Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)
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Stations there report usable signal up to 125 mi. , with "fringe area" coverage extending as far as 200 mi., sometimes even further.
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Denver's 4 stations are atop 7600-ft. Lookout Mt., 16 mi. west of city. Chief engineer R.D. Cunningham of 100-kw KFEL-TV (Ch. 2) writes of "good coverage for 120 mi. to the north, including Cheyenne, Wyo. , and for 60 mi. to the south" by actual engineering measurements. "Coverage to the west," he adds, "is restricted by high mountain ranges, but community antenna systems at Leadville and Climax, 65 mi. away, are able to receive good snow-free pictures."
In Albuquerque, N.M. , 2 stations operate from Sandia Crest, more than 2 miles above sea level and 4200-ft. above average terrain. Pre-freeze KOB-TV (Ch. 4), which moved to the high location just one year ago, has 11-kw ERP, claims Grade A radius of 50 mi. Says chief engineer George S. Johnson; "A good consistent signal is received at more than 150 mi. The signal is steady day and night, except on rare occasions when there is an abrupt change in the weather."
Two problems of long-distance reception are pointed out in Johnson's report: (1) Atmospheric noise, or snow, picked up by conventional wide-angle TV receiving antennas ("We are encouraging our viewers to install rhombic antennas"). (2) Receiving points in narrow valleys just below line-of-sight. "In these the receiving antenna can be installed on a nearby high point and connected to the receiver by a longer feed line." Johnson tells of one location near Antonito, Colo. (130 miles) where TV engineers found 1000 uv/m signal. "This strong signal was only a few hundred yards wide, so the signal must be transmitted over wire lines to the town. Such unusual strength is caused by refraction of the signal downward by a mountain peak."
KXLY-TV, Spokane (Ch. 4), atop 6000-ft. Mt. Spokane, 3068-ft. above average terrain, with 48-kw ERP, reports Grade A radius 60 mi. , Grade B 90-100 mi. Writes chief engineer Dave Green: "We are putting a reliable signal into La Grande, Ore. — some 200 mi. air distance ... Today I received a report of consistent signal at Kelowna, B.C. — approximately 200 miles, airline."
KEYT, Santa Barbara (Ch. 3), putting out 50-kw from 4211-ft. mountain only 3 mi. from Pacific Ocean, claims Grade B signal as far as 92 mi. overland and good reception reports from San Diego, 185 mi. south over water.
A further report from WMVT, Montpelier, Vt. (Ch. 3) — one of New England's 2 mountain-peak stations (the other being Mt. Washington's WMTW) — says the 18.3-kw station on 4400-ft. Mt. Mansfield is putting 600 uv/m signal into Montreal. 80 mi. north, 980 uv/m into Croyden (near Montreal), 700 uv/m into Saranac, N.Y., 65 mi. west, 500 uv/m into Claremont, N.H., 78 mi. south.
LIGHT ACTION ON CPs, 2 VHFs DUE SOON: One educational CP and an initial decision after dropout were high spots of mild week at FCC — Alabama Educational TV Commission getting CP for Ch. 10 in Birmingham and Arkansas TV Co. being lined up for grant in Little Rock on Ch. 11 when competitor KXLR dismissed after receiving $60,000 from Arkansas TV for out-of-pocket expenses. Another grant should mature before long for Ch. 2 in Klamath Falls, Ore. Klamath Falls TV Inc. petitioned to dismiss, is to receive $7500 from KFJI which will be ready for initial decision, then final grant.
Alabama grant is second for state's educators, other being Ch. 7 CP for Munford — both due to begin tests by Nov. 15. FCC recently denied petition of WVOK, Birmingham, requesting that Ch. 10 be reclassified commercial (Vol. 10:40). Arkansas TV Co. is owned by KTHS, Hot Springs, 42%; Arkansas Democrat, 32%; National Equity Life Insurance Co. , 16%; August Engel, pres. , 10% — interlocking with Shreveport Times.
On allocations front, FCC received: (1) Petition from WFTL-TV, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., asking that Ch. 29 & Ch. 35 be substituted for Ch. 27 & Ch. 33 in Miami or that Ch. 39 be substituted for Ch. 27 there, so that WFTL-TV can move to Miami "antenna farm" and raise height to 856 ft. above average terrain. (2) Petition of Michigan educators, through Supt. of Public Instruction Clair L. Taylor, asking assignment of these educational channels; Alpena 11, Escanaba 49, Kalamazoo 74, Houghton 21, Marquette 35.