All-Traffic Radio: Will It Work?

[DToTheJ]

Apparently, Montreal's going to be getting two all-traffic stations (one in French, one in English) on the AM band later this year, so we'll find out soon enough.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Montreal+traffic+radio+stations/4792423/story.html

 

[cd637299]

It's going on in Vancouver already with a 50,000 watt station! ( www.am730.ca )

These won't be the 690 & 940 coming up again with 50,000 watts, will they?

cd

 

[KeyTimes950]

One would think the stations are the next incarnation of 690 and 940, though the Montreal Gazette report does not give frequencies, nor does the official news release from Transports Quebec. (It's in French, but neither of those frequency numbers can be found in that article.) Another blog quotes a Montreal TV station as saying it will be 690 and 940, but good luck pinning down a report if you weren't watching that station. (CTV Montreal or CFCF, I believe.)

Strikes me as a tad weird but for some reason it isn't particularly surprising.

Occasionally, I remark, "what do I know?" This time, I really don't know, but it's a fascinating possibility.

 

[KeyTimes950]

http://montreal.ctv.ca/

There is a report from that station's 6 p.m. news, but I can't access the video on any of my computers.

 

[azumanga]

The article mentioned that Cogeco will be the owners of the AM stations -- as Cogeco acquired Corus's Quebec stations last year, it might've also included rights to the 690 and 940 frequencies; don't know if it included the licenses, as I thought Corus walked them back to Ottawa when they closed down in January 2010.

 

[KeyTimes950]

The article mentioned that Cogeco will be the owners of the AM stations -- as Cogeco acquired Corus's Quebec stations last year, it might've also included rights to the 690 and 940 frequencies; don't know if it included the licenses, as I thought Corus walked them back to Ottawa when they closed down in January 2010.

Come to think of it, I remember that.

Did find an English translation of that Cogeco/Transports Quebec news release ...
http://www.cogeco.ca/export/sites/cogeco/corporate/files/press_releases_en/pr_cgo_16-05-2011_am_en.pdf

I can't wait for the chance to DX if in fact we are talking traffic reports on 690 and 940, but, here's where I'll say it, what do I know?

 

[azumanga]

I can't wait for the chance to DX if in fact we are talking traffic reports on 690 and 940, but, here's where I'll say it, what do I know?

Of course, the new stations could also appear on 1410, 1470 and 1570 -- all prior AM frequencies that were vacated over the years. Since the new station will broadcast in the greater Montreal area only, there's a chance that Cogeco may shoot for these frequencies instead of the blowtorches at 690 and 940.

 

[cd637299]

'Course, there's no need to run 50k on 690/940, if it is only traffic and onyl needs to cover the metro.

I believe 1570 is now in operation as CFAV.

cd

 

[azumanga]

'Course, there's no need to run 50k on 690/940, if it is only traffic and onyl needs to cover the metro.

As 690 and 940 are legacy Class-A clear channel frequencies, would the CRTC or Industry Canada allow these stations to operate at a lower power?

Then again, as mentioned before, CHMJ in Vancouver operates at 50kw at 730, even though its programming has little relevance outside the GVRD.

I believe 1570 is now in operation as CFAV.

My mistake, though that station has since been sold to new owners and re-called CJLV.

 

[mimo]

I can't wait for the chance to DX if in fact we are talking traffic reports on 690 and 940, but, here's where I'll say it, what do I know?

Of course, the new stations could also appear on 1410, 1470 and 1570 -- all prior AM frequencies that were vacated over the years. Since the new station will broadcast in the greater Montreal area only, there's a chance that Cogeco may shoot for these frequencies instead of the blowtorches at 690 and 940.

As Mentioned, 1570 is active and has been for 6 years. It is CJLV Laval. CJWI 1610 will be taking over 1410 sometime. They got approved to move to 1410 last year and up the power to 10,000 watts. I did see the video report just now and it does say that 690 will be French traffic and 940 will be English traffic. I thought I heard 21 hours a day of broadcasting...interesting.

