[BC] STL question

[WFIFeng@aol.com]

In a message dated 04/08/2007 10:53:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
ron.doto at comcast.net writes:

> > Even if it is legal... what about the fact that you'll have a much lower
>  > audio quality than is normally heard on FM? Wouldn't that tend to be a 
>  > tune-out factor?
>  
>  Good point Willie!

Someone else also pointed-out the interference from T-storms. I hadn't 
thought of that, but that is a good point. Even if you don't get them very ofte
n in 
your area, the static crashes often can be heard for vast distances, 
especially at night. You also have the problem of nightime skywave. That signal
 *is* 
going to degrade significantly at night, no way around it. Then you will have a
 
VERY significant tune-out factor. :(

>  > Why can the reverse not be done, where the FM feeds the AM?
>  
>  The AM is buying the FM and changing the format to the same as the AM.  We 
>  would have to move the AM studio/sales office/front office etc. to a new 
>  city, not to mention all the employees.  It's just less expensive and less 
>  hassle to STL to the old FM studio for the time being and improve on 
things 
>  from there.  The AM has a great deal of local community involvment where 
it 
>  is now and that would be hurt in a move to another city.

Ok, that makes sense. You would probably be far better off setting up an 
automation system at the FM, rather than try to rebroadcast the much lower-qual
ity 
audio of an off-air AM-based source. Others have suggested a digital STL. 
Barix makes some nice boxes that would work in this situation. Everything I hav
e 
heard about them has been strongly positive. I believe they will even work 
reliably over a standard TCP/IP Internet link, but you know Murphy! ;) An ISDN 
pipeline might be a good idea, if available, or a fractional T1 would be best. 
Off-air would be the very *last* method I'd want to use in your scenario, 
simply for the major tune-out factor. Your FM station will sound positively *aw
ful* 
in comparison to all of the others.

Willie...








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