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Anyone know what Houston AM is for sale?
- Thread starter radiobop
- Start date
omega said:
On a very good day, with a very good AM receiver, you can get both in east Houston. No problem there. I can hear them in Missouri City on a Potomac FIM 21, but most folks don't have one of those, and the signals are not what you would call decent on a fulltime basis.
Now that KRCM's got its move to Shenandoah approved, I suspect they're working even now on a massive power increase-anything above the 250 watts daytime they were approved for.
Texas Tuner
TexasTuner said:
It was really surprising to see them go for just 250 watts, sclaing back from their original plans to run 480. But who knows? Maybe it made for easier going in getting the application approved. Their biggest problem with any power increase, of course, is with adjacent channel KULP 1390 in El Campo (great coverage with just 500 watts). Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't look for anything really substantial in the works. That's unless they put it somewhere out around Magnolia, let's say, and shot a tight lobe back toward Shenandoah. But then it would bring co-channel WPYR Baton Rouge into the equation.
omega said:
1380 makes it into my Cy-Fair location with a poor but listenable signal. 1340 is much weaker, and has to battle with the co-channel Victoria station. Signal strength for both seems to be enhanced when there is rain in SE Texas, which perks up ground conductivity a bit.
jd said:
The original plan was for slightly more power, but they figured that at 250 watts, they'd have an easier time getting a grant (which, of course, they did). Measurements have been done on 1390 and 1360, and more are being done as we speak. I wouldn't be surprised if a CP mod application was filed in the next couple of months.
I'm no engineer, but a look at KRCM's application/CP for 250 watts at 1380 looks like they're already overlapping with some of KULP's signal at 1390, though somewhat less than their original 400-something watt proposal did.
Any modification for more power than that for KRCM and I think there would be a serious interference issue with KULP.
Any modification for more power than that for KRCM and I think there would be a serious interference issue with KULP.
dx7 said:
That's why you hire a competent PE to do the engineering for you! Much has been gotten over the years by doing actual measurements instead of using the FCC's AM curves, which are typically way off as far as ground conductivity is concerned. Also realize that many of the existing ground systems were put in decades ago, and haven't been maintained. Now, the major players like CBS, Clear Channel and Univision Radio have the resources and desire to keep their AM facilities up to snuff, but they're few and far between. It's very costly to redo a ground system, keep towers in good shape, all of which contribute to efficient radiation. The upshot is that if you do measurements against stations that would normally (on paper) conflict with you, you may see that in reality, they come nowhere near hurting you. And, with a proper showing, the FCC will agree with you, hence the potential for a power increase.
dx7 said:
Engineer or not, your observation about KULP being a problem is correct. That's the primary concern here. While the two signals appear to be "overlapping" it's within established parameters under FCC rules. Notice that the KRCM 0.5mV/m contour may touch (but not overlap) the 0.25mV/m contour of KULP and vice versa. That separation applies in first adjacent channel situations like this one. That large KULP 0.025mV/m contour you may have noticed doesn't apply here, but it does figure into co-channel situations.
Incidentally there was considerable "grandfathered" first-adjacent overlap between KULP and KHCB 1400 Galveston. That was addressed in the KHCB application to move to League City which called for using a directional antenna. Some overlap will remain but it will be greatly reduced; that helped in getting the KHCB application approved. Obviously the FCC isn't into allowing new overlaps but they do favor reducing or eliminating existing ones.
TexasTuner said:
Exactly. I've been impressed with the people at Vir James in Denver since my first dealings with them back in 1979 for some work in Oklahoma. It should be interesting to see their findings for a KRCM power increase.
C
CW
Guest
Fred,TexasTuner said:
from what I was told, McBride got sued by several preachers after he sold to CC.....evidently had signed several contracts and then sold the FM not too long after that went down and the preachers who paid for air time were not happy...
Not 100% sure on the story but the source seemed pretty sure and in the know.
So, JD...
Where did you work in Oklahoma? Maybe our paths crossed sometime, somewhere.
Texas Tuner
Where did you work in Oklahoma? Maybe our paths crossed sometime, somewhere.
Texas Tuner
Well, having gone through some of that myself, I can't blame the preachers for taking the court action..I'll have to ask Ralph about it sometime, when he's in a good mood. In my case, I had to reimburse some folks for prepaid airtime, but that was done and everything worked out. They found other places to go, and the rest, as they say, is history.CW said:
C
CW
Guest
stan said:
You havent noticed the KDEI tower lately ??
It hasnt been lit since Rita.......I havent checked to see if they have filed a NOTAM for it being out...If 1380s are out, could be tower light controller, the Austin ring transformer or something else..especially after the weather passing through SE Texas lately (Or could be Ralph is being cheap, too...who knows)
(and the KUHD/now KBPO 1150 old towers never were lit for the most part...nor did they ever have a FCC tower # assigned to them and that aint all...tsk tsk.........)
jd said:
Okay, you've really got me curious now...how about a hint?
CW said:You havent noticed the KDEI tower lately ??
If 1380s are out, could be tower light controller, the Austin ring transformer or something else..especially after the weather passing through SE Texas lately (Or could be Ralph is being cheap, too...who knows)
(and the KUHD/now KBPO 1150 old towers never were lit for the most part...nor did they ever have a FCC tower # assigned to them and that aint all...tsk tsk.........)
I am surprised at the number of items that the FCC (or FAA for that matter) let slide. It will take a plane hitting one of these towers before something is done about them.
C
CW
Guest
stan said:CW said:You havent noticed the KDEI tower lately ??
If 1380s are out, could be tower light controller, the Austin ring transformer or something else..especially after the weather passing through SE Texas lately (Or could be Ralph is being cheap, too...who knows)
(and the KUHD/now KBPO 1150 old towers never were lit for the most part...nor did they ever have a FCC tower # assigned to them and that aint all...tsk tsk.........)
I am surprised at the number of items that the FCC (or FAA for that matter) let slide. It will take a plane hitting one of these towers before something is done about them.
Remember the FCC IS a government run group
I agree that eventually something WILL happen (just like the BP plant in Texas City..lets cut maintenance, etc to save a couple of million but then they spend over several hundred million in lawsuit settlements 15 years later...yeah REAL sound thinking!!!)BTW did you get my number in email?
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