's booster. Where is the 105.1 booster antenna in Reading?
 
If you're heading down US 222 south just past the 724 exit (Sinking Spring area), look on the hill right in front of you and you'll see a fairly loaded cell tower. I believe it's on that tower.
 
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