Station reception in Edison question

[JH_Radio]

So with WPRB and WKTU, which one comes in best? Seems like this would not be a great area for either of them especially with them both broadcasting HD.
Since WPRB-HD3 feeds the 95.1 translator, does that mean that 95.1 is mono while 107.9 WOLD-LP is stereo?
I ask since WPRB-HD3 is in mono (as of last check two days ago in the morning.) so thinking if 95.1 is fed from that off the air that 95.1 would be mono too.
I'm guessing the NYC stations come in strong and not Philly.
John

 

[kevtronics]

107.9 WOLD-LP in Woodbridge has been off the air for months, to make room for a new translator on 107.9 in Manhattan. But the station calling itself "Oldies 107.9, WOLD" is still on translators W300CZ (107.9 Ewansville) and W236CT (95.1 Edison), and WPRB-HD3, all of which are in mono.

 

[JH_Radio]

And yet the webstream of WOLD-LP is stereo.

 

[jlehmann]

Just because a translator is licensed to translate a HD3 doesn't mean that's where it has to get it's audio. Most get their audio from a higher quality source.

 

[kevtronics]

Just because a translator is licensed to translate a HD3 doesn't mean that's where it has to get it's audio. Most get their audio from a higher quality source.

The 95.1 and 107.9 translators do get their audio from WPRB-HD3. When WOLD-LP's studio got flooded out last year and was shut down for a few weeks, they reverted to translating WPRB's main program audio.

 

[mets18]

The 95.1 and 107.9 translators do get their audio from WPRB-HD3. When WOLD-LP's studio got flooded out last year and was shut down for a few weeks, they reverted to translating WPRB's main program audio.

Not sure what one has to do with the other. They couldn't run their station so they chose rather than dead air to run the main channel of a station they had permission to rebroadcast.

 

[kevtronics]

It's also been discussed here before that when the translator can't pick up WPRB-HD3 reliably due to tropo interference or other propagation anomalies, the audio starts cutting out.

 

[Radi0411]

It's also been discussed here before that when the translator can't pick up WPRB-HD3 reliably due to tropo interference or other propagation anomalies, the audio starts cutting out.

How does one really know the reasons that technical problems arise unless you know firsthand. Most stations now-a-days use the internet as their primary means of an STL and so the issue could rely anywhere on either end. I would be inclined to think that anyone in the industry would be aware of "tropo" and the subsequent effects of it and would only use that as a means of transmission as a last resort. The poster above, Jlehmann, is correct, so long as a translator is qualified as a "fill in" it can transmit by whatever means it wants to and can, which suffice it to say would vary from station to station. As Mets18 noted, and I would tend to agree with 100%, what does their flood misfortune have to do with their using the HD3 feed? If they have it and need to use it, then good for them for having a form of redundancy. That said, no one on here mentioned anything about audio drop outs but rather are they in Mono or Stereo.

You know its funny, I always see people on these boards think they know so much about everything when I would venture to say they no little about a lot! Has anyone reached out to them to ask about anything of concern? I emailed a station in the DelMarVa a couple weeks ago about their stream pitch being way off. They wrote me back and were sincerely grateful for the time I took to let them know about it. Sure they got back to me and it's rare but I didn't go on a message board to toss out hypotheses as to what might be happening and why... I went to the SOURCE! Should I have had to tell THEM about it?? That's another matter entirely!

 

[Xale57]

So with WPRB and WKTU, which one comes in best? Seems like this would not be a great area for either of them especially with them both broadcasting HD.
Since WPRB-HD3 feeds the 95.1 translator, does that mean that 95.1 is mono while 107.9 WOLD-LP is stereo?
I ask since WPRB-HD3 is in mono (as of last check two days ago in the morning.) so thinking if 95.1 is fed from that off the air that 95.1 would be mono too.
I'm guessing the NYC stations come in strong and not Philly.
John

