Re: Fwd: Re: Query: Since WEIM Faces the Ocean, Why Does It Power Down At Night?

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

If the issue were only stations "in back of" the 
pattern, WEIM might tweak things a bit. If I recall, the 
phasing of the towers is something like -128/0/+128 
degrees and the power ratios are something like 
1/1.89/1. With 110-degree spacing between towers, I 
think the theoretically ideal numbers are something 
like -70/0/+70 degrees for phase and 1/2/1 for power 
ratios. So it could be that the pattern configuration 
might be tweaked somewhat--at the expense of creating 
more severe phasing in the nulls. However, _any_ 
increase in power without a narrowing of the pattern 
would not work because of 1280 in Maine, 1270 in NH, and 
1290 in RI. Moreover, the FCC has a rule that _any_ 
change must _reduce_ existing prohibited overlap by at 
least 10%. Although waivers of this 10% rule are 
granted, the existence of the rule provides strong 
motivation to AMs to leave well enough alone.

The way I figure it, when the FCC decided to essentially 
halt AM changes the consultine engineers howled that the 
Commission was cutting off their livelihood. Then some 
bright person said, "Hey, if we put in a requirement 
that any change must reduce interference by 10%, even 
though we'll cut the _number_ of consulting jobs way 
down, each job will be _much_ bigger and will last 
_much_ longer. So maybe we can keep the consulting 
engineers happy AND look as if we're trying to do 
something about interference." I think this rule 
preceeded the relaxation of ownership caps, but the 
effect was essentially to make AM changes affordable 
only to owners with _very deep_ pockets (read Infinity 
and CCU).

--
dan.strassberg@att.net
617-558-4205
eFax 707-215-6367
> In former times, AM stations operated at specific steps with regard 
> to transmitter power: 250, 500 watts; 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 KW.
> Now you could ask for 2780 watts and get it. Thus WEIM seemingly 
> could go for whatever output would help along Rt 2 ESE without adding
> new towers or interfering with 1280's in NYC, Maine, or the aforementioned
> adjacencies.  BTW, doesn't WRNI's new daytime output crowd WJDA now?
> 
> --------- Forwarded Message ---------
> 
> DATE: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 23:09:00
> From: Jibguy@aol.com
> To: lglavin@lycos.com
> 
> In a message dated 7/10/2002 9:39:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> lglavin@lycos.com writes:
> 
> 
> > If WEIM had 5000 watts (or more!) it probably wouldn't interfere with
> > other outlets at 1280 it seems to me.
> 
> B ut it would interfere with 1270 in Dover NH, wouldn't it? -and 1290 in 
> Providence?  They're not exactly in the main lobe, so it would appear it 
> would be OK for WEIM to do 5kw at night.
> 
> Or perhaps best reason of all.... they don't WANT any more power.  Since most 
> commuting is toward Boston, (in their lobe), the 1 kw would be (or WAS) 
> sufficient.  They would have to add more towers to go 5kw at night.  Perhaps 
> not worth it.
> 
> Best Wishes,
> Bob Bittner