The Grand Poopah has become an expert on a strange phenomenon called Sporadic E. This might get a little nerdy but it’s important to understand as it’s KILLING the Refugees at 101.9 and will be a MAJOR problem for Tracy’s Newbees at 93.3.
FM broadcast signals are “line of sight”. That means the signals will go as far as you can see. That’s why tower height is super important for FM broadcasters. The higher the FM antenna is on a tower the further (farther?) the signals will travel. Typically the curvature of the earth and topography will tend to block FM signals and limit their distance. Put an FM antenna at 100 feet and you cover about a 5 mile radius. Put the same antenna at 1000 feet and you cover a 50 mile (or more) radius.
That is until you factor in Sporadic E. The “E” refers to the E layer of the ionosphere which sporadically becomes reflective to FM broadcast signals. FM broadcast antennas radiate part of their signal up into space (you know, where Branson and Bezos hang out). Most of the time those skyward signals go out into space and are only heard by George Noory listeners on other planets. But occasionally, or sporadically, the E layer becomes reflective and the FM signals bounce off this E layer of the ionosphere and travel hundreds and sometimes THOUSANDS of miles back down to earth. Back in the day it used to be called “skip” (10-4 good buddy). If you want to know more about sporadic E CLICK HERE for a great Wikipedia article.
So why is this important? It’s KILLING Jeff Alien’s Newstalk STL on 101.9 and will have the same effect on Tracy’s 93.3 (when she gets on the air). Newstalk 101.9 is a translator which means it’s a low power station. Other distant stations’ signals on 101.9 are bouncing off of the E layer and covering up the Refugees signal. The Wave, (KZWV-FM from Osage Beach) is bouncing off the E layer and clobbering the Refugees local signal. There are other distant stations on 101.9 that are causing the Refugees to tighten up their butt muscles. Tracy’s 93.3 is a more powerful station but it’s transmitter is in East Jesus and doesn’t have the signal strength in the STL Metro that the other stations have. If you’ve been listening to the amazing programming (I didn’t say amazingly good) that’s been on 93.3 before Tracy takes over you know they’re getting hammered by out of the market signals via sporadic E as well.
But there’s some good news. Sporadic E is seasonal and “dayparted”. Sporadic E is at it’s peak in the summer months and usually is the worst from sunrise until about 10 AM daily. But who listens to radio in the summer and between sunrise and 10 AM anyway? NOBODY! But seriously, folks, putting on new talkers with limited signals in the summer months sounds like something the Grand Poopah would do (I will admit to not being the sharpest tool in the Craftsman roll away tool chest).
In full disclosure mode the Grand Poopah will also admit to suffering from Sporadic “P”. No, you don’t wanna know.
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