Hurricane DX: AM stations allowed to use daytime power at night?

[satech]

Years ago, I heard that when a state or local (or I suppose national, if it ever came to that) "state of emergency" is declared, AM stations in the affected area -- including daytimers -- are allowed to stay on their daytime power level and signal pattern at night, for as long as needed to broadcast "emergency information". If that is true and stations take advantage of it, then Irene might open up some unique DXing opportunities from East Coast stations.

 

[radioman148]

It very well could happen. Keep your ears open for east coast DX opportunities.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

I'm curious to see what the ones with more power at night or a better pattern do. WBBR probably serves the hardest hit coastal areas better with the night pattern. WADO is another one to try first.

 

[awsherrill]

It is true that AM stations can use daytime facilities after sunset during emergency conditions, but there are some rather iffy restrictions. For one thing, it's only permitted if the station is the only source of emergency information in a given area. This is open to some interpretation, but generally if there's a full-power FM station in the same area with storm coverage, the AM station can't really claim to be the only source. I would guess most major-market AMs would fall into this category.

The only AMs that could probably do this would be the small-town stations that cover areas not served by big regional stations.

Also, the station cannot broadcast any commercial material during emergency operations.

 

[Steve_Green]

Perhaps disassociated per se with the thread, but I didn't want to start another thread.

I'm not an accomplished FM DXer like so many here. It seems to me, however, that some meterological conditions, perhaps similar to tropo, might occur during violent coastal weather.

Anyone here ever FM DX during a hurricane? If you had unusual success, from which side or direction of the storm were you listening? Were you in it or ouside the area? If conditions are indeed enhanced, how would they be described? Would only the area up to the end of the outer rain bands fall under the impacted situation, or might the effect extend further than that?

 

[Tincap]

I'm curious to see what the ones with more power at night or a better pattern do. WBBR probably serves the hardest hit coastal areas better with the night pattern. WADO is another one to try first.

WBBR can throw a strong signal out my way (eastern Ontario) by early afternoons, usually being the first east coaster I can pick up during the day. Having said that, right now I'm hearing a couple of stations underneath them.

~BG

 

[Tincap]

BTW, a bit O/T, I've IDed one of those stations under WBBR as being KWKH Shreveport LA. They are a classic country station, but are currently running a local football game. I hear no sign of Detroit's WDFN, which must be deeply nulled in my direction, in order to protect WBBR.

~BG

 

[borderblaster]

In general, I don't believe any "official" declaration is neccesary for an AM to stay on past sunset with emergency coverage, WZFG in the Fargo area stayed on high power and was widely heard, even under WTAM on 1100 during flooding there. There certainly were other AMS and FMs on the air in the area. You can't run commercials though.

Curious to see of Jacksonville's 690 runs high power for the Carolinas as they did (as WPDQ) during Hugo. It was a rare chance to hear them in the northlands

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

It is true that AM stations can use daytime facilities after sunset during emergency conditions, but there are some rather iffy restrictions. For one thing, it's only permitted if the station is the only source of emergency information in a given area. This is open to some interpretation, but generally if there's a full-power FM station in the same area with storm coverage, the AM station can't really claim to be the only source. I would guess most major-market AMs would fall into this category.

The only AMs that could probably do this would be the small-town stations that cover areas not served by big regional stations.

Also, the station cannot broadcast any commercial material during emergency operations.

Foreign Language AM stations could argue that they are the only stations or one of few stations in the area with their particular language or the only one to serve a wide area.

 

[cyberdad]

BTW, a bit O/T, I've IDed one of those stations under WBBR as being KWKH Shreveport LA. They are a classic country station, but are currently running a local football game. I hear no sign of Detroit's WDFN, which must be deeply nulled in my direction, in order to protect WBBR.

~BG

Don't know all the details or where things stand now, but I do know that KWKH has been having some issues with work that's been going on with their DA and ground system. For a while they were on STA at 12.5kw ND. I'm not sure if this is still going on, but they've been heard all sort of places where they're normally invisible. Here in the Chicago area, they've been roaring in on occasion, which is normally not the case (except when on day power/ND at sunset/sunrise).

 

[nocomradio]

Anyone here ever FM DX during a hurricane? If you had unusual success, from which side or direction of the storm were you listening? Were you in it or ouside the area? If conditions are indeed enhanced, how would they be described? Would only the area up to the end of the outer rain bands fall under the impacted situation, or might the effect extend further than that?

During, I've usually been hiding..... ;D

However, immediately after the passing of a particularly big one, the only entertainment/working information supply was the good 'ol terrestrial radio, and yes, I've gotten some really far away stuff. That was about 60 miles inland from the Virginia Coast. I don't generally log my DX'ing, just enjoy it, but I do recall after Fran ('95) and Isabel ('03) hearing a few Spanish language stations that definitely weren't from the U.S.

The best way to describe what I heard was very clear for periods of 1-2 hours, then dropping out completely, sometimes to return, other times not. Before the storms, nothing seems to be any different or notable. Always after the fact and closely after the fact, within say the first 6 hours. SWLing was pretty darn good too, although not of much use for the local area.

 

[radioman148]

Anyone here ever FM DX during a hurricane? If you had unusual success, from which side or direction of the storm were you listening? Were you in it or ouside the area? If conditions are indeed enhanced, how would they be described? Would only the area up to the end of the outer rain bands fall under the impacted situation, or might the effect extend further than that?

