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When is Daytimer sign off?

B

b344077

OK.

I know that a strict daytime AM sign off is at a designated time each month (such as 4:15PM in December in Chicago).

However I noticed that some stations with extended hours and/or critical hour power reductions do it on what seems to be a sliding scale. That is WCPT seems to reduce power at around 4:25 and sign off at 5:25 for the last couple of days. Is it possible that the license says "local sunset" which is different every day or are they just a little slow on the switch in December.

What's up?

I once worked for a 50,000 watt class 1-B whose license said we could go non-directional "in the morning" which we thought might mean 12:01am. We were fined $50,000. Where is Todd Storz?

Bruce
 
Most "daytime" stations go off the air or change power modes at the average time of local sunset each month.

See http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/srsstime.html

Some stations though are on different clocks, depending upon which stations they are protecting. In the case of WCPT, if I recall correctly, their "sign off" is based on sunset at Denver, since they protect 50kw KOA, also on 850.

I don't think WCPT reduces power anytime late in the day; it just appears that way with more interference on the frequency as sundown hits eastern and central time zones.

Similar situation with 820 WAIT. Its "sundown" situation was tied to Dallas, Texas, protecting 50kw 820 WBAP.
 
> Most "daytime" stations go off the air or change power modes
> at the average time of local sunset each month.
>
> See http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/srsstime.html
>
> Some stations though are on different clocks, depending upon
> which stations they are protecting. In the case of WCPT, if
> I recall correctly, their "sign off" is based on sunset at
> Denver, since they protect 50kw KOA, also on 850.
>
> I don't think WCPT reduces power anytime late in the day; it
> just appears that way with more interference on the
> frequency as sundown hits eastern and central time zones.
>
> Similar situation with 820 WAIT. Its "sundown" situation
> was tied to Dallas, Texas, protecting 50kw 820 WBAP.
>
I believe it's figured as the closest quarter hour on the 15th of each month. For example, if sundown were at 7:21PM on September 15th then for the entire month of September, you would reduce power/switch to directional/go off the air at 7:15pm.
 
Surprisingly, WCPT does reduce power; they even mention it in the on the air apology for being a daytimer.

While I'm familiar with the prevailing rules covering daytimer sign on/off (local vs dominant stations, etc), I was wondering whether there any exceptions to the rule. Like could WCPT reach an agreement with KOA that would allow WCPT to sign on pre-local sunrise with reduced power; much like the old WJJD 4:00AM sign on of years gone by or the 12:01 AM sign on for a station in San Francisco as the result of an agreement with then dominant station on 1100, KYW
 
> Surprisingly, WCPT does reduce power; they even mention it
> in the on the air apology for being a daytimer.
>
> While I'm familiar with the prevailing rules covering
> daytimer sign on/off (local vs dominant stations, etc), I
> was wondering whether there any exceptions to the rule. Like
> could WCPT reach an agreement with KOA that would allow WCPT
> to sign on pre-local sunrise with reduced power; much like
> the old WJJD 4:00AM sign on of years gone by or the 12:01 AM
> sign on for a station in San Francisco as the result of an
> agreement with then dominant station on 1100, KYW
>

IIRC... They tried reaching an agreement under Pride ownership but either the FCC blocked them or they couldn't come to one. Of course, that was for them to run 24/7.

I'm wondering... Are they far enough that they could apply for night power if they null everything to the west and just shoot towards Chicago?

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> I believe it's figured as the closest
> quarter hour on the 15th of each month.

And isn't the 14th used for February?
 
> IIRC... They tried reaching an agreement under Pride
> ownership but either the FCC blocked them or they couldn't
> come to one. Of course, that was for them to run 24/7.
>
> I'm wondering... Are they far enough that they could apply
> for night power if they null everything to the west and just
> shoot towards Chicago?

Could be a problem with 50kW WEEI Boston (which also nulls west at night) and there are also lesser powered 24-hour 850 stations in OH, PA, VA, NC, etc...
 
> > IIRC... They tried reaching an agreement under Pride
> > ownership but either the FCC blocked them or they couldn't
>
> > come to one. Of course, that was for them to run 24/7.
> >
> > I'm wondering... Are they far enough that they could apply
>
> > for night power if they null everything to the west and
> just
> > shoot towards Chicago?
>
> Could be a problem with 50kW WEEI Boston (which also nulls
> west at night) and there are also lesser powered 24-hour 850
> stations in OH, PA, VA, NC, etc...
>

What WCPT needs to do if they ever wanted to run the station at night would be what WYLL did and move their night transmitter to the southwest suburbs and beam north at night. By doing that they would protect Denvers KOA, Bostons WEEI, Clevelands WKNR, and a few other 850's to the east. There are only a couple daytimers up in Duluth and the norhtern lower penisula of Michigan.
 
> > > IIRC... They tried reaching an agreement under Pride
> > > ownership but either the FCC blocked them or they
> couldn't
> >
> > > come to one. Of course, that was for them to run 24/7.
> > >
> > > I'm wondering... Are they far enough that they could
> apply
> >
> > > for night power if they null everything to the west and
> > just
> > > shoot towards Chicago?
> >
> > Could be a problem with 50kW WEEI Boston (which also nulls
>
> > west at night) and there are also lesser powered 24-hour
> 850
> > stations in OH, PA, VA, NC, etc...

Muskegon, MI, is a fultimer and a fairly old one at that. It would have to have a great deal of protection, as it is so close.
> >
>
> What WCPT needs to do if they ever wanted to run the station
> at night would be what WYLL did and move their night
> transmitter to the southwest suburbs and beam north at
> night. By doing that they would protect Denvers KOA, Bostons
> WEEI, Clevelands WKNR, and a few other 850's to the east.
> There are only a couple daytimers up in Duluth and the
> norhtern lower penisula of Michigan.
>
 
> However I noticed that some stations with extended hours
> and/or critical hour power reductions do it on what seems to
> be a sliding scale. That is WCPT seems to reduce power at
> around 4:25 and sign off at 5:25 for the last couple of
> days.

"FCC sunset" for WCPT in December is 4:15; it slides to 4:45 after the 1st of the year.

Many stations have "post-sunset authority" for up to two hours after "FCC sunset", at reduced power. There may be several lower power levels as the night goes on. It's not possible to tell from the FCC website whether WCPT has such authority.

The NRC AM Radio Log contains a comment to the effect that WCPT is allowed to remain on the air until Denver (KOA) sunset. "FCC sunset" for KOA in December is 5:30 Central time, sliding to 6:00 in January. Whether this means WCPT might be allowed to remain on the air up to two hours after *Denver* sunset (until 7:30, instead of 6:15) I don't know.
 
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