Mr Gardner, I Towernews ( also known as Alan Constantine ) wants to point out that FCC Records are not always accurate and up to date. For example and this is a true fact. Some if not all 1,000 AM stations are now required by the FCC to lower their power after sundown, and this unfortunately includes WBCB AM 1490. The engineer imself told me that WBCB is not 1,000 watts 24 hrs. a day when I was up at their studio in Levittown. Again, some FCC records are inaccurate. When I went into the FCC records on their website I noticed a lot of FCC records that need to be updated. The FCC is not bothering to update their records. In my opinion either they don't have the time, or they just don't care. So, the next time you go onto the AM, FM or TV Queries to view an FCC record, it may or may not be up to date and accurate. By the way, I Towernews, also known as Alan Constantine went onto this board myself to explain about WBCB'S power, and also about this column explaining about the FCC's records. RJ Ron Joseph had nothing to do with the writing of either one of these articles. RJ is not Towernews, I Alan Constantine am Towernews, not RJ.
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FCC RECORDS ARE NOT ALWAYS UP TO DATE AND ACCURATE
- Thread starter towernews
- Start date
The FCC info I see currently shows WBCB as "1000 watts 24 hours" so if they're reducing power for ANY reason, shame on them! 99.5% of the FCC data is current and up to date so where ever you are looking is behind. RJ? Whos that? Is he still around?
WEEX in Easton is 840 Watts Day and 1000 Watts Night.
amfmsw said:and Tom, doesn't 1450 WPGG Atlantic City still up the juice from 850 to 1kw at sundown?
Yep .... WPG is 800 day and 1000 night, non-D
1230 WEEX is also a rare example of a directional Class C station:tommy3477 said:WEEX in Easton is 840 Watts Day and 1000 Watts Night.
http://radio-locator.com/info/WEEX-AM
Both Radio-Locator and FCCInfo say 1450 WPGG is 1 kW full-time...?Yep .... WPG is 800 day and 1000 night, non-D
http://radio-locator.com/info/WPGG-AM
http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProEngine...abSearchType=Appl&sAppIDNumber=85165&sHours=U
satech said:Both Radio-Locator and FCCInfo say 1450 WPGG is 1 kW full-time...?
Find and read the license ... it "is" 1000 watts (equivalent) full time,
just less power out of the transmitter during the day because of the
efficiency of the antenna. It's been that way for a long long time.
A 200-plus degree high tower will be a very efficient radiator. Hence, WPGG's less than 1 kW daytime.
Another good example of this can be found on 860, where the CBC's French-language CJBC operates.CJBC is diplexed with former sister CFZM 740; the tower is 183 deg. high at 740. The same tower appears to be 205 deg. high to the 860 signal, and CJBC is near local-strength here in the Philly area at night. Towernews needs to get over himself and also needs to know that my surname is spelled with an I between the D and the N.
Another good example of this can be found on 860, where the CBC's French-language CJBC operates.CJBC is diplexed with former sister CFZM 740; the tower is 183 deg. high at 740. The same tower appears to be 205 deg. high to the 860 signal, and CJBC is near local-strength here in the Philly area at night. Towernews needs to get over himself and also needs to know that my surname is spelled with an I between the D and the N.
N
Neal
Guest
WBCB IS INFACT Running 1000 watts 24/7 as Per License...
towernews said:Mr Gardner, I Towernews ( also known as Alan Constantine ) wants to point out that FCC Records are not always accurate and up to date. For example and this is a true fact. Some if not all 1,000 AM stations are now required by the FCC to lower their power after sundown, and this unfortunately includes WBCB AM 1490. The engineer imself told me that WBCB is not 1,000 watts 24 hrs. a day when I was up at their studio in Levittown. Again, some FCC records are inaccurate. When I went into the FCC records on their website I noticed a lot of FCC records that need to be updated. The FCC is not bothering to update their records. In my opinion either they don't have the time, or they just don't care. So, the next time you go onto the AM, FM or TV Queries to view an FCC record, it may or may not be up to date and accurate. By the way, I Towernews, also known as Alan Constantine went onto this board myself to explain about WBCB'S power, and also about this column explaining about the FCC's records. RJ Ron Joseph had nothing to do with the writing of either one of these articles. RJ is not Towernews, I Alan Constantine am Towernews, not RJ.
For the short period I worked at WNJC, they were using one of the short sticks for their signal with the other short tower tuned to put a null toward Philly. I believe Mike Venditi did get the station on with its authorized power/patterns before he died. I know their signal went away when I was back in New Castle, DE and couldn't hear them.
Most of the stations on 1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 and 1490 used to run 1000 watts day, 250 watts night.
When tne rules were relaxed/changed, a lot of these became 1000 watts unlimited. Not all
stations have to power down or sign off at sunset. The FCC records are not THAT outdated.
