What is the point haha. How do they even survive at night with 1-20 watts of power. I am listening to my local talk radio station 980 WXLM which comes in well during the day at 1,000 and now the sun goes down and they reduce power to 72 watts and now it is a jumbled mess. Keep in mind, it's less than 10 miles away. I've also had that happen somewhere else where a station in the neighboring town powered down to 6 watts and couldn't receive it all. Why don't they shut off at night completely. It's ridiculous in my opinion. I'd rather listen to my local AM than listen to some clear channel signal 800 miles away.
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What's the point of low power AM stations at night?
- Thread starter Carltheradioguy
- Start date
If the transmitter is located in a densely populated area, the station may be listenable to a moderate number of nearby folks. The electric bill is obviously very low, so if the station is automated it could be worthwhile. Unfortunately it also helps to pollute the frequency over a huge area.
There's a station about 25 miles southwest of me that drops from 900 watts daytime to ONE watt at night. WSQR on 1180. Based on my experience driving through town, that one watt is enough to deliver a usable signal for about three miles to most....but not all....of the COL Sycamore, IL, which had a population of about 12,000 when WSQR added nighttime operation. The town and surrounding area have grown since, but so has WSQR. They now have three translators.
Anyone in radio station ownership will tell you if you can get a license for any authority given by the FCC, you have a greater ability to do or get more and it becomes almost impossible to take back.
Any licensee can claim what they can, so no matter how minimal, you claim what you have a right to. The objective is to not let another broadcaster claim what is 'yours'. By the way, under 250 watts means you don't have to stay on at night. You might have 7 watts at night now but in a few years that might be upgraded to a respectable power. Stations are always changing tower sites and patterns so you just never know.
I know of one AM with 5 watts that does high school sports sponsored in part by a large restaurant that hosts listening parties for out of town games. The strangest thing I heard of low watt night power was used for was for a wedding ceremony for a prominent local family. It was held at the church that aired their Sunday services live on the station.
Any licensee can claim what they can, so no matter how minimal, you claim what you have a right to. The objective is to not let another broadcaster claim what is 'yours'. By the way, under 250 watts means you don't have to stay on at night. You might have 7 watts at night now but in a few years that might be upgraded to a respectable power. Stations are always changing tower sites and patterns so you just never know.
I know of one AM with 5 watts that does high school sports sponsored in part by a large restaurant that hosts listening parties for out of town games. The strangest thing I heard of low watt night power was used for was for a wedding ceremony for a prominent local family. It was held at the church that aired their Sunday services live on the station.
HAHAHAHAHAHA One Watt. WJTO in Maine is like that. It is 1,000 watts during the day and covers a decent amount of range (even hitting cape cod) but declines to 6 watts at night and even in the neighboring town, it gets completely swallowed up by a Canadian Clear channel signal. One watt though HAHAHA but the use of FM translators in my opinion is a blessing. Yes, I understanding why most Dxers do not approve but it certainly appears to help with coverage in my experience. I love dxing but i'm more of a listener.
@TheBigA Those are valid points. I'm sure many stations do not stream online so it's a miracle they stay open.
But the Sales Department will tell you that you have to use the 500 watt Pre Sunrise power. Don't let them near the Day Night switches. Lock the door and keep them out. Account Executives don't understand skywaves, at least not today. Especially if you are on a I-A or I-B channel. Radio Engineers are not like Train Engineers. And a Secretary is not a toy. Lesson of the day for the "Herb Tarleks" of the world.
Very true. And those responsible for the on-air product don't understand sponsors....LOL
And, as for the "Herb Tarleks",,,, Well, y'see there was this one evening in Ottawa where I was having dinner at this bar/restaurant behind CFRA's building. Observing a local "Herb" and a secretary-type. He didn't understand what her repeated "no" meant. Meanwhile, she understood perfectly what he was up to!
Very true. And those responsible for the on-air product don't understand sponsors....LOL
And, as for the "Herb Tarleks",,,, Well, y'see there was this one evening in Ottawa where I was having dinner at this bar/restaurant behind CFRA's building. Observing a local "Herb" and a secretary-type. He didn't understand what her repeated "no" meant. Meanwhile, she understood perfectly what he was up to!
They do hold just about all the cards these days. Part of it is they have so much practice from such an early age. As the late Glenn Frey wisely said, "city girls just seem to find out early, how to open doors with just a smile." It doesn't do any good to complain about it, either. Holland Dozier Holland said, "And there ain't nothin' I can do about it." There's a lot of truth in lyrics. Words mean things. That's what I learned in English 241, "Elements Of Literary Analysis", the Organic Chemistry of English Majors, which separates the men from the boys, if we can still say that.
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The translator-feeding possibilities justify the existing stations with flea power.
Back in the late 70's into the 80's, it made far less sense. There was no Klondike-type rush for translators because that craze hadn't begun yet. Now-dark stations such as our local WMIM Mt. Carmel had to be content with their 22 (whatever) watts at night. An even more ridiculous nighttime grant -- maybe like 1.8 watts -- was afforded WSER 1550 in Elkton MD. That was because of CBE in Canada. And WSER was *directional* at night, same as they are in the day!
Scores of other stations reduced the wattage of their previously daytime-only around that time. That was well before the translator stampede.
Now, neither Elkton MD nor Mt. Carmel PA is situated in a major market where agencies pore through Nielson Audio breakdowns to zero in on a ripe demo to pitch. There would have been fewer syndicated shows or sponsors to 'clear' then, as well. My thought is that when the nighttime AM dial was *opened* for the first time, irrespective of wattage, many stations wanted nothing more than that '24 hours a day' brass ring. Of course, the local merchants and businesses would have been the only revenue envisioned. Very local.
