Now back to KGOW (and KBRZ)

[Mediafrog+]

One thing about the launch of the "Jack" format here is that it has taken everyone's attention away from the travails of what is now the market's second newest station, KGOW. Seems the signal on 1560 is consistently stronger now, but I'm still not thinking it's at 50kw. Somewhat hard for me to make a judgement as my Cy-Fair location is 40 miles from the transmitter. Anyone have an update on how much power KGOW is now running?

KBRZ still seems to be on the temporary 1kw transmitter. Any word on when the new 5kw unit hits the air?

 

[poops]

Checked last night and still dead air down here in the Brazosport area which means whatever they're doing ain't gettin out this far.


Poops

 

[jd]

Somewhat hard for me to make a judgement as my Cy-Fair location is 40 miles from the transmitter.

When I checked earlier today it sounded like the 50kW rig was up and running, but from what I can tell you're pretty close to that vicious NW null (at approximately 332-degrees). Without doing the math, I'd figure the power out your way to be in the single percentage range of what the main lobe delivers and at 40 miles away that's really a drastic difference. Estimated ERP of the swath toward Bellaire and Downtown is something like 700,000 watts.

KBRZ still seems to be on the temporary 1kw transmitter. Any word on when the new 5kw unit hits the air?

I'm hearing a couple of weeks, but it could be the end of the month.

 

[OldChicago]

One thing that I do not get. I know that 1560 must null the signal going towards Austin, and a few other nulls at night. But it seems to me that they would have been better off putting the xmtr NORTH of town (Conroe, Spring, Cypress) and sending the main lobe to the south, and blanket the entire area with the full 50kw signal, day and night.


Old Chicago

 

[ilistentotheradio]

One thing that I do not get. I know that 1560 must null the signal going towards Austin, and a few other nulls at night. But it seems to me that they would have been better off putting the xmtr NORTH of town (Conroe, Spring, Cypress) and sending the main lobe to the south, and blanket the entire area with the full 50kw signal, day and night.


Old Chicago

Mexico.

 

[thathoustonradiogeek]

One thing that I do not get. I know that 1560 must null the signal going towards Austin, and a few other nulls at night. But it seems to me that they would have been better off putting the xmtr NORTH of town (Conroe, Spring, Cypress) and sending the main lobe to the south, and blanket the entire area with the full 50kw signal, day and night.


Old Chicago

Mexico.

More exactly, XERF 1570

 

[rageradio]

One thing about the launch of the "Jack" format here is that it has taken everyone's attention away from the travails of what is now the market's second newest station, KGOW. Seems the signal on 1560 is consistently stronger now, but I'm still not thinking it's at 50kw. Somewhat hard for me to make a judgement as my Cy-Fair location is 40 miles from the transmitter. Anyone have an update on how much power KGOW is now running?

KBRZ still seems to be on the temporary 1kw transmitter. Any word on when the new 5kw unit hits the air?

I know one of the engineers that is installing the new transmitter. KGOW just bought it and it should be going up soon. He didn't say exactly when it would be coming on. I'll let you know once I do.

 

[jd]

But it seems to me that they would have been better off putting the xmtr NORTH of town (Conroe, Spring, Cypress) and sending the main lobe to the south, and blanket the entire area with the full 50kw signal, day and night.

If only it were that simple. The trouble is that KGOW probably would throw way too much signal toward KMIC and a few other stations. From a ground conductivity standpoint a site way up north isn't really desirable (day or night), and because of skywave limitations, shooting 50,000 watts at night from there to the south wouldn't work because of Mexican stations in places like Veracruz and Merida. So despite everything the location of the daytime site is about the best they could do, even if it takes 50,000 watts and a really complicated pattern. Likewise if they ever get approval to run 19,000 watts at night from north of Katy, it would probably be their best option.

More exactly, XERF 1570

Believe it or not, with KGOW's licensed pattern, XERF is not one of their major concerns. They have to protect a co-channel Mexican allocation across from Brownsville (that's right, a station that's not on yet and may never be). But there are nine others to consider: stations on 1560 in Austin, Hillsboro and Daingerfield, along with Slidell LA, 1570 in La Grange and over in Leesville LA, KGBC 1540 Galveston, KWBC 1550 in Navasota (soon to be College Station) and KMIC 1590.

 

[stan]

Mexico doesn't seem to rigorous in regulating their radio as they cover up stations on this side of the border with their stations. Why should we care about their stations? Just curious.

 

[jd]

Mexico doesn't seem to rigorous in regulating their radio as they cover up stations on this side of the border with their stations. Why should we care about their stations? Just curious.

A very good question. The U.S. feels compelled to abide by international treaties. Certainly there is coordination prior to any changes that could result in interference but there is no means for enforcement across the borders. That's the real problem. Although I don't sense a concerted effort by Mexican broadcasters to wreak havoc on U.S. stations, there are far too many individual violators. There is also outright deception involved: the government sanctioned practice of assigning hundreds of "placeholder" allocations throughout Mexico is ridiculous. A very small number of the "planned" stations have actually been built but U.S. stations must treat all of them as existing facilities and give them protection from interference.

The KGOW application for the 19,000-watt site hit a roadblock after objections were filed by KMIC. Now the application is on the "blocked" list and hopefully that can worked out since I believe the application is otherwise technically sound. Prior to that there was another problem: it had to get approval from Mexico. If it were up to me I would have told KGOW to go ahead and do it, and don't worry about the alleged "interference" to Mexico. But that wouldn't be politically correct, would it?

 

[Mediafrog+]

I know one of the engineers that is installing the new transmitter. KGOW just bought it and it should be going up soon.

Another new transmitter? Is this a different one from the unit that was originally installed and tested in the Fall of 2005 ?

Or perhaps that unit turned out to be a lemon, and the manufacturer is swapping it out with a replacement?

 

[davideduardo]

Mexico doesn't seem to rigorous in regulating their radio as they cover up stations on this side of the border with their stations. Why should we care about their stations? Just curious.

All Mexican stations are licensed in accordance with international treaties... you should have listened to radio at night in Mexico in the 60's and 70's outside the larger cities. 90% of what you heard IN MEXICO was US radio.

 

[Smittian]

I can pick up 1560 down here in Port Isabel (South Padre Island). The signal is weak, but definitely listenable. It comes in about the same strength as 610, but nowhere near as clear as 740. KTRH comes in like a local down here in the Rio Grande Valley

 

[poops]

Finally was able to hear KBRZ down in Freeport today, but signal is very patchy depending on your location. 1560 coming in strong while in the vehicle, but nothing on stationary radio set in my home.

Poops