I listened to KTU last year coming back from Princeton to North Jersey. I was at a traffic light on Route 1 in Edison and I must've been at the right spot where KTU went to Hash, due to WPRB's sidebands. I'm sure the same happens to WPRB in certain areas of Edison. As for Philly stations in Edison, I believe 106.1 comes in decent as I was listening to The Breeze (April 2021) on the way down to Princeton along Route 1. WQXR doesn't really give too much HD power

 

[nd2023]

I listened to KTU last year coming back from Princeton to North Jersey. I was at a traffic light on Route 1 in Edison and I must've been at the right spot where KTU went to Hash, due to WPRB's sidebands. I'm sure the same happens to WPRB in certain areas of Edison. As for Philly stations in Edison, I believe 106.1 comes in decent as I was listening to The Breeze (April 2021) on the way down to Princeton along Route 1. WQXR doesn't really give too much HD power

It’s a mess on 103.3 and 103.5 between about New Brunswick and Iselin. Prior to WPRB going HD, KTU came in directly under the tower for WPRB.
The Philly stations are gone north of Edison unless there’s tropo.

 

[kevtronics]

How does one really know the reasons that technical problems arise unless you know firsthand. Most stations now-a-days use the internet as their primary means of an STL and so the issue could rely anywhere on either end. I would be inclined to think that anyone in the industry would be aware of "tropo" and the subsequent effects of it and would only use that as a means of transmission as a last resort.

WOLD-LP isn't "most stations". They're an LPFM operated from the owner's home. Instead of fundraising from listeners, they sell airtime -- both commercials and infomercials, which LPFM's aren't supposed to do. That has been the subject of several complaints to the FCC, but no action was taken. Their idea of streaming on your smartphone is providing a phone number you can call to hear the station through the telephone! And their playlist is one trainwreck after another, like the Five Satins followed by Madonna, and "The Night Chicago Died" followed by "Pac-Man Fever".

 

[Radi0411]

WOLD-LP isn't "most stations". They're an LPFM operated from the owner's home. Instead of fundraising from listeners, they sell airtime -- both commercials and infomercials, which LPFM's aren't supposed to do. That has been the subject of several complaints to the FCC, but no action was taken. Their idea of streaming on your smartphone is providing a phone number you can call to hear the station through the telephone! And their playlist is one trainwreck after another, like the Five Satins followed by Madonna, and "The Night Chicago Died" followed by "Pac-Man Fever".

Nearly a week later, and you're back as we expected! I follow the local boards regularly and I always see you step in relating to most things that involve a quick check of the FCC Database as sort of a self-appointed "authority" in some way which is all fine and good, but seriously WTF is your beef with this particular station? How do you "know" all that you seem to think you "know?" Were you affiliated with the station at some point and relieved of your duties in some way? Your malice for them is clearly evident and that would be one reason to explain it. Is there a public record of "several complaints" being filed to the FCC or do you know something that the rest of us do not?

As far as their programming, it's all relative to the listeners ear respectively. I don't know which station you are listening to but I have an App on my smartphone for them and it has nothing to do with a telephone number, it's an actual App that I use from time to time, albeit not as of late. I am disappointed that they seem to have abandoned most 50's music but change comes with the territory I suppose, but it would have been great to hear the Five Satins! It's a local station and they seem to be a dying breed now-a-days and so I give them credit for doing what they're doing when most would have abandoned it long before now. Whether its broadcast from someone's home or not, who cares? In today's world people are WORKING from home, should they be ridiculed for that? BIG 50k/100k stations in the BIG Cities and all across the country were broadcasting from their "homes" too during the pandemic, and some still are, So What?? You do what you have to do as "the show must go on!" Times have changed and so has the "norm." And using their flooding misfortune as a way to put them down is really disgraceful IMO.

Help us understand where the "hatred" comes from and maybe your posts will make more sense. Otherwise, talk to a therapist...

Those that CAN, Do! Those that CANNOT, Criticize!

 

[kevtronics]

Is there a public record of "several complaints" being filed to the FCC or do you know something that the rest of us do not?

