KPVU running at higher power?

[purpledevil]

Coming home from Rosenberg today, I was scanning the dial and ran across KPVU running in mono at the intersection of the Southwest Fwy and 1092. No static, clear signal. I have never found 91.3 this far south before at their normal power of 9800 watts. I see they have a CP to increase power to 31kw, which seemingly would cover at least half of Houston north of 10 quite well. Does anyone know if they have begun testing at the higher power? Mike, CW?

 

[jd]

I see they have a CP to increase power to 31kw, which seemingly would cover at least half of Houston north of 10 quite well. Does anyone know if they have begun testing at the higher power?

They might have been testing, but I haven't seen any mention of that on the FCC site. It would be really soon for that, since the application was approved just over two months ago. CW probably knows if they got a head start on the upgrade.

By going from 9800 to 31,000 watts ERP KPVU is definitely going to be easier to hear in Houston, but I think you're being a little generous. If you're looking at coverage maps from Radio-Locator the inner circle (60 dBu "service" area) is the one that counts. When it comes to city grade it's 70dBu, a somewhat smaller circle which is not shown. The new pattern is still directional and the flattened out "circle" (more noticeable on the FCC map at www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1135159.html) protects two co-channel stations, KNCT in Killeen and KVLU in Beaumont. The result is that even with the higher power they still can't send too much more signal to the east.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The KPVU signal seems to be at normal strength at my Cy-Fair location at a midday check. It will definitely be noticeable here when the increased power kicks in.

 

[Mike O]

Coming home from Rosenberg today, I was scanning the dial and ran across KPVU running in mono at the intersection of the Southwest Fwy and 1092. No static, clear signal. I have never found 91.3 this far south before at their normal power of 9800 watts. I see they have a CP to increase power to 31kw, which seemingly would cover at least half of Houston north of 10 quite well. Does anyone know if they have begun testing at the higher power? Mike, CW?

Purpledevil, I don't think that KPVU is running higher power yet or even testing. KPVU did not receive Authorization for the 31kW pattern until July 24th, 2006 and a custom directional antenna must be made for the KPVU pattern. This usually takes a minimum of three months. It seems very early for them to be testing, but I know KPVU has been trying to get a better signal into the metro Houston area for some years and may be fast tracking the upgrade. Wish I had a better answer. Nothing has been filed with the FCC yet for Program Test Authority or a license.

I have noticed that "Bob FM" KTWL 105.3 has had a poor signal the last couple of days in the Galleria area and this is a station I have only received once or twice before. I think there is just a general enhancement of signals from the northwest.

When KPVU goes to the 31kW rig I should notice a some difference as the main lobe is from 50 degrees to 185 degrees, meaning that Houston will benefit from the full 31kW signal. Where I live {Voss/San Felipe} I currently receive ~47.12dbu, with the upgrade the signal will be ~52.43dbu, still a rim shot station, but hopefully stronger and more stable. KACC has 48.89dbu signal where I live and has a decent signal, it does fade and drop out while driving and occasionally mixes with other station(s). KJIC has a 51.69dbu signal and is solid and rarely drops out while driving around, so the upgrade could mean a much better signal.

Back to "Bob FM" I have been listening to the station and it is a good station. Congratulations to Roy Henderson for putting a good sounding station on the air here. I've ragged on him enough that I should give him credit for a job well done. I can pick up "Bob FM" on the radio in my SUV, but KSMG "Magic 105" from Segiun/San Antonio tears up KTWL in a lot of places. I also get a Spanish language station on many occassions. Closest I can find is XHPAGFM (a seven letter call sign, only Mexico) from Monterrey that is a Class C with 100kW around 400m IIRC. Anyone know if that is the station causing interferenec to ""Bob FM"? The nearest domestic Spanish language FM is a Class A in OK.

Mike O

 

[Mediafrog+]

Closest I can find is XHPAGFM (a seven letter call sign, only Mexico) from Monterrey that is a Class C with 100kW around 400m IIRC. Anyone know if that is the station causing interferenec to ""Bob FM"?

Before KEZB (now KTWL) signed on, I heard XHPAG-FM (five letters plus suffix, according to their owner's website) on a number of occasions when tropo was just right.

I've never really had much luck with FM tropo from Monterrey, even when RGV stations are booming in. Perhaps too far inland, or terrain issues.

 

[Mike O]

Closest I can find is XHPAGFM (a seven letter call sign, only Mexico) from Monterrey that is a Class C with 100kW around 400m IIRC. Anyone know if that is the station causing interferenec to ""Bob FM"?

