[BC] Directional Antenna Proofs

[James B. Potter]

Gentlemen (I use that characterization advisedly), and any ladies who might
be party to these proceedings:

I need an authoritative current resource to guide me as to the requirements
of AM directional antenna proofs -- both partial and full, how often, and
other legal and technical details.  Radio Magazine maybe?  I already have a
current version of the FCC R&R, but I have been told by other engineers that
certain provisions have been relaxed, etc.  I just started at a 5-tower
directional 560 station with DAD and DAN patterns, and the coverage is
significantly lower than when this system was originally installed.  Folks
can't hear Rush Limbaugh anymore, and that is a serious situation here in
the Buckle on the Bible Belt, Southern Missouri.  However, the antenna
current ratios and phase are 'right on the money.'  The pattern is out here
and there, particularly at night.  No obvious deterioration in the system,
which was expensively designed by Jules Cohen a few decades ago. Any help
would be appreciated, thankx.

BTW:  Give me a vacuum tube type Class-C RF PA modulated by a push-pull
Class-B plate modulated AM transmitter over ANY transistor toy transmitter.
Tube transmitters rock your sox off, particularly for hard Rock and Country.
I don't care what the CP and FIM meters say, tubes beat solid state any day
for sheer brute power.  It's almost palpable.  I understand the discussions
about that Alabama station, and I don't believe it was because of any
illegal operation, just the capability of heavy modulation this design and
technology are capable of.  And, yes, for a significant electric bills, too
(:>)).

Thanks/Regards/Jim 

James B. Potter
FCC 1st Class PG-3-14423 & K3NSW
Cutting Edge Engineering -- Radio Station Maintenance
Potter Productions -- Radio Commercials
2 Kristina Lane
Kimberling City MO 65686
Cel. 775.217.9704

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-----Original Message-----

 From: Richard Fry

RichardBJohnson wrote:
>In fact, amplitude modulation has the capability of better fidelity 
>than FM because all of its bandwidth is available for audio.

Those believing this about analog AM and FM broadcast systems might want to
compare the published specs of AM transmitters to those of FM transmitters.

The design/performance of their respective receive systems, co- and
adjacent-channel interference, atmospheric and locally-generated radio noise
also have large effects -- all of which favor FM.

RF