Are we underserved in nighttime AM power?

[w9wi]

I put the quotes below me...mostly I see the quote box first, then the message. Which way is right? and who is to say? (rhetorical)

IMHO one's reply text should be under the text to which one is replying. (i.e., you want to see the quote box first) It's the natural flow of verbal communications: you say something, and I respond to it. IMHO it's more legible that way.

I wanted to respectfully counter the contention that "IP links go down all the time". While it is true that a standard, consumer grade IP connecion will suffer dropouts. The significance of each instance should be evaluated. Buying customized and optimized bandwidth packages, along with deploying the most reliable internal infrastructure can make the difference. We have arrived at the point where a schmuck can "do it", but it still takes a specific skill set to understand it, optimize it, and make it reliable. Buying bandwidth and paying for QOS guarantees takes money and leverage. None of the small operators I ever worked for would ever pay the premium for that. Reliable IP connections are mostly a cost evaluation. If the operation is serious, they will do what it takes. Otherwise you will see what has been described here. Be Well@

Even a consumer connection with consumer-grade terminal gear will not stay down for days on end -- but WNRZ's studio-transmitter link is actually going out of service for months.

While there may be intermittent outages on their link, IMHO that's not the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem is that nobody is taking any steps to make sure the thing wakes back up after an outage. Indeed, given how long it's been down one was to wonder whether anyone at the station knows the link to Dickson is down.

 

[BuzzCam]

Here is Donelson, I receive several strong local AM Stations (650, 900, 980, 1160, 1430 and 1510) The one at 900 aggravates me as it splatters on WLS (890) out of Chicago, which I like to listen to from time to time.

I understand 900 (WKDA) operates daytime in Lebanon, but switches to a transmitter near my house at night. I heard they found a loop hole in the FCC Rules which states a station doesn't have to serve it's COL at night because, in most cases, the night time power is so low, there is no way they can cover their whole COL. So, 900 switches to a transmitter close to my house at night to tap into a Nashville audience. They gradually decrease their power through the evening so eventually I can hear Chicago.

 

[scottwmro]

Here is Donelson, I receive several strong local AM Stations (650, 900, 980, 1160, 1430 and 1510) The one at 900 aggravates me as it splatters on WLS (890) out of Chicago, which I like to listen to from time to time.

I understand 900 (WKDA) operates daytime in Lebanon, but switches to a transmitter near my house at night. I heard they found a loop hole in the FCC Rules which states a station doesn't have to serve it's COL at night because, in most cases, the night time power is so low, there is no way they can cover their whole COL. So, 900 switches to a transmitter close to my house at night to tap into a Nashville audience. They gradually decrease their power through the evening so eventually I can hear Chicago.

If there is anybody that can find a loop hole and get it, Bill Barry can. When he applied to run 900 in Donelson at night, instead of Lebanon, I got to thinking, why heck, I could run my 3 watts from Downtown Nashville at night and be legal. Flea Power doesn't itch at night!

 

[BuzzCam]

Here is Donelson, I receive several strong local AM Stations (650, 900, 980, 1160, 1430 and 1510) The one at 900 aggravates me as it splatters on WLS (890) out of Chicago, which I like to listen to from time to time.

I understand 900 (WKDA) operates daytime in Lebanon, but switches to a transmitter near my house at night. I heard they found a loop hole in the FCC Rules which states a station doesn't have to serve it's COL at night because, in most cases, the night time power is so low, there is no way they can cover their whole COL. So, 900 switches to a transmitter close to my house at night to tap into a Nashville audience. They gradually decrease their power through the evening so eventually I can hear Chicago.

If there is anybody that can find a loop hole and get it, Bill Barry can. When he applied to run 900 in Donelson at night, instead of Lebanon, I got to thinking, why heck, I could run my 3 watts from Downtown Nashville at night and be legal. Flea Power doesn't itch at night!

If you could run off the same tower 900 is, I'd listen.