Before KEZB (now KTWL) signed on, I heard XHPAG-FM (five letters plus suffix, according to their owner's website) on a number of occasions when tropo was just right.

I've never really had much luck with FM tropo from Monterrey, even when RGV stations are booming in. Perhaps too far inland, or terrain issues.

Thanks Mediafrog+, the FCC has the call as a seven letter, but the XHPAG-FM makes more sense. That is most likely the Spanish language station that pops in and out over KTWL when I am driving. Driving from Voss and the Katy Frwy, the North Loop and up the North Frwy to Spring, KSMG really tears into KTWL most of the way. It gets less severe as you get near FM1960, but Magic 105 still pops in over Bob FM. I think that KSMG is going to be a problem for KTWL even with the upgrade.

I haven't been up to The Woodlands so don't know if KTWL is any less prone to interference from KSMG? I don't know how raising the height and lowering the power is going to really accomplish much, but Roy Henderson swears that it will place a good signal over The Woodlands.

Unfortunately there is just no way to move the antenna into The Woodlands, KTWL just barely clears other stations in it's present location.

Mike O

 

[purpledevil]

I see they have a CP to increase power to 31kw, which seemingly would cover at least half of Houston north of 10 quite well. Does anyone know if they have begun testing at the higher power?

They might have been testing, but I haven't seen any mention of that on the FCC site. It would be really soon for that, since the application was approved just over two months ago. CW probably knows if they got a head start on the upgrade.

By going from 9800 to 31,000 watts ERP KPVU is definitely going to be easier to hear in Houston, but I think you're being a little generous. If you're looking at coverage maps from Radio-Locator the inner circle (60 dBu "service" area) is the one that counts. When it comes to city grade it's 70dBu, a somewhat smaller circle which is not shown. The new pattern is still directional and the flattened out "circle" (more noticeable on the FCC map at www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1135159.html) protects two co-channel stations, KNCT in Killeen and KVLU in Beaumont. The result is that even with the higher power they still can't send too much more signal to the east.

Yep, looks like you are right about that. Coverage map looks like it sends a nice signal down to the south, right in the direction I heard KPVU so strongly. Mainly going to hit the nothern and western areas of Houston, but a definite improvement from it's current 9800w product.

Mike, there are some mornings that I am making my way down 290 and KTWL has an even harder time getting to Houston than I am. I get past Waller and KTWL starts getting beat up from mainly KSMG, others, it's as if the signal is just dropping to dead air. Rare to get in to the JV area with a listenable signal before mid morning.

 

[Mike O]

Mike, there are some mornings that I am making my way down 290 and KTWL has an even harder time getting to Houston than I am. I get past Waller and KTWL starts getting beat up from mainly KSMG, others, it's as if the signal is just dropping to dead air. Rare to get in to the JV area with a listenable signal before mid morning.

Purpledevil Thanks for the report on KTWL's signal from the far west/northwest side of metro Houston. I wondered how the signal fared. I do not see how KTWL will every be a significant player in The Woodlands half the time. Do you think the upgrade will make any difference? Also do you get a Spanish language station in the mix on 105.3? Best I can guess is Monterrey which has a Class C station. There are no Spanish language stations in Texas and only a low power Class A in OK on 105.3.

KTWL has plenty of ads for The Woodlands, but that could come to a quick end when the companies buying time can't hear their ads. I have tried every way to Sunday to find a way to move 105.3 to The Woodlands, but it is shoehorned in the only place the signal will fit and it barely clears at that. It looks like find a place for a station and then call the COL Navasota.

I don't envy you your drive in on 290 from past Waller, I've done the AM rush from Cypress a few times and it is bitch.

Mike O

 

[purpledevil]

Ha ha..isn't it the truth? 290 is one hell of a mess most every morning. You know Mike, I don't hear a Spanish station on 105.3 ever. I have heard KPTI coming in on some mornings, which surprises me considering their limited signal and far proximity from places like JV, and Cypress. I can't imagine what Roy is going to think after he spends this money to upgrade KTWL and KPTI comes in and blankets it almost to Waller. It's bound to get even more interesting once KPTI goes 50kw, and the sea breeze blows the signal all over Bob every morning. I know they have taken measurements as to how far the signal for Bob is supposed to go with the taller antenna, but have they taken in to consideration how much farther the signal of KPTI is going to stretch after their upgrade?