During, I've usually been hiding..... ;D

However, immediately after the passing of a particularly big one, the only entertainment/working information supply was the good 'ol terrestrial radio, and yes, I've gotten some really far away stuff. That was about 60 miles inland from the Virginia Coast. I don't generally log my DX'ing, just enjoy it, but I do recall after Fran ('95) and Isabel ('03) hearing a few Spanish language stations that definitely weren't from the U.S.

The best way to describe what I heard was very clear for periods of 1-2 hours, then dropping out completely, sometimes to return, other times not. Before the storms, nothing seems to be any different or notable. Always after the fact and closely after the fact, within say the first 6 hours. SWLing was pretty darn good too, although not of much use for the local area.

Thanks for the report. I don't expect there are too many people that would take the time or effort to DX around a hurricane. (although I might if I lived in a hurricane area. )

 

[w9wi]

See FCC regulation 73.1250 on http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/octqtr/47cfr73.1250.htm.

As "borderblaster" says, there is no requirement for any kind of official declaration of emergency. And as (s?)he says, daytime-facilities-at-night operation must not include commercial material.

(f) AM stations may, without further FCC authority, use their full
daytime facilities during nighttime hours to broadcast emergency
information (examples listed in paragraph (a) of this section), when
necessary to the safety of life and property, in dangerous conditions of
a general nature and when adequate advance warning cannot be given with
the facilities authorized. Because of skywave interference impact on
other stations assigned to the same channel, such operation may be
undertaken only if regular, unlimited-time service, is non-existent,
inadequate from the standpoint of coverage, or not serving the public
need. All operation under this paragraph must be conducted on a
noncommercial basis. Recorded music may be used to the extent necessary
to provide program continuity.

 

[nocomradio]

Thanks for the report. I don't expect there are too many people that would take the time or effort to DX around a hurricane. (although I might if I lived in a hurricane area. )

This time, now that I am all set, prepped in advance and have everything ready, I just might........If you don't hear any DX reports from me on Monday, then I washed out to sea.

 

[Tincap]

BTW, a bit O/T, I've IDed one of those stations under WBBR as being KWKH Shreveport LA. They are a classic country station, but are currently running a local football game. I hear no sign of Detroit's WDFN, which must be deeply nulled in my direction, in order to protect WBBR.

~BG

Don't know all the details or where things stand now, but I do know that KWKH has been having some issues with work that's been going on with their DA and ground system. For a while they were on STA at 12.5kw ND. I'm not sure if this is still going on, but they've been heard all sort of places where they're normally invisible. Here in the Chicago area, they've been roaring in on occasion, which is normally not the case (except when on day power/ND at sunset/sunrise).

I'm rather surprised to hear KWKH, given how strong WBBR is here. Currently, they are clearly coming through underneath, with the game finished.

Semi-related vis-a-vis the approaching hurricane and DXing. Will the storm have a bearing on MW and/or FM DX conditions?

~BG

 

[jd]

I'm rather surprised to hear KWKH, given how strong WBBR is here. Currently, they are clearly coming through underneath, with the game finished.

KWKH is still running non-directional at night with 12.5kW. The narrative from the latest request to extend the STA mentions that work on their site can't be completed until a similar project at nearby KEEL 710 is done. (KEEL has been operating with reduced power as well, but unlike KWKH they've been operating with 12.5kW day and just 1.25kW night, non-directional at all hours.)

 

[radioman148]

I'm rather surprised to hear KWKH, given how strong WBBR is here. Currently, they are clearly coming through underneath, with the game finished.

KWKH is still running non-directional at night with 12.5kW. The narrative from the latest request to extend the STA mentions that work on their site can't be completed until a similar project at nearby KEEL 710 is done. (KEEL has been operating with reduced power as well, but unlike KWKH they've been operating with 12.5kW day and just 1.25kW night, non-directional at all hours.)

Haven't they been working on these towers for a long time?

 

[radioman148]

Thanks for the report. I don't expect there are too many people that would take the time or effort to DX around a hurricane. (although I might if I lived in a hurricane area. )

This time, now that I am all set, prepped in advance and have everything ready, I just might........If you don't hear any DX reports from me on Monday, then I washed out to sea.

Stay safe--but if you catch anything good let us know.

 

[mbatchelor]

BTW, a bit O/T, I've IDed one of those stations under WBBR as being KWKH Shreveport LA. They are a classic country station, but are currently running a local football game. I hear no sign of Detroit's WDFN, which must be deeply nulled in my direction, in order to protect WBBR.

~BG

Don't know all the details or where things stand now, but I do know that KWKH has been having some issues with work that's been going on with their DA and ground system. For a while they were on STA at 12.5kw ND. I'm not sure if this is still going on, but they've been heard all sort of places where they're normally invisible. Here in the Chicago area, they've been roaring in on occasion, which is normally not the case (except when on day power/ND at sunset/sunrise).

Been able to pick up KWKH in St. Louis right next to KMOX, even with the IBOC on... At times, it can even cause some interference at night to KMOX.

 

[jd]

Haven't they been working on these towers for a long time?

For the engineers at KWKH (and KEEL, too) it must seem like forever. The problem with the sites was identified several years ago and work began back in 2007. If things had gone smoothly they would have been done with it long ago.