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Every day sees humanity more victorious in the struggle with space and time.
~ Guglielmo Marconi
GLOSSARY OF TERMS frequently used in this thread: (in U.S. unless otherwise noted)
A or Grade A (dBu) = television broadcast field strength contour of 68, 71, and 74 (dBu) for channels 2-6, 7-13 and 14-69 respectively. http://tinyurl.com/nwv7cud
AC = (1) Alternating current, the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences. In alternating current (AC, also ac), the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction. (2) In radio programming, a format known as Adult Contemporary
AGC = Automatic Gain Control, a technique in electronic circuits whereby the output is used to adjust the gain of an amplifier.
AM = (1) amplitude modulation, the oldest form of modulation whereby the amplitude of the transmitted signal is varied in relation to the amplitude of the information being sent (2) the standard broadcast band (530 to 1700 kHz in the U.S.)
AMSL = the height of a tower or antenna above mean sea level
amp = (1) amplifier (2) the fundamental measure of electrical current
ATSC = ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks.
B or Grade B (dBu) = television broadcast field strength contour of 47, 56, and 64 (dBu) for channels 2-6, 7-13 and 14-69 respectively. http://tinyurl.com/nwv7cud
C = (1) the speed of light in a vacuum (2) Capacitance (the ability to store charge)
Class = In radio and television broadcasting, how much power and coverage a licensee may implement is determined by Zone and Class. Zones (see below) are geographic. Zones determine what classes will be licensed within that zone.
Classes for FM are:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/fm-broadcast-station-classes-and-service-contours
Classes for AM are:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/am-broadcast-station-classes-clear-regional-and-local-channels
Classes for TV are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_broadcast_station_classes#TV
clear channel = a frequency on the AM band which provides the radio station with the highest protection from interference from other stations. A long story. It no longer means that only one transmitter operates on that channel
Clear Channel = The company that ruined radio
contour = a series of points at which the signal of a radio or television broadcast is at a referenced field strength. On flat land a non directional (omnidirectional) antenna will exhibit near circular contours, ideally. Contours are either “protected” contours or “interference contours.” In FM, the actual numerical values of these contours depends on Zone and Class. Also, when you are within 320 km of either Canada or Mexico, different spacing distances and contour values must be observed. Stations in Zone II that are not within 320 km of the Canadian border have their 60 dBu protected contour and three interfering contours, 40 dBu for co-channel, 54 dBu for 1st adjacent and 100 dBu for 2nd adjacent. protection.
CP = (1) construction permit (2) circular polarization
CPS = (see Hertz)
CFR = Code of Federal Regulations Title 47: Telecommunications,
the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation.
(within title 47 the most discussed parts are normally Part 73 Radio Broadcast Services, but also may refer to Part 0, Part 1, Part 2, Part 15, Part 17, Part 74)
CQUAM = Compatible Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, a system developed by Motorola for stereophonic broadcasting on mediumwave (AM)
DA = (1) directional antenna,an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions or exhibits greater receive sensitivity in one or more directions (2) distribution amplifier, an amplifier that provides multiple outputs from one input
DA-N = directional antenna at night
DA-2 = directional antenna 24 hours, different patterns day and night
DAB = digital audio broadcasting, the method for audio broadcasting digitally in many countries, principally in Europe.
dB = decibel, a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio between two values of a physical quantity, often used to express the gain of an amplifier or the loss of signal strength as a signal propagates away from the antenna.
DC = (1) direct current, the unidirectional flow of electricity (2) publisher of Batman, Superman and Justice League comic books
DSSC = double sideband suppressed carrier, a form of modulation used in analog FM broadcasting
DTV = digital television
EMI = electromagnetic interference
ERP = Effective Radiated Power, in FM radio and television broadcasting, the amount of power you are licensed to transmit, it is equal to transmitter power output (TPO) minus transmission line loss times the antenna gain.
