The Great Houston translator invasion

[Mediafrog+]

Decided to take some time on this long weekend to make some sense out of the more recent translator activity.

First up: K227BD, 93.3, licensed to Bellaire. Construction permit for 30 watts @ 65 meters. Transmitter will be on the tall freestanding tower just north of where the Westpark Tollway branches off from the Southwest Freeway. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K227BD-FX&s=C

This one will clash with KQBU, which interestingly has its studios nearby. Directional signal to the west will limit damage, but this will be a colossal mess.

Next is K248BD 97.5, licensed to Hockley. Construction permit for 240 watts at 136 meters. Transmitter is near the intersection of Mueschke Road and FM2920. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K248BD-FX&s=C

This one will step on KFNC, which has a decent signal in that area. Another directional signal that will limit damage, but listeners in NW Harris County will have a mess on 97.5.

Third is K251AM, 100.7, licensed to Richmond. Construction permit for 100 watts @ 100 meters. Transmitter is at the intersection of West Bellfort and Skinner Lane, just outside the Grand Parkway in the WSW part of the metro area. This one appears to have an omnidirectional antenna which will cause grief to KKHT over much of the western part of the market. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K251AM-FX&s=C

Number four is K287BQ, 105.3, licensed to Alvin. Construction permit for 250 watts at 549 meters, on the same tower as KROI. Highly directional signal towards downtown Houston. KTWL will see some of its (limited) coverage area disturbed by this one. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K287BQ-FX

Lastly, one that just hit the air a few weeks ago: K268CW, 101.5, which is a Houston license. 250 watts at 118 meters. Transmitter is along South Beltway 8, a little over a mile west of 288. Unlike the above CPs, this one really isn't bothering anyone, yet. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K268CW-FX

It does better to the north than the map would suggest, but really doesn't go far enough to significantly affect KLJJ or the future KOER; however the future KHSX will probably have issues. I can still hear KLJJ at my Cy-Fair location with very slight disturbance from K268CW.

If the 93.3, 97.5, and 100.7 translators actually get on the air, stomping on existing signals, then we'd better get ready for more translators to pop up on 97.1, 98.5, 103.7, and 107.9. If the FCC is going to ignore real world reception in favor of very flawed "models" them much of the FM band is going to turn into an ugly mess.

 

[TheEngineer975]

Well, the 97.5 cp's that have been filed now have letters against them sent in to the commission.

 

[purpledevil]

And if you look at the CDBS, they have applied to modify the height up from 118 meters to 337 meters. Given the coverage, this modification may have already taken place.

One of the more interesting directional patterns, for sure. That is one severe null toward Friendswood. Other than the Arangos new translator going in on the island, what's stopping this thing from becoming another K236AR? As adjacents, KAYD, KSAM, and KXGJ are really no issue to the HCB translator. There's a couple of LPFMs that would have to pack up and move on out of the way, but that's it.

I see no reason why it couldn't further upgrade from this latest proposal.

 

[The Rimshot]

Decided to take some time on this long weekend to make some sense out of the more recent translator activity.

First up: K227BD, 93.3, licensed to Bellaire. Construction permit for 30 watts @ 65 meters. Transmitter will be on the tall freestanding tower just north of where the Westpark Tollway branches off from the Southwest Freeway. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K227BD-FX&s=C

This one will clash with KQBU, which interestingly has its studios nearby. Directional signal to the west will limit damage, but this will be a colossal mess.

Next is K248BD 97.5, licensed to Hockley. Construction permit for 240 watts at 136 meters. Transmitter is near the intersection of Mueschke Road and FM2920. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K248BD-FX&s=C

This one will step on KFNC, which has a decent signal in that area. Another directional signal that will limit damage, but listeners in NW Harris County will have a mess on 97.5.

Third is K251AM, 100.7, licensed to Richmond. Construction permit for 100 watts @ 100 meters. Transmitter is at the intersection of West Bellfort and Skinner Lane, just outside the Grand Parkway in the WSW part of the metro area. This one appears to have an omnidirectional antenna which will cause grief to KKHT over much of the western part of the market. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K251AM-FX&s=C

Number four is K287BQ, 105.3, licensed to Alvin. Construction permit for 250 watts at 549 meters, on the same tower as KROI. Highly directional signal towards downtown Houston. KTWL will see some of its (limited) coverage area disturbed by this one. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K287BQ-FX

Lastly, one that just hit the air a few weeks ago: K268CW, 101.5, which is a Houston license. 250 watts at 118 meters. Transmitter is along South Beltway 8, a little over a mile west of 288. Unlike the above CPs, this one really isn't bothering anyone, yet. Radio-Locator map: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=K268CW-FX

It does better to the north than the map would suggest, but really doesn't go far enough to significantly affect KLJJ or the future KOER; however the future KHSX will probably have issues. I can still hear KLJJ at my Cy-Fair location with very slight disturbance from K268CW.

