Radio One Gospel “1310 The Light” WTLC Indianapolis has applied for Experimental Authority with the FCC to become the first AM station to test continuous multicast operation in all-digital MA3 mode.
If approved, WTLC would join Hubbard’s 820 WWFD Frederick MD with authority to operate in all-digital mode, however it would be the first to have the ability to operate multiple programming feeds. The station would utilize a new Nautel NX5 transmitter with the NX HD
upgrade premium and Exgine and HDMC+ exciters to make the HD2 transmission possible.
WTLC operates with 5kW day/1kW night and feeds a pair of translators both currently running its Gospel programming. Radio One states that 92.7 W224DI Indianapolis provides 60 dBµ service to 77.9% of the population of the city, while 95.1 W236CR Indianapolis does to 68.5%. The filing does not state if one of the translators will rebroadcast the second audio programming feed from WTLC as opposed to the primary.
WTLC seeks to begin operating in digital on or around June 1. The full filing can be read here.
For the less technically inclined…. The answer should likely be obvious to me but I’m asking anyway. What will the analog listener hear on 1310 after this goes into effect? Some type of buzzsaw hash or simply nothing at all?
You’d hear just white noise on an analog receiver. But that won’t matter since you’d get the regular programming on the FM translators.