Unprotected status for CJAM still a fight By Adam Fox
CJAM Station Manager March 4, 2009 Dear Mr. Rogers,
I’m writing with the intent to clarify some inaccuracies in a piece by News Editor Hannah Larkin called “UWindsor radio station, CJAM, in jeopardy” (Volume 81/ Issue 25/ February 25, 2009). It is my hope that you will publish this letter – unedited - in the next issue of the Lance.
Larkin quoted Robert Woodrich (who made several fantastic points about CJAM’s value to the campus, but who is not affiliated with CJAM) on a variety of technical statements suggesting potential broadcasting difficulties for CJAM at a new frequency on 99.1MHz.
Robert states: “WVMV-FM (98.7 MHz), the smooth jazz station out of Detroit, has a broadcast power of 50,000 Watts, which is nearly certain to limit the reach of CJAM’s relatively puny, newly decreased 475 Watt signal.” While CJAM’s maximum wattage will decrease by 50 per cent our average wattage remains unchanged.
Though a 50 per cent power decrease sounds like a big change, the reality is that because of the very large dynamic range of an FM radio, this power change will only be noticeable in the outer extremity of our coverage area. Woodrich also states “surrounded by such behemoths, CJAM will be struggling to send its signal beyond the borders of our campus.” This is false. >> | Response to station manager's clarification By Hannah Larking
News Editor March 4, 2009 I am writing in defence of the letter written by CJAM station manager Adam Fox about my article printed in the last issue.
While his defensiveness is understandable, I believe “wildly inaccurate” as a description of my writing in a previous, unpublished letter is both over-exaggerated and hypersensitive.
Let me begin by emphasizing that it was always my intention to support CJAM in their “plight,” as it was Robert Woodrich’s.
Woodrich’s quote that two Detroit radio stations are “nearly certain to limit the reach” of CJAM’s signal is not much different than Fox’s defence stating the power change will be “noticeable to the outer extremity of [CJAM’s] coverage area.”
In the interview before the article, Fox is quoted as saying that the coverage will decrease on the fringes of CJAM’s Canadian broadcasting area. Fox’s “fringes” imply “the reach” that Woodrich refers to, and the fact that there will be any modification to CJAM’s current range, slightly or otherwise, was the point that was being made.
Woodrich points out the existence of a translator for a Lansing, MI mega-station. He is never quoted as saying that it will affect CJAM’s application; he even adds that their power is limited to 40 watts, thus emphasizing their insignificance. >>  | | Campus Kiss | | |
