[BC] Next up - EXB and thoughts

[WBRadiolists at aol.com]

OK, since an FM EXB is something I'm keenly in favor of seeing happen, it's 
time to pitch-in my 3c worth. I'll leave it on the keyboard. ;)

In a message dated 09/25/2008 9:01:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
radiofreetom at gmail.com writes:

> 100 kHz spacing in former Ch. 5; 200 kHz in former Ch. 6

Why the different spacing? I could see this *maybe* working for the LPFM 
stations, provided they are *physically* spaced far enough apart... but then that 
almost defeats the purpose! I say keep the 200Khz spacing uniform, from 76-108.

>  FM would look something like
>  
>  L-2; (1-watt maximum ERP @ 50 meters) hobby station; may be non-comm 
>  or commercially funded operation (or some hybrid).  Part 15 writ 
>  large, IOW.  Ownership restricted to individuals; non-reserved 
>  channel operation only

Man oh man, I would be all over this in a heartbeat! ;) Ain't gonna happen, 
tho. I think there's too much room for abuse and not enough enforcement staff 
or resources. If the licenses were $50 annually and these funds were used 
exclusively for hiring new FCC enforcement staff, it *might* work... but only if 
enough people thought it was worth $50 a year. I would, but I'm NOT "Joe 
Six-pack" by any stretch. ;)

>  L-1; (10-watt ERP @ 50 meters); Community or neighborhood station; 
>  support as above; may be on reserved or non-reserved channels; 
>  Non-comm operation in reserved channels

Even just allocating 4 or 5 of the new channels to *this* service, alone, 
would make it possible for several stations to coexist in each community! Perhaps 
make these available to individuals, but with stricter requirements, thus 
eliminating the need for a 1-watt class.

>  L; (100-watt ERP @ 50 meters) larger neighborhood or small-town 
>  community stations; as above

Ditto, above, except for the individual ownership.

>  A-2; (1 kw ERP @ 100meters) low-end of the migrated AM's mostly, 
>  intended to replicate a 250-watt daytimer's primary service area, or 
>  a reference distance of 20 km

Instead of setting it at 1kw @ a fixed height, how about the power 
level/height being determined by their former .5mv contour? Equal-for-equal. Also, why 
limit these to only the top 50 markets? Why not make them available for *all* 
Daytimers, especially those with zero or flea night powers?

These allocations would also be ideal for the "graveyard" channels, which 
really should have gone to FM in the first place!

>  AM would look like
>  
>  (All maximum facilities; actual designations by frequency as now)
>  A - 500 kw ND-U

You're kidding, right? ;)

I sincerely believe that a drastically uncluttered AM band (all the smaller 
stations migrated to FM) would eliminate the need for superpower stations. A 
50kw station would have virtually nationwide coverage at night, if the band were 
completely clear 10Khz to each side of its carrier. (20khz spacing, IOW. No 
more 1'st adjacents. All stations running the current 10khz NRSC mask. Abandon 
IBUZ on MW.)

IMHO, the MW, AM band should be repurposed for what it is best at - large 
area coverage. All MW stations would then be 50kw. No more reduction at night. 
With no other smaller stations on the band, there'd be plenty of room even with 
20khz spacing. DA's could be primarily used to direct signals to desired 
markets rather than "protection" of others in nulls. Nulls could still be used, of 
course, but undesirable.

>  New Class D - 0.05 kw ND-U into a 30-meter (or 45-degree, whichever 
>  is smaller) antenna (see class L-2 FM; same type operation); and 
>  secondary status - no protection, and must protect everyone 
>  else.  fifty watts, especially at the high end of the band and with 
>  the shorty antenna should minimize DX...

Why bother? Use FM! VHF is ideal for these kinds of facilities. MW is best 
for long-range. Short of burying your antenna underground, you're pretty much 
not going to eliminate skywave propagation on MW frequencies... it's them pesky 
Laws of Physics, again. ;)

Willie...