If the 93.3, 97.5, and 100.7 translators actually get on the air, stomping on existing signals, then we'd better get ready for more translators to pop up on 97.1, 98.5, 103.7, and 107.9. If the FCC is going to ignore real world reception in favor of very flawed "models" them much of the FM band is going to turn into an ugly mess.

How was the 101.5 translator (K268CW)? Did it ever fight with KROX out of Austin?

Will it give the new translator in Galveston problems?

How far down does K268CW go down I-45? Does it at least make it to League City?

 

[purpledevil]

It's still on the air, Rimshot. It hasn't gone anywhere. I can only give you a reception report from a vehicle, which skews the results a bit. I have no listenable reception of K268CW at my QTH of Acres Home/Highland Village. As you are in Victoria, and I don't know your familiarity with the inner city, I am 9 miles northwest of DT Houston, near the intersection of Tidwell road and North Shepherd road.

In my truck, a 1998 Dodge Ram with a stock Infinity unit, I can begin to hear K268CW around the time I see Joe's antenna sticking up from behind Hungry Farmer. That is at Crosstimbers & the North Freeway (45 N). As you progress south on 45, of course, the signal improves dramatically. At our Hobby property, (I work for a hotel chain) 101-5 is crystal clear. That QTH is the Gulf Freeway (45 S) between Winkler and Airport Blvd. I have gone as far south as Beltway 8 south, since 101-5 signed on, and it does not weaken much (if any) along the way.

 

[Dave Garland]

This one is doing a whole lot better than the models predict. I just got back in town and listened to it from Galveston to Houston. And if you look at the CDBS, they have applied to modify the height up from 118 meters to 337 meters. Given the coverage, this modification may have already taken place.

This is the same frequency 101.5, the translator for KGBC-AM K242BG is to be on.

 

[The Rimshot]

I can only give you a reception report from a vehicle, which skews the results a bit.

That's the only reception report that matters to me. It is the strongest reception, and when the majority listens to terrestrial radio, they do so from their car.

Thanks for the update.

 

[davideduardo]

That's the only reception report that matters to me. It is the strongest reception, and when the majority listens to terrestrial radio, they do so from their car.

That's not true. The majority listen in-home and at-work.

 

[johndavis]

That's not true. The majority listen in-home and at-work.

Preach it. I'm thinking of a station and morning show that struggled to beat its direct competition when they could only reach half of the market in-home and at work but dominated when they could reach all of the market via a second signal. You can hear both in the car without issue on either end of town, but depending on where you are you can only get one or the other inside a building making both signals crucial to its success. If you compare hot zips from before and after the change you see the difference - the audience went from being heavily weighted on one end of town to a fairly even split. If in-car listening was dominant you wouldn't see that difference. Being able to reach people wherever they are matters!

 

[The Rimshot]

That's not true. The majority listen in-home and at-work.

If you look at my quote, I said "terrestrial" radio. If someone listens at work, they do so via their laptop, desktop or phone. No one has a "box radio" they bring and listen to at work.

At home, it's the same thing. If someone is listening to a radio station at home, they do so via their phone or laptop.

Conventional radio boxes are dead.

In the car is probably the last resort for "terrestrial" radio listeners. Even then, a lot of folks still listen to Sirius, iHeartRadio, Tunein, and other Bluetooth options. I feel like this is the setting most convenient for terrestrial listening because of convenience. All you have to do is start the car and it's on.

 

[davideduardo]

If you look at my quote, I said "terrestrial" radio. If someone listens at work, they do so via their laptop, desktop or phone. No one has a "box radio" they bring and listen to at work.

Looking at Nielsen's data we find that over 60% of terrestrial station listening is not in the car.

At home, it's the same thing. If someone is listening to a radio station at home, they do so via their phone or laptop.

Between 28% and 30% of radio listening, even in the PPM markets, takes place where the docking stations are, commonly referred to as "at home".

Conventional radio boxes are dead.

Hardly.

In the car is probably the last resort for "terrestrial" radio listeners. Even then, a lot of folks still listen to Sirius, iHeartRadio, Tunein, and other Bluetooth options. I feel like this is the setting most convenient for terrestrial listening because of convenience. All you have to do is start the car and it's on.

