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FM REPEATER off AM license

metroneck

metroneck

Code: 
Does anyone know the 'how to' and rules of obtaining a low power FM repeater for a 1kW 1230 AM license? Need some guidance..

The city of license is population 1500, 30 miles from 100,000 population city. Although our signal in the larger city is very much present, it would be oh so much better on FM. I noticed that KSKY 660 in Dallas is running 3 FM repeaters in Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth. Also KTCK 1310 is running 2 or 3 FM repeaters as well. When I inquired a few years ago about repeating on FM, I was told it had to be in city of license. How are these other signals in larger markets getting FCC clearance to repeat if I cannot?

 THX
 
metroneck said:
Code: 
Does anyone know the 'how to' and rules of obtaining a low power FM repeater for a 1kW 1230 AM license? Need some guidance..

The city of license is population 1500, 30 miles from 100,000 population city. Although our signal in the larger city is very much present, it would be oh so much better on FM. I noticed that KSKY 660 in Dallas is running 3 FM repeaters in Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth. Also KTCK 1310 is running 2 or 3 FM repeaters as well. When I inquired a few years ago about repeating on FM, I was told it had to be in city of license. How are these other signals in larger markets getting FCC clearance to repeat if I cannot?

 THX
Click to expand...

KTCK doesn't have FM translators. Co-owned KTDK 104.1 Sanger simulcasts it, but it is not a translator.

KSKY got STAs for the FM translators on the grounds a Mexican AM on 660 was running an operation that was interfering with its coverage.
 
The purpose of allowing "AM on FM" translators is to provide improved coverage within the AM station's service area. It gives that opportunity to daytimers or stations whose nighttime coverage of their community of license is inadequate. But here's the catch: it's to be used to fill in the gaps only and it can't be used to extend the AM station's coverage area. [Quoting from the Report and Order that authorizes such operations: AM broadcast stations will be allowed to use currently authorized FM translator stations (i.e., those now licensed or authorized in construction permits that have not expired) to rebroadcast their AM signals, provided that no portion of the 60 dBu contour of any such FM translator station extends beyond the smaller of: (a) a 25-mile radius from the AM transmitter site; or (b) the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM station.]

So don't expect too much if you're looking for coverage of the large city; the maximum power for a translator is 250 watts.

Currently all of these AM on FM translators are operating under STA's, but it will officially become part of the rules on October 1st, and all that will be necessary is for the owner of the translator to simply notify the FCC which station it is rebroadcasting.

It should be noted that since the FCC started allowing such operations, almost without exception these have been existing local FM translators, so you have a choice. The best scenario would be to buy or lease one that's nearby. Otherwise you could find one that's not in the immediate area and apply to change the COL, but that could prove to be quite costly and probably would take a long time, with no guaranty of success.
 
jd said:
The purpose of allowing "AM on FM" translators is to provide improved coverage within the AM station's service area. It gives that opportunity to daytimers or stations whose nighttime coverage of their community of license is inadequate. But here's the catch: it's to be used to fill in the gaps only and it can't be used to extend the AM station's coverage area. [Quoting from the Report and Order that authorizes such operations: AM broadcast stations will be allowed to use currently authorized FM translator stations (i.e., those now licensed or authorized in construction permits that have not expired) to rebroadcast their AM signals, provided that no portion of the 60 dBu contour of any such FM translator station extends beyond the smaller of: (a) a 25-mile radius from the AM transmitter site; or (b) the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM station.]

So don't expect too much if you're looking for coverage of the large city; the maximum power for a translator is 250 watts.

Currently all of these AM on FM translators are operating under STA's, but it will officially become part of the rules on October 1st, and all that will be necessary is for the owner of the translator to simply notify the FCC which station it is rebroadcasting.

It should be noted that since the FCC started allowing such operations, almost without exception these have been existing local FM translators, so you have a choice. The best scenario would be to buy or lease one that's nearby. Otherwise you could find one that's not in the immediate area and apply to change the COL, but that could prove to be quite costly and probably would take a long time, with no guaranty of success.
Click to expand...

JD, Can you explain this rule to those who "think" that the KGGR translator at 102.5 is "illegal".
 
Okay, but I'm not sure they'll be able to see it. The key words in the rule is "the smaller of:" (a) a 25-mile radius from the AM transmitter site; or (b) the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM station.

The "service area" of the translator can't go beyond the 2.0 contour of the AM station: www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KGGR&service=AM&status=L&hours=D (in this case the red contour is the 2.5mVm signal strength estimate, so subtract a little from it) The best guess for the 2.0 contour puts it into Tarrant County, likely around downtown Fort Worth or around 37 miles.

Now look at the 60dBu (red) contour for their translator, which is their "service area": www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=K273BJ&service=FX&status=L&hours=U

Originally the translator was located on the KDBN tower, which would have produced service area coverage into Tarrant County, but after being bought by Mortenson and moved to the KGGR site the translator's coverage falls well within the AM station's coverage area. In fact, it doesn't leave Dallas County. So it meets that test.

The pertinent part of the rule in this case, however, is the 25-mile radius from the AM site portion. It's that requirement, the lesser coverage of the two parts of the rule, that applies here and the 60bBu coverage of the translator doesn't extend further than 25 miles.
 
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