FCC grants WNRB improved non-critical-hours pattern

[Dan.Strassberg@worldnet.att.net]

Today's FCC actions show that the FCC has approved 
WNRB's new non-critical hours day pattern. This pattern, 
which will be used from two hours after sunrise (worst 
case is 9:15 AM in January) until two hours before 
sunset (worst case is 2:15 PM in December) will 
dramatically improve the station's signal to the 
southwest during the middle of the day. The current 
minimum is the equivalent of about 1 kW at about 231 
degrees. This restriction is still necessary during 
critical hours to protect Class A WLAC Nashville. The 
new daytime minimum will be the equvalent of about 30 kW 
over a broad arc (about 150 degrees centered on the 
aforementioned 231 degrees). There will be a slight 
decrease in daytime signal strength over Boston, but 
nobody is likely to notice.

The change is not complex (a change in the power ratio 
and phase of the the two towers used by day). The new 
pattern, which ought to be in place rather soon, was 
made possible by the deletion of what was once WNLC New 
London CT, only about 75 miles from the WNRB TX. WNLC 
operated with 10 kW-D/5 kW-N DA-2 using three towers 
days and six towers nights. The site, New England's most 
populous AM antenna farm, had a total of eight towers. 
WNLC did a pretty good job of protecting WNRB at night, 
but the day pattern primarily protected WLAC and 
actually sent a very substantial signal toward WNRB.

Now, if somebody could only find something worthwhile to 
do with the WNRB... How about this rumor (which I'm 
starting right here, right now): ABC will buy WNRB and 
flip Radio Disney from 1260 to 1510. Hibernia, which 
owns WPZE, will then lease 1260 to Mrs Nash who will 
move WILD to 1260 and will lease 1090 to some ethnic or 
religious broadcaster.

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