When tne rules were relaxed/changed, a lot of these became 1000 watts unlimited. Not all
stations have to power down or sign off at sunset. The FCC records are not THAT outdated.
This is without a doubt one of the stranger technical threads I've seen in a while. Towernews has presented a largely ill-informed synopses of AM operating power. As has been noted, most local stations (1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 1490) operate 1KW fulltime. Local examples are, WBCB, WHAT, WRAW, WEST, etc. As previously mentioned, stations on those frequencies that must operate at lower power do so because of tall towers and other similar circumstances - such as WMID. Some use directional antennas (such as WKIP and others) during the day but go non-directional at night. This is usually due to short spacing of adjacent channels or similar situations. For similar reasons, some other stations, like KXRE in Manitou Springs, CO operate at low power daytime (KXRE 1490 operates at 500W Days and 1KW at night.) But, these are the exceptions rather than the rule.
If you see a radio station that is operating at 1KW days and drops to some ridiculously low power at night (15W, 40W, etc) it is most likely operating on a regional or clear channel with extremely tight maximum inverse distance field limits that prohibit greater power. Many of these were daytimers at one time that got nighttime authority when the rules changed several years ago. A good example of this is WURD which is 1KW day and 100W at night with different patterns. WURD suffers because CHML, 50KW in Canada, puts a major signal the directional of Philadelphia at night.
A word to Towernews: it is just as easy to get things right as to get things wrong. I've done both publicly (and on this forum). You need to do some more investigation before making blanket statements that are easily disproved or corrected. Dave Gardiner was correct in his assessments and determinations. You need to listen to him and others whose experience and knowledge are well known and documented over many years.
If you see a radio station that is operating at 1KW days and drops to some ridiculously low power at night (15W, 40W, etc) it is most likely operating on a regional or clear channel with extremely tight maximum inverse distance field limits that prohibit greater power. Many of these were daytimers at one time that got nighttime authority when the rules changed several years ago. A good example of this is WURD which is 1KW day and 100W at night with different patterns. WURD suffers because CHML, 50KW in Canada, puts a major signal the directional of Philadelphia at night.
A word to Towernews: it is just as easy to get things right as to get things wrong. I've done both publicly (and on this forum). You need to do some more investigation before making blanket statements that are easily disproved or corrected. Dave Gardiner was correct in his assessments and determinations. You need to listen to him and others whose experience and knowledge are well known and documented over many years.
If memory serves, the FCC's records on presunrise and postsundown authority are awful. They aren't on the website, and I seem to recall reading that someone had to go to the FCC's archives and dig through musty old file boxes to find the PSA/PSSA authorization for their station.
Bill
Bill
BTW...Happy Birthday Rene.
R-I is the last word in official info.
The FCC website is NOT the final word in a station's operating perimiters. Most all fines levied because of power levels, hours, directions and such have been overturned because the inspectors relied on the database. The PAPERWORK hanging or in the licence book is the final word. Period. Antenna changes/Pre Sunsrise Authority's/Critical Hours Power level's have been granted, authorized, dated, signed, and sent...Stations operated in good faith to them for years. Then some poindexter in D.C. didn't enter it into the database. Or moved a decimal point, or a keystroke. An inspector hears them whislting in the dark at 6am or sees the transmitter log, and slaps them with a $4k or $8k fine, or worse. It'll be overturned IF you have your PAPERWORK. Copy all coresponance reguardring your license and operating changes. Copy in the book, original in a local Bank Vault, with a note saying the original is in the vault, safety deposit drawer #. Hey, if THEY don't have it, how can you get it replaced? CYA
R-I is the last word in official info.
The FCC website is NOT the final word in a station's operating perimiters. Most all fines levied because of power levels, hours, directions and such have been overturned because the inspectors relied on the database. The PAPERWORK hanging or in the licence book is the final word. Period. Antenna changes/Pre Sunsrise Authority's/Critical Hours Power level's have been granted, authorized, dated, signed, and sent...Stations operated in good faith to them for years. Then some poindexter in D.C. didn't enter it into the database. Or moved a decimal point, or a keystroke. An inspector hears them whislting in the dark at 6am or sees the transmitter log, and slaps them with a $4k or $8k fine, or worse. It'll be overturned IF you have your PAPERWORK. Copy all coresponance reguardring your license and operating changes. Copy in the book, original in a local Bank Vault, with a note saying the original is in the vault, safety deposit drawer #. Hey, if THEY don't have it, how can you get it replaced? CYA
I have to agree with the inaccuracies of the FCC Database - especially on PSRA/PSSA. There is a local station that went through a hassle because an FCC inspector got their PSSA power wrong based on the paperwork he had. When the actual authorization was produced the commission backed off.
