SCANNERS The Urban DX’er SHORTWAVE Vol. 2 No. 3 Established 1984 March 25, 1998 RADIO IS WARY OF 'LITTLE LEOS' of those broadcasters have multiple transmitters. by Leslie Stimion Broadcasters are licensed to use this part of the band and its companion band 450-451 MHz for several WASHINGTON: Broadcasters are bracing themselves purposes under Part 74 of FCC rules for Broadcast against a spectrum grab from low earth orbiting satellite Auxiliary Services. Broadcasters mainly use these so- services, commonly called "Little LEOs." called RPU frequencies to transmit live programming from remote locations, such as shopping malls or The FCC is considering allocating some of the most heavily- sporting events, back to their stations. They also can be used spectrum that broadcasters use for remote pick-up used as studio-to-transmitter links in emergencies when broadcasts and two-way communications (455-456 MHz) to the normal link to the transmitter is not working. A major the Little LEOs. but less well-known application is wireless transmitter telemetry. Also, in declared emergencies, many stations Broadcasters said there are not enough RPU frequencies for use their two-way channels for emergency public the stations that need them now in urban areas, without information as part of their public service commitment. having to share them with another service. The Society of All these uses could he adversely affected by sharing, Broadcast Engineers and the National Association of broadcasters said."Radio's use of the RPU spectrum is Broadcasters intended to tell the commission just that, in simpler than TV's, but in some ways more critical," said comments to an FCC rule making. Ken Brown, manager of RF allocations and licensing for ABC radio and iv. It is an way for radio broadcasters to The Little LEOs would use clusters of low earth orbiting get programming on the air from remote locations without satellites to provide commercial radiolocation (using global relying on other carriers, like cell phones or ISDN lines. positioning) and two-way data messaging services "In a radio news operation, RPU is used for sending the throughout the world. The FCC already has licensed three cars out to cover stories, and getting the reports back to Little LEO systems, one of which has launched satellites that the station," said Brown. If a radio station is using a delay operate within existing spectrum allocations. But the Little system, it may also use RPU to send on-air staff their LEOs want more spectrum allocated to their services. Eight cues for live reports. additional Little LEO applications are pending at the FCC. Important issues The commission has issued a Notice of TV users tend to rely on this spectrum more for two-way Proposed Rule Making(ET 97-214) to implement communication rather than live programming, especially domestically the Mobile Satellite Service (earth-to-space) when a station or network is coordinating a live event for non-voice, non-geostationary mobile satellite services with reporters and crews at several locations who can't (NVNG MSS) allocations adopted at the World see each other for visual cues. The FCC reasoned that. Radiocommunication because broadcasters don't use their RPU frequencies Conference in 1995. constantly, they may be able to share it with the Little The Urban DX’er Specifically, the FCC LEOs. The commission also said Little LEOs already proposed allocating both share their allocated spectrum with a number of users, the 455-456 MHz and 459- which limits their capacity to meet service demands. The Urban DX’er is published 460 MHz bands to the monthly through the NVNG MSS on a co- Broadcasters said there are not enough RPU frequencies cooperative efforts of Bob primary basis, providing in many urban areas; they must carefully coordinate their Kozlarek, WA2SQQ and they do not interfere with use. Some stations use RPU for short reports, while Charlie Hargrove, N2NOV current users. Based on others need a block of several hours, to broadcast a interviews with officials at show from a local car dealer, for example. Coordinating Any information contained is the SBE and NAB, that use is tough enough, broadcasters said, without considered public and can be broadcasters are highly having to factor in Little LEOs. Little LEO transmissions copied, distributed or skeptical the already are short: only 450 milliseconds in the 148-149.9 MHz otherwise electronically limited RPU spectrum can band. The FCC said the Little important way for radio distributed provided that be shared with another broadcasters to get programming on the air from remote proper credit is given.. service on a primary basis. locations without relying on other carriers, like cell The organizations were phones or ISDN lines. "In a radio news operation, RPU is Contributions of information preparing comments for used for sending the cars out to cover stories, and getting for future issues is always the Dec. 1 FCC deadline. the reports back to the station," said Brown. If a radio welcomed and greatly Broadcasters hold more station is using a delay system, it may also use RPU to appreciated. Please send your than 25,000 licenses in the send on-air staff their cues for live reports. E mail to [email protected].. 