myLPFM Frequently Asked Questions
What is myLPFM?
myLPFM is a suite of tools designed to be a complete redesign of various REC tools that have been operating for over a decade without any redesign. By making these tools work together instead of independently, the tools will become more flexible and easier to work with.
Why is the LPFM Channel Search Tool going away?
The existing LPFM Channel Search Tool is being replaced by the myLPFM environment. I would not say it is going away. myLPFM was a product of years of user feedback as well as face-to-face meetings with users of the tool. REC acknowledges that not all potential users of the tool are technical people but are also exectuive decision makers and many who are "just learning". The tool's new approach will make it less intimidating to new entrants to the LPFM community.
What are the new features?
The big feature includes the ability to save locations as you search for candidate locations for your proposed LPFM station. Other new features include a much faster response time for initial searches over the current LPFM Tool, new mapping functions, the ability to pin-point a search location to get the most accurate result possible, improved wide area searching, a new tower search function and a new demographic report that shows the racial and ethnic makeup of your proposed service area. There is also improved functionality for providing additional information about interference received from other stations and second adjacent channel waiver potential.
What about the mobile tool?
REC plans to release a search-only version of myLPFM for mobile devices. Users with a tablet or a screen that can properly display 960 pixel wide screens will have an option to go to the full site .
When will the current LPFM Channel Search Tool go away?
This will depend on the timing of the FCC's upcoming Report and Order. Once we are aware of the changes in the service rules, we will work those changes into myLPFM (they will not go into the current tool). Once we are able to confirm that myLPFM is stable with the FCC rule changes, we will begin an phase-out of the current LPFM Channel Search Tool redirecting users to myLPFM.
I have been using the short URLs (lpfm.ws) to save locations as bookmarks, what will happen to those?
During the transition from the LPFM Channel Search Tool to myLPFM, all existing LPFM.WS short URLs will be rediected to come up as searches in myLPFM Search.
How will this impact the Broadcast Query Tool?
Broadcast Query will not be depreciated and the current environment will be supported. The only change that you will see this year is the transition from Port 8080 where the tool is currently operating to Port 80. The Port 80 version of the Broadcast Query is already operating at http://recnet.net . Port 80 is the standard port used for world wide web servers and by switching to port 80 will help some users in corporate environments who have reported trouble accessing the tools due to their corporate firewall.
What is the password for?
myLPFM is intended to be a personalized experience. Registering for a username and password at myLPFM will allow you to store locations for future retrieval as well as track the status of your LPFM station's applications and monitor FCC licensing activity in the area to prepare for potential encorachments.
Are you going to sell my E-Mail address?
No. REC has made it clear that we will not be providing our user lists to any other organization (non-profit or commercial). REC may use your e-mail to send informational and fundraising e-mails from REC. You can opt out of those e-mails during either the signup process or thorugh the My Account option.
I am logged-in but some buttons are still disabled. How do I unlock those features.
Disabled buttons on the main bar near the top of the window are features that have not yet been implemented. The my Application button will be enabled for clients who have obtained certain services from REC.
What is the difference between myLPFM and RECPRO?
myLPFM is a web-based suite of tools that are available to the general public free of charge and are limited to LPFM service functions. RECPRO is a text command-line based program that is available to users who have donated to REC and provides services that support LPFM and commercial broadcasting as well as to perform media research.
Can I use a myLPFM password on RECPRO?
No. However, a password that is established in RECPRO can be used on myLPFM.
If I save a site in myLPFM, can I bring it up in RECPRO?
Yes. myLPFM and RECPRO share the same site data. The only limitation is that myLPFM allows you to save a site's antenna height and height above average terrain. RECPRO does not support the saved antenna height and HAAT. To obtain this data in RECPRO, use the ERP command. Sites saved in RECPRO can be brought up in myLPFM but it will not have the antenna height and HAAT data. You will need to use the "compute" option in myLPFM to recalculate that data and then re-save the record in myLPFM.
The current LPFM Tool seems to be more flexible. For example, I can do channel reports on channels where LPFM is not available. I can't see how to do that on myLPFM. How do I do channel reports on any channel?
For now, you can not do that in myLPFM. Eventually, there will be a link to channel reports for any of the 100 channels through the Reject Report. You may also use RECPRO for these types of channel reports.
How can I do a plain text channel report?
Plain text channel reports are not available in myLPFM. This functionality is available in RECPRO.
The new channel reports seem to show fewer stations in them. Is myLPFM broken?
No. myLPFM only shows faciltiies that are either short spaced or near short spaced with the proposed LPFM facility. For a channel report that is closer to the current expereince, use the CHR command in RECPRO.