Yes, because I was the one who filed the complaints, sent to the FCC via certified mail and cc:'ed to the station owner, who refused receipt of them.

Just because it's a local station that you like doesn't mean it's OK for them to violate the terms of their non-commercial license by broadcasting commercials (including "calls to action") and paid programming.

And there's a high-power pirate on 88.9 FM playing Country music that's on the air occasionally and seems to be coming from the same location as WOLD-LP's home studio. Purely coincidental, I'm sure...

 

[Radi0411]

Yes, because I was the one who filed the complaints, sent to the FCC via certified mail and cc:'ed to the station owner, who refused receipt of them.

Just because it's a local station that you like doesn't mean it's OK for them to violate the terms of their non-commercial license by broadcasting commercials (including "calls to action") and paid programming.

And there's a high-power pirate on 88.9 FM playing Country music that's on the air occasionally and seems to be coming from the same location as WOLD-LP's home studio. Purely coincidental, I'm sure...

Ahhh ok so you DO have an axe to grind, the transparency is appreciated and unexpected and so therefore the bashing has a reason… Enough said.

I have heard commercials now and it seems they run commercially as far as I can tell so what’s the current day problem?

Didn’t you state their studios at someones “home” were destroyed? So how could they be doing something you again, “allege” to be illegal there? You seem to have ample free time, so why not go take a ride and find out for sure before you defame these guys continuously on a public forum. And if you wouldn’t mind sharing, please offer some insight to the rest of the class as to where we can hear the country music pirate you reference, you’ve piqued my interest!

You can’t have it both ways. Either you speak from fact or you make unfounded claims… if it’s the latter that never yields anything favorable…

I believe this topic has drifted FAR beyond its original intended direction…

 

[kevtronics]

I don't have "an axe to grind". A station wasn't following the rules, and I reported it. The FCC neglected to do anything about it, so I left it at that. The complaints I'm talking about were filed back in 2015 and 2016. WOLD-LP's violation of the rules has continued unabated since then, but I haven't taken any further action about it, besides grousing about it here from time to time.

If you admit that they "run commercially as far as I can tell", then I'm glad we agree that WOLD-LP is operating illegally, since they have a non-commercial LPFM license.

As they stated on Facebook, WOLD-LP was able to rebuild and get back on the air a few weeks after the flood. Manville as a whole is fully rebuilt and back to normal. And like I said, maybe it's completely coincidental that a pirate station just happens to be operating in the same part of Manville as them, judging by the signal strength meter on my car radio. (A neat feature accessed through VW's "green engineering menu".) I didn't go knocking on doors -- I'm just an observant radio listener who goes to Manville for shopping from time to time. The 88.9 Country pirate is mostly on the air on evenings and weekends.

Now what's your axe to grind, since you always seem to leap to their defense and cast aspersions about anyone who says the least bit critical about WOLD-LP?

 

[Radi0411]

I don't have "an axe to grind". A station wasn't following the rules, and I reported it. The FCC neglected to do anything about it, so I left it at that. The complaints I'm talking about were filed back in 2015 and 2016. WOLD-LP's violation of the rules has continued unabated since then, but I haven't taken any further action about it, besides grousing about it here from time to time.

If you admit that they "run commercially as far as I can tell", then I'm glad we agree that WOLD-LP is operating illegally, since they have a non-commercial LPFM license.

As they stated on Facebook, WOLD-LP was able to rebuild and get back on the air a few weeks after the flood. Manville as a whole is fully rebuilt and back to normal. And like I said, maybe it's completely coincidental that a pirate station just happens to be operating in the same part of Manville as them, judging by the signal strength meter on my car radio. (A neat feature accessed through VW's "green engineering menu".) I didn't go knocking on doors -- I'm just an observant radio listener who goes to Manville for shopping from time to time. The 88.9 Country pirate is mostly on the air on evenings and weekends.

Now what's your axe to grind, since you always seem to leap to their defense and cast aspersions about anyone who says the least bit critical about WOLD-LP?

