ANALOG VS. IBOC: KATZ-FM 100.3 Alton, IL

 

Frequency/Station                              Before KATZ-FM Went IBOC                            After KATZ-FM Went IBOC

 

99.9 KFAV Warrenton, MO                 Semi-local signal in Stereo                               Minor interference to Stereo pilot

100.1 KDJR De Soto, MO                  Semi-local signal*                                              Wiped out by KATZ-FM’s IBOC sidebands

100.5 WYMG Jacksonville, IL            Fair signal**                                                         Wiped out by KATZ-FM’s IBOC sidebands

100.7 KFNS-FM Troy, MO                   Semi-local signal in Stereo                               Minor interference to Stereo pilot

 

*denotes when the antenna is pointed in a southerly direction

** denotes with antenna in a tight azimuth away from Alton

 

Unlike KSD, which is a Class C-Zero station, KATZ-FM is a Class B station. The less powerful signal of KATZ-FM reduces the interference the IBOC sidebands cause to the Stereo pilot tones of KFAV 99.9 and KFNS-FM 100.7; KDJR 100.1, just 50 miles away in De Soto, MO, loses coverage north of the Sunset Hills area in southern St. Louis County because of the IBOC sidebands from KATZ-FM. The digital sidebands are also heard clearly on 100.0 and 100.6 MHz. As KDJR is a Christian ministry outreach, their efforts to reach out in ministry to the St. Louis area is severely hampered. This has forced their relay on 101.5 MHz near Spanish Lake, MO off the air. Another 800 kHz of valuable spectrum space wasted.