Cyberdad's Summer 2013 Road Trip

[fybush]

No such thing as "I-B" anymore. The current designation is "class B," which puts KCBS in the same category as former class III stations like KLAC and KFWB or former class II-A/II-B stations like KKOH and KDWN - only groundwave service is protected, no skywave.

 

[cyberdad]

So KBRT is on at night now??

So how does it not interfere with KCBS at night in LA?

Short answer: It does!

As Scott and ftblfan have pointed out, the skywave for the former class I-B stations is no longer protected. But as a practical matter some protection still takes place to the extent that the former I-B groundwaves are protected. So the bottom line...oversimplified...effectively is that KCBS is protected in its groundwave coverage area..night and day. But KBRT doesn't have to protect KCBS skywave. And also, as a practical matter, KBRT's new facilities are entitled to no protection whatsoever from KCBS.

What it effectively boils down to is KBRT gets coverage wherever it can drown out KCBS in So-Cal, so long as it doesn't dare interfere with KCBS's primary service area in the Bay area.

 

[nsa1]

Wasn't KCBS a Class II under the old system? (as a I-B, it would have had skywave protection within its .5 mv 50% skywave contour, essentially the same as the current Class A, and there's no way KBRT could operate at night where it is).

So KBRT is on at night now??

So how does it not interfere with KCBS at night in LA?

KCBS is only a I-B, meaning their skywave is not protected.

 

[fybush]

Right you are - KCBS was a class II, unlike KNBR and KGO, which were both I-B. Class II operation was the only US operation allowed on Canadian and Mexican clear channels. The former I-Bs became Class A with skywave protection, while the former IIs became Class B.

 

[cyberdad]

I stand corrected, guys. Thanks!