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WTSH Buys a Translator

H

HGR1290

'Women's World Broadcasting" (WTSH 107.1) has apparently purchased a translator licensed to Jonesboro---The translator is also on 107.1 megacycles.
 
They will probably turn off that translator if this is true.
 
Could they use it as a repeater?
 
jabba17 said:
Could they use it as a repeater?
Click to expand...

No. It's too far out of the main coverage area for WTSH to be a repeater. Also, feeding a translator on the same frequency is difficult because the FCC mandates translators in the commercial band be fed over-the-air. You can null out a lot with the right antenna, but it's pretty tough to null out the same frequency 100+ feet directly above your receiver. I suppose they could move it to a different frequency, but they'd still have to spin it off if they were going to repeat 107.1 because you can't use a translator you own to repeat your own signal outside of its primary signal contour.
 
If they turn in the license, how easy would it be for someone else to apply/move to put another translator on the same frequency? Was this translator there before WTSH upped their power to 100kw? That would make a difference in someone being able to get another translator on the same frequency in the same location.
 
BarryATL said:
If they turn in the license, how easy would it be for someone else to apply/move to put another translator on the same frequency? Was this translator there before WTSH upped their power to 100kw? That would make a difference in someone being able to get another translator on the same frequency in the same location.
Click to expand...
If WTSH is able to increase their coverage and the translator is in the way, the translator has to go silent or otherwise eliminate the interference. Translators can and must accept interference from regular stations, but cannot cause any interference of their own.

A translator doesn't have to prove that it has an interference-free contour of its own, unlike a regular station, and a translator has no "right of way" against a regular station that later encroaches on it. Because of that, there is no reason for the owner of WTSH to have to buy the translator to "make room" for a boosted WTSH. If the translator causes any interference with WTSH's licensed coverage, it's 100% the translator's problem, not WTSH's.

To put it another way, there's no reason for WTSH to buy the translator unless they are planning on using it.
 
When South 107 moves to their new tower, the signal will reach as far as Jonesboro. The translator is broadcasting WMVV (90.7) in Griffin.
 
jabba17, I thought the FCC determines the interference by complaints from listeners. Can WTSH claim interference and get them shut down or do they need the evidence in listener complaints?
 
BarryATL said:
jabba17, I thought the FCC determines the interference by complaints from listeners. Can WTSH claim interference and get them shut down or do they need the evidence in listener complaints?
Click to expand...

I believe WTSH can claim interference and get the translator shut down, but it's much tougher without listener complaints. I'm thinking they can only claim interference inside their protected signal contour without listener complaints. The translator they're acquiring, however, is slightly outside the protected signal contour of even their soon-to-be upgraded signal. So, they'd need listener complaints in this case.
 
Kent said:
BarryATL said:
jabba17, I thought the FCC determines the interference by complaints from listeners. Can WTSH claim interference and get them shut down or do they need the evidence in listener complaints?
Click to expand...

I believe WTSH can claim interference and get the translator shut down, but it's much tougher without listener complaints. I'm thinking they can only claim interference inside their protected signal contour without listener complaints. The translator they're acquiring, however, is slightly outside the protected signal contour of even their soon-to-be upgraded signal. So, they'd need listener complaints in this case.
Click to expand...

So, this probably makes sense. If the price is right, this is a quick way to get rid of a problem.

The other question I have is how easy/hard would it be for someone to move another translator in or apply for a new translator on the same frequency in the same location?
 
They could just run the translator just enough to keep the license. What is the minimum time you can run a translator and keep the license? That way they can insure nobody regularly uses 107.1 for a translator in the area.

Is there an AM station or FM HD channel close for sale or lease that they could tie the translator to and run 107.1's audio on the AM and then the 107.1 translator? that would give them a "repeater / booster" on the southside.
 
Does anybody know when South 107 will be moving to their new tower???
 
107.1 Jonesboro has just applied to go 250 watts from the WSB-TV tower. The proposed signal will have a major null towards WTSH. The application shows that it will rebroadcast WSB HD3 so at some point HD3 will start simlucasting WTSH.
 
I pick up WTSH okay in the city. What will this do to the signal where the main signal and the translator meet? Say around the Cobb County line?
 
I wonder how the HD delay will work on 107.1. Is the HD digital delay constant on HD 2 & 3? There will be some overlap coverage around or just south of I 85 (my best guess) and two "different" times audios would be IMHO unlistenable. Also will the 19K stereo pilots mess with each other because this will not be a booster? The easiest solution is to feed the HD signal then, use it for the 107.1 translator and WTSH. I assume that is legal. Will WSB's HD will make to the South 107 xmitter sight? Properly done, Atlanta will have another competitive FM signal. That might stir things up some.
 
As long as they have the primary as a station with the appropriate coverage (relaying WBS-FM-HD3 or whatever), they can feed it audio any way they like, including an STL from WTSH's studios. So the HD delay really isn't an issue. In addition, there would be nothing stopping them from synchronizing the carrier and audio of WTSH and the 107.1 translator. In could be in effect (but not in a legal sense) an on-channel booster of WTSH.

I'm not crazy about all of the translator loopholes, but if this is what they intend to do, it's a pretty clever move.
 
Fox 97 tried to do a booster on their main frequency at 97.1 from a tower off Cheshire Bridge, but it never worked. They tried all sorts of things -- raising the power of the booster, lowering the power, making it more directional. But nothing worked. There was too much interference in crucial areas. Bottom line: after years of petitioning the FCC for it and fighting another broadcaster (I think it was Cox) they finally turned it off.
 
if you want to use a "repeater" to give a FM signal help in the FCC 60 dBu, you don't have to buy a translator, you can just ask for a repeater license,,

If they turn in a license, no NEW translators will be granted for years (they are just now granting license from the 2003 applications, however another translator that is close enough and on a frequency that could get to 107 could switch to that frequency,,,or they might be planning on moving it from the frequency its on and using it for an HD2 or HD 3 feed
 
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