Questions about the "regional" AM frequencies

[cd637299]

Hey

Just wondering, as to the AM frequencies that have been designated as "regional" in the US (as opposed to clear or graveyard frequencies):

(1) Are there any stations on these frequencies that are still listed as strictly "daytimers"?

(2) Are there any listed that are authorized nights, but choose not to operate nights? (Heck, I could ask that of any frequency in this case.) Is there a directory of such stations now?

cd

 

[Icangelp]

Hey

Just wondering, as to the AM frequencies that have been designated as "regional" in the US (as opposed to clear or graveyard frequencies):

(1) Are there any stations on these frequencies that are still listed as strictly "daytimers"?

(2) Are there any listed that are authorized nights, but choose not to operate nights? (Heck, I could ask that of any frequency in this case.) Is there a directory of such stations now?

cd

The answer to your first question is, yes.
One example is KLLS 550 kHZ Breen, Colorado. They operate daytime only at 1.8 KW non directional.
One the other end of the traditiona dial, 1600 KHZ has several stations that operate days only.

I'll let the experts answer your second question.

 

[K4WRF]

Hey

Just wondering, as to the AM frequencies that have been designated as "regional" in the US (as opposed to clear or graveyard frequencies):

(1) Are there any stations on these frequencies that are still listed as strictly "daytimers"?

(2) Are there any listed that are authorized nights, but choose not to operate nights? (Heck, I could ask that of any frequency in this case.) Is there a directory of such stations now?

cd

Many years ago, the FCC broadly defined radio station classifications as local, regional and clear channels, then later more specifically described the classes of service such as Class 1-A, and 1-B clear, now just Class A. Regionals were Class III now Class B and locals Class IV now Class C. An adequate treatise of this is beyond the scope, space and time here but can be viewed in CFR Title 47, Part 73.21 to 73.29 of the FCC rules.

Yes, there are stations that are still licensed as "day-timers" on Class A and Class B channels. Many Class B facilities that were day-time only, now have have been granted some minor power at night and these are classified as Class D facilities whose power levels are lower than 250 watts or antenna efficiency is less than 282 mv/m/1kw and do not receive nighttime sky-wave protection. Where some stations have class D night power, they simply choose not to use it or decline because the incoming sky-wave signals render it unusable. Today many stations that once maintained licensed directional nighttime operations have opted to down grade and reduce power to Class D unprotected status rather than endure the high cost of maintaining repairing a directional antenna system. These power levels are less than 250 watts and most are less that 50 watts and I have seen a few them as low as 1 watt....

 

[HadYourPhil]

I'd love to know if any of the one-watters are actually running that and how far it goes. Interesting to speculate who in the single-digit watt group makes any money with that kind of "power".

 

[pianoplayer88key]

Here's some stations licensed for 1 watt DIRECTIONAL nighttime....

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=1724
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=31895
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=21621
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=61389
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=4028

As for stations licensed for night operation and choosing not to use it, there's an example about 95 mi or so NW of me. KBRT Avalon, on 740, is licensed for 10 kW day and 113 W night, DA-2. They sign off at sunset due to KCBS's skywave clobbering them on the mainland. Every morning, from what I can tell, they *always* sign on at 6:00am. If sunrise is later, they sign on at their lower power then step up at sunrise. If sunrise is earlier (like now) they wait till 6 to sign on.

 

[rfry]

Here's some stations licensed for 1 watt DIRECTIONAL nighttime....

A nice bit of research from pp88k, but just to note that the one watt of power referenced in the above quote results in the radiated fields from the directional arrays shown in those FCC links, and not to the field produced by one watt applied to an omnidirectional radiator.

One watt radiated by a single, base-driven, series fed, 1/4-wave monopole with a zero loss connection to a perfect ground plane produces a groundwave field of ~9.92 mV/m at a distance of 1 km from the radiator.

But for example, the link for the one watt operation of WRFM in Muncie, IN posted by pp88k shows a peak, standard field at 1 km for 1 watt applied to that directional array of ~1/4-wave monopoles as a bit greater than 32.5 mV/m.

The increased field in the direction of the peak radiation of WRFM is equivalent to what would be produced by nearly 11 watts of power applied to the non-directional antenna system described above.

 

[LibertyNT]

KVTT 1110 Mineral Wells/Dallas.
Runs 50kW days 39kW Critical Hours.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

Originally Authorized PSSAs on Regional Channels-Rules Of Thumb

1) Nondirectional protecting old low NIF stations- 20 watts, medium NIF stations- 30 to 50 watts. Protecting only higher NIF stations- 100-200 watts.

2) Directional blasting in the direction of low NIF stations- 10 to 20 watts.

3) Directional protecting directions of low NIF stations- 100-200 watts.

Low NIF stations were generally authorized before 1950, and usually before 1941. High NIF stations are usually newer, with a regularly received old legacy interfering signal on the channel.

Results may vary for individual cases. The milieu of Class B NIFs nearby, the DA or Non DA authorized for the PSSA, and the distance to protected Class B stations are the biggest general factors.

