FM IBOC Power Increase Sought

[clouseau]

Clouseau... I don’t quite know what is “really funny” about accepting an entry-level radio sales position at an AM station on 1490 [one that had a waiver of the FCC rules to fully-cover its market from a compromised antenna location] – make 14k my first nine-months, then remain in that organization for nearly NINE YEARS, and end my affiliation and nearly six-figure earnings to buy my first station [and yes, an FM to sell came later]. How many college “kids” do you know [or have hired] that kept their first job as a “self-starter” in the radio biz for nearly a decade? I think ONE-PERCENT is a fair assertion.

Yo, Hip, Don't be so touchy. A few of the wonder sales children these days are actually taking out a power point presentation on a laptop to advertises. Or accessing the station's PPT on the net. I just hought your declaration that you "Walked the walk" before poweerpoint was priceless. Many of today's sales dingbats can't even talk about their stations because they don't understand them. Powerpoint doesn't really convey the passion that is so helpful in radio sales. At least for me.

I have this feeling [also] that AM radio may be in its twilight, but I am well-established as one who will support the underdog, and I will not regret being the “last man standing” in defense of that medium... It’s called ETHICS, Clouseau. I am “up-channel” in the Marketing industry at this point, and enjoy advising the 25-year-old “blonde” to place an advertising schedule on an innovative and committed AM operation. You should include me in your nightly prayers, Clouseau – and wish that there were more hippos out ‘thar in raydeeo-land!

Lots of times, that's a tall order. Getting those orders for the AMs that is. Many of them can use all the help they can get.

I have a very-simple solution to mitigate the decline of AM radio... Mandatory minimum receiver requirements and a charge that the FCC enforce the long-standing Part 15 RF emission requirements. Please don’t tell me that the regulatory agency hasn’t been “looking the other way” for decades... We now reap what we have sowed, and the industry is bleeding – even on FM!

The "Unintentional radiator" problem is VERY well known. From Traffic lights to turn signals to dimmers to computers and microwaves and even BPL... I just don't see you you get that "Stuff" back in the horse. It IS a simple solution, but certainly one we are completely unwilling to implement as a society.

I have frequently reported my real-world experiences with Jeff Deck’s Meduci AM tuner... If most of its performance were incorporated into the shelf of radios on display at WalMart, the AM radio industry would have a strong pulse today!

Maybe... The thought is nice, but I'm not so sure it could ever be practical.

Clouseau

 

[Chuck]

Uh... That would be Doug Vernier, I'll bet. http://www.v-soft.com/ His V-Soft software is among the best for filing FCC applications, a s well as for general purpose "what if" RF work . Predicting interference contours with it is relatively simple, and the results appear to be very accurate. I've utilized Longley-Rice predictions generated by this software, and it is uncannily accurate.

My experience tells me that Doug knows what he is talking about.



He most certainly does... He didn't seem to think it would cause some interference issues, especially in the non-comm band. I'd go to the bank with that.

Perhaps he is being misquoted, but I've seen it in print that he expressed "concerns" about a 10% power increase for HD, especially in the crowded non-com bands. This was reported to be his opinion at this spring’s PREC in Las Vegas. I can't find a link to it one way or another, and frankly don't have time to research it. Still, it seems that I'm not the only one who thinks he took a very cautious position about the proposed power increase. I notice that NPR has been fairly quiet about the subject as well.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

"Perhaps he is being misquoted, but I've seen it in print that he expressed "concerns" about a 10% power increase for HD, especially in the crowded non-com bands. This was reported to be his opinion at this spring’s PREC in Las Vegas. I can't find a link to it one way or another, and frankly don't have time to research it. Still, it seems that I'm not the only one who thinks he took a very cautious position about the proposed power increase. I notice that NPR has been fairly quiet about the subject as well.." That's exactly what he is concerned about. In the crowded reserve band where allocations are given out with closer spacing in many cases due to different rules than the comm band the -10db thing will be a HUGE problem for many if stations impliment it.

 

[Tom Wells]

Turn up the burner full blast. That frog doesn't even look worried.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

LOL! To heck with the whole gradual heat thing!

