99.1 99x to increase power

[acheron1982]

Axel from 99x posted on facebook today that they (99x) will be a full power in 30 days. Full power? How? FCC says nothing about a change and radio-locator does not even have 99.1 listed in Atlanta.

Thoughts? I'm new to the Atlanta discussion board but thought perhaps we might have an engineer on here floating around. Noticed Rodney hasn't updated this yet on his blog yet either.

Lewis, another dj on 99x, is on my facebook so let me see if I could squeeze anything out of him.

 

[atlantaboy]

This was definitely the news I've been hoping for! No clue about the technical aspects of it though...

 

[InSearchOfGear]

Axel from 99x posted on facebook today that they (99x) will be a full power in 30 days. Full power? How? FCC says nothing about a change and radio-locator does not even have 99.1 listed in Atlanta.

Thoughts? I'm new to the Atlanta discussion board but thought perhaps we might have an engineer on here floating around. Noticed Rodney hasn't updated this yet on his blog yet either.

Lewis, another dj on 99x, is on my facebook so let me see if I could squeeze anything out of him.

When full-power stations sign on for the first time they have to run at 50% power for the first 2 weeks. Not sure if this rule applies to traanslators. The 99.1 translator isn't listen on Radio-Locator either. Strange.

 

[trusty]

Is 99.1 a good place to put a station in Atlanta? Go to:
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant?select=city&city=Atlanta&state=GA
before radio-locator discovers it. ;D

 

[MRFLASHPORT]

it would certainly help, 99.1 is a feeble signal compared to 97.9, which I don't get- as they are both on Shepherd's.
how will this impact Macon? Are they gonna do a frequency swap or something?

 

[BIGSTICK]

You mean this will be a full 100k watter????

 

[acheron1982]

Is 99.1 a good place to put a station in Atlanta? Go to:
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant?select=city&city=Atlanta&state=GA
before radio-locator discovers it. ;D

This does not make any sense. Even with 99.1 not in use in Atlanta, how could this be a good frequency? 99.1 in Macon (only 80 miles south) is a 100k watt station (or near that at least). Most 100k watt stations at 1000 ft off the ground at normal sea level can extend signal 60 miles and up to 80 miles with some static.

Looking at 99.1 in Macon, this is a legendary country station that has been around for at least 20 years. I don't see them making any changes there. I traveled down 75 south just today and noticed 99x literally blend over to 99.1 country out of Macon within 10 miles. That is a tight transition and I just don't see how 99x could increase there power and really get anywhere with it.

I also think this is fine time for clear channel to test out the alternative waters with their HD2 signal on 96.1. It to is alternative so perhaps that could "translate" the station on another frequency like Cumulus has been attempting to do with many of its stations. Just an idea for that Alt rockers out there. I don't know about you but I know very little who actually have HD radio's. Hard to change out factory stereos these days!

 

[jabba17]

Maybe by "full power" they meant a translator's full 250W, like 97.9, not the current 99W.  But from what I understand, 99.1 is limited to 99W because of (harmonic?) interference with Album 88. 

If you were to put a full-power, C-class station in ATL at 99.1, you would have to deal with not just 99.1 in Macon, but also 99.3 WCON in Cornelia, 99.1 in Huntsville (a 100k C0), a couple of class A's on 98.9 in NW GA, and a full class C on 98.9 in Spartanburg.

I'm not a radio engineer, but you could probably put an intown class A or maybe a C2/C3 on 99.1 in ATL if you downgraded Macon and maybe put your tower somewhat north of town (compare with the shoehorning of 100.5 in ATL vs. WSSL), aside from the issue with Album 88.  Since WDEN is also Cumulus, can a station owner allow an interfering station if they don't object? 

I went to fcc.gov and didn't see any CPs for either W258BU or WDEN, beyond the current 99W CP for W258BU. http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/f...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9

 

[trusty]

Axel from 99x posted on facebook today that they (99x) will be a full power in 30 days. Full power? How? FCC says nothing about a change and radio-locator does not even have 99.1 listed in Atlanta.

I guess it depends on what "full power" means in this case. It could mean that 99.1 has been broadcasting at something like 70 watts and will be up to its "full power" of 99w.

 

[littlejohn]

>>When full-power stations sign on for the first time they have to run at 50% power for the first 2 weeks. Not sure if >>this rule applies to traanslators. The 99.1 translator isn't listen on Radio-Locator either. Strange.

If that's correct - and I don't think it is - I've been doing it wrong for a looooong time.

Could ya quote me a Rule which says that?

 

[enterprise]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

 

[RadioFlyerAtl]

Is 99.1 a good place to put a station in Atlanta?

No...not at all. It's a case of something looking good on paper without taking into account the real-life facts.

"When full-power stations sign on for the first time they have to run at 50% power for the first 2 weeks. Not sure if this rule applies to traanslators."

