[BC] Directional Antenna Proofs

[Rene Tetro]

Exactly!

I went through a standard "the signal isn't as good as it used to
be" discussion with my general manager a while back, so 
I did a partial proof.  The numbers were within 1-2% of the
original proof (some a point or two higher, some a point or two
lower).  The signal was essentially the same as it had been when
constructed in 1997.

Even with the proof in hand some staffers still insisted there was
a problem with the antenna system, the transmitter, or both.

I agreed with them in principle that the station's coverage was not
what it had been even a few years ago.  It was obvious -- and
impossible to deny.  But, it took a lot of convincing to get them
to finally believe that the listenable coverage area had
deteriorated, not because of antenna or transmitter issues, but
because the noise level is so dramatically worse.  

I finally convinced them with a very simple test:  I had them drive
around and tune their car radios to a "quiet" frequency (the term
quiet being a bit of a misnomer in this case) and listen.  It
didn't take long before people realized that the noise was the
culprit.  Traffic light controllers, dirty power lines,
computer/microprocessor generated auto noise, etc, etc, were
obvious when tuned between stations.

Rene'

Rene' Tetro
WFIL-WNTP
Philadelphia

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

 From: Dave Dybas

 
...what I have found is that the noise level on the AM Band has
increased significantly and makes reception difficult. We can blame
that noise increase on the advent of the microprocessor and other
modern digital technology.