KNX onto … 97.1??

[MarkW]

It took Newsradio WBBM in Chicago quite a while to realize significant AQH share accretion after adding its FM simulcast.

The same could hold true in L.A.

Given all that's happening in the world right now plus the upcoming autumn 2022 elections, I think now was as good of time as any to add the FM simulcast.

 

[TomásEstefan]

Im not sure that applies to Class D's.

I ran a Class D AM and my transmitter at the time couldnt make the low double digits night power, so id sign off each night at sunset.

A simple way to circumvent the rules would be to simply to sign off and leave the carrier wave on for the minimum required amount of hours, and I.D. the station hourly as required. As the FCC has stated many times that they have no authority over "program content", the rules should be thus satisfied.

 

[Ryan Williams]

KBRT is owned by Crawford, which run tip-top engineered facilities, including 740. For example, they usually have some of the best if not the best am audio processing in the market. I heard this not too long ago in Denver. This doesn't mean they never have an equipment failure, but they do not play willy-nilly with FCC rules.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

KBRT is owned by Crawford, which run tip-top engineered facilities, including 740. For example, they usually have some of the best if not the best am audio processing in the market. I heard this not too long ago in Denver. This doesn't mean they never have an equipment failure, but they do not play willy-nilly with FCC rules.

Best audio?

The HD on 560 when i heard it sound like low bit gurggly crap.. the hissy analog sounded better

 

[ThePowerCow]

KBRT is owned by Crawford, which run tip-top engineered facilities, including 740. For example, they usually have some of the best if not the best am audio processing in the market. I heard this not too long ago in Denver. This doesn't mean they never have an equipment failure, but they do not play willy-nilly with FCC rules.

KBRT had a show that had all the engineers explaining the complex move off the island while staying out of KCBS' way. I think I recall that they had to get out of there in a hurry. Fascinating stuff.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Best audio?

The HD on 560 when i heard it sound like low bit gurggly crap.. the hissy analog sounded better

I didn't have an HD radio with me on that trip, so I can't comment on KLZ's HD audio. However, on an analog radio in Colorado, 560, 670, and 1220 sounded better than anything else on the am dial. Including 850, 630, etc. They were louder and brighter and cleaner to my ears.

A lot of Crawford's stations carry syndicated or block programming, which have dramatically different levels of engineering and production values from program to program.

It is worth noting that audio processing is somewhat subjective.

If you ever read Crawford's Local Oscillator newsletter you will see they buy high end equipment (including the latest and greatest Omnia processors) and spend a lot to keep their plants well maintained.

 

[ZantennaG1]

I didn't have an HD radio with me on that trip, so I can't comment on KLZ's HD audio. However, on an analog radio in Colorado, 560, 670, and 1220 sounded better than anything else on the am dial. Including 850, 630, etc. They were louder and brighter and cleaner to my ears.

A lot of Crawford's stations carry syndicated or block programming, which have dramatically different levels of engineering and production values from program to program.

It is worth noting that audio processing is somewhat subjective.

If you ever read Crawford's Local Oscillator newsletter you will see they buy high end equipment (including the latest and greatest Omnia processors) and spend a lot to keep their plants well maintained.

KLZ does have decent HD audio, but you can tell the digital tin sound during some conversations. But then again, you can hear it on all HD/AM's and, of course SiriusXM. As for coverage, KLZ's HD signal is consistent on a car radio in Cheyenne except for noisy spots. On my Sangean, some areas lock in better than others. As for audio but though, KLZ/Crawford doesn't mess around

 

[TomásEstefan]

I didn't have an HD radio with me on that trip, so I can't comment on KLZ's HD audio. However, on an analog radio in Colorado, 560, 670, and 1220 sounded better than anything else on the am dial. Including 850, 630, etc. They were louder and brighter and cleaner to my ears.

A lot of Crawford's stations carry syndicated or block programming, which have dramatically different levels of engineering and production values from program to program.

It is worth noting that audio processing is somewhat subjective.

If you ever read Crawford's Local Oscillator newsletter you will see they buy high end equipment (including the latest and greatest Omnia processors) and spend a lot to keep their plants well maintained.

Audio processing is absolutely subjective. It's simply my personal opinion that KCBS 740 has probably the closest audio to "FM" I have ever heard using my various (I have 3) wide-band AM receivers.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

If you ever read Crawford's Local Oscillator newsletter you will see they buy high end equipment (including the latest and greatest Omnia processors) and spend a lot to keep their plants well maintained.

i read it. .forgive the pun..fairly religiously.. every month.. and was even features in it in the birmingham section back about 2 years ago after logging 101.1 Cullman, AL in WY

 

[K.M. Richards]

Im not sure that applies to Class D's.

