KSOC-1

[jd]

Nobody knows if it will be approved, but Radio One applied for a booster station for KSOC 94.5 back in July. That's right, an on-channel FM booster to augment their signal.

Sparing all the finer technical points it shapes up this way: under FCC rules the booster's coverage must lie totally within the primary station's coverage area, so theoretically it's not intended to extend the station's coverage but to fill in gaps within the primary service area. That being said, it's a pretty healthy booster, with an ERP just over 10,000 watts from a tower off the old 121 east of I35E. The 60dBu ("service") contour can be seen at fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM708679.html

Interesting news, for sure. If this were to get approved it would probably open a flood of similar applications from other northern and western rim stations.

 

[charles123]

THEY WORKING ON UPGRADING THEIR TRANSMITTER, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE DONE IN OCTOBER SOMETIME

 

[Mediafrog+]

THEY WORKING ON UPGRADING THEIR TRANSMITTER, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE DONE IN OCTOBER SOMETIME

The new "booster" station might actually be the "transmitter upgrade." I don't think there is much more they can do with the primary stick given current spacing rules.

I've never heard how boosters do in (more or less) flat land situations, such as around DFW...usually find them in mountainous areas where the primary signal has blockage issues. I think the results for KSOC are going to be somewhat disappointing.

Boosters would work perfectly in an all-digital world, which is still many years away for terrestrial broadcasting.

 

[gettinbyagain]

On-channel boosters can either be heavan or he!!... They require VERY careful adjustment and maintence to boot. Since Dallas is flat, it will probably be a bit easier to keep up with, but still, it is a very daunting task! Good luck to radio1

 

[jd]

Exactly right, gettinby... Ever hear your main and a 10 or 12 mile distant aux on the air at the same time? It's hideous and it gives you an idea of what can go wrong. Frankly I don't see the need for boosters with the flat terrain either, especially considering the height of some of these rim-shots like the Twister, for instance, which is over 2000' above average terrain. Granted that one has to consider high-rise listenership in the equation, but that's still kind of a stretch in this situation.

One of best (or worst) examples of an on-channel booster operation is that of KPRI 102.1 in San Diego, which operates a string of seven boosters all over their coverage area, not only in the city but in several places in North County. With their terrain problems KPRI's boosters really do fill in the gaps, but at what cost? This has got to be monster of a job for the engineers.

In Texas there are just three existing booster operations, in San Angelo, Victoria and Laredo. Mainly flat territory in all cases, expecially Victoria. BTW, the Laredo operation (KBDR-1) was a real coup, in that it resulted in a pip-squeak station in Mirando City (population virtually nil, in the middle of scrub brush country) getting a killer signal from a directional booster on the Rio Grande, slamming a signal to the east, right over Laredo and right back toward the COL. I don't see really a parallel with the proposed KSOC booster, but maybe it's meant to impress somebody or like Mediafrog alluded to: it might be part of a long-range HD plan...