Many of the AM on FM translators result from the minute nighttime or even Critical Hours powers permissible for AM's which used to be daytimers. So in one sense this is the FCC's way of sort of fixing that mistake.
I would agree with Paul's statement re LPFM's subject to his emphasized condition. In reality that condition isn't always met. My earlier comment has more to do with the interference which existing FM's would cause for a lot of these LPFM's, which is a valid but separate issue, and many of these recently granted run powers quite a bit lower than stated below. IMHO, LPFM's have become a fad for a lot of public entities and religious and civic groups. I've seen some numbers which suggest that many are active for only a couple of years. After all, even with LPFM's, after a while you need to have listeners. Russ Edmunds 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia Grid FN20id <[email protected]> -------------------------------------------- On Wed, 4/9/14, Paul B. Walker, Jr. <[email protected]> wrote: Subject: Re: [IRCA] Of AM Translators and LPFM Stations To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 7:51 PM LPFMs and translators are two different things. LPFMs are 100 watt community stations and they are non commercial, so an AM station can't get one. A translator is a commercial 250 Watt signal meant to rebroadcast an AM or Fm station but can't originate it's own programming. Increase power to overcome noise? Seriously? That will just create more interference and raise the noise floor. LPFM's and translators BOTH have a well defined and well served purpose.. WHEN USED LEGALLY AND PROPERLY, AS INTENDED. LPFM's are great for those genres/ethnicities/communities who feel they are underserved. Translators are great for those commercial stations, AM or FM.. who feel they need to fill in a hole in their coverage area. Signed, A Broadcaster of 10 years Paul Walker On Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 7:24 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't see what they are fixing by adding LPFM stations. The AM band will > remain the same. The addition of a LPFM station will keep more AM stations > on the air that would go out of business. You're right Les, the FM band > will suffer. I think the fix for AM is to increase powers to overcome > noise, get rid of IBOC and figure out a way to reduce the number of > stations. Stations will need to have programming that attracts listeners > and make it available on the Internet and Phones. Eventually Internet and > Phones will dominate and they can turn off their AM station. Remember, a > radio station is in business to make money by advertising during > programming that has an audience. AM radio is one of the ways to deliver > their programming and it might not be their best long term mode of delivery. > > I'm with my grandkids and my grandson just asked me if I brought my radio. > He pointed to his Tablet and said this is what we use for entertainment now. > > Martin > > > Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 15:43:20 -0500 > > From: Les Rayburn <[email protected]> > > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" > > <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" < > [email protected]> > > Subject: [IRCA] Of AM Translators and LPFM Stations > > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > > Like many AM DX'ers I've been following the recent FCC filing period > > concerning the future of AM Radio with great interest. One band-aid > > solution that seems to have great favor with broadcasters is that of > > allowing stations to apply for FM translators to cover their primary > > service area, especially at night. > > > > The economic advantages of that are obvious, but I really wonder where > > all this spectrum is going to come from. I live just outside of a small > > city, Birmingham, and last Christmas I had a very difficult time finding > > a clear spot where I could broadcast my Christmas lights display music. > > This due to the addition of a couple of new translators and a LPFM > station. > > > > I've been reading that we have a new LPFM coming on the air this summer > > on 99.1 FM (www.aphradio.org). Most cities that I have visited in the US > > are in similar circumstances. I just don't see how many AM stations > > could add translators without the FM band quickly becoming a crowded > > mess like the AM band. > > > > What am I missing? > > > > > > -- > > 73, > > > > > > Les Rayburn, N1LF > > Maylene, AL > > EM63 > > _______________________________________________ > IRCA mailing list > [email protected] > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the > original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the > IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > To Post a message: [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected] _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
