[BC] AM Interference

[Rich Wood]

------ At 09:57 AM 12/16/2005, Mike McCarthy wrote: -------

>It might be that the night time operation will occur when the analog 
>sunsets.  At which point, most of the interference issues will be 
>moot and actually might allow many more non-class A stations to 
>ditch their DA arrays and go omni or to increase their night power. 
>Some might even be able to offer night service for the first time. 
>WHY...because the D/U ratios to the adjacent channels will all go 
>out the window.  Especially on 2nd and 3rd adjacent channels.  You 
>could almost co-locate stations only two channels apart instead of 
>the 4 channel spacing we have now.

I doubt there will be nearly the 1.5 billion IBUZ receivers of all 
varieties to allow stations to sunset analog for decades to come. 
What station would be foolish enough to shut off the analog until 
they can be assured their existing audience can still receive them. 
In the meantime we have to deal with broadcaster generated interference.

>I think THAT's where digital will shine in the eyes of the station 
>owners. But only when everyone goes digital and back to 10KHZ 
>primary occupied bandwidth.

I don't doubt that, at all. However, I believe some other technology 
will come along well before that happens and the issue will be moot.

>I would be opposed to permitting new stations to come on as a result 
>of the reduced D/U ratios if they would have to go DA or would have 
>overlapped other stations if they were analog.  But it would be my 
>guess that there would be a mad dash to the FCC to file 301's to 
>eliminate DA's/increase power/get night service and might be a moot point.

Opposed to existing AMs going IBUZ??? How can you stop it now without 
going back to the stations that are using it and shutting them down?

I wonder if the FCC is preparing new allocation tables for all 
digital AM. Are there any rules in place to deal with analog 
interference complaints from adjacents. I'm told on this list that 
modifications in power and arrays won't make a difference. Beyond 
shutting down the interfering signal, how do you deal with an IBUZ 
station that wipes you out in your own protected contour? On the East 
Coast between 4-6PM that's happening. We have two hours of nighttime 
conditions where IBUZ shows off its jammer qualities. I never thought 
I'd see the day when 6pm would open up the AM dial.

Am I to believe that digital will allow all AMs equal power? I recall 
that being a primary objection to the DAB proposal resulting in 
various power levels from the common site. Current Class As sure 
don't want the little potboiler to be on an equal footing. They're 
not that confident in the quality of their programming. I can only 
imagine the uproar we'd see in New York if everyone's signal equalled 
WOR and WABC.

Rich

Rich Wood
Rich Wood Multimedia
Phone: 413-303-9084
FAX: 413-480-0010