T
Those RRRRs
Guest
For about a week now, 990 WNTP's signal has been virtually non-existent in the Willow Grove area at night time. Anyone have any information about this? Thanks.
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Propagation has been rather nutty of late. I've heard bits of something on 740 behind CHWO after I get out of WVCH's night groundwave range. On 1520, the Saudi Arabian 2 megawatter on 1521 puts a screaming beat note
against WWKB. After WNWR goes off, 1540 becomes a dogfight between WDCD, CHIN Toronto and KXEL. 890 has the Algerian on 891 howling against WLS. Nulling both of those gets me a Radio Progreso outlet somewhere in Cuba. Interesting times for DX'ers...
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
against WWKB. After WNWR goes off, 1540 becomes a dogfight between WDCD, CHIN Toronto and KXEL. 890 has the Algerian on 891 howling against WLS. Nulling both of those gets me a Radio Progreso outlet somewhere in Cuba. Interesting times for DX'ers...
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
Eeeyyoo, Dave, can we see some of that fine WVCH engineering in a picture or two, of like, the transmitter, for us desperate AM’ers who never really grew up. And how do you bump that transmitter down to night power? And what are you using for the 50Kw on 1540? What is up with that 45 watts directional pre sunrise? Why doesn't Radio-Locator list pre sunrise authorization power allocation? When are you going to put WNWR on at night? How many more questions do I get?
I do not think that the issue with WNTP has to do with propagation. The signal is normally pure groundwave at my location and the night time issues do not have to do with interference. Rather, they have to do with WNTP sounding really weak. And, the daytime signal has been distorted and weaker than it should be.
My guess is that they are having transmitter issues, but it would be great to get the scoop from someone who knows what's really going on over there.
My guess is that they are having transmitter issues, but it would be great to get the scoop from someone who knows what's really going on over there.
J
Jul
Guest
I would contact WNTP and let them know about this problem: http://wntp.com/about.aspx
T
Those RRRRs
Guest
I agree. I have a '76 Kenwood Model "Eleven II." This wooden yacht of a receiver cost $1100 way back then. Anyway, the signal strength meter usually reads approximately 3.5 at 990 on any given night...right now it's only at about 1.2
WPEN strangely enough reads a wopping 4.5 at night, more than their daytime signal. I don't think this is propagation either.
LOTS of ????'s to answer here. Finishing the post that went by mistake, WNTP HAS had some antenna system problems: I think it was a bad RF contactor that took both WNTP and WFIL off for awhile. Rene Tetro may be able to answer that one. WPEN runs 21 kW at night directional from the WWDB site. Not sure if their new 25 kW day rig from Overbrook is on the air yet. Sam, here are your answers in order: I need to get some pictures taken of both 740 and 1540. We use a Gates One 1 kW solid state transmitter at WVCH. It has the ability to raise or lower the power level in adjustable steps. We use a remote control to drop power at night from 1 kW to SIX WATTS.
That small amount of power gets the station about an 8+ mile coverage radius at night from the studio/transmitter site in Brookhaven. Get up to Rt 3 on the Blue Route and Toronto takes over. WNWR uses a Gates DX-50 as its transmitter. There is NO listing at all on the license-which was just renewed-of ANY pre sunrise or post sunset authority. Owner Jim Weizman is perfectly content to run this one as a daytimer for the time being. I'd say Radio-Locator has it wrong LOL. Daytimers can
go on after midnight to do equipment testing and maintenance but 1540 hasn't done this in awhile.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
That small amount of power gets the station about an 8+ mile coverage radius at night from the studio/transmitter site in Brookhaven. Get up to Rt 3 on the Blue Route and Toronto takes over. WNWR uses a Gates DX-50 as its transmitter. There is NO listing at all on the license-which was just renewed-of ANY pre sunrise or post sunset authority. Owner Jim Weizman is perfectly content to run this one as a daytimer for the time being. I'd say Radio-Locator has it wrong LOL. Daytimers can
go on after midnight to do equipment testing and maintenance but 1540 hasn't done this in awhile.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
Thanks for the data, Dave. Lookin' forward to the picture information when it becomes available. When Hy was at WRCP/WPGR, there was pre-sunrise authorization of 45 watts. Directional at that. I think there was even talk of nighttime, but a new TX site would be required to protect somebody, and it would only have been a kilowatt at best, as I recall.
I do not know details od WNWR's license, but when It was WPGR, Mike and Joan Venditti had the Geator apply for and receive nighttime authority for 500 watts. At that level, the signal covered north to Norristown and South to the Almonessin Exit of Route 42. Of course that meant the prime Geat territory of NE Philly, Center City and South Philly were covered.
Mike was an AM genius, and somehow rigged the Harris MW50 to run at 500 watts on remote control, lowering time (eh em) stricktly adhered to. Jerry didn't like the low power, and the limited coverag, also the added payroll in the winter. It still had a better signal on 500 directional than 1340 has now.
Mike was an AM genius, and somehow rigged the Harris MW50 to run at 500 watts on remote control, lowering time (eh em) stricktly adhered to. Jerry didn't like the low power, and the limited coverag, also the added payroll in the winter. It still had a better signal on 500 directional than 1340 has now.
W
WTUX
Guest
Dave,
I have known of that tecnhical glitch before with FCC license renewal. Back in the 70's, while I was at WTUX, our license was renewed WITHOUT the pre-sunrise authorization. Luckily it was summertime, so we still had our normal 6am sign-on. But it took about a month of effort by the owner before the issue was settled.
