KUHT-TV/Houston files for increased power and two new translators

[purpledevil]

maybe jd can help me out with some specifics but it looks as though U of H is extending KUHT's coverage quite significantly with a translator for Beaumont and Victoria. KUHT's CP for the main signal shows its new reach clear up to Huntsville and northwest nearing B/CS. The translator for Beaumont looks like it's going to be on par with all of BMT's full power stations, reaching well into Lake Charles.

 

[jd]

I can confirm that they filed for the LP stations back in August but I haven't seen any action yet from the FCC.

You're right about the one in Beaumont (on channel 24) having very good coverage, although I wouldn't say it would be that close to the full-power stations. With 15kW at about 750 feet viewers could likely get a lock on it a few miles over into Louisiana but Lake Charles would really be pushing it for the average set-up. The 51dBu predicted contour stops short of Sulphur.

The one in Victoria, on channel 29 with 11kW at just under 800 feet should do well. Their predicted contour shows coverage of Edna, Yoakum and Cuero and up to around Hallettsville.

 

[jd]

KUHT's CP for the main signal shows its new reach clear up to Huntsville and northwest nearing B/CS.

I realized later that I didn't address that part of your post so here you go. You're right about the coverage for the CP but they currently have a separate application for a power increase, and it's an interesting one. They applied to boost their ERP from 34.3 to 71.0kW, which exceeds the maximum allowable power for a VHF hi-band station. In the narrative of the application they explain that this increase would give them essentially equal coverage to what they assert is the "largest station in the market," KHOU. This isn't exactly using a loophole; it's simply taking advantage of a particular rule that would allow a power increase to give them coverage equal to that of Channel 11. In other words, KHOU set the precedent and KUHT is applying for somewhat of an equal exception.

The link to the application, for anyone interested, is here: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101324890&formid=340&fac_num=69269

I also recommend the "listings" section of this site maintained by fellow poster tripinva, for easy reference by market: http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php

 

[Marty-KUHT]

The max power for a Hi Split VHF is 160KW.

Marty

 

[upstate29651]

The max power for a Hi Split VHF is 160KW.

Marty

Hi Marty. Any idea why more VHF's aren't taking advantage of the 160kw limit? It seems most VHF DT's are having significant coverage issues.

G

 

[tripinva]

It's 160 kW for heights up to 305 meters. Then the power limit decreases as height increases up to 30 kW at 610 meters, and keeps going from there. I have a calculator for it on RabbitEars. http://www.rabbitears.info/calc.php

It's the second one, Max Power vs HAAT. Texas is in Zones 2 or 3 depending on where exactly you are, but the power levels are the same (different in Zone 1 in the northeast).

Now the exception to this rule is 47CFR73.622(f)(5) which states that a station can expand its coverage to match the "largest station" in the market. In this case, KUHT has applied to increase its power to 71 kW by citing that it wants to match KHOU's 60 kW power level. Since KUHT is at a lower height than KHOU, it can ask for slightly more power while staying within that rule.

- Trip

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

[...] 47CFR73.622(f)(5) which states that a station can expand its coverage to match the "largest station" in the market.

How about a layman's explanation of the "largest station" exemption? In particular, what allowed the "largest station" (in this case, KHOU) to exceed the height/power limits in the first place?

According to the RabbitEars calculator, KHOU should have been capped at 32.2 kW at 1945' but its CP-MOD is for 60 kW.

 

[upstate29651]

[...] 47CFR73.622(f)(5) which states that a station can expand its coverage to match the "largest station" in the market.

How about a layman's explanation of the "largest station" exemption? In particular, what allowed the "largest station" (in this case, KHOU) to exceed the height/power limits in the first place?

According to the RabbitEars calculator, KHOU should have been capped at 32.2 kW at 1945' but its CP-MOD is for 60 kW.

Excellent question...and I'd like to add another one: How can (and why should) PBS stations take advantage of this clause, as they're not commercial stations & don't really compete with them.

G

 

[fredcantu]

How can (and why should) PBS stations take advantage of this clause, as they're not commercial stations & don't really compete with them.

They certainly compete with them for viewers. Besides if you differentiate between comms and non-comms, then you could also differentiate between English and foreign language. You're opening a real can of worms if you don't treat all the full power stations equally.

 

[upstate29651]

How can (and why should) PBS stations take advantage of this clause, as they're not commercial stations & don't really compete with them.

They certainly compete with them for viewers. Besides if you differentiate between comms and non-comms, then you could also differentiate between English and foreign language. You're opening a real can of worms if you don't treat all the full power stations equally.

That "can of worms" has existed on radio for years, as you know, between the coms & non-coms. As in radio, TV stations serve different purposes, earn money differently (or are given our tax dollars......), etc. So I guess I'm saying I don't see your point.

G

 

[dhett]

[...] 47CFR73.622(f)(5) which states that a station can expand its coverage to match the "largest station" in the market.

According to the RabbitEars calculator, KHOU should have been capped at 32.2 kW at 1945' but its CP-MOD is for 60 kW.

KHOU was allowed 60 kW to match largest station KPRC, which had been operating on ch 35 at 1000 kW / 590 m since 1999.

"Largest station" refers to geographic area covered by the station's signal.

 

[tripinva]

How about a layman's explanation of the "largest station" exemption? In particular, what allowed the "largest station" (in this case, KHOU) to exceed the height/power limits in the first place?

According to the RabbitEars calculator, KHOU should have been capped at 32.2 kW at 1945' but its CP-MOD is for 60 kW.

dhett pretty much covered it, but let me clarify slightly.

When the FCC was planning out the transition, they wanted stations to be able to replicate or exceed analog coverage. In the case of KPRC, it was simply impossible for a UHF digital to get the same coverage as a maxed out low-VHF analog. So they allotted KPRC the maximum, 1000 kW (above and beyond the 350-ish kW limit that normally would have been imposed at their height), and allowed them to operate at that level. Now, since the analogs are gone, KHOU was able to match KPRC's maximized coverage area, and KUHT has filed to match KHOU's coverage area.

- Trip

 

[JHBrandt]

Besides if you differentiate between comms and non-comms, then you could also differentiate between English and foreign language.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd think it'd violate the First Amendment if the government tried to differentiate between English and foreign language. I don't see a similar problem for differentiating between commercial and non-commercial broadcasters, since that's based on the business model, not the programming content.