The 106.3 signal

[nd2023]

So I decided to enjoy the dance music on 106.3 yesterday and test the signal. Picked up a trace of the signal in Metuchen, NJ. By Rahway, 106.3 was a mess. In Newark, the translator was dominating but the average person wouldn't listen in a car radio. Streetz 106.5 had a stronger signal and was overmodulated, splattering on 106.3 even on my very selective radio. It was strong in Secaucus. In fact, I noticed it was stronger across the river than in Midtown. On 34th street I could null out the translator and pick up Thunder. Building penetration in Times Square was worse than the Empire signals. Around 70th street, a 106.3 pirate from the Bronx was starting to interfere. 106.3 was a mess around 100th street. North of the 150s, the pirate took over.
In Brooklyn, there were 2 pirates and Thunder all competing with the translator. The translator dominated when I had a clear view of Manhattan, but in southern Brooklyn a pirate dominated.

106.3 is a really bad frequency for the translator, even if all the pirates were cleared up.

 

[frozenfiresb]

Not to mention WFAF to the north and 'BLI on 106.1 to the east which has a fairly strong signal.

 

[icybluelake]

Unfortunately, the signal isn't working too well for me. It's barely listenable in my home in Midtown, just a few blocks from the transmitter. Going uptown, I lost the signal to interference from the pirate from the Bronx somewhere around 110th Street on the west side. I'd love to see them do something interesting with this station, but whatever happens, it doesn't seem likely to have much of a splash around here.

 

[yossefgershon]

It messes up thunder in many places including Belle Harbor ,Queens.

 

[GSP163]

Driving in Midland Park where you can clearly see the city skyline the 106.3 translator was getting blasted by WKMK (WKMK used to be clear on that hill before the sign on)......Head toward the other side of town on the other side of the hill and WFAF mixes in......I have yet to find an area throughtout Bergen County (even down by the meadowlands) where I have been able to pick the station up interference free.

 

[Barry]

Thunder Country 106.3/106.5 is complaining about the translator signal on its website. It is encouraging its listeners to report interference from it on 106.3 to them, using a provided form. The website indicates they have "contacted the F.C.C. ... and are making every attempt to have the interference stopped immediately."
It seems very unfortunate that a significant amount of people in the area now have interference to the one country station they could pick up. They probably feel it is bad enough they have to deal with pirates, and now another station is plopped into the edge of their broadcast area.
But my guess is that the F.C.C. will not take any action, unless the translator is broadcasting outside its licensed area or running more power than mandated. It was the F.C.C. that authorized the translator, as it is supposed to be beyond the protected range of WKMK's signal on 106.3.

From Thunder Country's Website: http://www.thunder985.com/pages/9797096.php

 

[ansky212]

But my guess is that the F.C.C. will not take any action, unless the translator is broadcasting outside its licensed area or running more power than mandated. It was the F.C.C. that authorized the translator, as it is supposed to be beyond the protected range of WKMK's signal on 106.3.

From Thunder Country's Website: http://www.thunder985.com/pages/9797096.php

I doubt the FCC can or will do anything about this unless they can somehow find out that the translator signal is reaching into the WKMK protected area. What is unfortunate is that WKMK (and most other radio stations) have a great signal well beyond what would be considered their "protected" area and those are the listeners that will be affected by this. Luckily for me the only change has been that I can only get a mono signal from WKMK now, but at least the station is still listenable.

 

[w9wi]

...WKMK (and most other radio stations) have a great signal well beyond what would be considered their "protected" area and those are the listeners that will be affected by this.

It is interesting to note that in a 1961 proceeding (which I believe led eventually to the current FM rules structure in 1964), the FCC proposed MUCH greater protected areas. They proposed protecting Class A stations like WKMK to their 36dBu contours (current rules are 60dBu) and larger Class B stations (like WXRK, WPAT, WNYC, and the other NYC "big boys") to their 45dBu contours. (current rules are 54dBu)

If those contours had held, WKMK would be protected to a distance of 78km, not the 28km protected by current rules.

(that said, it's very possible WKMK simply wouldn't exist, as I believe WFAF was there first and its protected contour would have probably prevented use of the channel at Eatontown)

 

[mdamico25]

Thunder Country 106.3/106.5 is complaining about the translator signal on its website. It is encouraging its listeners to report interference from it on 106.3 to them, using a provided form. The website indicates they have "contacted the F.C.C. ... and are making every attempt to have the interference stopped immediately."
It seems very unfortunate that a significant amount of people in the area now have interference to the one country station they could pick up. They probably feel it is bad enough they have to deal with pirates, and now another station is plopped into the edge of their broadcast area.

I doubt that the FCC will do anything either. The problem is that WKMK was never designed to be a "NYC station" or cover the immediate suburbs of New York City, including North Jersey and the outer boroughs. The 106.3 Eatontown allocation was designed to cover Monmouth and Ocean counties of NJ. Whatever coverage they have beyond those areas is a "bonus." A similar analogy is when I visit my parents in Monmouth County, NJ, I can hear WBEB/101.1 "B-101" in Philadelphia if I position the radio in a manner to null out CBS-FM. B-101's signal is not designed to cover Monmouth, but their fringe signal "just happens to come in" due to the hills of Holmdel blocking the signals coming out of the ESB.

