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T.O. X-Band Station Gets Extension On Mississauga 1490 Retransmitter
Not sure how many people have ever bothered to tune into the so-called X-band (the frequencies that go from 1610-1700 on the AM dial.) But there are several ethnic stations living there in the GTA, among them CHTO, a mostly all-Greek format. They had applied for a rebroadcasting transmitter at 1490 in Mississauga that was supposed to be on by September 1st.
They've admitted to the CRTC that, despite a two-year lead time, they can't make that deadline and the Commission has now granted them a one year extension, which means this signal must appear by the first day of September 2019.
1490 is a terrible frequency that doesn't propagate well (it's far worse than their current position at 1690) but what I find interesting about their eventual new extra dial position is that it will be 23 watts day - and 770 watts night. This is the first time in years I can remember a station being allowed to boost power after sundown, when many AM broadcast outlets drop their power to avoid interference with other stations on or near their frequencies.
Like the now infamous CKNT, I'd also be curious to know why two years isn't enough time to get a simple extra stick up and running.
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Re: T.O. X-Band Station Gets Extension On Mississauga 1490 Retransmitter
Chuck99 wrote:
I wonder if the information you received is incorrect and the day/night power is the opposite, 770 watts day and 23 watts at night.
Actually, the info is from a filing CHTO made to the CRTC. (It's a .zip file or I'd link to it.) Here's the direct quote from their application:
"The transmitter would operate at 1490 kHz with a daytime transmitter power of 23 watts and a night-time transmitter power of 770 watts."
What I really want to know is why a local Toronto station (currently at 6,000 watts on 1690) is being given extra access to Mississauga and its surrounding areas - on a traditional (albeit weak) AM frequency. How they merit the extra coverage is beyond me.
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Thread Starter- splunge
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Re: T.O. X-Band Station Gets Extension On Mississauga 1490 Retransmitter
RA is indeed correct, it is quite unusual to power up an AM at night, but that's what was approved in 2016
From that decision...Technical solution
[list=1]
[*]In its application, Canadian Hellenic submitted that since 2009 it has attempted various solutions, including power increases on its 1690 kHz frequency, to improve coverage towards the west end of Toronto. The application also outlined other possible solutions that the licensee had considered to improve its reception issues. The licensee stated that the current proposal was the best solution to significantly improve CHTO's night-time service in the west end of the GTA given that the other options were costly, impractical and ineffective.
[*]The Commission considers that the proposed rebroadcasting transmitter would allow CHTO to provide night-time coverage in Brampton, Etobicoke and Mississauga.
[*]In light of the above and given the availability of AM frequencies in the GTA, the Commission finds that adding an AM transmitter to provide night-time coverage in Brampton, Etobicoke and Mississauga constitutes an appropriate technical solution.
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Last edited by splunge (August 16, 2018 9:10 pm)