This is the last in a series of articles about the interesting and sometimes arcane world of FM translators. It is excerpted from a free Radio World ebook that you can access here.
Dan Grimes does broadcast maintenance in the southwest for Faith Communications Corp. and SOS Radio Network including KSOS(FM) in Las Vegas.
“For us, translators are for programmatic reach. We simply want to cover small communities in low-density regions of our radio network,” he said.
“A fully-licensed station requires a lot more administration and technical control. The translator is easier to build and maintain.”
Some of those installations are quite simple, comprising a receive antenna that feeds a translator with a receiver and exciter built in, and the output antenna.
“Most of ours do not have a connection to the internet, and rely on built-in functions to follow the legal requirements, such as automated carrier cuts with loss of signal or audio. Many are not even in a building, just a metal box. One of ours is in a chest freezer.
“The antennas are on poles, and there is a transmission line connecting them. Filters might be needed but often are not, if the receive antenna can have some distance.”
Others in his network are more substantial, with an internet connection, network router, satellite antenna and receiver. “But none of ours has a dedicated remote control. We use the built-in web GUIs to control individual components, when available. We also have controllable power outlets to shut things down or power cycle a component if needed.”
Many of the organization’s translators were installed 40 years ago to expand its network in small, rural communities. “A few of those communities are now larger metropolitan areas. One or two of them have been converted to full-licensed stations, but we still have translators in some cities. We have tried to convert many of them during open NCE windows without success.”
Grimes said many small, remote communities obtained radio and TV translators because they wanted to enjoy programming that was available to the urban communities. “Locals would raise funds for the equipment, or the county might put in the facilities, while we and other networks provided the programming,” he said.
“This has changed over the last two decades. Many former owners of translators, be it municipalities, churches or individuals, can no longer maintain them administratively or financially, or choose not to. They turn the license over to us and we maintain everything, including the physical and legal obligations.”
Monitoring and maintaining technical performance is challenging.
“Because the systems are more simplistic, it is impossible to know all that is going on with them. We mainly rely on the good graces of the audience to call us and let us know that something is wrong. But I have found translators that were off and no one let us know. When we got them back up, people called to thank us for bringing the service back.”
The age of components can be an issue. “Many parts are still available; for instance, Scala still makes the parts for antennas that are half a century old,” Grimes said. “However, other electrical components are getting hard to find, such as older RF transistors.
“Because much of our equipment is on very high mountaintops, it is critical to have protective systems — and to keep them functional — for all power and RF transmission lines. Otherwise, lightning will take the translator out every year.” But it’s hard to find the time to visit and make the regular repairs that are needed with any older equipment.
“Preventive maintenance is important, and replacing components like fans and power supplies with quality replacements that can last a long time.” He tries to visit each translator regularly, but they are located across eight large states in the mountain west, and many are inaccessible in winter. It’s difficult to get to each one more than once or twice a year. “Every time I visit them, there is something that needs attention.”
Another challenge is maintaining clean audio in the increasingly crowded RF landscape.
“Where very few filters were needed in the past, they will often need input filters added to the receiver to filter out higher-power signals from area transmitters. And if the other transmitters have enough noise on our receive frequency, we must go to an internet or satellite feed, which is rarely possible. So sometimes there is a higher noise floor in our audio.”
The fact that translators are a secondary service can cause complications.
“We have had many of our translators covered by new licenses or facility relocations. Our translator does not show up in a frequency coordination search; or they specifically want our frequency so they can have an instant audience,” he said.
“Whenever possible, we try to move to another channel. If nothing is available, we must shut it down and lose that audience. So our translator network is shrinking.
“Also, as many more new stations are being installed, we often are left to deal with the encroachments, both physically and within the RF spectrum. We have even had our antennas, transmission line and equipment move without our knowledge — I show up to do an inspection and we are moved or missing. It’s always difficult to get this corrected; and if it cannot, we must make corrections to our license.”
Grimes wishes that translators were allowed to have more power. “Personally, I think it hinders the ability for the translator to fulfill its purpose in the low-density, rural areas.”