-Mike

 

[WNTIRadio]

To our Loyal Thunder 106 Listeners! We are aware that many of our listeners in the Counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, Bergen, Essex, Hudson as well as Staten Island, Brooklyn, Long Island and Lower Manhattan are experiencing interference with our Thunder 106.3 signal

What crack are they smoking? Sussex?? Are they aware of WHCY? Same thing goes for the northern parts of Morris, Passaic and Hunterdon... you haven't had a snowball's chance in hell to get WKMK.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WHCY&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

 

[ansky212]

What crack are they smoking? Sussex?? Are they aware of WHCY? Same thing goes for the northern parts of Morris, Passaic and Hunterdon... you haven't had a snowball's chance in hell to get WKMK.

I was thinking that too. WHCY can be heard (weakly) as far east as the western part of Essex County (Roseland/Caldwell area).

 

[kws31a]

??? Again..I'm still wondering why such a powerhouse station such as WLTW needs a 99w translator on 106.3 only a few miles from their 6000w signal?

 

[nd2023]

Not a few miles, 8 blocks away. If the HD2 needs a translator, then the translator should broadcast it in HD.

If anything, Thunder 106.3 should have gotten a booster in Manhattan.

 

[mdamico25]

[If anything, Thunder 106.3 should have gotten a booster in Manhattan.
[/quote]

I don't think they could have gotten a booster in New York. Manhattan (or any part of New York City) is not in the primary service contour of WKMK. I don't think you can translate a commercial, out of market station into another market. WKMK is the Monmouth/Ocean market. This is the same problem that WJUX in Monticello, NY had with its Fort Lee 103.1 translator. the Fort Lee translator was outside the protected contour of the primary station and the FCC said "no go."

I sympthatize with fans of country music that live in or close to New York City. But as I said in an earlier post 106.3 in Eatontown was never designed to be a "New York" station- any coverage that they have in Northern NJ or the 5 boroughs is a "bonus."

-Mike

 

[ansky212]

As of 5:30pm tonight the translator is off the air. I wonder if it's just coincidence.

 

[Barry]

Thunder Country's website is prominently displaying an interesting "update" to their original complaint about the translator on 106.3.
It states in part, "We are making progress with the F.C.C. on the continued interference to the Thunder signal...The F.C.C. has been most helpful in trying to resolve this issue, and in an effort to isolate what areas are still affected they have requested more targeted information as to 'exactly where' the affected areas remain...We will resolve this issue and return you to the...uninterrupted listening you have enjoyed!"
I wonder whether the F.C.C. is really considering curbs on the translator's signal, or whether they are just going though the motions of considering the station's complaints.

Note to Thunder Listeners: http://www.k985radio.com/

 

[nd2023]

Thunder Country's website is prominently displaying an interesting "update" to their original complaint about the translator on 106.3.
It states in part, "We are making progress with the F.C.C. on the continued interference to the Thunder signal...The F.C.C. has been most helpful in trying to resolve this issue, and in an effort to isolate what areas are still affected they have requested more targeted information as to 'exactly where' the affected areas remain...We will resolve this issue and return you to the...uninterrupted listening you have enjoyed!"
I wonder whether the F.C.C. is really considering curbs on the translator's signal, or whether they are just going though the motions of considering the station's complaints.

Note to Thunder Listeners: http://www.k985radio.com/

How about also shutting down the pirates on 106.3

[If anything, Thunder 106.3 should have gotten a booster in Manhattan.
---------------

I don't think they could have gotten a booster in New York. Manhattan (or any part of New York City) is not in the primary service contour of WKMK. I don't think you can translate a commercial, out of market station into another market. WKMK is the Monmouth/Ocean market. This is the same problem that WJUX in Monticello, NY had with its Fort Lee 103.1 translator. the Fort Lee translator was outside the protected contour of the primary station and the FCC said "no go."

I sympthatize with fans of country music that live in or close to New York City. But as I said in an earlier post 106.3 in Eatontown was never designed to be a "New York" station- any coverage that they have in Northern NJ or the 5 boroughs is a "bonus."

-Mike

94.5 The Vibe has its transmitter 70 miles northeast of Las Vegas in the middle of the desert, and it has a booster in Las Vegas outside the 60 dBu contour. Before the booster signed on 94.5 was almost all static in Las Vegas. 94.5 was intended to serve the people (and cactus) of the Moapa Valley, not Las Vegas.

 

[Jeffrey]

As of 5:30pm tonight the translator is off the air. I wonder if it's just coincidence.

as of 937pm the translator is on.

 

[Jeffrey]

I'm suprised the FCC would be concerned with this. The 106.3 translator doesn't affect any of the intended listening area for WKMK.. WKMK is not a NYC station and it's signal within in NYC was marginal at best.

 

[ansky212]

As of 5:30pm tonight the translator is off the air. I wonder if it's just coincidence.

as of 937pm the translator is on.

Interesting...I just checked now (10:05pm) and I can't pick up the translator from where I live in West Orange. Prior to today I was able to pick it up quite strongly. So they either lowered the power or made a change to the directional pattern. I'm also wondering if maybe they were broadcasting above the licensed 99 watts before.