WARNING: To AM Stations Cranking it up for Friday Night High School Football

[nightfly61]

I'm surprised good old CheapChannel hasn't payed off the FCC & bought the rights to every high school game broadcast in the country so they'd have to get a cut.

"This copywrited broadcast of Gallipolis Ohio Blue Devil Football may not be published, rebroadcast or redistributed in any manner unless authorized by CheapChannel Communications and the CCHSFL".

Funny you can't crank it up & blanket 3 states but it's okay to stream it around the world.

 

[deltas69]

back in 1971 when we( WHIN) bought WFMG (104.5)..we did the gallatin games live on 50,000 watts..we sold a pregame show, the actual game, halftime show, and post game show..plus we did a coaches show weekly...and people would call in scores from all over the midstate to pass along during breaks...we had a lot of people upset that they COULD NOT BUY a spot due to the entire season being sold out..i ran the board and remember carts to right of me, carts to the left of me..beer and pizza in front of me..damn those were great times..

 

[bub]

I realize the main topic in this thread is Friday Night High School Football on the radio but reading all the posts on this thread reminds me of the time when I worked at a station and DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER AT NIGHT, the guy who would relieve me on a Sunday evening would do 2 things upon arrival...

1. Crank the transmitter back up to full daytime power in violation of the station's FCC license.
2. TURN THE TOWER LIGHTS OFF IN VIOLATION OF FAA REGULATIONS!

Again, this was at night in Winter!

Does anybody here know of stations that do THAT - turn the tower lights off, that is?

 

[KyDXIn]

Amazing how a thread about a topic of very limited interest is now on its second page.

To quote Paul Harvey, "Page 3".

 

[greg.hahn]

I realize the main topic in this thread is Friday Night High School Football on the radio but reading all the posts on this thread reminds me of the time when I worked at a station and DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER AT NIGHT, the guy who would relieve me on a Sunday evening would do 2 things upon arrival...

1. Crank the transmitter back up to full daytime power in violation of the station's FCC license.
2. TURN THE TOWER LIGHTS OFF IN VIOLATION OF FAA REGULATIONS!

Again, this was at night in Winter!

Does anybody here know of stations that do THAT - turn the tower lights off, that is?

Did you ask him why he did that? My only guess is that wire size to the site was too small, and the transmitter power would dip when the beacons lit up.

But no, in 36 years of radio I've never heard of that.

 

[steve63]

CCrane for some wonderful DXing opportunities.,,,i used to thar that advertised on art beels show..does it really bring in them thar fer away stations ??

The CCrane does well but the Superadio II does a bit better in both audio and reception. The Superadio II is in retirement due to age so the CCrane does the work.

The GE Superadio has been rebranded as an RCA Superadio III.

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-7-2887-Superadio-Portable-Radio/dp/B00000J061

It is impossible to spend $39 plus shipping any better.

 

[DouglasB]

Well fellow radio freaks: :

High School Football Season is at our front door and we KNOW what AM stations do that are classified as “Class D” AM stations do. Crank up the transmitter to their day power at night! Not all, but most of them do it.

For you GM’s and Owners of AM stations, you better watch what you’re doing AND STAY AT LEGAL POWER AT NIGHT! I know of one local station, that I will keep his name to myself that will be cranking up his “Muddy Water Five” and you will be able to hear the damn station over 30 states on Friday Nights between 7 PM and 10 PM.

Do not say I didn’t warn you, but Powell Way in Newberry, SC will be monitoring the band for the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and turning in stations that are not following the rules. All the DX guys will be monitoring with Powell. There will be one engineer out with his field strength meter monitoring stations!

Remember, the football players must follow the rules of playing Football, and we as broadcasters must follow the rules of broadcasting and setting good examples for our youth! If your not suppose to be at night, then stay off, and if you have Secondary Nighttime Authorization, operate what you’re suppose to! ;D

Well, back to my cave!

Something about glass houses ..... and throwing stones comes to mind.....