455-456 MHz band. Many P25 March 1998 The Urban DX’er NJ TIS STATIONS Also, William Demmery in Ottawa, who kept a nice 530 NJ KNNI707 Elmwood Park account of the goings-on re: eastern Ontario, P.Q., and 530 NJ KNNI707 Paramus upper States stations during the past ice storms has 530 NJ KNNI707 Parsippany started up an on-line Canadian AM Database. I was 530 NJ KNNI707 Parsippany intending to make this data available via the WHAMLOG 530 NJ KNNI707 Totowa route (as downloadable files) but now I don't know if I 530 NJ KNNS693 New Brunswick need to bother. His database is at: 530 NJ KNNV457 Hamilton http://www.entrenet.com/mizar/card/index.html 530 NJ WNDF923 Newark Great anti-spamming tips, by the way. 530 NJ WNPX698 Allamuchy Regards, 530 NJ WNPX698 Mountain View Werner Funkenhauser - CANADA 530 NJ WNPX698 Roseland 530 NJ WPAM592 Paramus MW DX’ING 530 NJ WPBN697 Camden In a past issue, we wrote about some of the fundamental 590 NJ WPFP979 Fort Lee NJTPK issues of Broadcast Band DX’ing. I came across a great 590 NJ WPFP980 Jersey City NJTPK article in one of the trade papers and reprinted excerpts 830 NJ WPKN262 Carneys Point Twp from the original article written by Mark Durenberger. TIDBITS An understandable early objective of any new hobby is Here are some tid bits of info, feel free to redistribute meaningful return from a minimal investment, so you can and/or publish this info. - KC2AYC decide whether DXing is a pursuit worthy of your time. You can approach MW DXing with the expectation that, if LILCO: Gas Division Operations from the Bellmore Yard you follow certain reception guidelines, you will get solid -161.415 Bellmore ID's as "892" results. The unexpected additional reward will be the They cover from South of Hempstead Tpke on the north, sudden appearance of a signal you never expected to all the way south to the water and from County Line Road hear, courtesy of unpredictable propagation. to the east all the way to Freeport. Successful DXing depends on good information and proper equipment. The information resources are Slomins Security: Heating and Oil (Nassau & Suffolk) available through the Web, as noted in our previous 471.5375 KVO325 - Very busy Freq. article, and in the publications of the International Radio Club, the National Radio Club and others. Propagation Possible Fort Totten MP Freq- 150.550 (Given to me by fore-casts can be heard through the shortwave facilities someone who was a Signal Intelligence man in the army) of WWV, the radio station of the National Bureau of Standards. Suffolk County Fleet Codes that are new to me- 668- Very busy channel today, environmental type of Let's talk about the equipment, in par-ticular, the tradeoff operations.... they talked between antenna performance and receiver cost.that by a lot about taking samples, but they never said if the were getting more from the antenna, you need less help from soil or water samples .....very active.... talked about an the receiver You can spend a lot for selectivity and sensi- abandoned strip mall on Horse Block Road and they were tivity in a receiver, but you can also earn enhanced warned to be careful of arsenic because on of the stores performance right at the antenna by putting some was once occupied by a jeweler and they have had thinking into the antenna system. This tradeoff makes the problems with arsenic at jewelry stores. hobby rewarding, because the antenna is one component in which you are rewarded direcfly for good engineering 967- Sounded like radio techs doing a test. They had work. people around the county giving them radio checks. Three popular types of MW DX antennas are active COMMENTS FROM UP NORTH (amplified) whip antennas, tuned/active loops and the http://home.inforamp.net/~funk several variations of long wires. Your listening location Hi Bob, may have everything to do with the type of antenna you Very nice MW stuff in the last newsletter. Congratulations can use. on your Norway QSL It looks just like mine from about 12 years ago, except that I can actually read the veri-signer's If you do not have room to spread out, whip or loop name on yours. Thanks for the KICY-850 tip! antennas may be the best choice. Neither uses real estate; used properly, both can be effective.