Re: Stupid move 'GBH (Re: BUR-GBH)

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

Pete: If you check the FCC's public FM database, it 
calls both WGBH-FM's licensed and CP operations Class B 
(not C, C0, C1, C2, or C3 and not B1--if I recall B and 
B1 are the only B classes). If you specify a class 
(which you don't have to do to bring up database 
records), the only way to retrieve any records for 'GBH 
is to specify B (with no number suffix). I could not 
find the class listed in either of the two records, 
however.

Now, GBH being a B makes no sense to me. Both the old 
and new operations have substantially more power at 
their HAAT than what I understand to be the maximum for 
Class Bs.

To do a reasonableness check, I checked out WCRB, which 
is a Class B (and if you specify a Class, the record 
displays only if that class is B with no number suffix). 
WCRB's antenna is about 25m AAT higher than WGBH-FM's 
new antenna on the WBZ-TV tower. WCRB's ERP is 8.1 kW or 
less than 40% of WGBH's new power. By my calculation, if 
WCRB were to move down to 323m, it would be allowed only 
9.5 kW, which is still less than half of WGBH's 21 kW.

WGBH-FM will continue to be substantially more powerful 
than any other FM licensed to Boston--just not nearly as 
powerful as it is now. Why is WGBH making the move? I 
don't know, but there must be _some_ economies in having 
the two analog TVs, the two digital TVs, and the FM on 
the same tower.

Infinity now owns two TVs in this market--what's the 
other one?--56? I bet it galls Mel to have to pay rent 
to American Tower systems for the UHF. If the FCC had 
only allowed him multiple TVs in a market _before_ he 
signed off on the modifications to the Channel 4 tower, 
he might have had all his Boston TVs in one place. On 
the other hand, where are his four FMs? (98.5, 100.7, 
103.3, and 104.1) I don't think any of them are on (or 
are moving to) the Channel 4 tower
--
dan.strassberg@att.net
617-558-4205
eFax 707-215-6367
>     WGBH-FM is a grandfathered Class C FM
> "non-commercial" station.  However, the day they move
> to the WBZ-TV tower, they lose that grandfathering and
> become a run-of-the-mill Class B and also lose a lot
> of coverage area in the process. 
>     Why they would want to leave Great Blue Hill is
> beyond me.  Going from 100,000 watts to 20,000 watts
> is st**id.  Sure, they might be gaining tower space
> 200-300 feet above the current transmitter site. 
> BUT... they will lose a good portion of the Cape,
> parts of Rhode Island, Western Massachusetts and half
> of their Northern coverage area into central New
> Hampshire.  Their Grade B coverage area will suffer
> tremendously.  With intermod alley from the Pru, I'll
> betcha' WGBH-FM will have problems getting into the
> high rise office buildings once they leave Milton and
> go to Needham.
>     Take a look at the signals of commercial stations
> from Needham into the downtown area.  They are a mess
> due to the close proximity of the Pru.  Oh, well. 
> Like WMTW-TV, once you leave...you cannot ever get
> back.  
> 
> 
> -Pete
> 
> 
>           
> --- Ron Bello <RBello@BelloAssoc.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Does WGBH get to keep it's higher power while moving
> > to  the WBZ-TV tower ?
> > 
> > 
> > >Anybody know when 'GBH-FM will move to the WBZ-TV
> > tower?
> > >--
> > >dan.strassberg@att.net
> > >617-558-4205
> > >eFax 707-215-6367
> > >
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> =====
> Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
> Whitman, Massachusetts
>                            "Scanning the bands since 1967"
> radiojunkie1@yahoo.com
> radiojunkie3@yahoo.com
> ***********************************************************
> 
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