Question about signal delivery of AM/FM-subchannels by FM translators

[joebtsflk1]

I suspect I'm not the only layperson on this site confused about how FM translators receive audio in the cases where they rebroadcast an AM station or an HD sub of an FM station. Does the audio signal have to be received directly OTA from the originating station, or can it be delivered via IP link,STL, etc.?

 

[fybush]

FM translators of AM stations are licensed as fill-in translators (60 dBu of the translator has to be contained within 2 mV/m day contour of the AM) and can therefore be fed via any method - anything from Barix box over the public internet to Comrex BRIClink to 950 MHz STL. They are almost never fed directly OTA, because why would you want to sacrifice audio quality that way?

The same is usually true of translators that relay HD subs, though I know of some that pick up the HD sub directly OTA.

 

[joebtsflk1]

FM translators of AM stations are licensed as fill-in translators (60 dBu of the translator has to be contained within 2 mV/m day contour of the AM) and can therefore be fed via any method - anything from Barix box over the public internet to Comrex BRIClink to 950 MHz STL. They are almost never fed directly OTA, because why would you want to sacrifice audio quality that way?

The same is usually true of translators that relay HD subs, though I know of some that pick up the HD sub directly OTA.

Thanks...that's what I suspected but wasn't sure.