HD Radio power increase question

[jras20]

Will they need a new transmitter antenna for the power increase? Or can they just do it with a click of a button?
I think KAJA needs some help on their HD transmission I can't get the HD signal at all. Even when the analog is clear.

 

[Savage]

I assume you refer to the proposal to increase digital injection from 1db to 10db. That hasn't been adopted yet, and the debate over its advisability continues.

In most cases new transmitters, antennas and even towers will be required. In any case it is NOT just a "push of the button." Assuming an IBOC "dream scenario" where the full 10 db is adopted promptly and your favorite station instantly decides to shell about about a half-mil AND hustles to get the increase installed tout d'suite, don't look for a digital increase to actually hit the air for at least a year from now.

And, IMHO, don't look for a dramatic improvement in digital coverage even with 10db.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Will they need a new transmitter antenna for the power increase? Or can they just do it with a click of a button?
I think KAJA needs some help on their HD transmission I can't get the HD signal at all. Even when the analog is clear.

In your situation, I think a marginal increase of only tenfold might push the threshold from 70 miles, which I know is dependable for HD, another few miles. But another 14 miles to 84 is really questionable. When you look at the vast range of signal variation in marginal situations, it varies by several decades depending on atmospherics, where exactly you are, what manmade objects like airplanes reflect the signal - even the moire pattern produced by multiple antenna bays. Considering the airplane scenario - if the signal variation is 5 to 6 decades in a second or two, which is typical of fringes, an increase in transmitter power of only one decade will only delay the onset of LOS by milliseconds, and AOS is only milliseconds sooner. Given the long lock times of HD, until the airplane files away and fading stops your receiver will not have enough time to lock, although you may see the HD indicator flash occasionally.

I've often said - I would rather have 1000 watts at 2000 feet than 100,000 watts at 300 feet. FM really is line of sight, and 10 dB power increase won't change that fact out in the fringes.
And I suspect it won't help much at all in steel buildings. 10 extra feet maybe. Defintely NOT worth re-shaping the FM band in the image of AM. However - a 13 dB increase in power from a really good FM antenna will have a greater effect than a 10 dB increase at the transmitting station. Twice a much signal as an HD power boost! 13 dB - 10 dB = 3 dB = 2X power. WOW! And you can get all 13 dB right now with a decent antenna like an APS-13. The gain off your average TV antenna might only be a dB or two on FM. 3 to 4 dB on FM from a TV antenna would be outstanding. You really need that FM antenna!

 

[jras20]

HD sounds great when I can get it but I wish it was more easier to lock in. I can get spotty HD Reception from San antonio at my place near Austin. Austin I'm 30 miles from and Hot 93's HD Signal comes in about 57-60db on my Sangean tuner. Jammin 105.9's HD is off. 103.5 is about 12 miles from me I can get a solid 67-70db signal.
And note, right now I am using a dipole antenna not bad!

 

[rbrucecarter5]

HD sounds great when I can get it but I wish it was more easier to lock in. I can get spotty HD Reception from San antonio at my place near Austin. Austin I'm 30 miles from and Hot 93's HD Signal comes in about 57-60db on my Sangean tuner. Jammin 105.9's HD is off. 103.5 is about 12 miles from me I can get a solid 67-70db signal.
And note, right now I am using a dipole antenna not bad!

The nice thing about signal strengths in dBu is that it makes antenna calculations easy. If you put a good external antenna up, for example, that 57 to 60 dBu signal would become 70 to 73 dBu - in other words like a strong local.