wchr's array

[RunWithScissors]

I noticed the FCC has them down as having three towers, on the satellite image there are five with an irregular pattern. Do they switch at night to the other two towers with the middle one being used 24/7. To me this is odd I cannot recall a station where they utilize more towers to change patterns. i do know WIBG would take one off at night in the 60's but I never heard of switching towers to change pattern, this is not a cost cutting move, towers and xmtrs cost big bucks.

 

[eatspaste]

I noticed the FCC has them down as having three towers, on the satellite image there are five with an irregular pattern. Do they switch at night to the other two towers with the middle one being used 24/7. To me this is odd I cannot recall a station where they utilize more towers to change patterns. i do know WIBG would take one off at night in the 60's but I never heard of switching towers to change pattern, this is not a cost cutting move, towers and xmtrs cost big bucks.

Lots of AM stations change to different towers between day and night.

WWJZ/Mt Holly wanted to move their day signal to a site in Berks County while keeping their night signal in Mt. Holly (did that plan die?). WOWO/Ft Wayne, IN, uses 1 tower day (non-directional) and 3 at night (directional). WHP/Harrisburg uses 1 tower day (non-directional) and 6 at night (directional). It has nothing to do with cost-cutting.

 

[eyg2181]

5 Towers??? is that why 105.7 is listed as very weak in levittown PA, but it really comes in like a local Day&Night???

i wouldnt even call it weak, let alone very weak, i think moderate would be the correct rating

 

[eatspaste]

5 Towers??? is that why 105.7 is listed as very weak in levittown PA, but it really comes in like a local Day&Night???

i wouldnt even call it weak, let alone very weak, i think moderate would be the correct rating

No, no, no.

FM stations only use one antenna, from one tower, at the same power level, with the same pattern 24/7/365. The coverage areas of FM stations do not change (except for band openings, etc.) on a daily basis.

AM stations may operate at different power levels, from different towers, with similiar or completely different patterns between sunrise, sunset, or critical hours.

WCHR-AM 1040 in Flemington (which runs a religious format) changes its power level and pattern three times everyday.

WCHR-FM 105.7 in Manahawkin (which runs a classic rock format) is a directional (away from the south to protect 105.5 in Cape May Court House) 13kw 24/7/365.

You should be able to receive both WCHR-AM and WCHR-FM from Levittown around the clock.

 

[DouglasB]

A great resource for finding day and night towers is www.fccinfo.com. It's a great site for searching for AM/FM/TV facilities and towers. Even has a representative plot of day and night patters as well as number of towers and orientation. Even a link to plot the tower site on a topo map.

 

[eyg2181]

5 Towers??? is that why 105.7 is listed as very weak in levittown PA, but it really comes in like a local Day&Night???

i wouldnt even call it weak, let alone very weak, i think moderate would be the correct rating

No, no, no.

FM stations only use one antenna, from one tower, at the same power level, with the same pattern 24/7/365. The coverage areas of FM stations do not change (except for band openings, etc.) on a daily basis.

AM stations may operate at different power levels, from different towers, with similiar or completely different patterns between sunrise, sunset, or critical hours.

WCHR-AM 1040 in Flemington (which runs a religious format) changes its power level and pattern three times everyday.

WCHR-FM 105.7 in Manahawkin (which runs a classic rock format) is a directional (away from the south to protect 105.5 in Cape May Court House) 13kw 24/7/365.

You should be able to receive both WCHR-AM and WCHR-FM from Levittown around the clock.

oh, i always forget that there are 2 wchr stations... Thanks For the info 8)

also about WCHR-AM, im guessing they change their power levels because of other channels it may interfere with at night???

and i think radio-locator, needs to change the signal strenght for WCHR-FM, to "Moderate" (or at "least weak"), as the scan always stops there, and it comes in like a local (i know b/c i listen to it all the time now)... i know they wont change it and i know these maps are not 100% accurate, but "Very Weak" is not the correct rating for 105.7 in the levittown area. ???

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

Radio-Locator's coverage maps are based upon mathematics and calculations.

And yes, WCHR-Am reduces power to protect other stations who have the "rights" (were there before WCHR-AM) to the frequency.
I beleive the station WCHR-AM has to protect is WHo 1040 Des Moines, IA.

 

[eyg2181]

Radio-Locator's coverage maps are based upon mathematics and calculations.

And yes, WCHR-Am reduces power to protect other stations who have the "rights" (were there before WCHR-AM) to the frequency.
I beleive the station WCHR-AM has to protect is WHo 1040 Des Moines, IA.

what???thats like 2000 miles away?, i dont really understand am radio waves too well i guess.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

Actually, as the crow files....from WHO's Tower Array to WCHR-AM's tower array, it's probably about 900 miles or so.

WHO is a Clear Channel(not the company), with 50KW Non directional day and ight.. it has the rights to the frequency.... WCHR-AM MUST protect WHO-AM.