KDFC getting a South Bay translator

[FightingIrish]

In an application accepted for filing by the FCC today, the owner of Santa Cruz public radio station KUSP is proposing the transfer of its Los Gatos translator at 90.3 FM to Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN) for use in rebroadcasting KDFC out of Angwin. According to an asset purchase agreement dated October 24, 2011, the owner of KUSP, Pataphysical Broadcasting Foundation, will receive $205,000 for the sale of the translator, pending FCC approval.

http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/1...o-south-bay-with-purchase-of-kusp-translator/

 

[recto101]

I knew this would happen at some point.

 

[DaveBayArea]

Wow. $205,000 for a grandfathered low-power translator, with no possibility of increasing power since 90.5, KSJS moved to Coyote Peak several years ago. That signal is 16 watts ERP. It seems like a lot of money, but I guess if they get 400 subscribers to sign up for $50 per year for 10 years that would pay for it. Still, it seems like a stretch.

Dave B.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Wow. $205,000 for a grandfathered low-power translator, with no possibility of increasing power since 90.5, KSJS moved to Coyote Peak several years ago. That signal is 16 watts ERP.

I am not in the Bay area so I am unfamiliar with the situation, but if only one station prevents the translator from increasing its ERP, wouldn't changing the translator's antenna to a directional one allow substantially higher ERP in all directions except toward KSJS? Unless the translator is already directional and as long as KSJS does not lie in the only direction in which an ERP increase would enable the translator to reach a significantly larger population, it would appear beneficial for the translator to go directional.

 

[DaveBayArea]

I am not in the Bay area so I am unfamiliar with the situation, but if only one station prevents the translator from increasing its ERP, wouldn't changing the translator's antenna to a directional one allow substantially higher ERP in all directions except toward KSJS? Unless the translator is already directional and as long as KSJS does not lie in the only direction in which an ERP increase would enable the translator to reach a significantly larger population, it would appear beneficial for the translator to go directional.

It's already directional away from Coyote, and the translator's entire coverage area is within KSJS's protected contour, including the transmitter site itself. There's more stations than that, also. They're hemmed in to the NorthEast by KZSU (Stanford University). I remember hearing from the KUSP engineer a few years back that they were fearful they would lose it. But fortunately, nobody complained of interference so the two stations still co-exist on adjacent channels. Realistically, it works fine on most modern radios.

Dave B.