"TritonVA" wrote in message
...

(...snip...)

Not to launch another AM Stereo flame war but...

I've noticed that WPGC (1580 AM) runs with C-Quam during their daytime
50Kw authorization, but then drops the C-Quam when they lower power (to
270 watts!) and change their pattern at night.

I live within 10 miles of their plant (but still inside the pattern), so
I'm not entire certain that they actually turn off the C-Quam or if the
signal is merely so poor that C-quam just isn't possible.

What would be the advantages of disabling C-Quam during protected hours?


Just a guess, but they may use 2 different transmitters...one for days, and
one for nights, given the large discrepancy between operating power levels.
Heck, the control circuits of the high-power 50 kW xmtr probably use more
than 270 watts of AC power just running in standby !! In any case, it may
be as simple as the low-power transmitter not being equipped with a C-QUAM
exciter (or it not being in working condition) ..... and judged not to be
worth the $$ it would take to repair/replace/install in the first place.

M.B. wrote:


Just a guess, but they may use 2 different transmitters...one for days, and
one for nights, given the large discrepancy between operating power levels.
Heck, the control circuits of the high-power 50 kW xmtr probably use more
than 270 watts of AC power just running in standby !! In any case, it may
be as simple as the low-power transmitter not being equipped with a C-QUAM
exciter (or it not being in working condition) ..... and judged not to be
worth the $$ it would take to repair/replace/install in the first place.



Doh! This had never occurred to me for some reason. At 270 watts, in a
city as RF noisy as Washington D.C., I can't imagine that they'd have a
huge listenship at night in the first place - so the financials probably
don't make sense to maintain the C-Quam at night.

Which begs the question: why don't these stations just throw in the
towel for the after sunset crowd? Are they really generating enough
revenue with their non-existant nighttime numbers to justify the AC for
the xtmr? I can't count a half dozen stations in the D.C./Baltimore
markets that *barely* cover their C.O. at night. And turning down all
those pip-squeak stations at night *just* might lower the noise floor
for everybody else...

How do AM stations with sunset flea power price their overnight
inventory? Surely the sales team doesn't price these spots the same as
a daypart spot, right?

- Jeremy Powell

In article , TritonVA wrote:

Doh! This had never occurred to me for some reason. At 270 watts, in a
city as RF noisy as Washington D.C., I can't imagine that they'd have a
huge listenship at night in the first place - so the financials probably
don't make sense to maintain the C-Quam at night.

A 5 watt nighttime station on AM 74 in Cambridge, Mass. does cover Boston
and Cambridge quite well..

Why is Washington DC so RF noisy?

markets that *barely* cover their C.O. at night. And turning down all
those pip-squeak stations at night *just* might lower the noise floor
for everybody else...

Correct. It might. However these stations are under the impression that
they have listeners even during the daytime - period.

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

On 29 Aug 2003 20:30:12 GMT, (Sven Franklyn Weil)
wrote:

A 5 watt nighttime station on AM 74 in Cambridge, Mass. does cover Boston
and Cambridge quite well..

WTAO, then WCAS, then WJIB has always had an amazing signal for its
power. I worked for WACE, Chicopee (Springfield, MA) on 730 with 5kw
days. If we went off the air, WTAO would bomb in (over 100 miles)
daytime.

The FM was WXHR which became WJIB(FM), then something else, then
something else and is now WTKK. I worked there when it was WJIB. I
recorded the bells. I'd love to get the master.

Rich

In article , Rich Wood wrote:
The FM was WXHR which became WJIB(FM), then something else, then
something else and is now WTKK. I worked there when it was WJIB. I
recorded the bells. I'd love to get the master.

Have you ever met the owner Bob Bittner? He also owns WJTO in Bath,
Maine. I think that's one is either oan AM 73 or AM 75...

Both of them used to program instrumental music, but in the past few
months he has tweaked it into a mix of standards, instrumentals and
some very very limited soft pop. Terrific mix.

Also is the host of the two-hour long monthly "Let's Talk About Radio"
show on Sundays. Used to be a weekly hour long show.

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

In article ,
TritonVA wrote:

M.B. wrote:


Just a guess, but they may use 2 different transmitters...one for days, and
one for nights, given the large discrepancy between operating power levels.
Heck, the control circuits of the high-power 50 kW xmtr probably use more
than 270 watts of AC power just running in standby !! In any case, it may
be as simple as the low-power transmitter not being equipped with a C-QUAM
exciter (or it not being in working condition) ..... and judged not to be
worth the $$ it would take to repair/replace/install in the first place.



Doh! This had never occurred to me for some reason. At 270 watts, in a
city as RF noisy as Washington D.C., I can't imagine that they'd have a
huge listenship at night in the first place - so the financials probably
don't make sense to maintain the C-Quam at night.

Which begs the question: why don't these stations just throw in the
towel for the after sunset crowd? Are they really generating enough
revenue with their non-existant nighttime numbers to justify the AC for
the xtmr? I can't count a half dozen stations in the D.C./Baltimore
markets that *barely* cover their C.O. at night. And turning down all
those pip-squeak stations at night *just* might lower the noise floor
for everybody else...

How do AM stations with sunset flea power price their overnight
inventory? Surely the sales team doesn't price these spots the same as
a daypart spot, right?

- Jeremy Powell


WHVO in Hopkinsville KY drops to 24 watts and has a decent signal which
covers about 6 - 8 square miles.

George
K3UD

In article , K3UD wrote:
WHVO in Hopkinsville KY drops to 24 watts and has a decent signal which
covers about 6 - 8 square miles.

That's providing there's anyone in that tiny area. This may work in a
high-population density city like Boston/Cambridge....

How crowded is Hopkinsville, Kent.?

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

[ Moderator's note: I have family in Hopkinsville, KY. The area is fairly
well populated... Fort Campbell straddles the city and state lines, with
half of the base sitting in Hopkinsville, and the rest sitting in Clarksville,
Tennessee. The base itself is pretty big. ]