Day: December 19, 2010

Welcome, LPFM 2.0

The FM band is about to get more crowded, courtesy of the legislative branch of the US government.  I have been mixed on LPFM based on my own technical experiences.  That being said, the FCC seems hell-bent on shoe-horning every possible signal into the FM band, so why not?  It certainly won’t be any worse than IBOC or the ever-growing crop of translators.  LPFM could possibly bring back local radio to some markets, depending on who gets the licenses and how they are acted on.  A local school district around here picked up an LPFM license on the last go around.  During the double blizzard of February 2010, they filled the shoes of the two former local stations, which have become remote-controlled repeater stations for a city 35 miles away, so there is a glimmer of possibility.

According to HR 6533, the original channel spacings (elimination of the 3rd adjacent channel protections) in MM Docket No. 99-25 are to be implemented.  Additionally, LPFM stations are on the same footing as translators and FM booster stations, which is a slight change from LPFM 1.1

I’d expect to see an NPRM from the FCC rather quickly, as the bill is pretty specific.  It may be interesting to see how possible frequencies are identified for LPFM service.

Last Radio Playing

Sounds like some dire prediction, but no, actually it is a good radio show heard on Shortwave, WWCR-2 to be precise.  The show, at least during the weeks that I heard it, consisted of blues and other music that you likely won’t hear anywhere else.  Allan Gray, the host, also often interviews musicians and other persons of note.  I stumbled on this show a few weeks ago while listening to 12,160 KHz on Saturday afternoon. WWCR is touted as “World Wide Christian Radio” and there are many religious shows to be sure.  They also air several secular programs like World of Radio, Golden Age of Radio, DX Partyline and Ask WWCR and Info Wars, and others.

Allan Gray

From reading their schedule, Last Radio Playing can be heard on WWCR-2 Tuesdays at 5 pm est (5,070 KHz), Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm EST (12,160 KHz), and on WWCR-3 at 8 pm (4,840 KHz).  WWRC is located in Nashville, TN.  They have four Continental 418 HF transmitters with a carrier power of 100 KW each.  WWCR-2 uses an azimuth of 85 degrees true and WWCR-3 uses an azimuth of 40 degrees true, both into Rhombic antennas with 14 dBi gain.

Today the show consisted of Christmas Music, which on the AM wide band receiver, sounded pretty good.  Anyway, if you are so inclined, tune in and take a listen.