 

[jd]

I can't imagine what Roy is going to think after he spends this money to upgrade KTWL and KPTI comes in and blankets it almost to Waller. It's bound to get even more interesting once KPTI goes 50kw, and the sea breeze blows the signal all over Bob every morning.

Mike O speculated that we'll know something by the end of the year about the planned upgrade for KPTI. But there has been no recent activity in Docket 02-212, which includes the proposal to change KPTI's COL (Community of License) from Crystal Beach to Winnie and upgrade from a Class A to a C2. It may never happen.

To review, under the original Tichenor proposal for rulemaking to amend the table of allocations, KKHT-FM 100.7 (previously KOBT) would also change their COL to Lumberton (with no technical changes) and a proposal to allocate a new Class A station on 105.3 just over the border in Vinton LA would be denied. With the sale of 100.7 to Salem the issue became further complicated, since they have nothing to gain in this. Furthermore, the person who had proposed the Vinton allocation is Charles Crawford, who has a pretty good track record in getting similar proposals approved, even when facing stiff competition. He just might win this one too, and KPTI may be permanently pinned into their present site in Crystal Beach.

I know they have taken measurements as to how far the signal for Bob is supposed to go with the taller antenna, but have they taken in to consideration how much farther the signal of KPTI is going to stretch after their upgrade?

That's a good point. From a technical standpoint the current spacing to KPTI was not a factor when Bob (KTWL) applied for their higher antenna, but going for the height versus power advantage would be preferable should KPTI be upgraded. Call it hedging your bet, I guess. Conversely, the proposed rulemaking that would allow KPTI to increase power had only KTWL's current coverage (a pre-existing condition, as it were) to consider back in 2001. An upgraded KPTI's city grade contour would cut through the middle of Baytown and would certainly add to KTWL's problems since they struggle to get into The Woodlands. Under FCC rules the spacing of the two stations would be adequate:KTWL (Class C3) and proposed KPTI (Class C2) would be separated by 178 kilometers (110 miles), clearing the required distance by one kilometer. But in practice it could be a real mess where the signals would collide to the north and west of Houston. Incidentally, it looks like the higher antenna for Bob, considering the corresponding reduction in power from 9,200 to 5,400 watts ERP might increase the radius of their coverage area by about one mile. But would the extra height help to combat any future interference from an upgraded KPTI?

 

[Mike O]

jd, I'll admit the KPTI/KKHT/Vinton/Crystal Beach station move is the usual mess and nothing has happened in two years, but the FCC wants to end changing COL a Major Modification and make it a Minor Mod. I really don't feel like wading through all the FCC paperwork to find the specifics, but will if you want the official FCC wording. Univision still owns KPTI and if they can move to Winnie as a Class C2 it will give them coverage of Party (if they simulcast) from Katy into Louisiana. A few things in the FCC proposal was that a person/company competing against you for a slot could be paid to drop their application. A city/town losing a station did not have to be backfilled with a replacement station and the FCC wanted all the competing applications cleaned up by the end of 2006 or they would become void.

KSET has been off the air over a year, but I don't think the FCC will delete the station due to Katrina. KSET is suppose to move from Silsbee to Lumberton. I don't really see any gain from this as both towns are about the same size, it could cause more damage from the people in Silsbee that are pissed their station is moving a few miles down the road. Personally I feel that was a bad move on KSET's part. Then it could mean nothing. The month I spent in Silsbee on a project, I never heard KSET mentioned once or heard it on anyone's radio. Salem may not have to do a thing, just stay a Winnie station and not move to Lumberton. The company with the most to gain is Univision and they can pay off Crawford who would take the money and move on to his next new station. Univision moves KPTI off that miserable sandbar to Winnie which winds up with two stations and upgrades KPTI so Party is nearly on par with KBXX and KLOL, at least on the east side. KPTI would pick up most of the Tarnished Triangle and should make it into Galveston and Texas City as a rim shot. Better than they are now at the far end of the Peninsula with 6kW on a 56m stick. Vinton gets nothing and Lumberton gets KSET 1300 whenever it comes back on the air. Crazy, yes, but not as nuts as the D-FW moves that happened and are the moves presently occurring in AUS-SA. How did Houston get left out of this manuevering and only get 103.7? Or is Houston the next area for a big realignment of stations in the SE Texas area, along with Louisiana and The Coastal Bend?

The next move is to get KSTB 101.5 back to the Bay Area, except Cumulus owns the station and simulcasts KAYD 101.7 Silsbee and is probably a fair fit where it is and Cumulus is unlikely to try and move KSTB back to The Bay Area. It would take a Waiver or two anyway as it would be short spaced to KLOL and KMJQ.