More than a few saw that original table scrap as a means to inflate the audiences and sponsorships for high school sports by running the night game broadcasts above power. I daresay many stations still do that.
I reiterate : most of these virtual nighttime LPAM stations made little sense 20-30 years ago. Nowadays, rules and conditions are a lot different. The Big A pointed out the big difference.
* * * * * * *
Friday nights when the high school kids are at it in some gym or field is a terrific time to DX these mischievous former daytimers. It may not be 'ethical' DX, lol, but it's just as honorable or dishonorable as the station's intent, no? What am I supposed to do with a new log? Throw it back , hi?
Back in the late 70's into the 80's, it made far less sense. There was no Klondike-type rush for translators because that craze hadn't begun yet. Now-dark stations such as our local WMIM Mt. Carmel had to be content with their 22 (whatever) watts at night. An even more ridiculous nighttime grant -- maybe like 1.8 watts -- was afforded WSER 1550 in Elkton MD. That was because of CBE in Canada. And WSER was *directional* at night, same as they are in the day!
Scores of other stations reduced the wattage of their previously daytime-only around that time. That was well before the translator stampede.
Now, neither Elkton MD nor Mt. Carmel PA is situated in a major market where agencies pore through Nielson Audio breakdowns to zero in on a ripe demo to pitch. There would have been fewer syndicated shows or sponsors to 'clear' then, as well. My thought is that when the nighttime AM dial was *opened* for the first time, irrespective of wattage, many stations wanted nothing more than that '24 hours a day' brass ring. Of course, the local merchants and businesses would have been the only revenue envisioned. Very local.
More than a few saw that original table scrap as a means to inflate the audiences and sponsorships for high school sports by running the night game broadcasts above power. I daresay many stations still do that.
I reiterate : most of these virtual nighttime LPAM stations made little sense 20-30 years ago. Nowadays, rules and conditions are a lot different. The Big A pointed out the big difference.
* * * * * * *
Friday nights when the high school kids are at it in some gym or field is a terrific time to DX these mischievous former daytimers. It may not be 'ethical' DX, lol, but it's just as honorable or dishonorable as the station's intent, no? What am I supposed to do with a new log? Throw it back , hi?
And if a class D AM has an FM translator, chances are that nearly all the listening is on the FM. On a practical basis, it would make sense to shut off at night the little sub-10 watters. (sub 50 watters?) The nighttime authorization could stay on the FCC records as though it were active, in case the AM subsequently were to lose their FM translator.
Doubt such an arrangement would currently be legal in the eyes of the FCC. Though, on a pragmatic basis I doubt anyone would really notice.
K
kf4rca
Guest
I think they wanted to give small markets some night time coverage for local news and emergency information (EAS). The advent of computers allowed unattended automated operation.
But if a station was authorized for 24 watts, who's to say they might crank it up a little bit so they could cover the market.
Often the CE MUST do this if he wants to keep his job.
After all there is no logging anymore and the FCC ONLY comes around when someone complains.
But if a station was authorized for 24 watts, who's to say they might crank it up a little bit so they could cover the market.
Often the CE MUST do this if he wants to keep his job.
After all there is no logging anymore and the FCC ONLY comes around when someone complains.
I think the FCC wanted to help AM stations compete a little better. One of the big complaints I always heard was December sunset times killed them in their highest billing month. In Nashville I heard a daytimer sign off at 4:45. I worked a Dallas area daytimer that looked at 5:15 sign off in December. Most AM stations had a Pre-Sunrise Authority allowing a 6 am start every month, so why not. In fact in the smaller markets you got prime time rates at 6 am even if you had a 50 watt PSA and 1,000 watts daytime and they could sell it. Granted that was pretty much pre-1990.
Some stations ran a higher post sunset power. One station had about 8 watts and I think they usually ran about 50 with the thinking 50 watts wasn't really going to interfere with anybody and it made the in town signal a little less sketchy for a couple of miles. In fact at that station they had 80 watts the hour before sunrise so why would 50 be an issue the first hour post sunset. That station just wanted to stay on until all the town was home from work, so they were off at 7 pm no matter the month. They didn't run school sports as a rival station had it.
Some stations ran a higher post sunset power. One station had about 8 watts and I think they usually ran about 50 with the thinking 50 watts wasn't really going to interfere with anybody and it made the in town signal a little less sketchy for a couple of miles. In fact at that station they had 80 watts the hour before sunrise so why would 50 be an issue the first hour post sunset. That station just wanted to stay on until all the town was home from work, so they were off at 7 pm no matter the month. They didn't run school sports as a rival station had it.
That alone is the underlying reason behind 35 years of terrible regulation by the FCC. The minute a regulatory agency attempts to intervene in the marketplace, it causes trouble. Because the players will try to game the system. Observers complain that corporations are gaming the system, but they're simply playing the cards they've been dealt.
Owners know what they're getting when they buy a daytimer. They know what they're getting when they buy a low power AM. Then the FCC comes along and changes things, assuming you can change one part of an equation without it affecting the other. That's why we're in the situation we're in.
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Technically, i think its legal.. the FM translator can remain on as long as the AM isn't off more then 24 hours.
But turning the transmitter on and off on a daily basis creates wear & tear that doesn't happen if you just leave it on all the time.
With solid state transmitters, that wear and tear is very little compared to tube transmitters
Still why do it when the cost of leaving it on is minimal?
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