[BC] Re: [Tech-Assist] STL question

[Ronald J. Dot'o Sr.]

Thanks for the input.  Basically I'm just looking at alternatives at this 
point and this is one possibility.  Another is to get an isocoupler and hang 
an STL dish on the AM stick.  Or lease phone lines to the FM studio.  And 
then there is the Internet.  As usual the list has expanded my thinking and 
awareness.  Always looking for ways to save money!

Thanks guys!

Ron D.



From: "Scott Fybush" <scott at fybush.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Cc: "The Brain Trust" <tech-assist at radiolists.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 19:17
Subject: Re: [BC] Re: [Tech-Assist] STL question


> Mike McCarthy wrote:
>> I'm seeing two different questions...
>>
>> I don't see any reason using the AM as a ICR or STL could not be done. 
>> There is nothing in Part 73 which limits the means to transport program 
>> audio in either the final hop or intermediate hop.
>
> Agreed. Here in Rochester, our public broadcaster WXXI (where I work 
> part-time in the news department, in what I laughingly call "spare time") 
> uses an AM off-air pickup as a backup STL to WRUR, the University of 
> Rochester FM station that WXXI operates under an LMA-ish deal. (The main 
> STL, when WXXI is feeding programming to WRUR, is a subchannel of 
> WXXI-TV's DTV signal.)
>
>> HOWEVER, be careful of the translator rules because a sharp attorney 
>> might see that as a translator without a parent FM station and press that 
>> matter. Especially if the programming is 100% duplicated day after day.
>
> This, I don't agree with. A translator is a translator and a full-power 
> licensed AM or FM station is a full-power license. There is a clear 
> prohibition in the translator rules on using an AM to originate 
> programming, but those rules explicitly apply only to facilities licensed 
> as translators, which this one wouldn't be.
>
>> I would suggest you install a codec of some sort (or P2P IP--Barix boxes) 
>> and maintain that for proving the program carriage is not a translator 
>> and that the AM is simply a convenient relay. You could use that means at 
>> night when the AM may have skywave or lightning problems.  Then make sure 
>> you shut off the stereo sub-carrier as the programming brought in on the 
>> AM (or codec) will be mono unless you are using C-QUAM.
>>
>> That said, in order to avoid all of this and if it's possible, I would 
>> install a digital STL or something between the AM and FM TX's.
>
> Agreed, again. If the stations in question are the ones I think they might 
> be, the AM is all of 200 watts at night on a Mexican/Canadian clear 
> channel, 67 km from the FM that will be relaying it. I'm not sure I'd 
> trust that path to deliver clean audio on a regular basis, or even as a 
> backup.
>
> Heck, if there's POTS service at the FM site for telemetry, I'd look at 
> using a POTS codec as an STL before I'd want to trust an AM-on-FM 
> relay...but if that's what needs to be done, it does look legal to me.
>
> (Usual disclaimers: IANAL, I don't speak for WXXI or anyone but myself, 
> etc.)
>
> s
> _______________________________________________
>
> The BROADCAST [BC] list is sponsored by SystemsStore On-Line Sales
> Cable-Connectors-Blocks-Racks-Wire Management-Test Gear-Tools and More! 
> www.SystemsStore.com       Tel: 407-656-3719    Sales at SystemsStore.com
>