If that's correct - and I don't think it is - I've been doing it wrong for a looooong time.

Agree with littlejohn on this. Not sure where you heard it or whom you heard it from, but I probably wouldn't trust everything that person says.

 

[taylorengineer]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

I have never powered up a new/altered facility at 50% unless copper is melting and dripping off the tower. Directional or otherwise.
Please site the FCC Rule......

 

[enterprise]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

I have never powered up a new/altered facility at 50% unless copper is melting and dripping off the tower. Directional or otherwise.
Please site the FCC Rule......

This rule applies to DA stations, not NON-DA. I will find you the rule.

 

[enterprise]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

I have never powered up a new/altered facility at 50% unless copper is melting and dripping off the tower. Directional or otherwise.
Please site the FCC Rule......

See #2.

73.1620 Program tests.

(a) Upon completion of construction of an AM, FM, TV or Class A TV
station in accordance with the terms of the construction permit, the
technical provisions of the application, the rules and regulations and
the applicable engineering standards, program tests may be conducted in
accordance with the following:

(1) The permittee of a nondirectional AM or FM station, or a
nondirectional or directional TV or Class A TV station, may begin
program tests upon notification to the FCC in Washington, DC provided
that within 10 days thereafter, an application for a license is filed
with the FCC in Washington, DC.

(2) The permittee of an FM station with a directional antenna system
must file an application for license on FCC Form 302-FM requesting
authority to commence program test operations at full power with the
FCC in Washington, D.C. This license application must be filed at least
10 days prior to the date on which full power operations are desired to
commence. The application for license must contain any exhibits called
for by conditions on the construction permit. The staff will review the
license application and the request for program test authority and
issue a letter notifying the applicant whether full power operation has
been approved. Upon filing of the license application and related
exhibits, and while awaiting approval of full power operation, the FM
permittee may operate the directional antenna at one half (50%) of the
authorized effective radiated power. Alternatively, the permittee may
continue operation with its existing licensed facilities pending the
issuance of program test authority at the full effective radiated power
by the staff.

 

[InSearchOfGear]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

There's your answer.

 

[littlejohn]

Difference in semantics. Never had a reason to run one before program test authority was granted. And in each case, running the old one did a better job than half the new one.

 

[taylorengineer]

If an FM station is DA then it typically will sign on at 50% power until it's license is issued by the FCC (operation during PTA). The 99.1 transaltor is NON-DA.

I have never powered up a new/altered facility at 50% unless copper is melting and dripping off the tower. Directional or otherwise.
Please site the FCC Rule......

See #2.

73.1620 Program tests.

(a) Upon completion of construction of an AM, FM, TV or Class A TV
station in accordance with the terms of the construction permit, the
technical provisions of the application, the rules and regulations and
the applicable engineering standards, program tests may be conducted in
accordance with the following:

(1) The permittee of a nondirectional AM or FM station, or a
nondirectional or directional TV or Class A TV station, may begin
program tests upon notification to the FCC in Washington, DC provided
that within 10 days thereafter, an application for a license is filed
with the FCC in Washington, DC.

(2) The permittee of an FM station with a directional antenna system
must file an application for license on FCC Form 302-FM requesting
authority to commence program test operations at full power with the
FCC in Washington, D.C. This license application must be filed at least
10 days prior to the date on which full power operations are desired to
commence. The application for license must contain any exhibits called
for by conditions on the construction permit. The staff will review the
license application and the request for program test authority and
issue a letter notifying the applicant whether full power operation has
been approved. Upon filing of the license application and related
exhibits, and while awaiting approval of full power operation, the FM
permittee may operate the directional antenna at one half (50%) of the
authorized effective radiated power. Alternatively, the permittee may
continue operation with its existing licensed facilities pending the
issuance of program test authority at the full effective radiated power
by the staff.

Thanks for looking that up and providing.
I always thought you had to actually get PTA before you could operate a directional. Usually there are provisions on the CP that must be met to make sure the new pattern does not create interference with other protected facilities.. Many FM pattern nulls are far deeper than 3db so it seems strange they would give blanket authorization without proof of performance and the surveyor's measurements. The DA's I've been involved with both had PTA before they were fired up - the initial testing was done in the experimental period (12 midnight -5 AM) at full power. I never knew it was illegal to do it in the daytime - neither consultant mentioned that as a no - no.
But then.....we have a commission that allows "translators" at 250 watts/1100 feet. So I have given up on trying to use logic when it comes to FCC R&R.

 

[atleng]

Translators dance to a completely different set of rules. No PTT. That one is limited to 99w for several factors including IF protection from 88.5
Lots of folks making comments that need to review the rules for FM and translators.

 

[HGR1290]

Correct, 99 watts is a "magic number" where several of the spacing requirements can be overlooked.