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THE CGC COMMUNICATOR
CGC #807
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Editor
<r.gonsett@ieee.org>
Copyright 2007, Communications General® Corporation (CGC)
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FCC FORFEITURE WATCH - SELECTED ITEMS
o $17,000 fine proposed against Walgreen Co. for
unauthorized operation of its VSAT network and for failure
to notify the Commission of "permitted" modifications to
its VSAT system within the required time period.
o WOLY(AM), Battle Creek, Michigan, tentatively fined
$10,000 for continuing to operate for years after its
license expired.
o Non-operational EAS equipment draws recommended
fine of $8,000 (Oregon).
o Ohio CBer busted for using unauthorized equipment
that caused interference. It was noted that the CBer also
possessed linear amplifiers.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3706A1.doc
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-276077A1.html
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-276079A1.html
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-276081A1.html
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JOB SHOPPE
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TELEVISION BROADCAST ENGINEERS NEEDED
TV Magic, <http://www.TVMagic.tv/> is looking for
experienced Broadcast Engineers to work in the Los Angeles area.
Position Summary: Broadcast Engineers will be responsible
for the maintenance, installation, troubleshooting, testing and
support of broadcast satellite, RF, video, audio and IP equipment
and ensuring high quality transmissions.
Position Requirements:
o 3-5 years work experience as an engineer in a television
broadcast, production or post-production facility.
o Knowledge of analog and digital microwave and satellite
uplink equipment is desired.
o Must be self-motivated and a team player who is also able
to work with little supervision.
o Knowledge of television broadcast system design desirable.
o Knowledge of ASI, IT networking and Gigabit Ethernet
traffic highly desirable.
Contact: Please e-mail resume and salary information to
<jobs@tvmagic.tv>. TV Magic is an EOE.
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A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE FCC
The FCC is looking for Electronic Engineers for
employment in Washington and at many field offices across
the United States including Los Angeles and San Diego. On-
the-job training is provided. Openings like these are rare
and the application window closes September 21, 2007.
The following URL will allow you to both browse job
openings and apply for work.
http://www.fcc.gov/jobs/fccjobs.html
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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DON'T EXPECT LOTS OF AM HD RADIO INTERFERENCE COME SEPT. 14
I don't think that AM nighttime IBOC is going to be the
Armageddon that some are predicting. Based on our own company's
facilities, I doubt there will be 100 stations on the air at
night before the end of the year.
Within our company, we are simply not ready with most of
our AM night facilities. Further, we are not planning to invest
heavily in additional transmitter and antenna work to get those
facilities up at night in the digital mode until we can evaluate
the effectiveness and impact of AM nighttime digital. I suspect
that much the same situation exists across the board. As such,
I think we will have some time to really get a look at this
thing before we have a thousand stations radiating digital
signals at night.
Cris Alexander, CPBE, AMD
crisa (at) crawfordbroadcasting.com
Crawford Broadcasting Company, Denver, Colorado
P.S. The current stats show the total number of AM stations
on the air with HD signals is 227. Assuming that our company is
representative of the overall AM spectrum of stations, I would
expect somewhere around 90 to light up nighttime digital
signals within the next few months.
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CAMOUFLAGED CELLULAR AND PCS SITES
The National Geographic Society's (NGS) September 2007
magazine has a feature on camouflaged cellular and PCS sites.
I'm quoted in the article, and I provided the photos to illustrate
the article from my www.CellularPCS.com site. The NGS website is
running a parallel feature, also using my photos, which can be
reached at the URL below.
I think it was the photo of the 'Bison' cellular site in
Colorado that hooked them!
Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq., Kramer (at) CableTV.com or
http://tinyurl.com/yv7stm
Editor's note: Cellular antennas disguised as trees, e.g.
"monopines" and "monopalms," are becoming better camouflaged
than ever. Check out this faux tree on the north side of
Pechanga Pkwy in Temecula. What makes this particular tree
noteworthy is that its panel antennas are covered with fake
foliage, enhancing the camouflage. "Shaggy panels" may be
the next rage.
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Images/DSC00480.jpg
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CLAIM THAT KSTN(AM) WAS THE FIRST TRUE TOP 40 STATION DISPUTED
Regarding Paul Shinn's claim that, "KSTN [Stockton] was the
very first true 'Top 40' station" (CGC #806):
o Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon in Omaha are generally
credited with that one, not Bill Drake in Fresno.
- Don Elliot
o Drake had a Top 30 (Boss 30), as I recall. Todd Storz
and Gordon McLendon are generally credited with the birth of
the Top 40 format. - Dave Rickmers
o Paul leaves dates out, but KFWB debuted the "Fabulous 40"
in January 1958. The Drake format debuted in Los Angeles much
later in the mid 60s with "the Boss 30." KFWB was what the
first transistor radios were tuned to when I was a kid!
- Chris Hays
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REGARDING THE FASCINATING PAST OWNER OF KSTN
The spirit of Knox Larue still lives!
Knox was the founder, owner, and chief honcho of KSTN until
his death a short while ago. His stations, broadcast, marine,
and land-mobile radiotelephone, were museums of old equipment
still on the air. He never believed in throwing anything away.
R.I.P. Knox.
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
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RANDOM NOTES
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CATHERINE DEATON EXTENDS HER STAY WITH THE FCC
Catherine Deaton has agreed to stay on as District Director
of the Los Angeles FCC field office until January 3, 2008
(January 2 being her last full day).