The possibilities are numerous from nothing happening and everything stays status quo to KKHT moving to Lumberton, althought as you stated Salem has nothing to gain from this move and it places the station much further away from Houston as away COL. I don't see Salem moving to Lumberton. Likely KPTI moves to Winnie as the second station and upgrades to C2 and KSET moves to Lumberton. Vinton is dropped as a new station and KKHT stays put.

KSTB stays on the sandbar and simulcasts KAYD for the foreseeable future.

Like I said before we should know in January 2007 how this all plays out.

Mike O

 

[jd]

The FCC wants to end changing COL a Major Modification and make it a Minor Mod. I really don't feel like wading through all the FCC paperwork to find the specifics, but will if you want the official FCC wording.

Thanks for the comments, Mike. Actually I'm familiar with the proposal and its numerous suggestions for streamlining the whole filing procedure, not the least of which is limiting the number of moves involved to make a reallocation possible. The original proposal from First Broadcasting got mixed reviews from other broadcast groups, but certainly no one can deny that something needs to be done. There are many interesting points in the proposal, including charging fees for filing petitions to amend the table of allocations, deleting "unnecessary" allocations, and the suggested 90-day "settlement window." Here's the report: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-120A1.pdf

The trick is getting this approved, and that may take a while. I'm all for it if it can clear out the logjam of frivolous applications and bring the whole allocation process into the 21st century. The good news is that something is happening and it's going to get really interesting soon.

I've been looking over comments regarding a request for a new allocation in Normangee TX, population 719, and I think it points up the need for assigning channels on a regional basis instead of by specific community. It only makes sense. Stop the "COL" charade and look at the big picture: providing service and variety to the places that need it in an eqitable manner. It it means redefining "community" and "service," or even revising some technical aspects of the rules such as mileage or channel separation, then so be it. Could we see a "major," and at the same time "fair" reallocation of FM channels, or a way to improve inadequate AM station coverage in the Houston area? If common sense prevails, it's entirely possible.

 

[Mike O]

jd, many Thanks for the NPRM on COL, etc, it is greatly appreciated. Will reread tonight and see what I remembered correctly. Something has to be done to speed up many processess at the FCC. They are over three years behind in the "Great Translator Invasion of '03" and no where near completion. In fact they haven't even tackled the more difficult issues where there may be mutually exclusive apps in the larger metro areas like Houston. The AM Major Modification window is going on three years old this January and the surface has only been scratched. Daily activities are taking months, basically a cluster f.

You certainly have my curiousity piqued that "something is happening and it is going to get really interesting soon". Add this to the comment from the gentleman that is leaving BizRadio for CNN 650 and that there will be technological advances made there (KIKK) very shortly. It could just be studios and processing abilities or it could be that 650 is finally going to move from 650 to 640 or 670kHz with substantial power fulltime.

KTIB 640 Thibodaux, LA is in Bankruptcy proceeding and is also damaged from Hurricane Katrina and could well be deleted from the database leaving either 640 or 670 for KIKK to move to and have the bulk of the signal sent into Louisiana, as it can not go very far north due to KSKY 660 Dallas having a signal down into the northern fringes of metro Houston. The signal also can not go very far west with San Antonio's 630 KSLR and 680 KKYX and would have to be a pattern similiar to 850 KEYH. It is possible though and would give KIKK a fulltime signal in most of metro Houston.

Off topic: If you wondered where all the cars are coming from, Houston added 61,300 new jobs between July 2005 to July 2006 or 168 new jobs every day of the year. Houston was #7 in the number of new jobs added by any city in the US the past year. This from Bizjournals at www.bizjournals.com/specials/pages/37.html

A city growing as fast as Houston could certainly use some more radio stations and there are some spots on the dial like 94.9 & 95.3 FM that could support stations. Also if Waivers were issued for spacing requirements we could fit in more stations. If the FCC can short space two Class C FM's in Austin at 50km instead of 105km with no apparent problems, it could be done here. True these are very old assignments and Grandfathered.

While it was tried several times in Los Angeles and at least once in Dallas and all failed, i wonder if an All Traffic station would survive in Houston?

KIKR 1450 Beaumont had their application to construct a new antenna approved by the FCC. It will have little if any effect on the signal in Houston. KIKR is decreasing height and RMS and the pattern will be at best a kilometer less in coverage than the old antenna. The signal in The Galleria area is poor, infact I get a better signal out near Cypress at this time, but there is interference under KIKR, even during the day.

Mike O