Goto Section: 73.684 | 73.686 | Table of Contents
FCC 73.685
Revised as of October 1, 2007
Goto Year:2006 |
2008
Sec. 73.685 Transmitter location and antenna system.
(a) The transmitter location shall be chosen so that, on the basis of the
effective radiated power and antenna height above average terrain employed,
the following minimum field strength in dB above one uV/m will be provided
over the entire principal community to be served:
Channels 2–6 Channels 7–13 Channels 14–69
74 dBu 77 dBu 80 dBu
(b) Location of the antenna at a point of high elevation is necessary to
reduce to a minimum the shadow effect on propagation due to hills and
buildings which may reduce materially the strength of the station's signals.
In general, the transmitting antenna of a station should be located at the
most central point at the highest elevation available. To provide the best
degree of service to an area, it is usually preferable to use a high antenna
rather than a low antenna with increased transmitter power. The location
should be so chosen that line-of-sight can be obtained from the antenna over
the principal community to be served; in no event should there be a major
obstruction in this path. The antenna must be constructed so that it is as
clear as possible of surrounding buildings or objects that would cause
shadow problems. It is recognized that topography, shape of the desired
service area, and population distribution may make the choice of a
transmitter location difficult. In such cases, consideration may be given to
the use of a directional antenna system, although it is generally preferable
to choose a site where a nondirectional antenna may be employed.
(c) In cases of questionable antenna locations it is desirable to conduct
propagation tests to indicate the field strength expected in the principal
community to be served and in other areas, particularly where severe shadow
problems may be expected. In considering applications proposing the use of
such locations, the Commission may require site tests to be made. Such tests
should be made in accordance with the measurement procedure in Sec. 73.686, and
full data thereon must be supplied to the Commission. Test transmitters
should employ an antenna having a height as close as possible to the
proposed antenna height, using a balloon or other support if necessary and
feasible. Information concerning the authorization of site tests may be
obtained from the Commission upon request.
(d) Present information is not sufficiently complete to establish “blanket
areas” of television broadcast stations. A “blanket area” is that area
adjacent to a transmitter in which the reception of other stations is
subject to interference due to the strong signal from this station. The
authorization of station construction in areas where blanketing is found to
be excessive will be on the basis that the applicant will assume full
responsibility for the adjustment of reasonable complaints arising from
excessively strong signals of the applicant's station or take other
corrective action.
(e) An antenna designed or altered to produce a noncircular radiation
pattern in the horizontal plane is considered to be a directional antenna.
Antennas purposely installed in such a manner as to result in the mechanical
beam tilting of the major vertical radiation lobe are included in this
category. Directional antennas may be employed for the purpose of improving
service upon an appropriate showing of need. Stations operating on Channels
2–13 will not be permitted to employ a directional antenna having a ratio of
maximum to minimum radiation in the horizontal plane in excess of 10 dB.
Stations operating on Channels 14–69 with transmitters delivering a peak
visual power output of more than 1 kW may employ directive transmitting
antennas with a maximum to minimum radiation in the horizontal plane of not
more than 15 dB. Stations operating on Channels 14–69 and employing
transmitters delivering a peak visual power output of 1 kW or less are not
limited as to the ratio of maximum to minimum radiation.
(f) Applications proposing the use of directional antenna systems must be
accompanied by the following:
(1) Complete description of the proposed antenna system, including the
manufacturer and model number of the proposed directional antenna.
(2) Relative field horizontal plane pattern (horizontal polarization only)
of the proposed directional antenna. A value of 1.0 should be used for the
maximum radiation. The plot of the pattern should be oriented so that 0 °
corresponds to true North. Where mechanical beam tilt is intended, the
amount of tilt in degrees of the antenna vertical axis and the orientation
of the downward tilt with respect to true North must be specified, and the
horizontal plane pattern must reflect the use of mechanical beam tilt.
(3) A tabulation of the relative field pattern required in paragraph (b)(2),
of this section. The tabulation should use the same zero degree reference as
the plotted pattern, and be tabulated at least every 10 °. In addition,
tabulated values of all maxima and minima, with their corresponding
azimuths, should be submitted.
(4) Horizontal and vertical plane radiation patterns showing the effective
radiated power, in dBk, for each direction. Sufficient vertical plane
patterns must be included to indicate clearly the radiation characteristics
of the antenna above and below the horizontal plane. In cases where the
angles at which the maximum vertical radiation varies with azimuth, a
separate vertical radiation pattern must be provided for each pertinent
radial direction.
(5) All horizontal plane patterns must be plotted to the largest scale
possible on unglazed letter-size polar coordinate paper (main engraving
approximately 18 cm × 25 cm (7 inches × 10 inches)) using only scale
divisions and subdivisions of 1, 2, 2.5 or 5 times 10-nth. All vertical
plane patterns must be plotted on unglazed letter-size rectangular
coordinate paper. Values of field strength on any pattern less than 10% of
the maximum field strength plotted on that pattern must be shown on an
enlarged scale.
(6) The horizontal and vertical plane patterns that are required are the
patterns for the complete directional antenna system. In the case of a
composite antenna composed of two or more individual antennas, this means
that the patterns for the composite antenna, not the patterns for each of
the individual antennas, must be submitted.
(g) Applications proposing the use of television broadcast antennas within
61.0 meters (200 feet) of other television broadcast antennas operating on a
channel within 20 percent in frequency of the proposed channel, or proposing
the use of television broadcast antennas on Channels 5 or 6 within 61.0
meters (200 feet) of FM broadcast antennas, must include a showing as to the
expected effect, if any, of such proximate operation.
(h) Where a TV licensee or permittee proposes to mount an antenna on an AM
antenna tower, or locate within 3.2 km of an AM antenna tower, the TV
licensee or permittee must comply with Sec. 73.1692.
(Secs. 4, 5, 303, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1068, 1082 (47 U.S.C. 154,
155, 303))
[ 28 FR 13660 , Dec. 14, 1963, as amended at 35 FR 5693 , Apr. 8, 1970; 40 FR 25461 , June 16, 1975; 43 FR 53740 , Nov. 17, 1978; 44 FR 22740 , Apr. 17,
1979; 45 FR 26065 , Apr. 17, 1980; 47 FR 35990 , Aug. 18, 1982; 48 FR 21486 ,
May 12, 1983; 50 FR 23701 , June 5, 1985; 58 FR 44951 , Aug. 25, 1993; 62 FR 51059 , Sept. 30, 1997]
Goto Section: 73.684 | 73.686
Goto Year: 2006 |
2008
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