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KMCQ off the air/KAFE 104.3 extremely faint

C

crainbebo

I just listened to my radio, and saw that 104.5 (KMCQ) is off the air with nothing but dead air. Must be the computer's fault!

Also, KAFE 104.3 is static without headphones, then it's extremely faint. Is IT on very low power, or is it off the air?

-crainbebo
 
Weren't they supposed to switch over to a temporary antenna while their new one is being installed? That would put them at low power at least.
 
I suspect the wind would be at fault, for KMCQ being off the air. But yea, I think KAFE is transmitting from their temporary antenna. Getting nothing but a faint signal from KMNT Centralia on 104.3 here in Federal Way, on my GE Superradio.
 
Well, KAFE has been virtually non-existent up here for 3 or 4 days now, except for a slight trace on the car radio when turning a certain direction. I can only assume that the KAFE-CHHR frequency swap is starting to unfold even though there is no mention of an upcoming change on either of the stations websites.
 
KMCQ has been on the air at least since yesterday afternoon at what seems like their previous strength.
 
KAFE has been noticeably faint even in Bellingham proper. I actually hear multipath and "picket fencing" around downtown....and even CHHR on 104.1. Which actually outblasts KAFE on Alabama Hill...for the time being....

I heard somewhere the KAFE switch to 104.1 should be official around the New Year's holiday.....
 
Question for Engineering Types

So I'm curious...when a station like KAFE does frequency change, what's involved at Transmitter end? Do any physical changes have to be done on antenna ... or is it just a matter of changing a "setting" on the x-mitter that would be similar to a music "key change"??
 
Re: Question for Engineering Types

LITTLEBOYBLUE said:
So I'm curious...when a station like KAFE does frequency change, what's involved at Transmitter end? Do any physical changes have to be done on antenna ... or is it just a matter of changing a "setting" on the x-mitter that would be similar to a music "key change"??
Click to expand...

Not quite that simple. Single station broadcast antennas are tuned to a specific frequency. Some are field tunable and can be adjusted to an adjacent channel without too much difficulty. Others can be a pain in the as*. Especially when you're hanging off the side of a tower in the winter.

The transmitter itself will need to be re-tuned. If it's a tube rig you've got cavity re-tuning (LOL) and driver and final tuning and loading controls. It's not that complex, just tedious adjustments.

In any event, it's a fairly big deal to even hop one or two channels. Suddenly tower geometry changes and SWR can go to hell, previously good co-ax runs can turn ugly. It can be a can of worms. Nice bucks for consultants though!
 
That's great for DX! KMCQ dosen't have IBOC, so 104.3 will be open in some directions, which means at the end of spring: TROPO AND E-SKIP!!!!

-crainbebo
 
I sure wouldn't want to be climbing that tower up on Orcas Island in the middle of winter. Brrrrr.
 
Re: Question for Engineering Types

TowerLamp said:
In any event, it's a fairly big deal to even hop one or two channels. Suddenly tower geometry changes and SWR can go to hell, previously good co-ax runs can turn ugly. It can be a can of worms. Nice bucks for consultants though!
Click to expand...

Thank you VERY MUCH. To me, this is huge potential of boards like this ... to learn more about what others contribute to the craft. I remember many of the big ol' herkin tube rigs (and so would WOLF, for sure!!) ... but my naive mind would have assumed with all the digital electronics that one might unlock a couple of gates and go in and say "ok...start jamming this crap out on 104.1 now...." and seal it back up again. Then again, with KKOL's ongoing threat to blow up an oil refinery ... I figured there is still potential for it to be a LITTLE more complex than that!!!
 
RE: Towerlamp,

Not to mention changing the frequency of the exciter. Which may or may not be frequency agile.

If not, then First is buying KAFE a new one that is.

First will be paying for all of KAFE's costs.

Yes, some fine engineers and tower guys will make nice money in this slow economy.

KAFE would be silly to not take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade some gear.
 
Recent vintage exciters are frequency agile. Retuning a even a tube rig to the adjacent channel is not usually worth writing home about. The antenna is another story. Some FM antennas are broadband enough to deal with a one channel change, but multi-bay antennas are physically spaced depending on the frequency, thus the whole antenna needs to be changed out.

I would guess that lower power operation would be required so as not to fry tower workers.
 
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