WOR(AM) can now quantify how much money it’s saving using the power-economizing Modulation-Dependent Carrier Level algorithm.
The Buckley Broadcast facility for 710 kHz is 50 kW day/night and uses a pair of Harris 3DX-50 transmitters feeding a three-tower directional array.
WOR has been using the MDCL algorithm on both transmitters since October 2011. At the time, Buckley Broadcasting/WOR DOE Tom Ray estimated the company would see a power savings of between 25 to 30%.
Ray says normally, the power bill for the Rutherford, N.J. transmission site is around $8,000. Now Ray has several real bills, as opposed to estimated bills, from Public Service Gas & Electric, and they’re consistently around $6,000, a 25% savings. He notes that, in addition to transmission costs, power for the site includes air conditioning, security lights, tower lights as well as peripheral gear in the racks.
Harris Broadcast VP Transmission Research & Technology Geoff Mendenhall and Ray tested power consumption, which is down 25%, according to Ray.
Since transmitting using MDCL, WOR has had no effects on its AM or HD coverage nor has it had interference complaints. MDCL also has not affected the station’s encoding/decoding for its Arbitron Portable People meter.
The station has a waiver from the FCC to the agency’s rule that a station must maintain authorized power levels.
Buckley is now thinking of adding MDCL to its existing Harris transmitter at its Bakersfield, Calif. AM, which is 25 kW day/10 kW night, said Ray.
