Re: 1060 Engineering Question

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

Since its return to the air three years ago, 1060 has 
been diplexed with WKOX, but until now has been 
nondirectional. The new high-power signal is directional 
(two towers) with the signal aimed to the north-
northeast (35 degrees) and a null centered at 215 
degrees. The non-critical hours pattern has a rather 
deep and fairly broad null (equivalent to about 500W at 
the deepest). The CH pattern theoretically has two 
sharper and narrower nulls (at 180 and 250 degrees), 
equivalent to less than 60W, with a small lobe between 
them at 215 degrees equivalent to just over 1 kW. In 
practice, as indicated by the augmented pattern, the 
null at 180 degrees doesn't exist, probably because of 
reradiation of the signal by the tall chimney at the 
Framingham municipal incinerator across Mt Wayte Ave, 
north of the site.

Low-power nighttime operation ought to be possible from 
the WKOX site. My guess is that WMEX could get perhaps 
150W or so. However, I believe that the somewhat higher 
power that ought to become avaiable from Philadelphia 
sunset until two hours past Framingham sunset and from 
6:00 AM to Framingham sunrise is a better deal for the 
station. Evenings aren't terribly profitable and 
overnights are less so. A PSRA and PSSA should allow 
more worthwhile power during AM and PM drive in mid-
winter. November and December are historically the 
highest-billing months for radio stations.

WDIS's site might also have been feasible for 1060, but 
since the construction in Framingham has been completed 
at considerable expense, why would Langer now consider 
another site? If I recall, the 1170 towers are 200' 
tall, which is tall enough for 1060, and are spaced 
about 146 degrees apart at 1060. A pair of towers spaced 
that far apart produces a pattern resembling WEZE's--
much wider than the modified cardioid produced by the 
WKOX towers, which are 70 degrees apart at 1060. 1060's 
old array in Ashland, now used by 890, is on a due east-
west line. The 1170 towers are on a 279-degree (west-
northwest to east-southeast) line to protect the station 
in Orleans. The WDIS towers might work for 1060, 
although 1060 and 1170 are a bit too close in frequency 
for comfort. Moreover, the orientation and spacing of 
the WKOX twoers is probably more favorable for 
protecting KYW.

Two towers are not enough to get appreciable nighttime 
power on 1060. The WKOX towers are in a much more 
populous area than are the 1170 towers. Being in a 
densely populated area is important for a station that 
runs really low power at night. Also, the WKOX towers, 
which are 440' tall and are top loaded, are much more 
efficient than the 1170 towers. Although it mystifies 
me, WMEX is apparently going to be permitted to run 40 
kW during non-critical hours. I thought that with the 
high efficiency of the WKOX towers, WMEX would be 
required to reduce its power somewhat to protect WBZ, 
but apparently not.

> With the power upgrade (but still daytime-only) for WMEX-1060, I have a
> question which perhaps one of the tech types on this list can answer:
> 
> Could the 1060 signal be diplexed off the WDIS towers in Norfolk, and,
> with the two existing towers in-place there, be made directional to the
> north and northeast, with a deep null to protect KYW in Philadelphia?
> And could a null allow 1060 to operate 24 hours a day? And if so, how
> much day/night power could be used?
> 
> It's my guess (I'm not a tech junkie) that such a diplexed signal would
> cover prety much the area inside Route 495, but would probably not be
> strong (especiallyat night) in Providence or along the South Coast (Fall
> Rivr/New Bedford/parts of the Cape). Would this be a good guess?