FM = (1) frequency modulation, the encoding of information in a carrier wave by varying the instantaneous frequency of the wave. (Compare with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier wave varies, while the frequency remains constant.) (2) the FM broadcast band (88.1 to 107.9 in the U.S.)
frequency = the number of occurrences of an electromagnetic field, usually referring to audio or radio signals, per unit time. Also see period and wavelength.
Gm = transconductance, the ratio of the current change at the output port to the voltage change at the input port, usually in reference to a vacuum tube.
HAAT = Height above average terrain, used in the prediction of coverage by television stations, FM radio stations and some wireless radio services, HAAT value is determined by taking 50 evenly spaced elevation points (above mean sea level [AMSL]) along at least 8 evenly spaced radials from the transmitter site (starting at 0 degrees [True North]). The 50 evenly spaced points are sampled in the segment between 3 to 16 km (formerly 2 to 10 miles) along each radial. The elevation points along each radial are averaged, then the radial averages are averaged to provide the final HAAT value. Terrain variations within 3 km (2 miles) of the transmitter site usually do not have a great impact on station coverage.
For a full explanation click here and scroll down
HAGL = height above ground level
Hz = Hertz, the standard for measuring sinusoidal electricity. Previously known as CPS or cycles per second
I = electrical current , the flow of charge (measured in amperes or amps)
IF = intermediate frequency, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_frequency
IBOC = in band on channel, the current method for broadcasting audio digitally on the AM and FM bands
IMD = intermodulation distortion
Longley-Rice: An alternate method to the FCC method of predicting coverage that addresses the difficulty of determining exactly where a contour line falls when in fact the signal from a given transmitter may rise and fall above and below a given signal level numerous times along the path.
LPFM = Low Power FM, a class of service in FM broadcasting
LPTV = Low Power TV, a class of service in TV broadcasting
NDA = non directional antenna
NTSC = analog television engineering standards(National Television Services Committee)
NFG = what happens to all vacuum tubes after a while
P = Electrical Power, measured in watts, the product of current and voltage at the same point.
PA = (1) power amplifier (2) public address
PAL = Phase Alternating Line, an analog color video system developed in Germany that became common in many countries that formerly used monochrome systems with a 50 Hz refresh rate
POL = polarization (also polarisation), in antenna theory the polarization is the orientation of the electric field, and is always 90º from the magnetic field
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(waves)#Radio_transmission
Q = (1) in electrical and electronic circuits, the Q or quality factor is a dimensionless parameter that describes how under damped an oscillator is, characterizing its bandwidth relative to its center frequency, a high Q indicates a lower rate of energy loss (2) the head of R&D in the British Secret Service in the James Bond series (3) Captain Picard’s nemesis
RF = radio frequency energy, signals that have a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). Signals below that frequency are AF or audio frequency signals.
RF Spectrum Ranges include:
Very Low Frequency VLF 3 – 30 kHz
Low Frequency LF 30 – 300 kHz
Medium Frequency MF 300kHz – 3 MHz
High Frequency HF 3 – 30 MHz
Very High Frequency VHF 30 – 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency UHF 300 MHz – 3 GHz
Super High Frequency SHF 3 GHz – 30 GHz
Extremely High Frequency EHF 30 GHz – 300 GHz
RFI = radio frequency interference
RFR = radio frequency radiation, http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/radio-frequency-safety
S/N = Signal to noise ratio of either the RF, visual or audio signal with reference to the associated noise floor.
SECAM = Séquentiel couleur à mémoire, an analog color video system developed in France
SOL = the prevailing attitude of employees when they learn Clear Channel has automated their station (see above)
SSB = single side band, a form of modulation
STL = studio-transmitter link, a system to deliver the program audio chain to the transmitter site from the studio
T = Period, the inverse of frequency or the time for the electric wave to go through one full cycle.
