WSMN Nashua Update

[Dan Strassberg]

I predict a low-power STA diplexed with WSNH 900. The fact that the 1590
station in Waterbury CT is dead means that night power of 50W or more is
likely to be permitted. Day power will be limited by WUNR. Since there is
already prohibited overlap between WSMN and WUNR, I guess the FCC will allow
somewhat more power than you might think. For example, WAZN 1470 is, as far
as I know, still running 850W ND from the WTTT site. WAZN's CP for days from
that site is for 1400W but with a directional pattern that fills the nulls
to only a bit more than 200W. So the ND operation radiates about double the
field strength in the direction of those nulls that the day directional
pattern would radiate. WSMN sends very little signal toward WUNR, but I'm
not sure just how little. Also, isn't WSNH's site several miles futher north
than WSMN's site? That would put more distance between WSMN and WUNR,
enabling WSMN to use more power. It's also possible that WSMN will find a
friendly cell-tower operator who would permit a low-power AM to use his
tower, or WSMN might go it alone. On 1590, a 100' tower can easily be
top-loaded to an electrical height of about 80 degrees, which would produce
reasonable efficiency. Finding a site for a 100' tower is a lot easier than
finding a site for a three-tower AM DA comprising towers of 200' or close.
>From a site at the north end of Nashua, WSMN might be able to run the 250W
equivalent necessary for a licensed operation and still reduce prohibited
overlap with WUNR. With waivers of the requirement for 5 mV/m daytime
coverage of the COL, that single 100' tower might be all that WSMN would
have to construct. Before WAZN moved to Watertown, it ran from a single
top-loaded 100' stick in Hudson MA for probably close to four years. Covered
the old COL of Marlboro reasonably well--during the day (and could be heard
beyond the end of its ground system at night).

--
Dan Strassberg, dan.strassberg@att.net
eFax 707-215-6367

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Watson <markwats@comcast.net>
To: <boston-radio-interest@rolinin.BostonRadio.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 9:31 AM
Subject: WSMN Nashua Update


>    A few weeks ago, I posted information regarding a proposed housing
> development that a developer wanted to build on the property currently
> occupied by WSMN (1590 Nashua NH). The Nashua Telegraph reports today that
> the city's Planning Board voted 4-1 this past Thursday night to approve
the
> construction of the 40 unit cluster housing development on the 12 acre
site
> that currently houses WSMN's studios and the 3 tower directional array.
> Under the plan approved by the Planning Board, the developer will tear
down
> the WSMN studio building and towers to make way for the new housing.
>
>     A member of the 1590 Broadcasting Corp.board of directors is quoted in
> the article as saying that the radio station will relocate to another
> location. It is not known when the WSMN transmitter site will be torn down
> but until that happens, WSMN can broadcast from another location. The
board
> of director goes on to say that after the 3 towers are torn down, the
> station may have to go off the air for a while, but would resume
> broadcasting as soon as the towers can be replaced.
>
>     No timetable is given in the article for when the construction will
> begin. I wonder if WSMN has an alternate TX site to go to, or are they
> selling the property now and hoping to find land later. Hopefully they
won't
> encounter any NIMBY's at any new site they want to build at.
>
> Mark Watson
>
>