ANOTHER pirate in New Haven/Hamden on 104.5!

[WPHA]

We just got a complaint from a listener in Hamden about interference to WIHS from a Spanish station on 104.5! When will this end???

The dead-air pirate is still transmitting, by the way! His dead carrier is full quieting in West Haven. Now, however, I can hear a stronger Spanish station's signal overpowering the dead-air pirate when I get closer to Exit 9 on I-91. On Monday, I just assumed it was atmospherics, bringing in some other Spanish station, possibly the 104.5 x-lator in Bridgeport. I noticed it again, this morning as well... so now I can connect the dots.

Since I have no problem hearing WIHS on 104.9 all the way to/from Middletown, I assume that the listener must be fairly close to the pirate. Based upon his description of the interference, his receiver is being swamped. The listener lives in the vicinity of Exit 9 of I-91, to the East.

 

[daniel1974]

that is the Bridgeport 104.5, I also noticed that in the last days is heard near Meriden on Route 15. That station is transmitting overpowering.

 

[WPHA]

No, I don't think so. They moved to 104.5 in late November. I've been "spot-checking" 104.5 from time-to-time. The new Spanish pirate in New Haven was there, OVERPOWERING the dead carrier when I checked on Monday. (12/17) It was also there when I checked on Wed, and even today, I checked. This signal is MUCH stronger than the BPT x-lator on 104.5

I know this for a fact, because the dead-air pirate completely dominated 104.5 until Monday. There was NO HINT of the BPT x-lator.

 

[RadioMan203]

Well, now that there's a legal signal on 104.5 the translator's owner should be able to convince the Boston field office to do something about it.

Maybe while they're at it they'll finally do something about the pirate on 106.5, too.

 

[jlehmann]

Well, now that there's a legal signal on 104.5 the translator's owner should be able to convince the Boston field office to do something about it.

Maybe while they're at it they'll finally do something about the pirate on 106.5, too.

Don't count on it. There are dozens of pirates right in Boston, some of which have been on the air over 10 years. They've been fined, etc, but unless they're causing interference to air traffic control, they stay on.

 

[WPHA]

There are dozens of pirates right in Boston, some of which have been on the air over 10 years. They've been fined, etc, but unless they're causing interference to air traffic control, they stay on.

Then they weren't fined heavily enough!!

LPFM needs to be looked at more closely, and made available to responsible INDIVIDUALS, not JUST organizations. Perhaps a 1-watt, certified antenna/transmitter system for FM, like the "Rangemaster" is for AM.

A yearly renewable license, with a modest fee, say, $100, would help offset expenses for the FCC... yet would allow SERIOUS individuals (or small businesses/organizations) opportunity to serve their communities with a 1 to 5 watt signal. Forget calling 100 watts "LPFM", because 100 watts is really a low end Class A allocation!

 

[RadioMan203]

@WPHA: Will never happen as the NAB lobbyists will see any activity on FM as a threat.

 

[WPHA]

@WPHA: Will never happen as the NAB lobbyists will see any activity on FM as a threat.

Yet, we have PIRATES on the air for YEARS? Something's VERY rotten in Denmark.

We also have x-lators all over the dial, making it possible to hear the SAME STATION on multiple frequencies. Since the signals of x-lators are somehow allowed where radio stations aren't, why NOT allow for a 1 to 5 watt LPFM with a $100 annually-renewed license? (IN PLACE OF those x-lators.) We can dream.

 

[daniel1974]

again I say it's bomba 104.5 . I travel daily from bridgeport to Meriden.since 2 weeks I can hear near meriden every day; maybe they got permission to upgrade the signal to the north.... maybe jhon fuller can explain this.....

 

[WPHA]

Well, if that is the BPT x-lator, they're putting a great signal into New Haven... except for that dead-air pirate! It's STILL THERE.

 

[N1WVQ]

That's why I'd like to see F.M. extended down to 76 with the 1st 2 Mc. (76.1-77.9) strictly low-power. No more than 10 watts. 100W on 78.1-79.9, then 6kW max from 80.1-83.9 & finally full bore from 84.1-87.9. Like you said...one can dream.

 

[Zenith Transoceanic]

good idea!

 

[CTListener]

good idea!

And manufacturers will be falling all over each other to make receivers capable of tuning in this hobbyist broadcast band. Yeah, right. This won't solve the pirate problem. Pirates want to be heard. Relegating them to 76.1 to 87.9 would guarantee they'd be heard only by other pirates and, in very low fidelity, by people with scanners.

 

[RadioMan203]

hobbyist broadcast band. Yeah, right.

Keep in mind that this is standard in Japan! When I was researching the replacement for the old SRF-A100 AM Stereo radio I discovered the Sony Japan replacement, the SRF-A300. The FM band there is 79 MHz through 90 MHz with the upper part of "our" FM band being used for analog television.

If Japan already has FM down there it shouldn't be much of a big deal to design radios for the American market to cover 76 - 108 MHz.

 

[reelyreal]

Yeah, but again: Who's going to buy those radios? How long will it take for those radios to be widely available in pre-owned vehicles?

If you want to talk about rolling out new radio technology, I think you don't have to look any farther than HD radio. The general public is not interested in purchasing new radios, even if they're cheaper than HD radios.

You can BUILD anything, but getting people to buy it is another.

It's a nice concept, but in practice an expanded FM band would never work. Remember the time they expanded the AM band to alleviate crowding?

 

[RadioMan203]

@reelyreal: I agree on both counts. HD Radio has had a less than stellar acceptance in the marketplace (in spite of what iBiquity and others claim). If people aren't there buying HD recievers they may not buy new radios due to a band expansion, but I think that would be more likely than those folks buying a radio strictly for HD capability.