 

[hipporadio]

To heck with AM radio period... NO, I don’t really mean that. Are Bob Savage, Tom Wells, KB, and myself the only remaining with a pulse that recognizes any potential for this band? How can Jeff Deck build a “homemade” AM tuner in a Radio Shack-like “project box” with FM audio quality and unprecedented low distortion, yet the AM industry continues to suffer and decline because of the so-called radios on display at WalMart? This is not “Rocket Science” [I’m sorry, Radio doesn’t rise to that]... It’s very simple – MANDITORY MINIMUM RECEIVER REQUIREMENTS for type-acceptance on the AM band. ‘Time for our government to start fulfilling their function! These are simple cost-effective circuits, and are easily built, and WILL deliver a marketing return.

 

[hipporadio]

I’m listening to 650 WSN in Nashville at 8:50 AM on the Meduci AMX-2000 tuner in EAST-CENTRAL INDIANA... This is not “skywave” at this hour folks – it is direct groundwave – from over TWO HUNDRED MILES, and it sounds damn good... The audio quality is exceptional... AM radio CAN do-it!

 

[hipporadio]

I just tuned to 700 WLW... Gangbuster signal. but NO "highs" and crappy audio :'( They are in I-boob, BTW.

 

[KB1OKL]

.. It’s very simple – MANDITORY MINIMUM RECEIVER REQUIREMENTS for type-acceptance on the AM band.

The problem probably is that AM radio probably hasn't hired the amount of lobbyists it would take to get notice over at this pro-big business, pro-big money FCC. Can you imagine how much money that would take? They probably have to form an Analog Alliance ;D

 

[hipporadio]

KB, I’m listening to classic country on WSM Nashville as I type this... It is AWESOME... FM quality on the Meduci tuner with just a touch of 10kHz superhet. This station has exceptional audio. GREAT JOB, Watt!

 

[hipporadio]

WSM just ran a liner... “Before their was HD, their was AM RADIO”... GREAT POINT, WSM!

 

[KB1OKL]

WSM just ran a liner... “Before their was HD, their was AM RADIO”... GREAT POINT, WSM!

Hippo,
I used to be able to receive them here in MA with very good sound with either the 8 Khz and 16 Khz wide settings on my R-390A receiver (the 16 Khz is a bit too wide sometimes), and also with the 13 Khz setting on my SP-600, unfortunately since WFAN 660 NY in its wisdom decided that sports shows should cut down swaths of stations across the North East I cannot receive them anymore or if I do it is not enjoyable and I have to constantly adjust the phase angles of my antennas to try to diminish the whoosh.
Funny as I just wrote a letter to Senator Kerry about his unfortunate position on the Satrad merger and mentioned WSM and WYSL and included the stopiboc website in my letter, yup, HD sucks.

 

[hipporadio]

I have to give the Meduci AM tuner TEN STARS... It is “hi-fi” and sensitive to boot... It brings back my memories of awesome AM radio.

I’d like to say – GOOD JOB, JEFF DECK. Thank you for your research, and a fine product that you actually delivered to the market. AM listeners need to buy your tuner – it IS WORTH THE MONEY!

 

[Carmine5]

There is an interesting article in the latest RW entitled, "Researchers Explore Digital Coverage".

Public radio hired NPR Labs to find out just how far their HD signals are going and what kind of interference they are receiving and giving out.

What was most interesting was the estimate of coverage loss to analog stations should the 10 db increase be approved. NPR Labs estimated that a large amount of stations would lose up to 50% of their analog service population. As it is, some stations are already losing about 25% of their population coverage due to IBOC to analog interference. Not a good thing.

On the next page is the HD Radio score card. So far, over 78% of stations have not transitioned to HD.

C5

 

[hipporadio]

KB, WSM is at the lower end of their market latter – likely because of their dependence on a music format in an AM talkradio age. They bill less than many 50k flamethrowers. In America’s music capital, they remain the dependable and stalwart music station – preserving country music history – with live DJs to boot! I think they "live-on" because they are buy Opryland, and not a property of our "Great Four" AKA "corporate radio". Thank goodness for small favors!