 

[oldies5161]

I realize the main topic in this thread is Friday Night High School Football on the radio but reading all the posts on this thread reminds me of the time when I worked at a station and DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER AT NIGHT, the guy who would relieve me on a Sunday evening would do 2 things upon arrival...

1. Crank the transmitter back up to full daytime power in violation of the station's FCC license.
2. TURN THE TOWER LIGHTS OFF IN VIOLATION OF FAA REGULATIONS!

Again, this was at night in Winter!

Does anybody here know of stations that do THAT - turn the tower lights off, that is?

Never heard of that but when I was working at a local station, a guy climbed the tower and took the globes off the lights. ;D

 

[KFodor]

With all due respects to Emperor Bob:

There's quite a few AM stations, though largely in your more Metro markets which still command sufficient ratings to be viable. Those stations see their nighttime coverage as much as halved, or see significantly increased interference at night because of those who refuse to operate their stations within the parameters of their licenses.

I am aware of one or two such operators who have received "unfriendly" visits by FCC inspectors. They deserve what they got. There should be more inspections, though than are going on.

If you have but 100 or 250 watts on your license at night, that's what you're supposed to operate at. If all the AM operators were operating at their correct power (and directional patterns - don't get me going on directional AM's in small towns who refuse to go directional at night), that 250 or so watts might actually cover something.

It's radio licensees, coupled with the FCC's reluctance to enforce that continues to march AM into its grave.
Some type of workable digital broadcasting system might change that, but more and more, it appears like AM HD as it is at present has serious, possibly fatal issues.

Breaking the rules to make a buck on high school football is not serving the public "interest, convenience and necessity".

 

[KFodor]

does the fcc have their priorites in order? Why not go after the urban pirates? I guess it's easier to pick off the perckerwoods in podunkville than go after people who are downright stealing.

Both are breaking FCC laws. Both should be dealt with.

 

[gr8oldies]

Hickory NC is frequently blasting in on 1290 lately.

 

[deltas69]

does paul harvey ever get to page four ?? ???

 

[scottwmro]

With all due respects to Emperor Bob:

There's quite a few AM stations, though largely in your more Metro markets which still command sufficient ratings to be viable. Those stations see their nighttime coverage as much as halved, or see significantly increased interference at night because of those who refuse to operate their stations within the parameters of their licenses.

I am aware of one or two such operators who have received "unfriendly" visits by FCC inspectors. They deserve what they got. There should be more inspections, though than are going on.

If you have but 100 or 250 watts on your license at night, that's what you're supposed to operate at. If all the AM operators were operating at their correct power (and directional patterns - don't get me going on directional AM's in small towns who refuse to go directional at night), that 250 or so watts might actually cover something.

It's radio licensees, coupled with the FCC's reluctance to enforce that continues to march AM into its grave.
Some type of workable digital broadcasting system might change that, but more and more, it appears like AM HD as it is at present has serious, possibly fatal issues.

Breaking the rules to make a buck on high school football is not serving the public "interest, convenience and necessity".

Well Jason, you are right! We all know who will be cranking it up come this Friday Night broadcasting football. He does not care. His transmitter is off frequency and when you drive out of town, it makes one hell of a roar on the channel. Then he turns right back around and grips when the other stations interfere with his stuff. The DX'ers have told me about it. I hope Powell Way will be monitoring. What burns me up is he is also broadcasting his games on the internet as well. There is no excuse to be cranking it up, causing interference to a station in Canada, when they are on the internet as well!

 

[yorkie9]

We all know who will be cranking it up come this Friday Night broadcasting football.

Actually, 1 more week to go. 8/29 is the first regular season game. As crazy as it sounds, I'll check it out and see if I hear it. I am between Lebanon and Watertown and can't hear a peep of them at night with the legal 47 watts - CFRB is loud and clear. If they come booming in here next Friday over CFRB, I'll help push this thread over to 5 pages!

 

[olebud]

quote from yorkie9

Actually, 1 more week to go. 8/29 is the first regular season game.

Friday Night is the Jamboree, which they will be broadcasting I'm sure. He can use this as a 'pre-season' tune-up to see how far he can go and just hope ole Way won't be setting his sights on him. You gotta practice a little bit, just to keep the opposition going.

