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Please Explain Translators

Posted by rto on August 29, 2019, 10:47 am

You radio geeks (said in admiration) talk a lot about 'translators.' I have a very basic understanding of what they are, but could someone give a concise and understandable (for the average lay person) definition of what they are and what they do. Also, when did they first start and why do we seem to be hearing more and more about them as the years go by? Thanks in advance, it might help some of us follow some of these conversations better!

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on August 29, 2019, 11:07 am, in reply to "Please Explain Translators"

Good question. I will partly answer it and partly refer you to Google search and a sample article.

In short, Google "AM revitalization effort". The idea of FM translators was to repeat an already present AM signal, or use that feed to drive the translator.

Done by using frequencies where there is (theoretically) no primary or secondary signal present, or no interference to a Class A, B or C at a distance from where the translator will be placed.

Was supposed to solve the local AM's being able to give the community a night time signal and enter into the full fidelity era. It is flawed in many ways. One way is, the FCC allowed the original source to now be an HD2 or HD3 FM signal. Kind of defeats the AM revitalization concept!

Check this article out or Google "fm translators" for more articles.

Z

Link: Know Your FM Translator Basics

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by John on August 31, 2019, 12:31 am, in reply to "Please Explain Translators"

Put simply, 'translators' relay programming from a parent station -- they can't originate their own programming, just repeat another station's.

Translators can rebroadcast a regular FM station, an AM station, or an HD radio station.

When used to relay a regular FM station, they're used to extend the range of the parent station.

Translators for HD radio stations give listeners without HD receivers a way to listen to an HD station (or, more cynically / accurately, a way for station owners at the cap limit to add a freebie FM signal!).

In the latest round of translators for AM stations, they give the AM station an FM repeater so they can reach listeners who either don't have an AM receiver or who don't like the sound quality on AM and won't listen to AM radio.

Translators are typically low powered: maximum power for translators is 250 watts, compared to 50,000 watts maximum in this area for other FM stations. There are, however, loopholes that can give some translators large coverage areas despite the relatively low power. For example, even though WKQX, as an FCC Class B FM station could run 50,000 watts, that's 50kw at a reference height of 150m. But WKQX's transmitting antenna is 425m up, atop the Hancock Tower, so they have to reduce power to 5,700 watts. But translators don't have a specific reference height. One example here is the translator on 97.5, running the full 250 watts from atop the AON tower, at 349m.

All translators are not created equal, though. The Clubsteppin translator at 95.1 FM on Willis Tower is running just 60 watts. I haven't looked that closely, but would guess there are more stations nearby on 95.1 than on 97.5, thus the lower power for the 95.1 translators, who -- and this is another key fact about translators -- cannot interfere with full-powered FM stations.

A Chicago example: if the owners of WIIL (95.1 FM, from the WI/IL border) can show that they have listeners dealing with interference from Clubsteppin's translator on 95.1 in Chicago, they can get the 95.1 translator(s) in Chicago shut down.

Here's a Wikipedia article about translators:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_relay_station

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by Engineer on August 31, 2019, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: Please Explain Translators"

That is great. Use wikipedia as a source. (facepalm) To the OP, WYTZZ95FM gave you the best answer which John didn't. "AM revitalization effort". That is the real reason translators exist even if the rules and intent were changed along the way.

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by John on August 31, 2019, 8:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Please Explain Translators"

If it means ANYTHING, I've been posting as "John" for a few years, and I'm not the John above
"Re: Please Explain Translators - John Today, 12:31 am" nor in the comments on the sale of WMVP
"Re: ESPN 1000 will have new leadership - John Today, 12:01 am"

Kinda sad. That would be like me using someone else's handle.

Pres Pedro can see the IP numbers.

If directed, can be something else, I guess.

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by President Pedro on August 31, 2019, 10:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Please Explain Translators"

The John above, is truly not "John" that posted before.

John, it is good to use an uncommon "handle" so others do not copy you. When we first went live, we required registration so people could use "handles" and people freaked out and would not post.

Regards,

President Pedro

Link: Contact Chicago Media Chat

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by OK, call me Elwood on September 1, 2019, 12:04 am, in reply to "Re: Please Explain Translators"

Sorry, been on this board for quite a while myself, didn't know John was 'reserved,' but OK. I've been 'Elwood' before, too.

If you are indeed an engineer, my facepalming friend, please let me know what I got wrong. Most of that was from memory, thought I'd double check my facts on the reference height, and then figured I ought to throw in the wikipedia link for the OP.

Translators were around well before the AM revitalization effort, and the last AM revitalization translator application window closed over a year ago, last I checked. So ... unless I've missed something, AM stations are now back in line with everyone else who'd like a translator (whether it's for their HD2 or satellite-fed christian teaching networks, NPR repeaters, etc.), and there are now a lot fewer open spots on the dial thanks to the last few rounds of AM revitalization translator grants.

Re: Please Explain Translators

Posted by rto on September 2, 2019, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: Please Explain Translators"

Thanks everyone.

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