I ran a Class D AM and my transmitter at the time couldnt make the low double digits night power, so id sign off each night at sunset.

Mind if I ask, Paul, why you didn't file the appropriate paperwork with the FCC to stay legal as a daytimer?

 

[K.M. Richards]

KBRT is owned by Crawford, which run tip-top engineered facilities, including 740. For example, they usually have some of the best if not the best am audio processing in the market. I heard this not too long ago in Denver. This doesn't mean they never have an equipment failure, but they do not play willy-nilly with FCC rules.

Which makes it even more puzzling to me that they are apparently abandoning the nighttime authorization without going through the proper legal process.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Mind if I ask, Paul, why you didn't file the appropriate paperwork with the FCC to stay legal as a daytimer?

This is why @K.M. Richards :

47 CFR § 73.1740 - Minimum operating schedule.​

Class D stations which have been authorized nighttime operations need comply only with the minimum requirements for operation between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., local time.

The station I was at is a Class D

KBRT 740 is a Class D.. they dont need to abide by the "and at least 2/3 of their authorized hours between 6PM and Midnight." rule either

 

[K.M. Richards]

I wish you'd spoken up earlier, Paul. Would have saved me a lot of time with Tomás. 😶

Seriously, I'm a programmer and not an engineer. The last time I held the "Chief Operator" designation was in 1989, at a Class A FM which didn't obligate me to know anything about AM-specific rules.

From a personal perspective which includes my liking things nice and neat without loose ends, I still think it would be better for Crawford to just turn in the night authorization to the FCC for cancellation.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I wish you'd spoken up earlier, Paul. Would have saved me a lot of time with Tomás. 😶

Seriously, I'm a programmer and not an engineer. The last time I held the "Chief Operator" designation was in 1989, at a Class A FM which didn't obligate me to know anything about AM-specific rules.

From a personal perspective which includes my liking things nice and neat without loose ends, I still think it would be better for Crawford to just turn in the night authorization to the FCC for cancellation.

No... that would be STUPID! no reason to cancel it. they dont have to use it, but they can.. if they cancel it, they can never use it again.

Not that anyones listening, but that night signal covers many tens of thousands of people.. maybe a few hundred thousand... its worth something.

and no night signal automatically devalues it if they ever try and sell it

 

[asugeorge1]

No... that would be STUPID! no reason to cancel it. they dont have to use it, but they can.. if they cancel it, they can never use it again.

Not that anyones listening, but that night signal covers many tens of thousands of people.. maybe a few hundred thousand... its worth something.

and no night signal automatically devalues it if they ever try and sell it

Very true. KBRT’s night-time signal is not strong enough to cover much, but enough to harm any reception of KCBS in the Southland. Hopefully this is a permanent thing and not temporary for KBRT!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Very true. KBRT’s night-time signal is not strong enough to cover much, but enough to harm any reception of KCBS in the Southland. Hopefully this is a permanent thing and not temporary for KBRT!

Once they ditch it, they also cant reapply for it, most likely... because then they lose it and if they filed for it again, would likely get even less than 190 watts.

 

[Ryan Williams]

190 watts at night on AM isn't enough to get the job done in Oxnard (forget Ventura), much less in the greatly more dense and noisy OC. Totally DOA. If the FCC ever does relax AM protection rules, as has been proposed in the past, then maybe they can up the power substantially.

 

[K.M. Richards]

190 watts at night on AM isn't enough to get the job done in Oxnard (forget Ventura), much less in the greatly more dense and noisy OC. Totally DOA. If the FCC ever does relax AM protection rules, as has been proposed in the past, then maybe they can up the power substantially.

I think there will be a lot of rethinking of the AM band at the FCC as more stations go permanently silent due to tower locations being worth more for the real estate. Perhaps a window to file for improved facilities (even including frequency changes) is in our future.

But I don't think keeping a lightbulb-wattage night authorization will have any effect on that, or even on the viability of selling. Anyone doing due diligence before a sale would likely say "why bother?" unless the station in question was in a non-urban area where that low wattage might cover the primary service area adequately. I doubt that is the case with KBRT, or Crawford would keep running it.

Interestingly enough, in the Oxnard-Ventura and Santa Barbara markets combined there is exactly one AM with a night authorization lower than 500 watts (KZSB/1290 at 120 watts, which started as daytimer KACL in 1962 with 500 watts and never went higher). Even 990 in S.B., which was also a daytimer when it signed on as KGUD in 1963, managed to eventually upgrade to 500 watts at night from its original 117 lightbulb authorization. (it's presently 5kw day/500w night).