 

[fybush]

But for example, the link for the one watt operation of WRFM in Muncie, IN posted by pp88k shows a peak, standard field at 1 km for 1 watt applied to that directional array of ~1/4-wave monopoles as a bit greater than 32.5 mV/m.

The increased field in the direction of the peak radiation of WRFM is equivalent to what would be produced by nearly 11 watts of power applied to the non-directional antenna system described above.

And is purely theoretical, in any event, since WRFM hasn't operated from that licensed site for well over a decade, and that site doesn't even exist anymore. It's been under a series of STAs since at least 2000 and possibly since 1998. The STA (a folded unipole behind a church in Muncie) is authorized at 62 watts day, 1 watt night, non-directional; it did not appear to be on the air (or at least wasn't audible) when I was in Muncie in December.

 

[jd]

KVTT 1110 Mineral Wells/Dallas.
Runs 50kW days 39kW Critical Hours.

1110 is classified as a "clear." KVTT is a Class D, affording protection during critical hours to the Class A's on the frequency, KFAB and WBT.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

As for stations licensed for night operation and choosing not to use it, there's an example about 95 mi or so NW of me. KBRT Avalon, on 740, is licensed for 10 kW day and 113 W night, DA-2. They sign off at sunset due to KCBS's skywave clobbering them on the mainland. Every morning, from what I can tell, they *always* sign on at 6:00am. If sunrise is later, they sign on at their lower power then step up at sunrise. If sunrise is earlier (like now) they wait till 6 to sign on.

KBRT has PSRA authorization with 500 watts every month where sunrise is later than 6:00 AM.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

But for example, the link for the one watt operation of WRFM in Muncie, IN posted by pp88k shows a peak, standard field at 1 km for 1 watt applied to that directional array of ~1/4-wave monopoles as a bit greater than 32.5 mV/m.

The increased field in the direction of the peak radiation of WRFM is equivalent to what would be produced by nearly 11 watts of power applied to the non-directional antenna system described above.

And is purely theoretical, in any event, since WRFM hasn't operated from that licensed site for well over a decade, and that site doesn't even exist anymore. It's been under a series of STAs since at least 2000 and possibly since 1998. The STA (a folded unipole behind a church in Muncie) is authorized at 62 watts day, 1 watt night, non-directional; it did not appear to be on the air (or at least wasn't audible) when I was in Muncie in December.

The legacy call letters of this station are WERK. David Letterman reportedly worked at WERK. You may remember the days when people were amazed that a 250 watt station had a better signal than stations running 1000 or 5000 watts. Of course, that was mainly to the north.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I'd love to know if any of the one-watters are actually running that and how far it goes. Interesting to speculate who in the single-digit watt group makes any money with that kind of "power".

WPGR, a Catholic religious station on 1510 in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, has nighttime power of one watt.
I live about 10 miles from their transmitter and have never picked them up (if anything WLAC Nashville comes booming in).

Their neighbor on the dial, WLFP 1550, has nighttime power of four watts. Never pick them up either, not even now that the CBC is off of 1550.

 

[cyberdad]

I live about 23 miles from a one-watt non-directional nighttime stick on 1180. WSQR in Sycamore, IL. I've never heard even a whiff of it....although I've tried repeatedly. Its usually all WHAM here.

About a year ago I happened to drive right by their stick one night. It was listenable for about 2-3 miles. It should be noted that the area has pretty decent ground conductivity.

Back to the original topic, I have to admit I was having a very tough time thinking of any remaining daytimers on the former regional channels. Just about all of the former daytimes I could think of are now on at night....if even with "flea power".

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

@ cd6 :

Semi-local WLSH over here in NE Pennsylvania has been a strict daytimer on 1410 for decades -- and an omni 5000 watts.

They're currently 'Oldies 1410', and sister station to soft-A/C WMGH. I've seen both stations show marginally in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre book from time to time.

At both critical hour periods WLSH get chewed up somewhat by Dover DE and Hartford CT.

I never saw them with a listed nighttime power. So I don't know if they ever applied for one. I'd imagine that they could get some sort of 40-watt license for nights, maybe less. Radio-Locator lists them as having one tower.

 

[Ken Tucky]

But for example, the link for the one watt operation of WRFM in Muncie, IN posted by pp88k shows a peak, standard field at 1 km for 1 watt applied to that directional array of ~1/4-wave monopoles as a bit greater than 32.5 mV/m.

The increased field in the direction of the peak radiation of WRFM is equivalent to what would be produced by nearly 11 watts of power applied to the non-directional antenna system described above.

And is purely theoretical, in any event, since WRFM hasn't operated from that licensed site for well over a decade, and that site doesn't even exist anymore. It's been under a series of STAs since at least 2000 and possibly since 1998. The STA (a folded unipole behind a church in Muncie) is authorized at 62 watts day, 1 watt night, non-directional; it did not appear to be on the air (or at least wasn't audible) when I was in Muncie in December.


Scott: Having once "werked" there, I've been trying for 5 years to get a picture of the old antenna farm on Route 3; 250 watts into 6 towers was quite a "site!" Do you have any that you could post on your Tower Site of the Week?