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K271AH Translator: Mt. Vernon area/Camano Island

S

SeattleObserver

I heard this thing on Sunday (*GAG* at the audio fidelity...). Strangely, it is translating an AM station. I knew the FCC was allowing a few of these, but trying to navigate their site I could never find where this one got permission.

Initially it was supposed to translate KNHC and I sure as heck bet they wish it was.

Anyone got any insight? Also, if you see this, owners, please modulate for FM processing and hope the AM sounds "okay"? This 'Internet stream' quality audio is sad, even for the satellite oldies.

http://www.kbrcradio.com/
 
This translator has special temporary FCC approval to rebroadcast KBRC, Mt. Vernon.

Get the scoop from their application at the FCC:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...t=25&appn=101260846&formid=911&fac_num=148749

There is no excuse for lousy audio, even on a budget. They're not picking up the AM on a tuner and rebroadcasting it or there would be no nighttime signal, which there is. Of course, audio quality is in the ear of the beholder.


-The Knob
 
SeattleObserver said:
I heard this thing on Sunday (*GAG* at the audio fidelity...). Strangely, it is translating an AM station. I knew the FCC was allowing a few of these, but trying to navigate their site I could never find where this one got permission.

Initially it was supposed to translate KNHC and I sure as heck bet they wish it was.

Anyone got any insight? Also, if you see this, owners, please modulate for FM processing and hope the AM sounds "okay"? This 'Internet stream' quality audio is sad, even for the satellite oldies.

http://www.kbrcradio.com/
Click to expand...

It's been on the air for about a month. It was a EMF translator permit until Jim Keane bought it. My guess is it's just a supplement to KBRC. Many AM stations are looking for FM translators and this is one of many yet to come. It sounds like a standard AM radio hooked to an FM transmitter and nothing more. Indeed I think if you go FM in any capacity, audio quality - especially if you're a music station should be a major factor than just some plug it in an AM radio and forget it thing
 
As a former news dood and jock on KBRC back in the 80s, it was really hard to listen to this translator a couple of weekends ago. We were actually once proud of our AM sound and fidelity. Really. We were the only stereo AM in that part of the world, our processing was fairly aggressive, our transmitter state of the art. After my morning shift I would spend hours at the station, working on promotions, music specials, interesting local spots, and so forth.

We were profitable.

Unfortunately, the rest of our regional chain was not, so the ol' 1430 was sold off to a local family that ran the other AM, and on to the bird it went. And every time I get in the valley it sounds worse and worse. Apparently, local ownership does not always make for a better station. I suspect for every Bill W there is a Jim K...

There is no excuse for that translator to sound like that. They cannot be getting the signal off air, at least at night, so it is being wired in somehow (DSL, I would guess) and since that is the case the signal is coming right off the board; it still sounds like a bad pirate.

Shame on you, Jim. No excuse for this waste of bandwidth.
 
Haven't heard it so can't comment on audio quality, but even with a DSL feed, there should be at least an inexpensive FM audio processor at the translator site.

Since the FCC apparently doesn't have the resources or concern about these things anymore, and since most stations don't have an engineer on staff, quality often suffers.

Too bad; AM talk stations are finding a new, younger audience with an FM rebroadcast, whether it be a translator or a simulcast. But if the audio isn't up to FM standards, will these new listeners keep listening?

In my market, the competition consistently overmodulates, and not just a little. One classic rock station has been running with the stereo pilot at 13-14% for a long time (limit is 10%). They don't sound bad, just way too loud.
 
No, but I spent a night there once. Native of Washington State.
 
The fact is NOBODY in Mount Vernon has listened to KBRC since they went on the bird. Just for Seahawks and M's games and that's IT. Nothing else. They usually listen to KISM for the classic rock hits anyway. Even KWLE has more listeners than KBRC and KAPS combined (at least KWLE has a more generous amount of locally produced programming. And a less cheesy bird format) Don't know what's kept Keane going with these stations.....
 
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