All posts by Gary Stigall

Bringing 5G Broadcasting to the Masses

November 14 Chapter Meeting

Maybe you’ve heard that a Boston LPTV station, WWOO-LD, received an experimental license and is now broadcasting 5G technology from an antenna in downtown Boston. XGN Network is providing the technical horsepower and CEO Frank Copsidas says they chose 5G both for its economics for LPTV station owners and its potential for compatibility with existing mobile phones.

Qualcomm tried something similar to this with the MediaFLO project in the late 2000s and they discontinued the system. What makes Copsidas and their partners Bitstern and Qualcomm think they can make it work this time? What content would we watch? What does the FCC say about this? Do handsets have apps that allow access? What’s happening at WWOO-LD now?

For the answers to these and more questions, join our presenters from XGN, Bitstem, and Qualcomm as Chapters 36 and 47 host a Zoom online presentation on Tuesday, November 14 at 11:30 AM PT. Sign-up for the meeting here.

You can find videos of the 5G launches and more information at 5GBroadcasting.org.

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LPFM Update

The FCC moved the Low Power FM new license filing window to December 6 through 13, 2023 from November to give more time for applicants.

Several San Diego FM stations have filed to move their transmitter sites or otherwise improve their signals before the next LPFM filing window. Their applications attempt to reserve better coverage and prevent co-channel filers from encroaching. 

KVIB-LP 101.1 San Diego was granted a Construction Permit in mid-October to move from its current location atop the World Beat Center in Balboa Park to the top of a building in University Heights near the corner of Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. This move will significantly increase the population count served since the current location has no housing within a radius that readily prevents co-channel interference from KRTH Los Angeles. KVIB is licensed to Positive Hope, Inc., an organization closely linked with the World Beat Center. 

K206AC 89.1 La Jolla – On September 21, 2023, the FCC granted a Construction Permit to increase its power from 4 to 50 watts ERP and to change its translator source to KPBS’s HD2 service. The analog signal would then broadcast the classical music secondary channel of the San Diego State University NPR affiliate. The translator sits atop an apartment highrise building at 939 Coast Boulevard near La Jolla Cove.

KCZP-LP 93.7 San Diego filed with the FCC on August 8, 2023 to move its transmitter from its current location atop the bell tower of the St. Joseph Cathedral at 3rd and Beech street in uptown San Diego to an adjacent, taller Cathedral Plaza Apartments associated with the Catholic Diocese. The new location would provide terrain clearance to the north and some downtown building clearance southward. The station, while independent of the Catholic Church, provides Catholic network programming.

Jeff Latimer Dies in Texas

Jeff Latimer

Jeff Latimer, 53, a past broadcast engineer in San Diego, was reported by his wife Marsi in a Facebook post to have passed away in his sleep on October 21 in Texas. Jeff had worked at KUSI, XETV, KFMB, and OAN until the couple moved to Texas in 2021 where Jeff worked with Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Marsi had also said in the post that he had suffered what she termed a hemorrhagic stroke several months ago. He is survived by Marsi and their son Dallas. Marsi and Jeff had been married for 20 years. Marsi was a traffic and weather reporter in San Diego for many years.

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Jeff on a microwave system installation project. Our condolences to Marsi and her family.

FCC Grants Power Increase for KPBS La Jolla Translator

On September 21, 2023, the FCC granted a Construction Permit by K206AC 89.1 La Jolla to increase its power from 4 to 50 watts ERP and to change its translator source to KPBS’s HD2 service. The analog signal would then broadcast the classical music secondary channel of the San Diego State University NPR affiliate. The translator sits atop an apartment highrise building at 939 Coast Boulevard near La Jolla Cove.

San Diego FMs Apply for Modifications in Advance of Upcoming Filing Window

Several San Diego FM stations have filed to move their transmitter sites or otherwise improve their signals before the opening of the next Low Power FM filing window coming up in November. Their applications attempt to reserve better coverage and prevent co-channel filers from encroaching.

KVIB-LP 101.1 San Diego filed with the FCC on August 28, 2023 to move from its current location atop the World Beat Center in Balboa Park to the top of a building in University Heights near the corner of Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. This move will significantly increase the population count served since the current location has no housing within a radius that readily prevents co-channel interference from KRTH Los Angeles. KVIB is licensed to Positive Hope, Inc., an organization closely linked with the World Beat Center.

KCZP-LP 93.7 San Diego filed with the FCC on August 8, 2023 to move its transmitter from its current location atop the bell tower of the St. Joseph Cathedral at 3rd and Beech street in uptown San Diego to an adjacent, taller Cathedral Plaza Apartments associated with the Catholic Diocese. The new location would provide terrain clearance to the north and some downtown building clearance southward. The station, while independent of the Catholic Church, provides Catholic network programming.

K206AC 89.1 La Jolla filed with the FCC on August 30, 2023 to increase its power from 4 to 50 watts ERP and to change its translator source to KPBS’s HD2 service. The analog signal would then broadcast the classical music secondary channel of the San Diego State University NPR affiliate. The translator sits atop an apartment highrise building on Coast Boulevard near La Jolla Cove.