 

[w9wi]

I understand 900 (WKDA) operates daytime in Lebanon, but switches to a transmitter near my house at night. I heard they found a loop hole in the FCC Rules which states a station doesn't have to serve it's COL at night because, in most cases, the night time power is so low, there is no way they can cover their whole COL. So, 900 switches to a transmitter close to my house at night to tap into a Nashville audience. They gradually decrease their power through the evening so eventually I can hear Chicago.

Yep. My understanding is that Class D stations are not required to cover their entire COL at night. That would suggest they can locate their night transmitter anywhere where it doesn't interfere with anything else. Have to think I'm missing something -- would the FCC be OK with WKDA covering Lebanon, Tenn. during the day and locating their night transmitter in Ohio or something?

 

[firepoint525]

While there may be intermittent outages on their link, IMHO that's not the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem is that nobody is taking any steps to make sure the thing wakes back up after an outage. Indeed, given how long it's been down one was to wonder whether anyone at the station knows the link to Dickson is down.

That was (kinda) my question as well: is anyone in Dickson even listening to them? Does anyone in Dickson even know that they are (or were) there? Does (or did) WNAZ ever make any reference to the Dickson station other than the top of the hour legal ID?

I remember 'NAZ making a big deal about 'NRZ when they first put the Dickson station on the air, but that was back around 1997. I quit listening to 'NAZ when they went more "contemporary," but even that has been many years.

 

[scottwmro]

While there may be intermittent outages on their link, IMHO that's not the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem is that nobody is taking any steps to make sure the thing wakes back up after an outage. Indeed, given how long it's been down one was to wonder whether anyone at the station knows the link to Dickson is down.

That was (kinda) my question as well: is anyone in Dickson even listening to them? Does anyone in Dickson even know that they are (or were) there? Does (or did) WNAZ ever make any reference to the Dickson station other than the top of the hour legal ID?

I remember 'NAZ making a big deal about 'NRZ when they first put the Dickson station on the air, but that was back around 1997. I quit listening to 'NAZ when they went more "contemporary," but even that has been many years.

I don't know what the point is of having a full powered non-comm in Dickson, rebroadcasting a Nashville non-comm. Makes no sense to me. I do remember when Carl Campbell put that thing on in "97". They were happy about it, now they ignor it. Carl works for Salem the last time I spoke to him.

 

[BuzzCam]

If there is anybody that can find a loop hole and get it, Bill Barry can. When he applied to run 900 in Donelson at night, instead of Lebanon, I got to thinking, why heck, I could run my 3 watts from Downtown Nashville at night and be legal. Flea Power doesn't itch at night!

I complained to WLS in Chicago about the interference, but received no reply. However, a very nice gentlemen, probably Bill Barry, called me at home, to explain what he was doing with WKDA. At that time, I thought WKDA was not powering down at night. I am not sure how he got my number as it is unlisted. But, I very much enjoyed talking to him and found him fascinating. I always wanted to get into radio engineering, (why I got my First Class License in the 70's), but ended up in television post production.

He is a very knowledgeable gentleman, who invited me to see the transmitter sites of his stations. As soon as I get out of the cast for my broken foot, I may take him up on it.

I felt badly about complaining the WLS after talking to him.

 

[firepoint525]

That's got to be a little unnerving, when someone gets hold of your number and "cold calls" you! I'm wondering if WLS forwarded your information on to Bill Barry, or whoever.

At a station for which I formerly worked, I was told that we had received a QSL card from a listener in Michigan! Seems that someone (NOT ME! ;D) had forgotten to "power down" that evening!

