> I was curious to know...
> what keeps waaf from getting a relay tower for the boston
> metro?
> an example of what I mean for a relay is what wrki 95.1 does
> in CT with relays in norwalk and Bridgeport (wrki 1, wrki 1)
>
> -OZ wwlr 91.5
> Myspace.com/theozno
>
"Boosters"...like WRKI-1, WRKI-2...by definition must be on the same frequency as their primary station AND must be located within the 60dBu protected contour of their primary station. I don't remember if the entire 60dBu of the booster has to be within the 60dBu of the primary, or just the transmitter site of the booster has to be within.
As you might imagine, you can't realistically run a booster except under very special circumstances lest massive co-channel interference will occur. Even though it's the same program stream, and even if you synchronize the two transmitters, they'll never quite be perfect and listeners will hear tons of pops and clicks as their radios switch between the two signal sources.
Generally speaking, you only see boosters where there's significant terrain shielding. Extremely hilly (or mountainous) country, usually...places where there might be a 1000ft hill between a part of town and your transmitter. That way you can use a booster to provide signal to that area, and the hill itself helps prevent significant co-channel interference. Usually a booster is under 100 watts (often only 10 or 20 watts) as well; which also helps limit interference (to the main signal anyways).
"Translators", OTOH, may be on the same frequency but usually are not. They may or may not be within the primary station's 60dBu, but generally are not. Translators that broadcast in the non-reserved (commercial) band must get their programming fed to them "over the air" (OTA) by their primary station...although that requirement is often ignored or stretched beyond reasonableness. Translators that broadcast in the reserved (NCE / 87.9-91.9) band may get their programming feed from alternate means, such as satellite or internet delivery.
So you see that for WAAF, getting a booster in Boston is next to impossible; their 60dBu doesn't reach that far.
As for a translator, the dial's so packed I don't think it could be done, even with the relaxed transmitter contour rules. I remember during the great translator invansion of 2003 there were several MX'd applications for a translator on 94.9 on top of the Hancock Tower. But they were all flea-powered stations...10 watts or so.
Also, thanks to all the major signals on the Pru, the blanketing interference zone in downtown Boston is significant; you couldn't punch your way through with something like a translator - which even in clear-dial conditions is limited to a max ERP of 250 watts.
