Public Broadcasting Translator Audit and Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will CPB consider splitting the work into separate Radio and TV phases or contracts?
Preference will be given to respondents capable of doing both.
2. Will CPB make it mandatory for the TV and Radio stations that receive any funding or other support from CPB to complete the questionnaire?
No.
3. Does CPB have current contact information for the licensees or operators of the subject translators?
CPB does have rosters that include information on translators, licensees, and operators. However; we know that our information is dated, hence the need for this project.
4. Will CPB provide a list of CPB-qualified primary stations to identify the individual translator identification sub-projects?
Yes.
5. Some stations may be considering multiple methods of upgrading translators or even their main transmission system, (for example, a distributed transmission system such as WTVE-TV in Reading, PA). How would CPB want such a situation to be documented and quantified?
CPB desires the best estimate available. The most likely scenario should be used in the estimate.
6. In Section 1.b of the RFP CPB asks that the respondent ". . .will provide the population counts within the F (50, 50) contour for radio and within the F (50, 90) for Television using 2000 census data". Please clarify.
For FM and analog TV use F (50, 50).
For Digital TV use F (50, 90).
7. Is the vendor required to provide coverage maps showing the various contours for the analog or digital service or are simple population counts adequate?
There is no expectation of contour maps being produced. A count of installations, identified by licensee, covered population, and cost of converting the installation to digital operation is required. In the unlikely event of a specific contour map being needed, it can be acquired at that time.
8. For the TV Translators that would be converting to DTV operations -- does the vendor assume that these facilities will flash-cut on their existing channels if they are in the core spectrum (Channels 2-51) or that these stations will acquire companion channels?
Information on whether the translator licensee has acquired a companion channel or will flash-cut should be gathered from the licensee and costs should be based on this information.
9. Should the vendor assume that any translator facilities that have already completed a DTV flash-cut conversion are complete for the purposes of this study?
Yes.
10. Should the vendor include budgetary information for in-progress DTV flash-cut conversions, even if the station has already secured funding?
No, however the translator should be included in the final inventory.
11. Do DTV translator digital companion channel (DCC) facilities already authorized to and/or constructed by a CPB-qualified station meet the definition of a DTV conversion for the purposes of this study?
Yes.
12. Is replication of the analog service area to be assumed for the DTV Translator operations?
Yes.
13. CPB asks for the predicted field strength of the primary station at the translator location. In cases where the translator is fed from a "Daisy Chain" of translators should the vendor provide information about the field strength of the off-air pickup signal from a translator "up the chain"? In such a scenario the signal level of the primary station may be of little use. Also, it appears that the translators "up the chain" are more important than those at the ends of the system so perhaps information about how deep into the daisy chain of the system would be more relevant?
Yes, for FM and TV the entire chain (and any weaknesses) should be addressed and identified.
14. Should the vendor provide the field strength of the analog primary station or the digital primary station? The F (50, 50) value or the OET-69 F (50, 90) values for TV / DTV?
Both using the FCC contour method.
15. Is it the intent for radio to provide the F(50,50) value for the primary analog radio station and then determine if the IBOC system will be receivable in that location?
Yes, the vendor should check with the current FM IBOC translator vendors to determine the antenna terminal field strengths required for maximum reliability.
16. CPB requests inclusion of the relevant information about the current analog operations for the translator. Should the vendor assume either a flash-cut or some replication of the existing service area will result is information regarding the current antenna pattern and gain required?
For cost estimates and coverage duplication purposes antenna information such as gain and pattern is required.
17. CPB requests that information be provided regarding the equipment that translator stations will need to purchase in order to transition to digital operations. Should this list be based upon . . .
a. replication of existing analog (translator) service area for DTV?
Yes.
b. equivalent IBOC coverage compared to analog contours for Radio?
Yes, if possible, equivalent IBOC coverage compared to the existing translator coverage (60 dBu).
c. assuming flash-cuts for TV stations in the Core Spectrum?
Vendor will need to acquire plans from licensee.
d. assuming displacement channels for those TV translator stations that are out-of-core?
Yes, or operation on a non-interference basis out-of-core in the likelihood an in-core channel can not be found. CPB will accept, as an option, a quote for identifying an in-core channel in such cases.
e. the equivalent service areas and ERP's for TV?
Equivalent service areas only.
f. the ERP assumptions for IBOC Radio?
The ERP of a digital radio translator will be 1:100 of the analog. The vendor should use current data to determine (with CPB's approval) an appropriate contour level for coverage. (On this basis it may not be possible to fully duplicate the analog coverage.)
g. assuming current antenna or separate antennas for IBOC?
Current antenna (if not in need of replacement).
h. assuming "heterodyne" translators for FM IBOC? Demodulate the IBOC signal and re-modulate it?
Heterodyne translators should be used when ever practical to avoid the iBiquity licensee fee required for IBOC origination. However, the vendor should keep in touch with any changes in digital radio technology which may affect this.
18. Can the vendor make assumptions about putting together a standard "Kit" for stations in various power level ranges? CPB requires a separate equipment list for each translator station. However if a analog TV translator is operating on a UHF channel with an ERP of 1KW -- can we make an assumption that 100 watts would be adequate with the same antenna pattern -- or do we need to provide a study and population count to "replicate" the existing analog service? Can the vendor say that all "100 watt" DTV translators will buy essentially the same list of equipment as a package and then just assign the appropriate package to that station?
CPB feels that there would be too much variance in construction requirements to use the kit method. However, you may make cost assumptions that would cover the costs of most translator replacements rather than designing detailed equipment lists per installation.
19. How are out-of-core analog TV translator conversions to be handled? There are a number of public TV stations operating TV translators on out-of-core channels. For the purposes of this study should it be assumed that such identified out-of-core stations will be able to convert to and operate on in-core DTV channels?
Yes.
20. For IBOC is the vendor to assume that the "injection" level of the IBOC signals would be approximately -22 dB from the analog carrier?
Yes, although the vendor should provide recommendations to change this ratio if it were required to adequately duplicate the coverage.
21. Please define "Significant Issues" to be addressed.
Any issue which may affect the final budget estimate but that may or may not be fully under the control of the licensee at the time of estimate. (Example, licensee may be forced off existing tower and forced to build their own tower, or otherwise bear additional expenses.)
22. Should estimated engineering costs to relocate a facility to an in-core channel be included?
Yes.
23. But there is no certainty that suitable channels would exist in every case.
Correct.
24. Equipment budgets will vary somewhat depending on the final band (VHF or UHF) DTV translators will operate. How does the vendor account for the variance?
In cases where the budget could vary based on the final channel, estimate using the higher figure.