 

[firepoint525]

1430 WPLN, Madison:
Launched 9/16/1957 as WENO, 5,000 watts daytime only.
Added 1,000 watts directional at night sometime between 1963 and 1967.
Calls to WJRB 10/17/1977
Calls to WWRB 1/22/1988
Calls to WRLT 10/4/1988
Calls to WHNK 3/2/1990
Calls to WCKD 8/21/1995
Calls to WMAK 9/1/1996
Calls to WKDA 12/12/2000
Calls to WQDQ 3/26/2002
Calls to WPLN 4/9/2002
Daytime power to 15,000 watts 5/13/2002
(held permit for 10,000 watts daytime in 1999-2002 but not built)

Going back to the station with all the call letter changes, was it right after 12-12-2000 when Oldies 96.3 changed their calls to "WMAK," or was there a significant time lag in between? Did they have anything to do with the above-referenced station changing their call letters (at least, that one time?)?

 

[BuzzCam]

That's got to be a little unnerving, when someone gets hold of your number and "cold calls" you! I'm wondering if WLS forwarded your information on to Bill Barry, or whoever.

At a station for which I formerly worked, I was told that we had received a QSL card from a listener in Michigan! Seems that someone (NOT ME! ;D) had forgotten to "power down" that evening!

What was strange, on my complaint to WLS, the only personal information included was my e-mail address. The only reason I answered the call was the caller id indicated "WAMB" and I recognized the call letters.

 

[deltas69]

it's not uncommon to "google" a name and city, name and email..etc..and come up with a phone number..unlisted or not..kinda spooky

 

[RustyShacklefordSr]

If there is anybody that can find a loop hole and get it, Bill Barry can. When he applied to run 900 in Donelson at night, instead of Lebanon, I got to thinking, why heck, I could run my 3 watts from Downtown Nashville at night and be legal. Flea Power doesn't itch at night!

I complained to WLS in Chicago about the interference, but received no reply. However, a very nice gentlemen, probably Bill Barry, called me at home, to explain what he was doing with WKDA. At that time, I thought WKDA was not powering down at night. I am not sure how he got my number as it is unlisted. But, I very much enjoyed talking to him and found him fascinating. I always wanted to get into radio engineering, (why I got my First Class License in the 70's), but ended up in television post production.

He is a very knowledgeable gentleman, who invited me to see the transmitter sites of his stations. As soon as I get out of the cast for my broken foot, I may take him up on it.

I felt badly about complaining the WLS after talking to him.

Just a guess, but perhaps Mr. Barry is a member of Radio-Info.com and read your profile or someone who knows him is a member of Radio-Info.com and gratiously passed along your personal information to him. Lots of nice people out there eager to lend a hand you know. Just a guess.

 

[BuzzCam]

Just a guess, but perhaps Mr. Barry is a member of Radio-Info.com and read your profile or someone who knows him is a member of Radio-Info.com and gratiously passed along your personal information to him. Lots of nice people out there eager to lend a hand you know. Just a guess.

This happened last year. I have only been a member of this board for a week.

 

[scottwmro]

Bill Barry is one of the smartest, friendly people in the Nashville Radio World. I wished more us would be like him. He is a role model for our youth.

Scott Bailey
Magic 1560, WMRO, Gallatin

 

[BuzzCam]

Bill Barry is one of the smartest, friendly people in the Nashville Radio World. I wished more us would be like him. He is a role model for our youth.

Scott Bailey
Magic 1560, WMRO, Gallatin

I'd like to meet him, I could learn a ton from him.

 

[scottwmro]

Bill Barry is one of the smartest, friendly people in the Nashville Radio World. I wished more us would be like him. He is a role model for our youth.

Scott Bailey
Magic 1560, WMRO, Gallatin

I'd like to meet him, I could learn a ton from him.

If anybody should have wrote a book on Nashville Radio, it should have been Bill Barry. He almost made Nashville Radio. Yes, I have had several long conversations with Bill, and when you get to talking with him, you feel honored. He is the smartest man about I know that understands radio.

Bill is getting up there in years, I would suggest maybe going down to WAMB (make an appointment to see him) and visit him. One of these days, it may be too late. We all should learn as much as we can from Bill Barry.