Some radio stations switch patterns for night operation, and I would like to know A.) Do they switch from a high powered transmitter to a different low power transmitter, or is a same transmitter lowered in power?
And B.) Often a different pattern is used at night with more or less towers, so they must switch antenna connections. How is this done?
I remember a station just east of Toronto(Oshawa) that I listened to that used to cut their power at night to less than half of the daytime and they just reduced the transmitter power. But then that station moved to a different spot where they could keep the same power all the time. And are still lost in the skywave outside of the immediate coverage area.
@mark There is a station in my area with 5,000 Watts full time, but different day/night patterns. By day 1-tower and at night 4.
In the morning I hear them switch antenna... the carrier goes off and there's a second of background noise, then the signal comes back on. I am guessing they need to turn off the transmitter carrier, press a button that switches a giant solenoid relay to change antenna arrays, then turn the transmitter carrier back on.
@carl-blare This station I was talking about I know about the transmitter as I had called the station about another matter and got to talk to the engineer that looks after all this stuff.
They were something like 5,000 watts and just at sunset suddenly the signal was just switched to low power without a glitch and just overrun with the skywave. They just switched the transmitter to 1/3 power. It was on a timer. They said that they hated it as they would loose half the listeners in outlying areas. I don't really know about how it's done with different transmitters but it could be done all in a control room. I wouldn't think it would be someone going out to the transmitters twice a day.
But I have a question I have always wondered about....how do they get the studio audio from the broadcast location to the transmitter? The transmitter(s) are usually located in a area remote from the broadcast studio location. That could be 20 miles away.
Some radio stations switch patterns for night operation, and I would like to know A.) Do they switch from a high powered transmitter to a different low power transmitter, or is a same transmitter lowered in power?
And B.) Often a different pattern is used at night with more or less towers, so they must switch antenna connections. How is this done?
So strange you brought it up. Yesterday afternoon I was playing with Simply News :
"Revolutionizing AM Radio and Navigating Unlicensed Broadcasting"
https://custom.simplynews.ai/audio/648826192
On today's show, a significant development in AM broadcasting emerges with the introduction of MDCL+ by Broadcast Electronics, and we delve into the topic of Part 15 AM broadcasting and the regulations surrounding unlicensed radio operations. Plus, we explore the landscape of royalty-free music platforms, offering creators high-quality music without legal headaches. This coverage and more -- up next.
Original Prompt:
What is low power AM broadcasting. How and where is it used, and can anybody do it?
Part 15 AM is not limited to 200 feet and never has been.
Royalty-free music and programming sources
Wait a minute.. I didnt post th hat already yesterday did I?