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WUNR-AM 1600 Signal Way Down

L

Laurence Glavin

Guest
The level of signal-strength I'm getting from WUNR-AM 1600 is markedly weaker than a few days ago. Either they're temporarily running 5,000 watts into the new 5-tower array they're licensed to use when they go to 20,000 watts, or they are in fact running 20K. The signal strength data at fcc.gov indicates a diminution of effective field strength at about zero degees (in my general direction) from about 1200 mV/m to about 945. It appears that this may be happening now.
 
Laurence Glavin said:
The level of signal-strength I'm getting from WUNR-AM 1600 is markedly weaker than a few days ago.<snip> The signal strength data at fcc.gov indicates a diminution of effective field strength at about zero degees (in my general direction) from about 1200 mV/m to about 945.
Click to expand...

945/1200 = 0.785, equivalent to a 38% reduction in power if everything else remained equal. 38% is enough to be noticeable, but not enough to be perceived as drastic. Perhaps, WUNR is now running its new pattern at reduced power whereas maybe until you noticed the change, it was running some approximation of its old pattern from two of the new towers. It is not uncommon for the FCC to grant program-test authority at 1/4 of the CP power (half of the field strength) to AMs testing out new DAs. If so, what you may have detected was a change to 5 kw into the new array from 5 kW into a temporary two-tower array that approximated the old pattern. If so, 1/4-power operation is likely to continue until WUNR submits proof-of-performance data to the FCC (usually together with a request to modify the CP to augment the pattern). Time--plus a keen ear and a lot of listening--may tell us what's going on.
 
The situation I'm experiencing with WUNR-AM is akin to what's happening to WAMG-AM 890. That station and WUNR seem to be about the same signal strength, and BOTH are being slaughtered by Nashua, NH outlets, even though WSMN-AM 1590 is operating at ("temporarily") reduced power.
 
Laurence Glavin said:
The situation I'm experiencing with WUNR-AM is akin to what's happening to WAMG-AM 890. That station and WUNR seem to be about the same signal strength, and BOTH are being slaughtered by Nashua, NH outlets, even though WSMN-AM 1590 is operating at ("temporarily") reduced power.
Click to expand...

Well, I forget which if 890's several owners initiated the 890/1400 simulcast, but clearly that simulcast was intended to rectify 890's coverage problems in the Merrimac Valley. Those coverage problems result not only from 900 in Nashua but from 890's very narrow pattern, which, to protect the Nashua 900, doesn't send much signal toward you. 900 is a Class D so it gets no nighttime protection. Have you noticed that the 890 signal does not drop off as much at night as you might expect from the 4X nighttime power reduction? If so, the reason is that the 890 6-kW night pattern is noticeably fatter than the 25 kW day pattern.

As for 1590, I've been assured that the current operation is indeed temporary and that an application for a normal power is planned in the not-too-distant future (whatever that means).
 
that letters authority to operate at reduced levels expired last fall.

although there are provisions for an extension as outlined on the last page.
 
(The Other) Big John said:
You're absolutely correct and you get a cookie. ;)
Here's the correct link.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=9143
Click to expand...

OK, can anyone explain the situation cited in the extension grant that is beyond Champion's contol and is preventing WUNR from operating full-time at its full CP power with its CP pattern? It was posted here a while back that N-Star had refused to deliver adequate AC power to the site because the Tx building looks from the street like a private home and no private home needs 150 (or so) kW AC service. I remain skeptical of that explanation. I could believe delivery delays in components of the phasor or the ATUs. Such delays are very common. But what is the REAL story?
 
I happened to be travelling on route 128 in the western suburbs Memorial Day, so since I was expending the gasoline anyway, I took a sidetrip to the WUNR/WKOX/WXKS-AM site, aand noticed a H-U-G-E green transformer next to the "residential" building housing the transmitters. Also, the house trailer in several recent photographs, was gone. Time to get some new pictures up?
 
ZRXOA 5248 said:
great! oreo?
Click to expand...

Nope! "Toll House" cookie. Gotta keep it in New England ;)

PS: Thanks for picking up on my error.
 
Laurence Glavin said:
noticed a H-U-G-E green transformer next to the "residential" building housing the transmitters.
Click to expand...

Yes, but wouldn't it be the land-owner's (that is, Champion's) responsibility to provide the transformer? N-Star's responsibility would be to bring the feeder onto the property and probably to connect the feeder to the transformer. The transformer has got to be connected to the N-Star grid before it can perform any useful function. So the transformer is not the issue; the issue is whether N-Star has or has not connected the transformer to its grid and if not, why not.

BTW, is the AC service in the tony Oak Hill section above ground or below? I would think below, just because it's such a ritzy area. If below, getting the upgraded AC service to the site could be a fairly big deal, involving A LOT of digging up of streets. And supposing the NIMBYs who held up the project for most of a decade (if not longer) get the last laugh on the radio stations by prevailing on the City of Newton not to grant the necessary permits for the digging... This is all conjecture, of course. I'm not saying that any of this has actually happened, but if it has happened, somebody might be able to turn the story into a novel that could sell well--around here, anyway...
 
(The Other) Big John said:
And while we are on the subject, I found this bright and early this morning (6/23/2008) on the FCC CDBS site concerning WRCA.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=649618
Click to expand...

On the one hand, the request for a 180-day STA effective 6/30/08 suggests that enough power is available at the site to run WUNR plus WRCA in some fashion. On the other hand, if sufficient power is NOT available, we could see (no, I guess, hear; no, I guess. NOT hear) WRCA go dark (umm, silent). These things usually work themselves out. If adequate power is not available, I suspect that WRCA's landlord at 780 South St (might be Nassau but more likely is some entity left over from the old WCRB ownership) will probably have an eleventh-hour change of heart--at least for a while. Still, threats of having to take a station dark sometimes produce the desired result (that is, a rapid change in the transmitter location). For example, Multicultual's WNSW Newark NJ is now transmitting from the WPAT site in Clifton NJ. The move took place very quickly after the station told the FCC that it was being evicted from its long-time site in Union NJ.

I suspect that we won't hear about a WKOX move to Newton until after Clear Channel officially goes private in September, thereby freeing up what otherwise would be its free cash--were it not for the need to temporarily hoard that cash to potentially cover imponderables related to the acquisition by Bain Capital/Thos. Lee Partners.
 
DanStrassberg said:
BTW, is the AC service in the tony Oak Hill section above ground or below? /quote]

The AC service is above ground. I just looked at my picture of it.
Click to expand...
 
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