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CLAY FREINWALD, K7CR, TO BE HONORED BY RADIO WORLD
Clay Freinwald, K7CR, will receive the 2007 Radio World
Excellence in Engineering Award. Congratulations Clay!
http://www.radioworld.com/pages/s.0061/t.7990.html
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PROTECTING THE FM BROADCAST BAND
Keeping the FM dial clear of RF interference is essential
according to Bud Walters, but some in Congress are challenging
key protections and advocating for their erosion.
http://tinyurl.com/yq9hr6
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IS IBIQUITY RENEGING ON A REBATE OFFER?
CGC #791 mentioned a limited-time price for the entry-
level Radiosophy HD100 digital radio receiver and there was
a handsome rebate offered from iBiquity. It now appears that
iBiquity's rebate contractor is balking on issuing some rebates,
and we'd like to determine the extent of the problem.
If you purchased the Radiosophy HD100 and were (a) given a
rebate or (b) not given a rebate but believe that you properly
filed all the material required for a rebate, we'd like to know.
Please send mailto:r.gonsett@ieee.org. We'll let you know if
significant trends develop.
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BPL NEWS
CGC #806 reported on certain BPL equipment manufactured by
Current Group, and an ARRL official gave that gear high marks
for not contaminating the HF (3-30 MHz) radio spectrum. The
ARRL remarks came from Ed Hare, W1RFI, who is spearheading
ARRL's monitoring of BPL testing and deployment - and doing
a fantastic job.
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MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR PAUL WIEMAN
A memorial service for Paul Wieman will be held at 1 PM
on Saturday, September 8, 2007, at the Acton Community Club
in Acton, CA.
From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north, then Highway 14
north toward Palmdale/Lancaster and exit at Crown Valley Road.
Turn right after the ramp and head south on Crown Valley for
about 1.5 miles. Go past the elementary school and park. Watch
for Antelope Valley Bank on your left and turn right on Smith
Ave. After about one short block, look for the flagpole on the
right and a large single story building (no street sign).
That's the Acton Community Club.
The formal address is 3748 Nickels Ave. but the driving
directions above are said to be more convenient. Questions?
Feel free to contact Paul's daughter Sherrie Koell at
(916) 804-9634.
http://tinyurl.com/2ewwzk (Map)
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FEATURES FROM OUR READERS
o American Airlines announces test plans for inflight
broadband access.
http://tinyurl.com/2qnzgh
o A 17-year old from New Jersey has liberated the iPhone
so it can be used on wireless networks other than AT&T's.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20424880/
http://tinyurl.com/3cacho
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APRS FOR HOOKERS
This story concerns the use of electronic over-the-air
Automatic Position Reporting Systems (APRS) by prostitutes --
with radio equipment built right into specially designed
platform shoes. See and read more at the URLs below. Note
the mentioned use of Amateur Radio frequencies which, if true,
would be an unauthorized use unless the hooker is a ham.
http://tinyurl.com/2xcp69
http://theaphroditeproject.tv/saftey/
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USING THE TESLA COIL AS A LOUD SPEAKER
Tesla coils are not exactly hi-fi loud speakers, but
some experimenters are modulating the Tesla arcs with raspy
music, probably ignoring the fact that Tesla coils generate
horrendous RFI. See and read more at the URLs below and
crank up the sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ff_AXVlo9U&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiUlqecQKUo&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOkTrqTd0hw&mode=related&search=
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FM RADIO - LOCAL ITEMS FROM THE FCC
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CALL SIGN CHANGES GRANTED
KWIE, San Jacinto, to KRQB
KDAI, Ontario, to KWIE
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276193A1.doc
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FM TRANSLATOR APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO COVER GRANTED
BLFT-20070803ADG K246AR 138858 LIVING PROOF, INC.
E 97.1 MHZ GREEN VALLEY LAKE, CA
License to cover.
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FM AUXILIARY TRANSMITTING ANTENNA APPLICATION FOR AUXILIARY
PERMIT GRANTED
BXPH-20070809AAV KRTH 28631 CBS RADIO EAST INC.
E 101.1 MHZ LOS ANGELES, CA
CP for auxiliary purposes.
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FM BOOSTER APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO COVER ACCEPTED FOR FILING
BLFTB-20070813AAI KCAQ-FM1 159550 GOLD COAST BROADCASTING LLC
E 104.7 MHZ CALABASAS, CA
License to cover.
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TV - LOCAL ITEMS FROM THE FCC
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TV TRANSLATOR OR LPTV STATION APPLICATION FOR MINOR MODIFICATION
TO A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT ACCEPTED FOR FILING
BMPTTL-20070822ADY KPCD-LP 129226 WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.
E CHAN-35 BIG BEAR LAKE, CA
Modification of construction permit file number
BDISTTL-20060403ABE.
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DIGITAL TV APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO COVER ACCEPTED FOR FILING
BLCDT-20070820ACK KNBC-DT 47906 NBC TELEMUNDO LICENSE CO.
E CHAN-36 LOS ANGELES, CA
License to cover construction permit no: BPCDT-20050406ACJ,
callsign KNBC.
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PROPOSED LPTV/TV TRANSLATOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
CH-49, Palm Springs, for Charles Townsend
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276245A1.doc
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professionals in so. California by Communications General®
Corporation (CGC), consulting radio engineers, Fallbrook, CA.
Typographical errors originating in FCC material are
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