is the comcast structure already affecting mmr

[RunWithScissors]

Don't know if anyone else is having problems, the MMR signal is somewhat weaker and distorted. I usually listen in the Cherry Hill mall, the past few weeks they have been the weakest, when usually they are the strongest, in fact, STW has been bleeding in and out with a powerful signal. The only thing I noticed is a few large cranes above MMR's mast no actual building product as of now at the Comcast site. Can the cranes deflect the powerful signal and cause it to underproduce. I cannot comment on WRNB because I never listen to them, I don't know if they are affected in anyway due to their somewhat lower power. From what I heard, there is not going to be a tower mast on the Comcast site, so what does MMR do, go back to the PSFS.

 

[BRNout]

You're not imagining this by any means. I have noticed a definite and obvious degradation of signal from WRNB into eastern Chester County. It's struggling in areas where it came in fine (though never as strong as the Roxborough tx stations) until recently. It never occurred to me that the Comcast tower would be the reason - but it makes sense.

I wonder what will eventually be done to mitigate this issue.

 

[Jul]

You're not imagining this by any means. I have noticed a definite and obvious degradation of signal from WRNB into eastern Chester County. It's struggling in areas where it came in fine (though never as strong as the Roxborough tx stations) until recently. It never occurred to me that the Comcast tower would be the reason - but it makes sense.

I wonder what will eventually be done to mitigate this issue.

MMR and RNB better move their sticks to Roxborough or somewhere else so the signal won't be affected. People better starting e-mail and calling the stations and tell them that their signal is poor and needs to be corrected by moving the tower to another location.

 

[BRNout]

Not sure about WMMR, but I am pretty sure that WRNB cannot move to Roxborough due to their licensing and their short spacing to other stations to the north and west. Scott Fybush could certainly shed more light on this topic.

 

[Those RRRRs]

The only thing I noticed is a few large cranes above MMR's mast no actual building product as of now at the Comcast site.

For those of us who avoid Filthadelphia like the plague, which kind of site are you referring to? A new building or a communications tower? If there is no actual "building product," than I fail to see how such a site would affect MMR's signal. So far as the metal cranes are concerned, anyone who has ever been surrounded by a lot of metal (especially inside of a building) and has tried to tune into a particular station will tell you that it is usually more difficult. However, since FM is a horizontal signal, if the cranes are high enough above the tower, they shouldn't affect the signal too badly.

 

[Play Freebird]

Not sure about WMMR, but I am pretty sure that WRNB cannot move to Roxborough due to their licensing and their short spacing to other stations to the north and west. Scott Fybush could certainly shed more light on this topic.

WMMR cannot move to Roxborough as long as 103.9 WPPZ is there, due to the "IF spacing" requirement. The difference between 103.9 and 93.3 is 10.6 MHz, close enough to the standard FM intermediate frequency of 10.7 to cause interference on poorly-filtered receivers. The potential for this effect is greatest in areas where both signals are strong, which is why the FCC rules require separation.

WRNB has two contour overlap constraints that would prevent use of the Roxborough site: Co-Channel WKRF in Tobyhanna, PA (which transmits from Camelback Mtn.) and second adjacent WFKB in Boyertown. Also, it would be difficult to provide the required 70 dBu coverage over Pennsauken that far to the northwest.

 

[Jul]

WMMR cannot move to Roxborough as long as 103.9 WPPZ is there, due to the "IF spacing" requirement. The difference between 103.9 and 93.3 is 10.6 MHz, close enough to the standard FM intermediate frequency of 10.7 to cause interference on poorly-filtered receivers. The potential for this effect is greatest in areas where both signals are strong, which is why the FCC rules require separation.

WRNB has two contour overlap constraints that would prevent use of the Roxborough site: Co-Channel WKRF in Tobyhanna, PA (which transmits from Camelback Mtn.) and second adjacent WFKB in Boyertown. Also, it would be difficult to provide the required 70 dBu coverage over Pennsauken that far to the northwest.

Then where should MMR go to get better signal coverage or should 103.9 FM move out of Roxborough and let MMR in?

 

[Irishfl]

For those of us who avoid Filthadelphia like the plague, which kind of site are you referring to? A new building or a communications tower?

Its the comcast center, which will be the tallest building in Philadelphia when completed.

 

[BRNout]

However, since FM is a horizontal signal, if the cranes are high enough above the tower, they shouldn't affect the signal too badly.