The importance of good record keeping, including all authorizations, STAs, correspondence with the FCC, EAS info, technical operations instructions, etc, cannot be over stated. In my own case, we had an inspector drive past our towers one night about five years ago and cited us for only having three of our six towers lit. We turned the other three tower lights back on for a couple of days until we could get a copy of the station license to the commission with the waiver allowing us to light only the three end towers of the array; we basically got a letter back that said in so many words, "Oops! Our bad, sorry." Then the citation went away. If we had not had the actual paperwork showing the waiver, there is no way we could have easily proven we were legal.
The final authority in many cases is the actual up to date paperwork you have on file.
The importance of good record keeping, including all authorizations, STAs, correspondence with the FCC, EAS info, technical operations instructions, etc, cannot be over stated. In my own case, we had an inspector drive past our towers one night about five years ago and cited us for only having three of our six towers lit. We turned the other three tower lights back on for a couple of days until we could get a copy of the station license to the commission with the waiver allowing us to light only the three end towers of the array; we basically got a letter back that said in so many words, "Oops! Our bad, sorry." Then the citation went away. If we had not had the actual paperwork showing the waiver, there is no way we could have easily proven we were legal.
The final authority in many cases is the actual up to date paperwork you have on file.
With all of the national communications information available to the public on the FCC web site, I am surprised that there are not more errors and omissions. For most current information on licenses and authorizations it is best to consult the stations public file and engineering data.
It is the responsibility of the stations licensee to make this information available to any individual who makes a reasonable request.
When I was doing field engineering and research, I would contact the manager, or chief operator of the station of interest, and photo copy their records and offer them ten cents a copy for the use of their photo copier. Most of the stations would decline the copier fee. I was never refused a request. I did have a minor problem with time coordination that was resolved with a few phone calls.
Dave McCrork
It is the responsibility of the stations licensee to make this information available to any individual who makes a reasonable request.
When I was doing field engineering and research, I would contact the manager, or chief operator of the station of interest, and photo copy their records and offer them ten cents a copy for the use of their photo copier. Most of the stations would decline the copier fee. I was never refused a request. I did have a minor problem with time coordination that was resolved with a few phone calls.
Dave McCrork
Hi Rene: And Another Happy Birthday
I did have an unfortunate and embarrassing experience last December (2012). I got a call from one of my station managers that two engineers from the FCC were at the station because of a complaint from another broadcaster that our station was not changing pattern for Critical Hours, and Post Sunset Operation. The PSSA that the engineer had our station listed with an authorization of one watt! One of the engineers had performed a “Pattern Police” assessment for a few days. He showed me the log of what he had and reported the timing and power discrepancies. I was able to provide two prior PSS authorizations for 23 watts, and was totally surprised with the One Watt authority that was listed on the FCC web site. I accepted full responsibility for the errors in timing of our pattern change and the over power operation. My transmitter logs showed a 17 minute error on my logging. The real time clock got confused during Sandy’s power failure. After correcting the clock error, I determined that the inspecting engineer’s assessment was accurate and installed an automated transmitter control to eliminate operator error.
We received a Notice Of Violation for the timing and over power issues. I responded with a letter of apology and the corrective action implemented. The FCC acknowledged that the One Watt authorization was in error and agreed authorized the 23 Watts. After a nice conversation with The Engineer In Charge and the inspecting Engineer we were forgiven, and the case was closed. The FCC Enforcement Bureau (FOB) has always been a pleasure for me to work with. If ever a NOV is received, be honest and respond promptly.
Dave McCrork
I did have an unfortunate and embarrassing experience last December (2012). I got a call from one of my station managers that two engineers from the FCC were at the station because of a complaint from another broadcaster that our station was not changing pattern for Critical Hours, and Post Sunset Operation. The PSSA that the engineer had our station listed with an authorization of one watt! One of the engineers had performed a “Pattern Police” assessment for a few days. He showed me the log of what he had and reported the timing and power discrepancies. I was able to provide two prior PSS authorizations for 23 watts, and was totally surprised with the One Watt authority that was listed on the FCC web site. I accepted full responsibility for the errors in timing of our pattern change and the over power operation. My transmitter logs showed a 17 minute error on my logging. The real time clock got confused during Sandy’s power failure. After correcting the clock error, I determined that the inspecting engineer’s assessment was accurate and installed an automated transmitter control to eliminate operator error.
We received a Notice Of Violation for the timing and over power issues. I responded with a letter of apology and the corrective action implemented. The FCC acknowledged that the One Watt authorization was in error and agreed authorized the 23 Watts. After a nice conversation with The Engineer In Charge and the inspecting Engineer we were forgiven, and the case was closed. The FCC Enforcement Bureau (FOB) has always been a pleasure for me to work with. If ever a NOV is received, be honest and respond promptly.
Dave McCrork
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