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760 KDFD has a real "clicking" problem.

Z

ZantennaG1

Since yesterday (5 April 2022), KDFD Thornton/Denver has been about 10 dbu lower in reception, and has been noticeably been taken out by clicks every once in a while. It's happening on each of my radios, and even on the N0EMP SDR. I thought it was the wind, because the wind yesterday was just howling, and messing with AM stations, but for KDFD, this has been an ongoing thing, even as other stations return to normal.

Has anyone else noticed this? Z in Cheyenne.
 
KDFD doesn't have just a "Clicking" problem. It has A SIGNAL problem. NO ONE can hear it in the Denver/Boulder area on RF unless you're in the car

Otherwise, THE ONLY way you can hear it is on the iHeartRadio app
 
JeeperOne said:
KDFD doesn't have just a "Clicking" problem. It has A SIGNAL problem. NO ONE can hear it in the Denver/Boulder area on RF unless you're in the car
Click to expand...
So you're having troubles picking it up, even in Denver proper? Yikes. Thank you for the report.
JeeperOne said:
Otherwise, THE ONLY way you can hear it is on the iHeartRadio app
Click to expand...
Yes, yes I know ;). By the way, I'll be uploading some footage of KDFD to see if my experience matches yours.
 
@JeeperOne
I've got two videos of KDFD's signal issues. Here's what KDFD sounds like in my truck radio:
And here's what they sound like on my HDR-15 and R-108. I do apologize for the audio on this one. It's really quiet on the indoors one, up until about 6 seconds in, and then the outdoors one is loud by comparison.
 
What you are hearing is their Voltaire audio processor that enhances the PPM encoder. That's a design not a flaw. Many iHeartMedia owned AMs have the Voltaire running at nearly the highest level.

But KDFD's near-complete purpose is to originate programming for its 93.7 translator as it is.
 
Their sister station WISN in Milwaukee does that. It has excellent processing but it clicks a little and the voltair is cranked as high as it possibly can be.
 
Thank you @lanceventa @JeremyAndrews and @kwthom for pointing me in the right direction. KDFD's never seemed to do this in the past though, but the explanation about processing makes sense. Perhaps iHeart's signal equalizer is a bit off, allowing me to hear the Voltair.
 
KDFD has fixed the issue, and the signal strength has returned as of 3pm on April 13th, 2022. Thank you all again for your responses
 
lanceventa said:
What you are hearing is their Voltaire audio processor that enhances the PPM encoder. That's a design not a flaw. Many iHeartMedia owned AMs have the Voltaire running at nearly the highest level.

But KDFD's near-complete purpose is to originate programming for its 93.7 translator as it is.
Click to expand...

@lanceventa I've heard PPM on a bunch of stations.. I Can hear it on 1530 KFBK here at night.. its a ringing metallic turd sound...

I've never heard the clicking sound before
 
ZantennaG1 said:
Since yesterday (5 April 2022), KDFD Thornton/Denver has been about 10 dbu lower in reception, and has been noticeably been taken out by clicks every once in a while. It's happening on each of my radios, and even on the N0EMP SDR. I thought it was the wind, because the wind yesterday was just howling, and messing with AM stations, but for KDFD, this has been an ongoing thing, even as other stations return to normal.

Has anyone else noticed this? Z in Cheyenne.
Click to expand...
@ZantennaG1

I just spoke with a higher up in the broadcast engineering community in Denver who says its a technical issue of some sort and they were just talking about this with someone earlier today

The Denver engineering community is pretty friendly. If you asked them directly, theyd probably answer you.
 
Although the clicking problem has been fixed, the signal is now weaker and softer than it used to be. I generally need to turn my volume up on all my radios to hear them now. @SomeRadioGuy I did contact the station through their website, and I'm awaiting their reply, but what are those engineer's numbers again?
 
ZantennaG1 said:
Although the clicking problem has been fixed, the signal is now weaker and softer than it used to be. I generally need to turn my volume up on all my radios to hear them now. @SomeRadioGuy I did contact the station through their website, and I'm awaiting their reply, but what are those engineer's numbers again?
Click to expand...

Try calling the main office, best i can suggest right now
 
Good news, KDFD is fully back to their normal selves! 🥳
 
That "clicking" sounds exactly like the RF muting due to a problem in the antenna system. If the transmitter detects an arc or the load presented to the transmitter isn't correct, it mutes (shuts off the signal) for a brief period to protect itself. You will also hear that happening when there's lots of static electricity in the air from storms.
 
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