 

[mimo]

If these 2 stations do launch at all, they'll probably need the 50,000 watts just to be heard. With the way some of the newer car radios are, it could take that much power just to make them trip the seek function on the radio. Not to mention motor noise, power line noise, and any other kind of interference. We'll know by the fall. Either way, they'll be usefull radio stations. CJAD only gives traffic reports every 15 minutes. We get better service than that here on 1310 news. I think that these stations will be useful if they're accurate. I wonder if 940 will count towards keeping XWA's heritage alive.

 

[w9wi]

It's going on in Vancouver already with a 50,000 watt station! ( www.am730.ca )

These won't be the 690 & 940 coming up again with 50,000 watts, will they?

It might be...

Looking at the I-C database...

Both licences were canceled, on February 22nd of last year. There is no current authority for either frequency.

However... two records appear showing proposals for new stations on those frequencies in Montreal. The date on both records is last Tuesday.

No power is listed for either frequency. Strangely, different sites are proposed -- 45-38-58N/73-42-51W for the 940 station in English, 45-30-00N/73-35-58W for the 690 station in French. (yes, the language is listed for each channel. Indeed, "Montreal" is rendered "Montreal" for 940 and "Montr�al" -- with the accented e -- for 690.) Neither coordinates are those of the former 690/940 facilities, and neither coordinates are those of any other existing or recently defunct station. On April 14th, someone filed a proposal for a new station on 1530 at the proposed 690 coordinates. No powers are given for that proposal either.

From the data shown, there is no way to know *who* filed these proposals.

 

[azumanga]

Looking at the I-C database...

Both licences were canceled, on February 22nd of last year. There is no current authority for either frequency.

However... two records appear showing proposals for new stations on those frequencies in Montreal. The date on both records is last Tuesday.

Where could I find that on the database?

 

[cd637299]

I am wondering if these will be commercial, a la 730 Vancouver; or will they run like a TIS.

cd

 

[w9wi]

Where could I find that on the database?

http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserad.zip

This will extract into a collection of .DBF files. (and a few others) The one you want is AMSTATIO.DBF*.

I think Excel will read .DBF files. (I use Linux and have a different way of doing it)

DO NOT use the FCC website to look up Canadian stations. The foreign data in the FCC DB is notoriously inaccurate. Largely because it reflects what has been diplomatically notified, not what actually exists.

* There's also a FMSTATIO.DBF and TVSTATIO.DBF.

 

[fybush]

RECNet.com has a broadcast search program as well, and if you choose the "Canada database" instead of the "USA database," it searches RECNet's weekly download of the Canadian BASERAD data. It's a much more navigable front-end to the BASERAD data than dealing with the .dbf files directly, I've found.

http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Of course, the new stations could also appear on 1410, 1470 and 1570 -- all prior AM frequencies that were vacated over the years. Since the new station will broadcast in the greater Montreal area only, there's a chance that Cogeco may shoot for these frequencies instead of the blowtorches at 690 and 940.

There's plenty of traffic on the roads beyond the Montreal city limits, like the corridors toward Quebec City or the Ontario border. Why should they not want to run enough power to reach those areas too? Besides, 1470 (CFOX then CKO) was always a terrible frequency that could barely even be heard in downtown Montreal during the day, never mind at night. And 1570 was another 50kw blowtorch but it covered the east coast better with skywave than it did the city itself.

 

[azumanga]

I think Excel will read .DBF files. (I use Linux and have a different way of doing it)

Open Office 3 can also read .DBFs as well.

 

[Dan Sys]

If you open the COMMENTS DBF file in the Industry Canada database it shows that a company called Diffusion Metromedia CMT has applied for stations in Montreal on 690 & 940 and a company called Communications Media Evangulique has applied for the station on 1530.

I have no idea why the coordinates for 690 and 1530 are the same in the AMSTATIO DBF file. I suspect a typo.

Also have no idea why none of this has yet to show up on the CRTC site either.

 

[e-dawg]

I think they should do news and traffic instead of traffic. Also is the old CINF, and CINW tower still up or has it been dismantle?