You may be a know-it-all in your little corner of the world but kindly do not put words in my mouth... I don't listen under scrutiny to every aspect of every station I listen to looking for flaws, problems and non-compliant operations (who would do that?) and let the record note that I never "agreed" that I have ever heard anything non-compliant in nature personally, those are purely your words. What I DO know is that what I hear when the feeling strikes me, sounds completely compliant to my ears. Since they have an HD3 feeding it, that is completely legal, no matter what the means are they choose to use.

Why YOU feel the need to keep rehashing the same old song and dance on this board over and over again, or "grousing" as you put it, fascinates me. I happen to enjoy the station when I'm in the mood for it and honestly, no one makes more of a federal case about them as much as you do, any chance you get. Does that make you a "P1" listener? Did the FCC act improperly in some way to your reports of alleged offenses, did the station not seek to employ you for consulting services or perhaps you didn't win a contest? There is an under lying issue and I hope someone from the station sees your statements on a public forum accusing them of a whole host of things. Which begs the next question, if the station is such a "trainwreck" as you say above, why do you care so much? Do you listen regularly? We went from "are they broadcasting in stereo to mono" to a full on assassination of their operations, even blatantly accusing them of Illegal Pirate Operations, which to me is defamatory if deemed inconclusive. If you reached out to them previously then I'm sure they can figure out who you are.

Bottom line, I don't know who runs it, nor do I care. I tend to play the role of devils advocate more than I probably should, but all I aimed to do was call out and spotlight your obsession with them any chance you get. If my statements appear as though I am defending, then call it what you wish. I like what they're trying to do and I always stand behind the "little guy" rather than the BULLY who can hide behind a message board handle. If that makes me a "fan" then so be it. I don't have a horse in the game one way or another and so what they or any other radio station is doing, on-air or off, is purely speculative to you, me or anyone unless we're on the "inside." If you want to keep living in the past, circa 2015-2016, by all means but your disdain for them shouldn't cause you to hang on to hate or malice... it's not healthy.

 

[nd2023]

“WOLD” is really W300CZ and W236CT. The LPFM is silent. As a translator in the commercial band, it can be a commercial station.

 

[davideduardo]

“WOLD” is really W300CZ and W236CT. The LPFM is silent. As a translator in the commercial band, it can be a commercial station.

But a translator has to rebroadcast a licensed facility. If the licensed facility is an LPFM, the translator has to rebroadcast 100% of the originating station and can not insert paid commercials.

They supposedly rebroadcast WPRB in Princeton, not "WOLD".

Kevin, by the way, has been involved with broadcasting, in my experience, for over 25 years. We have not always agreed on perspectives, but that is no unusual in radio among professionals. In this case, everything he is saying is right on point.

In particular, the case of commercials on an LPFM is clear and also clearly illegal.

 

[nd2023]

But a translator has to rebroadcast a licensed facility. If the licensed facility is an LPFM, the translator has to rebroadcast 100% of the originating station and can not insert paid commercials.

They supposedly rebroadcast WPRB in Princeton, not "WOLD".

Kevin, by the way, has been involved with broadcasting, in my experience, for over 25 years. We have not always agreed on perspectives, but that is no unusual in radio among professionals. In this case, everything he is saying is right on point.

In particular, the case of commercials on an LPFM is clear and also clearly illegal.

WPRB is a commercial station. Therefore the translators can air commercials. It’s legal.
WOLD-LP is silent. They’ll turn in the license. W300CZ wants to move to NYC but WOLD filed an informal objection for interference. They settled with the owner giving WOLD the W236CT translator, and HD sub channel to feed it, and $50000. Additionally, WOLD programming will air on W300CZ as well until it moves to NYC.

 

[kevtronics]

If you listened to the station, you'd never know any of that was going on. They're still calling it "Oldies 107.9" and giving the hourly ID for WOLD-LP. There's a few mentions of the simulcasts on 95.1 and 103.3-HD3, but no announcement that the 107.9 signal is going away. And as far as I can tell, WOLD-LP has not filed any silent notification or application for a silent STA.