Don't most FM stations now broadcast with a circular polarization?

The Comcast tower has now surpassed One Liberty Place in height and its relatively close by. Add the cranes at the top and it may be altering the RF patterns over downtown Philadelphia. All I know is that WRNB's signal is significantly weaker around Wayne and Berwyn than it was a month ago - not sure why, but the Comcast tower could be a reason.

 

[RunWithScissors]

I know the last month MMR has been more difficult to receive, the actual Comcast building is not over the antenna height of MMR but the cranes usually shadow the tower and are above the bays, this may deflect the signal. I was told if 103.9 affects MMR in any way they have to power down, this was a clause implemented years ago when IBF was moved to the Rox farm. 103.9 CANNOT cause any interference with MMR or must lower power. I always wrote comments on radio boards and to MMR asking them if they could buy the 103.9 signal, shut it down and put MMR in Rox, without any response. Bottom line: there is an effect on the Liberty One signals and it has to be connected with the Comcast project in some way. MMR was always the dominant signal in CC, South Philly, NJ, Delaware and points SE/SW, but now it seems its not. I know MMR moved off the PSFS when Liberty was built due to the fact it blocked their signal going west, but they may be forced to go back to 12th and Market with Comcast much closer to them now.

 

[Jul]

Has WMMR and WRNB both have contaced and is aware of the signal problems caused by the building. What about if 103.9 FM moves its tower to another location, will it solve the problems that is preventing MMR to come to Roxborough? http://wmmr.com/contact.shtml and http://www.1079wrnb.com/contactus.asp and http://www.1079wrnb.com/article.asp?id=67427

 

[eatspaste]

Has WMMR and WRNB both have contaced and is aware of the signal problems caused by the building. What about if 103.9 FM moves its tower to another location, will it solve the problems that is preventing MMR to come to Roxborough? http://wmmr.com/contact.shtml and http://www.1079wrnb.com/contactus.asp and http://www.1079wrnb.com/article.asp?id=67427

103.9 is landlocked where it is with 104.1-B to it's north, 103.7-B to it's southeast, 103.7-B to it's southwest. WMMR and WPPZ have to maintain their current spacing relative to each other now.

I'm sure WMMR and WRNB are aware that the tallest building in the history of the city is going up a couple of blocks away from their transmitters.

 

[Jul]

103.9 is landlocked where it is with 104.1-B to it's north, 103.7-B to it's southeast, 103.7-B to it's southwest. WMMR and WPPZ have to maintain their current spacing relative to each other now.

I'm sure WMMR and WRNB are aware that the tallest building in the history of the city is going up a couple of blocks away from their transmitters.

It's very clear to me that those 2 stations should have move their sticks to somewhere else last year. I hope they do it soon because they can't stay at the current site, that's for sure. Those 2 stations will be really dumb if they stayed there and the signal problems are still going on.

 

[amfmsw]

WMMR sounds fine at the shore, maybe even better. I thought those stations were moving to the new building. It is pretty impressive.

 

[eyg2181]

MMR is in fine here in Pottsville, but occasionally MMR will fade randomly in the Levittown area though, then its fine again

 

[RunWithScissors]

The cranes randomly move in different positions throughout the day, thus it can cause these two stations to fluxuate with their signal clarity. There are two main cranes that occasionally block the Liberty tower then they move out of the line of sight. This is a minor problem that will go away when the building is complete, but it wont solve the major problem of the main structure that will block the line of sight. I did write in my previous post there is no intention of a mast being installed on the new Comcast tower, just a finished off top, which means out of luck for the two Liberty One tenants.

 

[FrankB-town]

could there eventually be a mast on top of Comcast Center after its completed? that may be interesting..

 

[RunWithScissors]

The main report was Comcast has NO INTENTION of putting a mast on top of their new Rendell/Cohen establishment. This could present a problem with the two signals. The PSFS antenna was further from Liberty than Liberty is from Comcast and it caused problems, going west from what we all were informed of. I was always told the 25kw 800' backup antenna on PSFS still has a better range than Liberty does now. MMR used the 25kw-800' site until Liberty was finished, but they always maintained a good signal from that site, maybe they should just revert back to it now.

 

[StemCell]

I live a few blocks north of CC, WMMR has been distorted and overmodulated the past month or so. Could be the new structure. Good post and points.