Author Topic: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?  (Read 3672 times)

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Offline MchWxEnthusiast

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Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« on: October 08, 2022, 06:48:42 PM »
Since the Louisville office wont answer me, does anybody know why Madison County KY has so much coverage? Do they get tornadoes often?
Weather Radio Freq: 162.475 MHz
Weather Radio Loc:  Plainwell, MI
Transmitter Call Sign: WWF34
Streaming Status: NN

Offline miraculon

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2022, 01:45:13 PM »
I would guess that it is due to line-of-sight constraints based on the topography in that area. It is hilly/mountainous.

Greg H.


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Offline MchWxEnthusiast

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2022, 05:35:04 PM »
But it's VHF. VHF is meant for hilly or mountainous terrain. So only 1 transmitter would do.Besides, Madison County is mostly flat with some small ridges to the east and west. They're not even 2 to 5 watt transmitters, so it wouldn't even make any sense.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2022, 05:38:40 PM by MchWxEnthusiast »
Weather Radio Freq: 162.475 MHz
Weather Radio Loc:  Plainwell, MI
Transmitter Call Sign: WWF34
Streaming Status: NN

Offline miraculon

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2022, 08:34:05 AM »
But it's VHF. VHF is meant for hilly or mountainous terrain. So only 1 transmitter would do.Besides, Madison County is mostly flat with some small ridges to the east and west. They're not even 2 to 5 watt transmitters, so it wouldn't even make any sense.

VHF is line of sight. RF is a little farther than visual, but definitely affected by hills and other obstacles.

Look at the NWS propagation maps, you can see a graphical representation of the coverage.

I am a Ham radio operator (KE8DAF). I use VHF (2 meters) all the time. (a lower frequency than NWS)

Try driving around the California coastal regions and listen to commercial FM broadcasts (also considered to be VHF,  but lower than the Ham band). You will get crazy multipath picketing and drop out null areas.

If the transmitter tower is at a high peak and the tower is tall enough, it can give reasonably large coverage. Still, areas will be below the line-of-sight rendering reception difficult.

Greg H.




Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline miraculon

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2022, 08:41:40 AM »
But don't take my word for it. See this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency

Greg H.


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline MchWxEnthusiast

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2022, 04:04:51 PM »
I can usually reach alot of NWR stations up in higher elevations and even past a mountain chain, but the county isn't split up by windward and leeward areas. The county is fine with only 1 transmitter. It reaches all areas needed, but the coverage is ridicules. It's not like a super tall mountain splits the county and dims the coverage to only one side. I just don't get it.

Also, that's FM. Very different band from NWR. FM is spotty anyway, it's meant for smaller coverage unlike AM. NWR is more like AM than FM and less like CB. Soo......in-between.
Weather Radio Freq: 162.475 MHz
Weather Radio Loc:  Plainwell, MI
Transmitter Call Sign: WWF34
Streaming Status: NN

Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2022, 10:20:29 PM »
I'm going to suggest a couple of reasons. Those are low-power, 100W transmitters.  The 'main' area 1000 watt transmitter is listed as 'Lexington'.  NOAA puts those smaller transmitters to 'get into' certain poor reception areas, and there LOTS of (holes) in an around the area, including the KY River, etc.  Now, why:
The Richmond Army Depot. (Bluegrass) ... 'targeted' areas and AARS receivers . Old Nerve gas is destroyed there, and there are other things that go boom.  You sure want shelter in place or evacuate notifications to reach those hard to reach places.. Especially if there's a University with about 17K students, and a major N/S interstate highway nearby. BTW NWR is narrowband FM transmission. The WFO is Louisville.

.......................
10/14/22... Yep: Follow up -- https://madisoncountyky.us/index.php/csepp
« Last Edit: October 14, 2022, 05:32:01 AM by Cutty Sark Sailor »
 


Offline MchWxEnthusiast

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2022, 08:27:35 AM »
Look at the coverage area of these transmitters though:https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=WWF82A
https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=WWF82Bhttps://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=WWF82Chttps://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=WWF82D
Are those really 100W transmitters? I'm terrible with math, so I can't really tell with the Wattage to Distance ratio.
Weather Radio Freq: 162.475 MHz
Weather Radio Loc:  Plainwell, MI
Transmitter Call Sign: WWF34
Streaming Status: NN

Offline WeatherHost

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2022, 06:47:38 PM »
You seem overly concerned about something over 300 miles away from you.  If you're not getting the answers you somehow feel you deserve, get in your car and drive there to ask them in person.


And I only see three, two of which are in the county, and one of those is primarily for Lexington.

https://www.weather.gov/lmk/wr_madison






« Last Edit: October 22, 2022, 06:58:41 PM by WeatherHost »

Offline MchWxEnthusiast

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2022, 08:27:04 AM »
I'm not overly concerned with it, I'm just very curious considering the amount of transmitters in one specific area. Why would 1 county have so many transmitters? Madison County has 5 transmitters in total: WWF82A-B-C-D and KIH41. Also, who would I talk to if I were go down there?
Weather Radio Freq: 162.475 MHz
Weather Radio Loc:  Plainwell, MI
Transmitter Call Sign: WWF34
Streaming Status: NN

Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2022, 01:42:40 PM »
@MchWxEnthusaiast: Both Greg and I gave you reasons why multiple transmitters would be required in some areas. We both provided links.  I gave you specific reasons for Madison Co's extra 'targeted' transmitters.  Special area alerts are sent by EMS, etc, triggering permanently located, targeted receivers in targeted locations.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2022, 01:46:38 PM by Cutty Sark Sailor »
 


Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Why so many transmitters in Madison County, KY?
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2022, 04:50:35 PM »
so sad...  ](*,)
 


 

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