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97.9: Any whispers yet?

KML-224 said:
OK...but what about WHCN-FM 105.9 transmitting from West Peak in Meriden and another 105.9 broadcaster from Newark/New York City? After that's answered, I'll go back to 97.9 FM again.
Click to expand...

Total apples and oranges. WHCN is a directional class B with a null toward the southwest (New York.) WQXR Newark is a lower-class B1 and runs 610 watts from Empire, while most Empire signals (WSKQ included) run 6,000 watts (10 times the ERP.) In this comparison, WHCN is the dominant signal.

When you're dealing with WSKQ and WPKX, WSKQ is a full class B on Empire, and little class A WPKX has to do more protecting.
 
reelyreal said:
KML-224 said:
OK...but what about WHCN-FM 105.9 transmitting from West Peak in Meriden and another 105.9 broadcaster from Newark/New York City? After that's answered, I'll go back to 97.9 FM again.
Click to expand...

Total apples and oranges. WHCN is a directional class B with a null toward the southwest (New York.) WQXR Newark is a lower-class B1 and runs 610 watts from Empire, while most Empire signals (WSKQ included) run 6,000 watts (10 times the ERP.) In this comparison, WHCN is the dominant signal.

When you're dealing with WSKQ and WPKX, WSKQ is a full class B on Empire, and little class A WPKX has to do more protecting.
Click to expand...

To expand on this statement.

WPKX has to protect WCTY and WSKQ due to the FCC spacing standards as dictated in rule 73.207. WPKX is 57.76kM from WCTY, which is -14.24km short of the 72kM spacing required. Likewise, WPKX is 157.55kM from WSKQ, which is -20.45km short of the required 178kM. WPKX filed for special short spacing requirements (73.215) which would allow them to operate this short, but using a directional antenna to eliminate prohibited overlap to both stations.

As Reelyreal said, WHCN/WQXR are an old allotment, and WHCN has been operating directional against WSKQ for years. WPKX is a Docket 80-90 class A drop in, that signed on in the early 90's. So they have to be treated like a new station with new interference. (Now mind you, I am REALLY simplifiying things here. There is a lot more to it, regarding interference, etc.)

4 of the 7 West Peak FMs operate using directional patterns. 90.5, 95.7, 104.1, 105.9. 92.5, 93.7 and 102.9 are all non directional.

Scott Fybush might be able to chime in some more on the age factor here on the older B's running DA.
 
Necrat said:
reelyreal said:
KML-224 said:
OK...but what about WHCN-FM 105.9 transmitting from West Peak in Meriden and another 105.9 broadcaster from Newark/New York City? After that's answered, I'll go back to 97.9 FM again.
Click to expand...

Total apples and oranges. WHCN is a directional class B with a null toward the southwest (New York.) WQXR Newark is a lower-class B1 and runs 610 watts from Empire, while most Empire signals (WSKQ included) run 6,000 watts (10 times the ERP.) In this comparison, WHCN is the dominant signal.

When you're dealing with WSKQ and WPKX, WSKQ is a full class B on Empire, and little class A WPKX has to do more protecting.
Click to expand...

To expand on this statement.

WPKX has to protect WCTY and WSKQ due to the FCC spacing standards as dictated in rule 73.207. WPKX is 57.76kM from WCTY, which is -14.24km short of the 72kM spacing required. Likewise, WPKX is 157.55kM from WSKQ, which is -20.45km short of the required 178kM. WPKX filed for special short spacing requirements (73.215) which would allow them to operate this short, but using a directional antenna to eliminate prohibited overlap to both stations.

As Reelyreal said, WHCN/WQXR are an old allotment, and WHCN has been operating directional against WSKQ for years. WPKX is a Docket 80-90 class A drop in, that signed on in the early 90's. So they have to be treated like a new station with new interference. (Now mind you, I am REALLY simplifiying things here. There is a lot more to it, regarding interference, etc.)

4 of the 7 West Peak FMs operate using directional patterns. 90.5, 95.7, 104.1, 105.9. 92.5, 93.7 and 102.9 are all non directional.

Scott Fybush might be able to chime in some more on the age factor here on the older B's running DA.
Click to expand...
102.9 turns into a real battle royal between WDRC-FM and WBLM Portland, ME, once you get past Sturbridge on the Mass Pike heading east, but the FCC must not care about that because central Massachusetts isn't within either's designated market area. How about 93.7? Does the Boston station on that frequency have a deep null to the southwest?
 
Necrat said:
Scott Fybush might be able to chime in some more on the age factor here on the older B's running DA.
Click to expand...

Not much I can add to your excellent summary...just the ever-present reminder that the rules are very, very different for pairs of stations that existed before 1964, as compared to stations that have come on the air since. It's easy to look at the dial and say, "hey, they have a 105.9 here and another one there, so you can do the same thing with 97.9"...but the rules don't let you do that, unless you have a time machine that can go back to 1964 or earlier.
 
There's one small side effect while traveling along I-84 in Hartford now...the City Place transmitter is causing a slight bit of interference on my Panasonic AM/FM/CD "Walkman", even with the City/DX setting on City (local).

Looking up at City Place from Union Station, I have a second question: Is the transmitter a short little stub that's rounded at the top?
 
The transmitter is a medium-sized box in a rack somewhere on an upper floor of the building.

The two-bay antenna is mounted on a short tower on the roof with a lightning arrestor on the top. You can see it in NECRAT's picture here:

http://www.necrat.us/979hartford.html

(It was also in NERW a couple of weeks ago.)
 
RogerAnthony said:
I don't get the new ESPN 97.9 at all in Waterbury. I get some foreign language (possibly Spanish) station.
Click to expand...

Today I was in Waterbury. 97.9 ESPN was listenable, but staticy as I was driving between some of the shopping centers along Wolcott Street. Bomba 97.1 was also surprisingly listenable too. I don't have any special radio. Just the stock radio in a 95 Pontiac Sunfire.
 
KML-224 said:
Yes! That is indeed what I saw from street level leaving Union Station. Thank you for the pictures! :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome. ;D
 
Also keep an eye out, as I'll be adding more pix of the 97.9 site in Hartford in the next couple of days.
 
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