[BC] Class A stations "burning" power

[DHultsman5@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/29/2006 12:22:20 PM Central Daylight Time,  
peterh5322 at rattlebrain.com writes:


The  rules state 50 kW for Class As, unless grandfathered.

There are other  considerations, such as bragging rights.

And, which often play into  which station can bid on particular 
programming.

There are two  stations in Detroit, for example, and one in Boston, for 
another example,  which were built up to a full 50 kW as the Ts and Cs of 
their programming  contracts demanded that they operate at 50 kW, the 
highest power allowed  anywhere in the U.S. states and territories.




)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
 
Then the debate is the same between  AM and FM.   Efficiency  of antennas.
 
What is the difference in a 100 kW. station with a 12 Bay antenna and a 20  
kW. transmitter  and the guy down the street with a 40 kW. and the 6 bay  
antenna and a 100 kW. at the same height?
 
If the transmitter power output 12 kW. less but the AM antenna is too  
efficient,  P= I squared R, at the tower base  when power is  determined.  By the 
comparison to FM  it is still 50 kW.
 
It is all a matter of old rules that are outdated.   Its like  having to run 
a nightime DA with a resistor in the common point to reduce the  power, 
instead of reducing the transmitter power, the rule was written when  transmitters 
were made to operate in the FCC Power Steps.  The first 2.5  kW's were usually 
5 kW. with power dividers until the transformers with taps  were available for 
2.5 kW. operation of 5 kW. transmitters.  The 2.5 kW.  was the last official 
FCC Power steps put into effect.
 
As I have said many times if we started over with AM's and gave power  grants 
based on ground conductivity and coverage area like FM, a 50 kW. on 540  kHz. 
would have the same coverage as the 50 kW. on 1550 kHz.  Also maybe we  could 
get rid of so many DA's
 
The 5 kW. on 550 kHz. would have the same coverage circle at the 5 kw. on  
1590 kHz.
 
Seems only fair????
 
Dave in ranting mode