[BC] FM allotment finder

[Tom]

Interspersed...

Peter Moncure wrote:
> Tom wrote:
>> Did you remember to convert Google Earth's co-ordinates to NAD 27?...
>>
>> One thing that would be MORE useful would be a tool to check whether 
>> a proposed new site for an existing station is viable.
>>
>> A quick go/no-go would be a BIG help in eliminating possible sites 
>> quickly.
> Hmm, that would require correct application of §73.215 and AFAIK there 
> is no algorithm which does that, due to the ambiguity of the single 
> status character given us by CDBS.  IOW, one may have allowed the use 
> of 215 allocation rules with respect to one other station, but not all 
> others, and this cannot be determined from CDBS as it is currently 
> constructed.
How so?  If I can do it manually, a computer should be able to - the 
search-within-a-radius from query page ALMOST does, after all.  Just 
figure some way to eliminate the station to be moved from the results, 
and run the whole search at once.  Some way to ask: "Can I move station 
X to location Y?"
> It would also require the ability to do NCE searches, TV-6 searches 
> and all the other arcane rules surrounding broadcast allocations.
>
> And not least it would, if truly well-done, both compete with us 
> (boo!) and eliminate much of the consulting work, which as a member of 
> AFCCE I would not like to see.  I'm no libertarian, but I doubt that 
> placing more control over allocations exclusively within the FCC is 
> desirable.  It seems like a no-brainer, click and get a license, but 
> when you look carefully there are lots of problems with that approach, 
> at least for broadcast FM.
Wasn't thinking about putting it in the FCC's hands - but a time and 
effort saver to US, the guys in the trenches.  Kinda like when electric 
washing machines, sweepers, etc. came along for Suzie Homemaker - 
labor-saving device.  Get more/better results for less grunt-work.

Actually, I kinda had an idea that Jim Tonne's BC Map might be adaptable 
to FM - if you can figure out the equivalent data for FM channels, that is.

Still would be helpful to have, I think.  Some way to check a given site 
and eliminate the station you want to move from the search would seem to 
work, maybe.....

Been too long since I coded high-level functions...

-- 
Tom Spencer
PG-18-25453 (nee' P1-18-48841)
http://radioxtz.com/
Part 15 transmitters on AM 640 and FM 100.1