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Sedona Commerical AM Simulcast on a Part 15?

S

Snowbird

Not only are the folks in Sedona, Arizona a bit flighty, but so is radio up there!
A commercial talk station KAZM-AM 780, is now simulcasting its broadcast over a Part 15 unlicensed transmitter on 1560 AM??

My guess, they are planning a new format on the second signal. Recently KAZM has begun a heavy load of sports programming, and may need another frequency for their
talk, and community programs. Rather than buy a real radio station, why not go the cheap route, and put up a low-power AM!

Anyone know the scoop on this, and are there any other commercial stations doing Part 15?
 
> Not only are the folks in Sedona, Arizona a bit flighty, but
> so is radio up there!
> A commercial talk station KAZM-AM 780, is now simulcasting
> its broadcast over a Part 15 unlicensed transmitter on 1560
> AM??
>
> My guess, they are planning a new format on the second
> signal. Recently KAZM has begun a heavy load of sports
> programming, and may need another frequency for their
> talk, and community programs. Rather than buy a real radio
> station, why not go the cheap route, and put up a low-power
> AM!
>
> Anyone know the scoop on this, and are there any other
> commercial stations doing Part 15?

"KBXQ" 1650 in Flagstaff.... www.foxsports1650.com

Is the terrain suitable for Part 15 up there?
 
That isn't a new station or even a seperate transmisstion...it's what's called a harmonic. AM stations do this sometimes...for example, a station on 810 can show up on 1620. In this case it's 780 showing up on 1560.

maybe this will explain it more:
http://donmoore.tripod.com/genbroad/harmonics.htm

> Not only are the folks in Sedona, Arizona a bit flighty, but
> so is radio up there!
> A commercial talk station KAZM-AM 780, is now simulcasting
> its broadcast over a Part 15 unlicensed transmitter on 1560
> AM??
>
> My guess, they are planning a new format on the second
> signal. Recently KAZM has begun a heavy load of sports
> programming, and may need another frequency for their
> talk, and community programs. Rather than buy a real radio
> station, why not go the cheap route, and put up a low-power
> AM!
>
> Anyone know the scoop on this, and are there any other
> commercial stations doing Part 15?
> <P ID="signature">______________
"Our civil rights have no dependence upon our
religious opinions more than our opinions in physics or geometry."
-Thomas Jefferson</P>
 
What you are picking up is a second harmonic of 780. 780 times 2 is 1560. Just a type of parasitic radiation from the 780 transmitter itself.
 
> That isn't a new station or even a seperate
> transmisstion...it's what's called a harmonic. AM stations
> do this sometimes...for example, a station on 810 can show
> up on 1620. In this case it's 780 showing up on 1560.

It could be a real 2nd harmonic or just a spur being generated internally in your radio. Car radios with digital tuners are notorious for this.

When I'm driving to work near 48th St. & Southern, sometimes I can hear KFYI mixed in with KFNX since 1100 is the 2nd harmonic of 550. I doubt that KFYI is having any kind of problems that would generate harmonics.
 
> What you are picking up is a second harmonic of 780. 780
> times 2 is 1560. Just a type of parasitic radiation from
> the 780 transmitter itself.
>
Sounds like the KAZM transmitter might need some twaaking. The 1st harmonic on 1560 should be supressed so that it is not heard at a distance of more than 1 km from the stick(s). The National Radio Standards Committee (NRSC) devoloped the standards some time back to help cut down interference, especially at night.
 
Sat about 4 a.m. I tuned in 1560AM. I heard "Coast to Coast", same program on 780AM. At 4 a.m. there was no station ID at 1560....some Coast to Coast promos led right into AP news on the hour. After the news, the station faded and I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard the tone and click of WWV, but with no verbal announcements.

At 4:30 the same thing happened, but after the AP news there were some long tones, followed by "Track 01" and a current news sound bite, then "Track 02" and another sound bite. About 4 of these sound bites, then back to Coast to Coast.

Was I getting a satellite feed? Or was someone at the station asleep at the switch? I am in Phoenix, so all signals were very weak, even with SelecAntenna, so I couldn't switch back and forth, but I don't think I heard the sound bites on 780AM.
 
> Was I getting a satellite feed? Or was someone at the
> station asleep at the switch..

all of the above. Chances are automation went on blink..PC
froze or whatever and it left a satellite channel on the air.

The station was probably unattended overnight, as many small
and medium markets are these days (and some large markets, too!)
 
About 3 a.m. Wednesday I checked 1560am to see what was on. "Coast to Coast," same as KAZM. It was coming in loud and clear on 1560, but at the top of the hour, came the ID "You are listening to 1560 am, KMVR, Bakersfield, California." So it wasn't KAZM that failed to make the ID, and let the satellite feed continue with the sound bites.
 
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