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U.S. Station Increases Night Power Despite Montreal Clear Channel
The station in question is WQVR, a small entity in Webster, Massachusetts, and it's been looking for a way to boost its signal despite bring on 940 AM - the same frequency as a clear channel Montreal powerhouse that has priority.
They've finally been given permission to boost their night output, despite the possible interference. How? With a new antenna system called a HEBA - short for High-Efficiency Broadband Antenna. Reception reports indicate it's helped broaden coverage at night. But then after operating at only four watts, anything would be an improvement!
Could this be a solution for other daytimers that would like to go 24 hours? Stay tuned - especially after dark.
WQVR Gets the Go-Ahead to Operate Its HEBA at Night
- Skywave
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Re: U.S. Station Increases Night Power Despite Montreal Clear Channel
They are using the infamous "Crossed-Field Antenna", about which I've written previously. It has been debunked to be notoriously inefficient, although that doesn't matter when you can only radiate 16.5 millivolts/metre at 1 kilometre distance at night. The nighttime interference-free contour of WQVR is around 25 millivolts/metre, which translates to a useful coverage radius of less than 700 metres at night.
There are hundreds of U.S. class D stations running less than 100 watts at night, many less than 10 watts. Regardless of the transmitting antenna, the protection requirements to Canadian stations, clear channel or not, must conform with the Canada/US AM Treaty. The coverage is a joke, but with the advent of the AM Revitalization Policy, these stations were allowed to apply for FM translators up to 250 watts in power, and at significant effective height above average terrain. Many of them have rebranded their stations with the FM monicker and frequency. But they need to keep the AM transmitter on the air to qualify for the translator.
- RadioAaron
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Re: U.S. Station Increases Night Power Despite Montreal Clear Channel
Skywave wrote:
Many of them have rebranded their stations with the FM monicker and frequency. But they need to keep the AM transmitter on the air to qualify for the translator.
The net result of the “AM revitalization act” that did nothing but create a loophole that resulted in more FM stations.
You can’t legislate a corpse back to life.
Last edited by RadioAaron (September 2, 2024 3:15 pm)
- paterson1
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Re: U.S. Station Increases Night Power Despite Montreal Clear Channel
Many of them have rebranded their stations with the FM monicker and frequency. But they need to keep the AM transmitter on the air to qualify for the translator.
The net result of the “AM revitalization act” that did nothing but create a loophole that resulted in more FM stations.
You can’t legislate a corpse back to life.
The FCC should let stations drop the AM signal if they want. Seems strange to make broadcasters keep the AM transmitter fired up just to be allowed to have a translator or two. I can see for some AM stations that have large coverage areas, but many translators seem to just cover the same area with a better FM signal.