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WXLW CP ??
- Thread starter KR4BD
- Start date
Looking at a couple of other sites, it appears that it may be part of a plan to loosen up the pattern a bit and serve more of the northern suburbs. Check out the daytime CP map on radio-locator.
destinationradio said:Looking at a couple of other sites, it appears that it may be part of a plan to loosen up the pattern a bit and serve more of the northern suburbs. Check out the daytime CP map on radio-locator.
I see that, BUT WHY would you drastically reduce a halfway decent Nighttime pattern that covered most of Indianapolis to one that eliminates most of the Eastside and Southern areas of the city, both of which are covered fairly well with the existing Night pattern?
I'm no engineer, but comparing the phase numbers for the three towers, I notice that the day and night numbers are the same for both the old day and night patterns and, with the change, would be the same for both the new day and night patterns. So my guess would be that it's easier and cheaper to keep the phasing the same day and night. So maybe they're content to sacrifice some night coverage, knowing they're getting way better day coverage, since they won't have to invest in a way to change the day and night phasing numbers.
So I am WAY out of date here.
I thought "Back in the day" WXLW was a daytime only station.
When did night time hours come into the picture?
I thought "Back in the day" WXLW was a daytime only station.
When did night time hours come into the picture?
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:So I am WAY out of date here.
I thought "Back in the day" WXLW was a daytime only station.
When did night time hours come into the picture?
Some years ago, the FCC did a blanket calculation, assigning night powers to every daytime-only regional & clear-channel station. WXLW got 117 watts. They've been authorized at that level at night for years. (that's independent of any PSRA/PSSA they may have, as Kent mentioned) The FCC doesn't require these stations to *use* their nighttime authority -- it doesn't figure into the minimum operating schedule requirements -- so it's not unusual for such a station to in fact be off the air at night.
There are few true daytimers left. (stations totally prohibited from operating after PSSA) (Indianapolis' 810 is one of the few)
The application doesn't really say why the night power is being reduced. I note they had an STA last summer to operate non-directional at 1,250 watts daytime/29 watts night for a few days to take efficiency measurements; and, they note with the current CP that they found some parameters on their license didn't match what physically existed.
I wonder if it's possible there were interference complaints from other stations on the channel (Detroit?), they found the array wasn't providing the protection they thought it was, and simply reducing night power turned out to be the cheapest way to fix it?
I was as surprised as anyone when I stumbled across this. The way it's set up now, the only thing that changes at night is the transmitter power. As destinationradio pointed out, the pattern will be loosened to the north (lot of people up there) day and night. There would be little benefit to adding a lot of expensive phasing/switching equipment as well as complexity to gain back a few db at night. Not to mention, 36 watts at that spot on the dial will continue to provide better coverage than what one might expect.
The station received PSSA and Pre Sunrise Authority years back along with 117 watts at night. The signal sounds good on a decent AM radio in Greenfield, 12 miles East of 465 at night.
The gradual power ups and downs I recall were 500 watts until it went down to 117 watts or from 117 watts up. This signal daytime and even at 500 watts kicks heiny.
Norm beatty theorized that the null was so deep from 56th and Georgetown to 71st and Michigan only 15 watts theoretically went that direction. I still have previous years proofs and proofs when cell towers were added and have copied them at least twice when someone at the station lost them.
The problem with remaking the pattern was a continuing problem with measurements. The sites had to change over time with construction to continue to show the pattern. With all around it there would be a great problem remaking a new pattern.
The last time the ground system was worked on was in 1981 when new strap was added around the tower base and the original 1956 ground wires. At this time a full proof was done. Smith i think did the new ground work. Over time unlimited growth in the field, sparse (and this is being kind) maintenance, and noting at times the phasor doors and gates to the tower swang in the wind, it is probable it is time to clean the mess up.
Knowing that most AM arrays really don't place the pattern they used to, fixing the former array would probably have been better. The old RCA designed phasor would be serviceable for many decades to come, as it was built like a battleship. It was originally connected to a 5c(?)? I have the blueprints for the building that Lyman Ayres approved when he started the build out of the station. Rich in history this place is.
In younger days I could hear this station well past the confines of WIFE and WNDE. Super XL still has a place in my memory.
The gradual power ups and downs I recall were 500 watts until it went down to 117 watts or from 117 watts up. This signal daytime and even at 500 watts kicks heiny.
Norm beatty theorized that the null was so deep from 56th and Georgetown to 71st and Michigan only 15 watts theoretically went that direction. I still have previous years proofs and proofs when cell towers were added and have copied them at least twice when someone at the station lost them.
The problem with remaking the pattern was a continuing problem with measurements. The sites had to change over time with construction to continue to show the pattern. With all around it there would be a great problem remaking a new pattern.
The last time the ground system was worked on was in 1981 when new strap was added around the tower base and the original 1956 ground wires. At this time a full proof was done. Smith i think did the new ground work. Over time unlimited growth in the field, sparse (and this is being kind) maintenance, and noting at times the phasor doors and gates to the tower swang in the wind, it is probable it is time to clean the mess up.
Knowing that most AM arrays really don't place the pattern they used to, fixing the former array would probably have been better. The old RCA designed phasor would be serviceable for many decades to come, as it was built like a battleship. It was originally connected to a 5c(?)? I have the blueprints for the building that Lyman Ayres approved when he started the build out of the station. Rich in history this place is.
In younger days I could hear this station well past the confines of WIFE and WNDE. Super XL still has a place in my memory.
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