KOSI 101.1 in Denver bleeding in on KZNT The Answer(Colorado Springs) in Falcon, CO.

[briansmac]

There has to be a clearer channel for KZNT to broadcast on FM. The KOSI signal constantly flutters and picket fences over KZNT to the point we can't listen on the FM and have to switch to the AM1460 signal.

 

[ZantennaG1]

There has to be a clearer channel for KZNT to broadcast on FM. The KOSI signal constantly flutters and picket fences over KZNT to the point we can't listen on the FM and have to switch to the AM1460 signal.

There's a couple of factors at play here:
First, your location (Falcon, or a good clip Northeast of the Springs) is less favorable to KZNT's translator, and more favorable to KOSI.

Despite this, I think the root of this may be some Tropo, especially if this is the first/only time that KOSI has done that to you. I'm on the other side of the Front Range, and even during day-to-day conditions, the Denver stations like to mess with my local translators often. However, my city's terrain funnels in Denver stations really well. However, when it's 9pm, like when you posted this, tropo can exaggerate the interference you get.

Also, I agree with you that short spacing stations is a recipe for disaster on FM, but the Springs dial is so full that co-channels are inevitable. However, 104.7 looks good! The adjacent signals on 104.5 and 104.9 are moderate to weak anyways, and 104.7 Denver is a translator itself, so that would help with picket fencing. Maybe KZNT should consider it, but I doubt they will.

In the meantime, check to see if certain times of day are better/worse for interfering with your station, and 1460 provides better coverage as it is.

 

[Voicetrack of Reason]

Point of order, wise gentlemen... As I recall, 104.7 is/was a vacant allocation at Calhan, that previously sold for more than a couple million bucks, and was passed around among some well known, delusional spectrum speculators, all of whom failed to conduct proper due diligence. There is an AM station nearby, that possibly could have been used to backfill Calhan, but the owner wisely told the charletans in question to go pound a sand dune. In any event, I don't believe a vacant allocation can be used as a translator.

This is just more evidence that you can't fix AM on FM, using a flimsy translator. But that's another discussion entirely.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Point of order, wise gentlemen... As I recall, 104.7 is/was a vacant allocation at Calhan,

Ah yes, the good old KKCS that ran K-LOVE programming before switching with 106.9.

that previously sold for more than a couple million bucks, and was passed around among some well known, delusional spectrum speculators, all of whom failed to conduct proper due diligence. There is an AM station nearby, that possibly could have been used to backfill Calhan,

I noticed that the old KKCS tower is decent pace eastward from the Springs, which would make it a rimshot signal.

In any event, I don't believe a vacant allocation can be used as a translator.

The license was canceled on 2019. Maybe there's a chance here?

This is just more evidence that you can't fix AM on FM, using a flimsy translator. But that's another discussion entirely.

Full power FM's would've been the way to go. Right now, the translator does benefit from less RFI noise, and better quality sound, but putting the AM station on a 250 watt translator takes away the main benefit of AM, which is exceptional distance. When I get out of range of a translator, I immediately go to the AM band, because I know it will last me for a while. And people don't get that you don't need FM quality to listen to talk radio. Music is a slightly different story, but still relegating AM to a translator is not the best we can do.

 

[briansmac]

There's a couple of factors at play here:
First, your location (Falcon, or a good clip Northeast of the Springs) is less favorable to KZNT's translator, and more favorable to KOSI.

Despite this, I think the root of this may be some Tropo, especially if this is the first/only time that KOSI has done that to you. I'm on the other side of the Front Range, and even during day-to-day conditions, the Denver stations like to mess with my local translators often. However, my city's terrain funnels in Denver stations really well. However, when it's 9pm, like when you posted this, tropo can exaggerate the interference you get.

Also, I agree with you that short spacing stations is a recipe for disaster on FM, but the Springs dial is so full that co-channels are inevitable. However, 104.7 looks good! The adjacent signals on 104.5 and 104.9 are moderate to weak anyways, and 104.7 Denver is a translator itself, so that would help with picket fencing. Maybe KZNT should consider it, but I doubt they will.

In the meantime, check to see if certain times of day are better/worse for interfering with your station, and 1460 provides better coverage as it is.

KOSI bleeds over I have noticed in the mornings on my way to work from Garrett Rd heading south on Highway 24. Once I reach Constitution Ave/24, the bleed over subsides but the HD radio tagging with KOSI identified still exists on my radio even though the mono low modulation KZNT signal is now in full control the farther south I travel. KZNT's suggestion is for me to stream KZNT on I-Heart to eliminate interference. This has been a problem for me because when I do stream KZNT using I-Heart or Audible streaming, The mono audio is barely listenable because of low modulation from the station. KZNT engineering has been notified to improve their signal both on air and also streaming.

 

[briansmac]

Ah yes, the good old KKCS that ran K-LOVE programming before switching with 106.9.

I noticed that the old KKCS tower is decent pace eastward from the Springs, which would make it a rimshot signal.

The license was canceled on 2019. Maybe there's a chance here?

Full power FM's would've been the way to go. Right now, the translator does benefit from less RFI noise, and better quality sound, but putting the AM station on a 250 watt translator takes away the main benefit of AM, which is exceptional distance. When I get out of range of a translator, I immediately go to the AM band, because I know it will last me for a while. And people don't get that you don't need FM quality to listen to talk radio. Music is a slightly different story, but still relegating AM to a translator is not the best we can do.

Has anyone noticed KZNT's fm 101.1 audio sounds like it is in a tunnel very often? I never hear this on the AM. Is this from poor fm modulation/translator since it is a mirror of the am1460 signal? It seems the fm signal is very poor quality, mono signal with no RDS. There is much improvement needed with KZNT's poor quality, low volume fm signal and its duplicated on the streaming services with low quality/modulation. Just my own observation.

 

[TheBigA]

Has anyone noticed KZNT's FM 101.1 audio sounds like it is in a tunnel very often? I never hear this on the AM.

Sounds like phase cancellation. How are they getting the signal to the translator? That could be the problem.

 

[ZantennaG1]

KOSI bleeds over I have noticed in the mornings

Radio stations travel just a bit farther during the mornings, and they come in stronger as well.

on my way to work from Garrett Rd heading south on Highway 24. Once I reach Constitution Ave/24, the bleed over subsides

Interesting that once you get right up on Cimarron Hills, then the bleedover stops.

but the HD radio tagging with KOSI identified still exists on my radio even though the mono low modulation KZNT signal is now in full control the farther south I travel. KZNT's suggestion is for me to stream KZNT on I-Heart to eliminate interference. This has been a problem for me because when I do stream KZNT using I-Heart or Audible streaming, The mono audio is barely listenable because of low modulation from the station. KZNT engineering has been notified to improve their signal both on air and also streaming.

Everybody's like "Just stream it already!" But as you proved, it doesn't always pan out.