TPO = transmitter power output
THD = total harmonic distortion
translator = a low power class of service in FM broadcasting intended to repeat programming from an originating full power class station
V = voltage, the electrical potential (difference) between two points
VSB = vestigial sideband, a form of modulation (see NTSC)
wavelength = in a sinusoidal wave, the distance over which the wave’s shape repeats
Longwave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwave
Mediumwave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_wave
Shortwave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_radio
Microwave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave
XTAL = Crystal
XMTR = Transmitter
XFORMER = Transformer
Z = impedance = the measure of the opposition that a circuit presents to a current when a voltage is applied (DC resistance plus AC resistance)
Zones = In FM and TV broadcasting, for the purpose of allotments and assignments, the United States is divided into three zones
FM Zones: http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/info/maps/fmzones/
TV Zones: http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/info/maps/tvzones/
λ = wavelength
Ω = Resistance in Ohms
π = pi, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and is approximately equal to 3.14159
Ø = (1) the null set, (2) undefined (3) the sum and total of your political nemesis’s knowledge . . . depending on which side of this board it appears.
60 dBu = 1 mv/M In FM broadcasting, the distance from the antenna where the propagated signal has attenuated to this value is considered in FM broadcasting as the limits of your Primary coverage or Protected contour. dBu references dB above 1 microvolt per meter (uV), that is to say 60dBu is 1,000 times the voltage at 0dBu ( 1 microvolt). In Zone I and I-A, Class B1’s primary protected contour is 57 dBu and for Class B’s it is 54 dBu. For all other stations in FM broadcasting, 60 dBu is the primary protected contour.
Useful links:
FM Query: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/fm-query-broadcast-station-search
AM Query: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/am-query-broadcast-station-search
TV Query: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/tv-query-broadcast-station-search
The records returned in an above linked search will provide smart links to many of the other databases like ASR and CDBS. These queries may seem cluttered in what they give you, but are in reality a time saver once you get used to them.
FCC Tools Homepage: https://www.fcc.gov/tools
Radio Tools: http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/radio_tools2.html
Longley Rice Coverage Prediction: http://lrcov.crc.ca/main/
ASR Antenna Search: http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistrationSearch.jsp
ULS License access Search: http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp
CDBS public http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/cdbs_pa.htm
Daily Digest: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest/2013/ddtoday.html
Daily Digest previous issues: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest/2013/dd2013.html
Electromagnetic Spectrum Chart: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/2003-allochrt.pdf
Radio Locator: http://radio-locator.com/ Coverage maps (low resolution)
Compiled from last year’s edition with corrections and suggestions made by posters.
Very nice, Andy and thanks for restarting this thread! I would like to add a couple of things. The “HD” in “HD Radio” doesn’t stand for anything. The idea was for people to hear the term, think of HDTV and relate it to “quality”. It definitely does not stand for “hybrid digital”! Then there’s this: “RF = radio frequency energy, signals that have a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). Signals below that frequency are AF or audio frequency signals.
RF Spectrum Ranges include:
Very Low Frequency VLF 3 – 30 kHz
Low Frequency LF 30 – 300 kHz
Medium Frequency MF 300kHz – 3 MHz
High Frequency HF 3 – 30 MHz
Very High Frequency VHF 30 – 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency UHF 300 MHz – 3 GHz
Super High Frequency SHF 3 GHz – 30 GHz
Extremely High Frequency EHF 30 GHz – 300 GHz” The way we learned the order of this table was by memorizing the following quote. “Very little men have very unusual sex experiences.”
There are VLF stations down to 11.904761 kHz.
Cool article. Wild website http://www.vlf.it/
Cool stuff! I guess I need to brush up on hyperbolic navigation… It is *not* obvious to me why frequencies such as 11.904761 kHz were chosen.
I shall not delve into the details of hyperbolic navigation, but the reason for the mathematical relationship between the transmitter frequencies are bound up in the navigational purpose. The determination of the exact signal characteristics is an interesting mathematical puzzle. For the mathematical minded of you this is as easy as a piece of cake. There is another way to make out the exlusive Revda F4 frequency with another basenumber ! Can you find it ? The base harmonics that build up each signal are seen to be separated by 1 /( 3.6 sec ) or 0.27777….. Hz, but are not integer multiples of 0.27777…..Hz. Are there exceptions to this rule ? The operational RSDN-20 system frequencies are mathematical related to a base frequency of 744 1/21 Hz.