Before reaching, and then reasserting your opinion based on missing facts, you might find out where listening really takes place.

 

[davideduardo]

Preach it. I'm thinking of a station and morning show that struggled to beat its direct competition when they could only reach half of the market in-home and at work but dominated when they could reach all of the market via a second signal. You can hear both in the car without issue on either end of town, but depending on where you are you can only get one or the other inside a building making both signals crucial to its success. If you compare hot zips from before and after the change you see the difference - the audience went from being heavily weighted on one end of town to a fairly even split. If in-car listening was dominant you wouldn't see that difference. Being able to reach people wherever they are matters!

Fortunately, in the two-hundred-plus diary markets, we see clear breakouts of at home, at work, in the car and "other" (meaning the park or the beach or while jogging, I guess). And the division is very close to even between all locations for radio in general. Where in-car is quite notably higher is with news, sports and talk stations.

In the PPM markets, we still see verification of this with the in-home listening. Unfortunately, the PPM does not segregate car and work listening as it has no way of "knowing" anything except that it is away from home.

 

[The Rimshot]

David, you are the Michael Jordan of this board, but I know a lot of people. A lot of the business I do requires entering the homes of customers, usually at night.

Not once have I seen someone listening to the radio at home. The TV is on, the laptop is fired up, but never is someone solely listening to the radio.

Your data is either outdated or incorrect.

I'm not buying it. Stop and use common sense.

 

[davideduardo]

David, you are the Michael Jordan of this board, but I know a lot of people. A lot of the business I do requires entering the homes of customers, usually at night.

Not once have I seen someone listening to the radio at home. The TV is on, the laptop is fired up, but never is someone solely listening to the radio.

Your data is either outdated or incorrect.

I'm not buying it. Stop and use common sense.

I am going by data from the Summer cycle of diary markets and the August PPM books.

Data for Houston 12+ for August: In-home is 25% of all AQH listening and 85.9% of all persons 12+ cumed radio at home during the average week. The figure is on the lower side of the range, typical for a Summer month. And we know that some in-home listening is attributed to "away" because if some part of the home is a bit far from the dock for the PPM, it will think the meter is away.

In New York City, an MSA with close to 7% of the nation's population, in-home listening accounted for 34.8% of all AQH listening in January and 31.1% in the summer month of August. Dallas in Winter averages 27.5% and summer is 29% or over.

LA, the nation's car capital, has 29% of listening in the home in January and 27.3% in August.

Your anecdotal experience is, quite simply, wrong. Part of the "wrongness" is judging radio listening on evening or nighttime observations; evening (7PM - Midnight) listening levels are much lower than 6 AM to 7 PM so the likelihood of finding anyone listening to radio anywhere in the evening is considerably reduced.

Again, your opinion is not based on facts. Instead, you present anecdotal evidence that does not reflect the behavior of the whole market or nation.

 

[davideduardo]

I concur.

You would. You again show your total lack of knowledge of radio.

 

[robertsez]

You would. You again show your total lack of knowledge of radio.

According to who?

 

[The Rimshot]

Again, your opinion is not based on facts.

My opinion is based on life experience. I go into homes for work, and I deal with folks who have below to average credit scores, all age demographics, all race demographics, and I'm telling you that your data, while it may seem prepared, is absolutely dead wrong. Whether it's for work or visiting family and friends, I don't see a box radio present.

With all the technology present, whether it's television, laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, etc., when you are thinking of a family, couple or an individual person spending an evening at home, do you visibly see someone sitting on the couch and listening to a radio? It just isn't true, David.

Life experience has shown that when someone listens to terrestrial radio, it is done at a higher rate in a car. It's common sense.

 

[frankberry]

Joe. You have again forced me to close a thread.

 

[frankberry]

You somehow manage to turn nearly every thread into self promotion.

 

[davideduardo]

Frank, why would you close a thread over my reply to David's argument. First of all, I was not promoting anything. I was responding to David's argument most radio listening takes place in the home. I used my own personal experiences in the operation of JoeFM to defend why I see things the way I do, and apparently the same way Rimshot does.

Joe, you even got my post wrong.

I actually said that the majority of listening did not occur in the car as was erroneously posted by another person.

When that OP disputed that and said that little in-home listening takes place, I showed that as much as 30% occurred in the home.

Since JoeFM is a pirate, we'd not expect you to know how the business of radio actually works because your activities disrespect all the broadcast professionals in the country.