KSBJ's Sugar Land translator

[jd]

Their plans to move off of 99.7, which was discussed here last year http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,107803.msg855081.html#msg855081 has been changed again. Instead of changing to 99.9 their latest application specifies operation on 99.5, which would make it easier for those interested in hearing KVST 99.7 or KSHN 99.9. At 99.5 it would be a co-channel with KROY Palacios, though, for what that's worth. Also the power would be reduced from the current 125 to 100 watts.

 

[purpledevil]

Actually jd, KROY/Palacios operates (when it does) at 99.7, co-channeled with KVST/Willis and the KSBJ translator. The closest co-channel at 99.5 that I know of would be KNFX/Bryan at about 90 miles from the proposed translator site. KNFX has horrible reach even as far as my place in Bellville, so it certainly won't cause any headaches to the KSBJ folks.

I can't seem to find any info on the frequency change for the CP. Everything I see still lists it at 99.9 with the same 125 watts. As limited as 99.7 is currently, I can't imagine how much worse this 99.5 will be once they drop the height by 20 feet and now the power by 25 watts.

 

[Mediafrog+]

99.5 is the best option, steering clear of nearby co-channels on 99.7 and 99.9. KNFX is a Class A that rarely makes it as far as my Cy-Fair location. I'm more likely to hear KISS out of SA during good tropo conditions.

Stilll don't understand why KSBJ really needs this translator, as their signal seems to be fine whenever I've checked it in that part of town. I suspect it's for people in SW Houston with piece of crap radios that are easily overwhelmed by the nearby Missouri City sticks.

 

[purpledevil]

Mediafrog, I'm surprised you hear anything from "The Fox" all the way down in Cy-Fair. I have yet to hear from anyone on these boards in favor of KSBJ retaining this useless translator. If those folks in SW Houston/Sugarland have "crap" radios, and are hoping for a better signal from KSBJ at 99.5 they are in for quite a disappointment. At that short of a distance from Senior Rd., I would imagine KODA is going to slop all over the translator on a cheaper radio, and even some on the better models.

 

[jd]

My error at the start of this; sorry about that. To add the missing word: it would *not* be a co-channel with KROY (in case anybody really wanted to hear that station). Like most everyone else here, I still don't see the point of this translator, although the pattern would change somewhat, favoring more of Fort Bend and less of Harris County.

Present 99.7 & 99.9 CP: www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FX1058312.html
Proposed 99.5: www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FX1299115.html

 

[Fieldtech1]

What about the adjacent channel bleed from the 99.5 translator messing up KODAs IBOC signal which leans on 99.3?? As purpledevil said i imagine KODA IBOC digital hash could also wipe out 99.5 as well. Poor engineering planning on the part of KSBJ.

 

[Mediafrog+]

What about the adjacent channel bleed from the 99.5 translator messing up KODAs IBOC signal which leans on 99.3?? As purpledevil said i imagine KODA IBOC digital hash could also wipe out 99.5 as well. Poor engineering planning on the part of KSBJ.

Nonsense. The FM IBOC sidebands might affect a weak first adjacent, but are no problem to a second adjacent. Numerous examples of that in the Houston market--For instance, I don't see the eastern rimshots being hurt by their Missouri City second adjacents (92.9-93.3-93.7, 100.3-100.7-101.1, 103.7-104.1)

 

[purpledevil]

Ah, but you're not taking into account that a good portion of KSBJ's audience in SW Houston /Sugarland are going to be older and more likely to use older technology to listen to the station. Remember the radios with a dial tuner? More people than you'd think still own these, and attempting a listen at 99.5 in Sugarland on one, well it'll be impossible. I mean they already are supposedly having issues getting 89.3 in Sugarland, imagine what these same listeners are going to get when KSBJ's "solution" is crammed next door to the 95kw behemoth known as Sunny. Another thing would be, using your examples, distance. You are talking about stations that are over 60 miles away from one another. KODA and this translator will virtually be neighbors. This is the closest I believe I've ever seen two frequencies allowed to co-exist. Should be interesting once the thing gets off of paper, and on the air.

 

[mrbeasley]

Word from a ham buddy of mine is that KSBJ's attempt to "resurrect" (pun intnended) their Sugarland translator is DOA. Apparently, they didn't realize that there is an MX situation, currently in process with the Commission, involving multiple applicants for 99.5 in or near Houston.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Ah, but you're not taking into account that a good portion of KSBJ's audience in SW Houston /Sugarland are going to be older and more likely to use older technology to listen to the station. Remember the radios with a dial tuner? More people than you'd think still own these, and attempting a listen at 99.5 in Sugarland on one, well it'll be impossible. I mean they already are supposedly having issues getting 89.3 in Sugarland, imagine what these same listeners are going to get when KSBJ's "solution" is crammed next door to the 95kw behemoth known as Sunny. Another thing would be, using your examples, distance. You are talking about stations that are over 60 miles away from one another. KODA and this translator will virtually be neighbors. This is the closest I believe I've ever seen two frequencies allowed to co-exist. Should be interesting once the thing gets off of paper, and on the air.

I dunno, Purple. I'm out here in Sugar Land, and I've discovered that, no matter what cool new gadget you get, your neighbors already have three!

 

[jd]

Apparently, they didn't realize that there is an MX situation, currently in process with the Commission, involving multiple applicants for 99.5 in or near Houston.

You're right, but I think they had to realize that, and their application for a frequency change may indeed be a dead issue. Among the competing applicants on 99.5 that are "short" to the Sugar Land translator are three in Houston and a couple in Jersey Village and Angleton. If these were for LPFM's it would be a different story since the FCC has historically approved translators over LPFM's, but in this case they're all for translators. As of now the K259AB application is listed as "filed in a queue" on the "blocked" application list.