Translators : A bad investment?

[joshzz]

I believe a translator located in NJ sold for over a million dollars and it offered only about 10 - 20 watts of power.

According to a statement issued by the FCC, LPFMs will not have protection from HD signals. In other words that would imply that translators which have even less power than LPFMs, those located in the eastern part of the country will become virtually absent of power when most radio stations flip to HD.

We had originally considered growing our NJ radio station network by acquiring use of as many translators as possible. In light of this information we MAY move in another direction.

aNY THOUGHTS ON THIS?

HERE'S THE ARTICLE>>>

HEADLINES FROM RADIO JOURNAL>>>
No love for LPFMs. Advocates of low-power FM have been worried about digital
interference since the start of HD Radio, and several LPFM groups weighed in
with concerns about harm to their signals from more powerful digital
carriers. The FCC declined to provide new protections for LPFMs, saying to
do so "would constitute a dramatic change in LPFM licensing rules and the
relationship between LPFM and full-service stations." The FCC's order notes
that many LPFMs exist only because they've voluntarily agreed to accept
interference from existing analog signals, and so it would be "both unfair
and at odds with secondary service licensing principles to deny a
full-service station additional digital power based on the potential of
increased interference to an LPFM station."

 

[MarcB]

Translators are going up in value because they now can be used to relay AM stations and HD2 and HD3 channels. Smaller Markets are now getting more stations because of this. And Hartford got it's first FM Latino Station in 20 years because of this. 97.5 W248AB in Bolton, CT relays WMRQ 104.1 HD2. They have DJs and brand the station as La Bomba 97.5 Pure Dynamite. (Pure Dynamite is the English Translation). http://www.labomba975.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glast...OMBA-975-FM-PURA-DINAMITA/202289685395?ref=nf

 

[joshzz]

Any powerful HD signal will completely erode the ability of a translator to reach a population. The problem is, translators offer insignificant power and HD is notorious for disrupting neighboring signals.

I wouldn't be a buyer of translators at this point. It may be 5 years from now but it will end the hope of translators to make the difference for AM.

 

[JerseyShor]

It really depends.

You need to do a thorough channel search to see if the translator will be effected in the future or not.

If you have a nice open channel with no first adjacents you should be fine, IBOC really only effects first adjacents.

ie: W300AM in Manahawkin is at 107.9 and the closest 107.7 is 20 watts from nearly 50 miles away. The next closest 107.7 is 250 watts from 70 miles away. W300AM will not be effected by IBOC interference.

ie: W238BL in Wildwood is at 95.5 with 50,000 watt (equivalent) WBEN-FM just 75 miles away over a lot of salt water and clear open terrain. W238BL will be effected by IBOC interference.

I live 10 miles from W272BH at 102.3, a whopping 38 watts from 71 meters. I am also 62 miles from full power Class B WIOQ at 102.1 which is spewing out IBOC. 102.3 suffers no interference at all from WIOQ's IBOC signal here and my Insignia HD Radio cannot even get enough of WIOQ's HD signal to decode it.

My opinion: Look for a translator with no nearby first adjacents and you should be fine!

 

[joshzz]

DEAR JERSEY SHORE, What do you think of W250ak and W282AU ? Thanks for your help. josh

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Josh: a couple of brain-storm ideas to throw into your efforts to analyze the long term value/future of translators: (1) We don't know what the future of HD is. You have expressed your concerns about increased interference with HD power levels going up. The upside of translator ownership is: What happens is HD finally is declared to be a failure and it disappears from the spectrum. (2) This is the biggie as I see it: Acquiring a translator put you "in the game". You can apply to move it. I haven't followed current policy, but I assume you could apply to change frequency. Because they only accept apps for new/additional translators during infrequent windows, and this may get worse because of the feeling that there has been speculation and hoarding by previous applicants.

If you are able to buy only ONE translator, you may get burned on that one, you may hit a home-run. My assumption is that if you were able to acquire ten translators the business outcome of the venture would be good.

Having said all that.... my personal attitude on the topic is that in spectrum devoted to broadcasting, regulations should benefit those who actually choose to serve the listening public, not those who choose to simply chase a speculative investment. Obviously my personal attitude on the topic is NOT what is guiding the direction of legislation and regulation today. :-\

 

[w9wi]

You can apply to move it. I haven't followed current policy, but I assume you could apply to change frequency. Because they only accept apps for new/additional translators during infrequent windows, and this may get worse because of the feeling that there has been speculation and hoarding by previous applicants.

You can make a "minor change" without waiting for a filing window.

My understanding (refutable, as I'm in TV, not radio) is that a "minor change" is one that's mutually-exclusive with the existing permit/license -- where you couldn't have both facilities at the same time. Move to an adjacent frequency, or to a site that's within the protected coverage area of the existing facility, etc...

 

[Deeman1710]

Translators are destroying the FM band with HD noise just like the FCC allowed the AM band too be destroyed with IBOC and the the destruction of the expanded band. FM is going to be so crouded like the AM band if translators keep coming on. The FCC needs to stop the licensing of translators to save the FM band now.

Preserve the AM /FM band the way it was meant to be. Between all the pirates and translators on FM the whole band is becoming a dissgrace. The FCC needs to WAKE UP.

 

[d21ofnj]

If translators were there to fill a format hole and transmit something like shore alternative or if the rules would apply for Internet radio streamers, then it would be understandable. Like QXR on 96.7, it's reasonable since 105.9 is somewhat listenable.