 

[hipporadio]

KB, WSM is at the lower end of the latter in their market – likely because of their dependence on a music format in an AM talkradio age. They bill less than many 50k flamethrowers. In America’s music capital, they remain the dependable and stalwart music station – preserving country music history – with live DJs to boot! I think they "live-on" because they are in concert Opryland, and not a property of our "Great Four" AKA "corporate radio". Thank goodness for small favors!
[/quote]

 

[hipporadio]

KB, WSM is at the lower end of their market latter – likely because of their dependence on a music format in an AM talkradio age. They bill less than many 50k flamethrowers. In America’s music capital, they remain the dependable and stalwart music station – preserving country music history – with live DJs to boot! I think they "live-on" because they are in concert with Opryland, and not a property of our "Great Four" AKA "corporate radio". Thank goodness for small favors!

 

[ve3jf]

There is an interesting article in the latest RW entitled, "Researchers Explore Digital Coverage".

Public radio hired NPR Labs to find out just how far their HD signals are going and what kind of interference they are receiving and giving out.

What was most interesting was the estimate of coverage loss to analog stations should the 10 db increase be approved. NPR Labs estimated that a large amount of stations would lose up to 50% of their analog service population. As it is, some stations are already losing about 25% of their population coverage due to IBOC to analog interference. Not a good thing.

On the next page is the HD Radio score card. So far, over 78% of stations have not transitioned to HD.

C5

What I found interesting was the characterization of a 25% loss in listeners (due to IBOC interference) as "moderate". How many station owners would agree with that assessment? How would you like a sudden "moderate" 25% drop in income?

BTW, the article is available online: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.14274.html See also the RW editorial in support of the 10 dB FM digital power increase: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0044/t.14275.html They think that the FCC can deal with any serious interference issues by evaluating them on a case-by-case basis. Yeah, that's worked out great so far...

 

[KB1OKL]

There is an interesting article in the latest RW entitled, "Researchers Explore Digital Coverage".

Public radio hired NPR Labs to find out just how far their HD signals are going and what kind of interference they are receiving and giving out.

What was most interesting was the estimate of coverage loss to analog stations should the 10 db increase be approved. NPR Labs estimated that a large amount of stations would lose up to 50% of their analog service population. As it is, some stations are already losing about 25% of their population coverage due to IBOC to analog interference. Not a good thing.

On the next page is the HD Radio score card. So far, over 78% of stations have not transitioned to HD.

C5

What I found interesting was the characterization of a 25% loss in listeners (due to IBOC interference) as "moderate". How many station owners would agree with that assessment? How would you like a sudden "moderate" 25% drop in income?

BTW, the article is available online: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.14274.html See also the RW editorial in support of the 10 dB FM digital power increase: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0044/t.14275.html They think that the FCC can deal with any serious interference issues by evaluating them on a case-by-case basis. Yeah, that's worked out great so far...

I posted that article along with the link yesterday under the title of: How Far Does the Digital Go?

 

[Carmine5]

There is an interesting article in the latest RW entitled, "Researchers Explore Digital Coverage".

Public radio hired NPR Labs to find out just how far their HD signals are going and what kind of interference they are receiving and giving out.

What was most interesting was the estimate of coverage loss to analog stations should the 10 db increase be approved. NPR Labs estimated that a large amount of stations would lose up to 50% of their analog service population. As it is, some stations are already losing about 25% of their population coverage due to IBOC to analog interference. Not a good thing.

On the next page is the HD Radio score card. So far, over 78% of stations have not transitioned to HD.

C5

What I found interesting was the characterization of a 25% loss in listeners (due to IBOC interference) as "moderate". How many station owners would agree with that assessment? How would you like a sudden "moderate" 25% drop in income?

BTW, the article is available online: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.14274.html See also the RW editorial in support of the 10 dB FM digital power increase: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0044/t.14275.html They think that the FCC can deal with any serious interference issues by evaluating them on a case-by-case basis. Yeah, that's worked out great so far...

I'm not sure what the scenario would be that would result in a 25% loss but if you're a short-spaced FM and your adjacent neighbors decide to fire up IBOC, I'm sure it would be a serious problem.

Say you're serving a population of 70,000. A 25% loss would mean that you're losing 17,500 people. That's not insignificant. And if the 10 db increase goes through that would mean a potential loss of 35,000 people which would be devastating.

Like I say, I just don't know how the FCC can remain silent on this issue. If the agency insists on keeping HD Radio then they are going to have to open up more spectrum. At least allocate channel 6 to FM and give stations some breathing room.

C5