I have known of that tecnhical glitch before with FCC license renewal. Back in the 70's, while I was at WTUX, our license was renewed WITHOUT the pre-sunrise authorization. Luckily it was summertime, so we still had our normal 6am sign-on. But it took about a month of effort by the owner before the issue was settled.
amfm and WTUX,
Some very interesting history there. 500 watts done right does get out. From what I saw on an old license at the station, it has a Collins 20V2 1kW box as an aux rig. I bet Venditti switched to that at 500 watts post sunset.
When I was with 990 in Providence in the '80's, we'd switch to another box to run 500 watts at night with
the same pattern we used to run 50 kW daytime with the RCA Ampliphase. Not sure if 1540 here ran the same pattern day and night. And to finish an earlier part of my post, I've heard WWKB-1520 skywave though WCHE at times on the car radio going to work at WVCH.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
Some very interesting history there. 500 watts done right does get out. From what I saw on an old license at the station, it has a Collins 20V2 1kW box as an aux rig. I bet Venditti switched to that at 500 watts post sunset.
When I was with 990 in Providence in the '80's, we'd switch to another box to run 500 watts at night with
the same pattern we used to run 50 kW daytime with the RCA Ampliphase. Not sure if 1540 here ran the same pattern day and night. And to finish an earlier part of my post, I've heard WWKB-1520 skywave though WCHE at times on the car radio going to work at WVCH.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
WTUX,
You bring up a valid point. When the FCC gave daytimers post sunset authority, all the information was kept in a database. At some point that database was destroyed. You guys were lucky to get the copy of your 32 watts at night. We still have the original copy of our 6 watt post sunset authorization at WVCH. 6 watts on 740 gets out about 8 miles from the Brookhaven studio/transmitter site with a usable signal.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
You bring up a valid point. When the FCC gave daytimers post sunset authority, all the information was kept in a database. At some point that database was destroyed. You guys were lucky to get the copy of your 32 watts at night. We still have the original copy of our 6 watt post sunset authorization at WVCH. 6 watts on 740 gets out about 8 miles from the Brookhaven studio/transmitter site with a usable signal.
Dave Gardiner
WVCH 740/WNWR 1540
Philadelphia
DG02816 said:
Dave, do you find it's worth the effort to put out the 6 watts given the cost to run the operation? I realize that, as a Christian ministry, ratings (by themselves) aren't the only benchmark. Or -- excuse my ignorance because I can't hear you up in Allentown anyway -- are you not running at night at this time anyway?
Richard in Allentown
8
8638
Guest
I don't remember WPGR being authorized for 500 watts night. I do remember it being authorized 7 watts night, I believe using the same DA pattern, but don't hold me to that. I actually heard that 7 watt signal in Pennsauken, NJ. It was thready and weak, and I don't think it would have made it to Almonesson or Norristown. I recall the 7 watts being used somewhere around 1993. When was 500 watts authorized/used?
With regard to strange propagation, there has been some strange stuff on AM of late. Heard what I think was a Cuban mixed in with WABC thursday night, and what I can only assume was a Central Time Zone daytimer playing Gospel giving WCBS real competition tonight prior to 6 tonight. And, WNWR was banging in here like a local about 3:45 this afternoon (I'm in Ocean County, NJ...WNWR always is audible, but not like today).
With regard to strange propagation, there has been some strange stuff on AM of late. Heard what I think was a Cuban mixed in with WABC thursday night, and what I can only assume was a Central Time Zone daytimer playing Gospel giving WCBS real competition tonight prior to 6 tonight. And, WNWR was banging in here like a local about 3:45 this afternoon (I'm in Ocean County, NJ...WNWR always is audible, but not like today).
It's been a few days since I logged on, so I just saw the thread about our night signal on WNTP. For about the past two weeks I have been getting about 5 calls and emails a day about the problem.
Here's the lowdown. The interference is being caused by CKGM in Montreal. CKGM is 50KW fulltime, but normally has a very tight null to the south at night to protect us. I have done extensive field strength readings on them in the past week, and the high level of CKGM's signal in Philly right now would astound you. I know it did me. All one has to do is listen to know that it must be high. I spoke with their CE yesterday, and found out that they have been operating on their fairly loose day pattern at night.
We are working through the powers that be to resolve the situation with CKGM.
Here's the lowdown. The interference is being caused by CKGM in Montreal. CKGM is 50KW fulltime, but normally has a very tight null to the south at night to protect us. I have done extensive field strength readings on them in the past week, and the high level of CKGM's signal in Philly right now would astound you. I know it did me. All one has to do is listen to know that it must be high. I spoke with their CE yesterday, and found out that they have been operating on their fairly loose day pattern at night.
We are working through the powers that be to resolve the situation with CKGM.
Oh yeah, one other thing.
Dave is right about the our antenna problems. We had some antenna RF contactor problems, but that has been resolved.
FYI....within the next week or so, we are starting work on the new Day Pattern that the FCC approved a couple of months back. For the first week we'll be operating at 12.5kw non-directional between 9AM and 3PM to conduct an NDA proof.
Dave is right about the our antenna problems. We had some antenna RF contactor problems, but that has been resolved.
FYI....within the next week or so, we are starting work on the new Day Pattern that the FCC approved a couple of months back. For the first week we'll be operating at 12.5kw non-directional between 9AM and 3PM to conduct an NDA proof.
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