[BC] NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING - Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

[James B. Potter]

Dear pedantic Powell:  from one pedant to another, the following comments
apply:

You cite two personally interesting examples.  

(1) A few years ago I worked at KHWG, Fallon, NV, 750 AM.  They are Non-D,
10KW day, 250 night.  The local management knew we were protecting KSTG
Portland, OR, and WSB, Atlanta, GA.  Since then I've driven around the
country and tuned to 750 just for kicks to see if I could hear Fallon.
Never do outside of Nevada. In fact, reception of Atlanta was terrible
anywhere on I-95 up and down the East coast from Florida to Virginia.  Never
did hear either Portland or Atlanta in Fallon, even with the tower connected
to a receiver when the Tx was down for repairs day or night.  My
observations occurred during winter, spring, summer and fall of 2010.
Sunspot cycle?  Not seeing the big interference issue everyone cites.  ???

(2) I recently worked at KWTO AM 560 in Springfield, MO.  Among other
concerns, they protect 560 in Memphis and 560 in Philly, plus 1st adjacent
570 in Dallas, Tx.  They have two painfully shaped patterns (Jules Cohen),
5KW DA-D 4 towers, and 4 KW DA-N 5 towers.  Last winter we had a utility
power failure in an ice storm. The emgy genset crapped out with a bad
thermostat behind the radiator (overheat), so no AC for the AM-5 for several
hours until I got a thermostat from an auto parts dealer in Springfield.
The worst part was that it took off the Limbaugh show, which in the Ozarks
approaches a religious denomination. Anyway, There is a BNC sampling point
on the Kintronics Phasor (a masterpiece of design and construction) so I
connected an FIM to it to tune around the band.  Man! Every frequency was
alive from 530 to KMOX at 1120.  Really hot!  But, no Dallas and no Philly
(Relax, Rene, it's only a story).  

So, what's the biggie here?  I'm a degreed electrical engineer with decades
experience in radio broadcasting, land mobile (two-way) and amateur radio.
With very few exceptions driving around the country trolling the AM band for
'rare DX' off some Interstate have I heard interference of the type which
would disrupt local COL service.  Yeah, there is the sunspot cycle, and
things do get really interesting around sunrise and sunset when co-channel
interference is bedlam for about 10 minutes, but that's about it.  I am
firmly of the opinion that concerns over contour overlap from co-channel
stations is greatly overblown and of no real consequence in this day of
spectral hash and decreasing earth conductivity.  Of course, stations defend
their boundaries the way my dog patrols his backyard fence, but its more
politics and money than genuine engineering. Current contour protections in
the Rules are outdated, and I'm glad to see them addressed in the NPRM.  One
man's opinion, worth what you paid for it:  $0.

Regards/J

James, 

You are not listening to what I said.  We all *know*  <in flashing red>
that skywave except in rare cases does not improve the bottom line....

-->Yeah, I am listening. I just have different experiences than you do.
Takes all kinds...