I've heard (from good sources) that the Gallatin Powerhouse of Sound may be up for sale since radio stock is dropping. Might be time for a different Sumner County broadcaster to 'bring his money to the plate' and see what could be done with the old historic station.
Just a thought, but maybe a good one. Hmmmm did I say that out loud?

 

[scottwmro]

quote from yorkie9

Actually, 1 more week to go. 8/29 is the first regular season game.

Friday Night is the Jamboree, which they will be broadcasting I'm sure. He can use this as a 'pre-season' tune-up to see how far he can go and just hope ole Way won't be setting his sights on him. You gotta practice a little bit, just to keep the opposition going.

I've heard (from good sources) that the Gallatin Powerhouse of Sound may be up for sale since radio stock is dropping. Might be time for a different Sumner County broadcaster to 'bring his money to the plate' and see what could be done with the old historic station.
Just a thought, but maybe a good one. Hmmmm did I say that out loud?

Buddy,
Michael St. John told me the same thing a few weeks ago. Bill Buntin told me that it could be moved closer in to the metro and power raised to 10 KW daytime. It also can put a nighttime transmitter with 47 watts in Downtown Nashville. I haven't look at it in my AM study software, but off the top of my hat, I'm sure that can happen.
Now, back to the batcave!

 

[romer979fm]

get Bill Barry involved: he can get the FCC to do whatever he wants...

 

[K4WRF]

Buddy,
Michael St. John told me the same thing a few weeks ago. Bill Buntin told me that it could be moved closer in to the metro and power raised to 10 KW daytime. It also can put a nighttime transmitter with 47 watts in Downtown Nashville. I haven't look at it in my AM study software, but off the top of my hat, I'm sure that can happen.
Now, back to the batcave!
[/quote]

Whoa !

Several issues with that scenario, 1030 second adjacent White Bluff, 1010 co-channel Savannah, Tn and the biggest issue, third adjacent 980 WYFN. Lot of measurements, lot of analysis and engineering. Night power would be less power due to FCC ratchet-back clause. Getting past all this, then the issues with finding a site and it would have to be an existing facility with steel in the air and copper in the ground. Lot of networks and filters and there you have a little ROI concern. Bill will need deep pockets of Arthur Payne, again. Ooops.... Bud might want to sell the 830kHz when its granted.

Wishfull thinking perhaps...

 

[yorkie9]

quote from yorkie9

Actually, 1 more week to go. 8/29 is the first regular season game.

Friday Night is the Jamboree, which they will be broadcasting I'm sure. He can use this as a 'pre-season' tune-up to see how far he can go and just hope ole Way won't be setting his sights on him. You gotta practice a little bit, just to keep the opposition going.

I've heard (from good sources) that the Gallatin Powerhouse of Sound may be up for sale since radio stock is dropping. Might be time for a different Sumner County broadcaster to 'bring his money to the plate' and see what could be done with the old historic station.
Just a thought, but maybe a good one. Hmmmm did I say that out loud?

That's right - Jamboree is this week. I'll check in and see how it sounds!

And speaking of it being for sale...I'm scratching my head thinking of a format that would be more profitable with a move in toward Nashville. More spanish? Liberal talk? Just throwing these out there..I'm not a fan of either.

I would almost think it's already in the best place it can be. What am I missing? (I am slow this week thanks to this pesky stomach bug going around).

 

[deltas69]

Might be time for a different Sumner County broadcaster to 'bring his money to the plate' and see what could be done with the old historic station.
Just a thought, but maybe a good one. Hmmmm did I say that out loud? hummm..bud...are YOU thinking of making an offer ?? hell..i'll work for nothing IF i can do it "MY WAY"...(APOLOGIES TO SINATRA)...lets see..sign on..the Jack Hunter pacesetter show ?? (can't find benny williams)..pj the dj with midday madness...afternoons...super sudsing sadler platter party.."request lines are open !!" haul in finley for weekends..damn shame buck in not around..nice pipe dream...wish we could light it up..lol..