I'm receiving KBPS on 107.1 in downtown. It's much stronger than their 89.9 signal (although no HD signal of course). It's giving me RDS data saying "89.9KBPS PORTLAND'S ALL CLASSICAL 89-9".

But I can't find any trace of KBPS being licensed on this frequency at fcc.gov or fmfool.com. What am I overlooking here?

It's a placekeeper until 91.1 gets on the air. It's on the Stonehenge Tower. It used to rebroadcast KXPC 103.7 but was sold to some cable access people. They have to rebroadcast a non-comm and KBPS was elected.

See thread:

http://feedback.pdxradio.com/show.cgi?tpc=208652&post=252162#POST252162

Really nice in the Johns landing area! (multipath hell for Sylvan stations).

I see. It's listed under K296FT at fcc.gov. The web site doesn't tell me about it by frequency and location query for some reason.

Since I'm downtown this 26 watt transmitter sounds better than KBPS's main transmitter but I can even get the stations from Pine Grove pretty well here.

COL is "West Haven"

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=158590

ASRN 1033770 is Stonehenge.

Note: Today, and several times lately the Sylvan stations have been operating at reduced power, due to tower work. (ch 5 & ch 6 anlog are off the air)

"It's listed under K296FT at fcc.gov. The web site doesn't tell me about it by frequency and location query for some reason."

It doesn't need to. The "296" in the K296FT calls is the channel number for frequency 107.1Mhz.

If I'm not mistaken, this is an FM translator. If this just appeared, it probably has either been moved into that location or the construction permit was about to run out and they had to put it on the air to keep the license.

Since the FCC has been allowing AM stations to simulcast on FM translators there has been a lot of activity by those who own translators and those who want to own one.

There are some tricky ways to move them a great distance....legal, but tricky....and there is a lot of that going on as well.

One of our Ideabank members filed a rulemaking proposal with the Commission to allow translatos to originate programming.....they can't do it now, only repeat AM or FM stations.

That proposal set off a firestorm of comments, as it would allow a whole new class of low power FM stations. NAB was against it, but many of us would like to see it, as it would pacify the LPFM people, and potentially allow someone like me who has an AM standalone to also have an FM station in a location where a full-power FM would not fit.

This is not a new translator. It used to rebroadcast KXPC Lebanon from the same location. It was sold to a noncommercial group and until they can get their own station on the air from Mt Hood, they have to rebroadcast a noncomm and KBPS-FM seemed to be handy.

"Since the FCC has been allowing AM stations to simulcast on FM translators"

Did FCC 07-144 get approved ?

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-144A1.txt

When I said the FCC web site "doesn't tell me about it by frequency and location query", I assumed the query would tell me what station I am receiving if I give it a frequency and a location. It doesn't display K296FT unless you give it K296FT. How do you find out that K296FT is in Portland?

When I am FM DXing, and hear an "unknown" on a given frequency I just use the FCC FM search tool to look for that frequency in Oregon or Washington. (if it is not E-skip DX)

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html

In this case if you select "Oregon" and "107.1" as "upper" and "lower" frequency, the search comes up with about a dozen stations/translators in Oregon on that frequency, most of which can be eliminated by location. If you happen to know that "West Haven" is in the Portland west hills, it is obvious, if not, viewing the detail data for each station found is necessary. (Click on the individual stations, and look for one that makes sense.) The FCC site lists stations by "City of License" (COL)... which may not always be the same as transmitter location.

Hope this helps,
jr