Piece of cake? 😯
Looks pretty deep, but I know a guy if we need help.
I’m starting here:
I calculated that the wavelength of 11.904761 kHz is 25.20000 km. It would seem that this particular distance or multiples of it would be significant (but why is this so?).
In the Glossary, the link for the FCC Daily Digest is incorrect.
Use Daily Digest: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest/2014/ddtoday.html
not http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest/2013/ddtoday.html
for the archives just use http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest
I like this one: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/daily-digest
The Commission has announced the following totals for broadcast stations licensed as of December 31, 2013:
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322
AM STATIONS 4727
FM COMMERCIAL 6612
FM EDUCATIONAL 4019
TOTAL 15,358
UHF COMMERCIAL TV 1030
VHF COMMERCIAL TV 358
UHF EDUCATIONAL TV 289
VHF EDUCATIONAL TV 107
TOTAL 1,784
CLASS A UHF STATIONS 377
CLASS A VHF STATIONS 51
TOTAL 428
FM TRANSLATORS & BOOSTERS 6054
UHF TRANSLATORS 2927
VHF TRANSLATORS 1119
TOTAL 10,100
UHF LOW POWER TV 1598
VHF LOW POWER TV 388
TOTAL 1,986
LOW POWER FM 776
TOTAL BROADCAST STATIONS 30,432
Who is Colin Innes and why is he filing against almost every religious broadcaster in Oregon?
For instance:
KLVP Aloha OR FM BRH-20131017CDJ 250 C1
N 45° 31′ 21.0″ W 122° 44′ 45.0″
License 313 133 0.0 5.0
Filed App for Renewal for FM Station;
Licensee: Educational Media Foundation;
Application Petition To Deny Renewal Of License.
Petition To Deny Filed 01/02/2014 By Colin Innes;
Applicant: Educational Media Foundation
“Who is Colin Innes”
Can’t find much about a person with that name living in Portland. Someone by that name is a business professor at UC Riverside, but so far unable to connect him to the complainant. The house at the address on the petition belongs to Nicolas Frisby according to portlandmaps.com.
“why is he filing against almost every religious broadcaster in Oregon?”
Judging from this excerpt from the KLVP Petition to Deny (renewal of license) it is pretty simple and appears to be accurate.
This Petition to Deny is being submitted to deny Educational Media Foundation’s (“EMF”) renewal of licenses that serve the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area on the grounds of (1) its neglect of coverage of any community issues, (2) its abuse of the main studio waiver rules, and (3) redundant and abused translator service.
. . . There is a total of eight Portland-area channels carry programming from California with no local studio. The programming on EMF stations merely emulate commercial radio music programming stations with no public affairs coverage tackling any local issues of importance. The FCC states that radio stations must address “must air programming that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of license” and “…each station licensee must affirmatively identify those needs and problems and then specifically treat those local matters that it deems to be significant in the news, public affairs, political and other programming that it airs.”2 We assert eight metropolitan radio channels to rebroadcast two radio formats means there are four radio channels a piece broadcasting redundant music programming, delving into no local public affairs or political programming responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of licenses.
This isn’t breaking news (the abuse of the rules by EMF and other national religious broadcasters is well known), but he is pointing out some discrepancies between the “rules” and practices of the F.C.C. I advise reading the whole document, it is not that long and shows the specifics of the extent to which these licensees are skirting the rules of main studio waivers, translators, and community service.
I noticed today that K224DL 92.7 Portland has switched from K-Love to Air1. Apparently, Air1 is being delivered to the translator via KKCW-HD3. This gives Air1 much better metro coverage, since 92.7 recently upgraded to 99 watts. In fact, it’s my opinion that 92.7 has the best signal of all of the 99 watt translators on Skyline/Sylvan.
I predict that Clear Channel trades the KKCW-HD3 channel for access to one of EMF’s other translators.
Wow Andy, thank you for posting that info as it was a fascinating read!
In other news, there was a “Petition to Deny” submitted for the renewal of KPOJ by Tom Dwyer. Unfortunately the text of the petition isn’t available…
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