[1] Since translators are used to cover a small shadowed area, their output powers are usually lower than that of the radio or television station transmitters feeding them.
Reception of RF signals is sensitive to the size of obstruction in the path between the transmitter and the receiver.
With the introduction of satellite broadcasting (TVRO and RRO), some TV translator operators abandoned their stations or switched over to low power TV station (LPTV) licenses because of the higher broadcast quality provided by non-over-the-air input program streams.
With the operation of an FM or TV translator being less expensive than the same power full-service station they remained an attractive signal delivery alternative.
The introduction of In-band on-channel (IBOC) hybrid analog digital FM (HDFM) technologies provided further opportunities for translator system operators.