Back on topic, the chance of the FCC expanding the FM band to accomdate illegal broadcasters is slim to none. The NAB would like lobby the space for more member stations under the guise of money talks!

 

[reelyreal]

You know in terms of pirates here in CT (and really anywhere,) what incentive would they even have to go legit? They get to run at a higher power with no regulations, no requirements, and no rules as is. Why give that up? There aren't any consequences for Pirates here in CT. Sure, they catch one or two and fine them 10k... but it doesn't happen unless you're messing with Air Traffic Control.

In Hartford, you've got two major Caribbean pirates competing with each other, Busy 103.3 and Energy 101.7, both of whom have substantial advertiser support. They have live and local programming, public affairs, and serve their community. Why would they give up their substantial coverage area for some 10-100 watt non-commercial station? These guys have been around for years, no repercussions.

What's stopping any one of us putting a format we care about that serves our community on a pirate signal? Why not do it? I'm seriously considering it. Those before me have shown that you can have advertisers and a substantial web/social media presence, and the FCC still won't "find" you.

Hell, there's quite a few owners of legit stations who break the rules all the time with no consequences... "forgetting" to change pattern or power down for AM's, goosing the TPO on FM's, even moving the antenna higher up the tower. Every once in a while someone gets caught, but you're pretty much guaranteed that you won't get busted.

 

[N1WVQ]

I'm not talking about opening up 76-88 for just pirates, but for EVERYBODY. Plus, if the U.S. does open up 76-88, maybe other countries would follow suit until the WORLDWIDE F.M. allocation is 76-108! Japan would have to take out 3 TV channels (1-3) but since digital is proving itself to not work well on low VHF, this wouldn't be any major loss. Plus, some of the radios coming from Japan already tune FM at 76-108. I saw a radio at Ocean State Job Lot that does 76-108.

I agree about the starting a pirate thing because the F.C.C. doesn't seem to be interested in allowing new stations on anymore (at least A.M., which is what I'd want).

 

[WPHA]

Pirates, Expanded Band, ETC

I'm not talking about opening up 76-88 for just pirates, but for EVERYBODY. Plus, if the U.S. does open up 76-88, maybe other countries would follow suit until the WORLDWIDE F.M. allocation is 76-108! Japan would have to take out 3 TV channels (1-3) but since digital is proving itself to not work well on low VHF, this wouldn't be any major loss. Plus, some of the radios coming from Japan already tune FM at 76-108. I saw a radio at Ocean State Job Lot that does 76-108.

I agree about the starting a pirate thing because the F.C.C. doesn't seem to be interested in allowing new stations on anymore (at least A.M., which is what I'd want).

I think one of the FIRST uses for an expanded FM band, would be to open it up to the smaller, local and daytime-only AM stations. "Graveyard" stations and Daytimers would get FIRST dibs. For one thing, FM is IDEALLY suited to "local service", which was what the "Graveyard" stations are supposed to do. Skywave makes that a royal mess at night! If I remember right, the "Graveyard" channels are 1230, 1340, 1400, 1450, 1490. Expanding the FM dial would give room for the THOUSANDS of stations crammed onto those frequencies a crystal clear signal 24/7.

The trick is getting the tiny handful of still-operating VHF TV stations on channels 5 and 6 moved to UHF like everyone else! THEN open the expanded FM band from 76-88. I also like the idea of having it be a worldwide allocation, but that would be like herding cats.

Here's my idea: A very low power, licensed FM service on the first 5 frequencies: 76.1 ~ 76.9. Five watts, FCC certified transmitter and antenna. Make it a low cost "boxtop" license, with a $100 annual renewal fee, available to anyone, including private ownership. Those funds should be allocated ONLY to the FCC, to pay for enforcement, etc. It would also keep the service more legitimate. If someone pays $100 a year for it, they're more likely to be somewhat serious about it. If they don't pay, their license expires, and the frequency becomes available to someone else within a given "grace period".

Tedious? Probably... but how many thousands of churches, community groups, etc, would GLADLY pay $100 a year for their own station? With the right location, 5 watts covers a reasonable area. With 5 frequencies, each major city could easily accommodate more than 5 such stations. More spread-out areas, even more. Pipe dream? Probably. Possible? I think so. Suffice it to say, I'd sign up the day it became available!

From 77.1 to 87.9 any existing AM station wanting to migrate, has first preference. Start with the "Graveyarders" first, then the Daytimers, then everyone else. Make the rules for translators just as stringent as for an LPFM... why should x-lators be allowed where a stand-alone station is not? (This is a separate rant.)

So, N1WVQ, why would you WANT an AM station as opposed to an FM? Just curious.

 

[CTListener]

I'm not talking about opening up 76-88 for just pirates, but for EVERYBODY. Plus, if the U.S. does open up 76-88, maybe other countries would follow suit until the WORLDWIDE F.M. allocation is 76-108! Japan would have to take out 3 TV channels (1-3) but since digital is proving itself to not work well on low VHF, this wouldn't be any major loss. Plus, some of the radios coming from Japan already tune FM at 76-108. I saw a radio at Ocean State Job Lot that does 76-108.

Again, nobody's buying radios; they're sticking with whatever they've had in their cars or bedrooms or kitchens since God knows when. And who in the world goes to Ocean State for electronics? You're never going to get these radios in Best Buy or RadioShack or Wal-Mart unless the expanded FM band is federally mandated into all receivers manufactured for the US market.