Seems to be having HD and RDS issues at both the Mix and the Rocket. Takes several days for the stations to get back but lasts for only 2-3 days until they go down again. Not sure what is going on the engineering side but the volume levels are lower when the HD is off. Anyone who would know how to explain this on the engineering side? KSJ and the other iHeart stations don't seem to be having this issue.
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Mobile HD and RDS issues with WMXC/WRKH
- Thread starter A_b_m_90
- Start date
Without accully be on site, these are just "guesses":
I believe Rocket and Mix are on the same tower and use the same antenna. Most likely it's something common to both. There could be something wonky in the STL, if they share the same STL. They could be on an auxiliary transmitters with a really old processing chain. Not everyone has HD and RDS on their auxiliary sites or transmitters.
There are a couple of stations near the Gulf that actually have issues with the fog "reflecting" the signal and tropoducting so they have "low height" backups. If you have had really bad fog they might have switched and forgot to switch back after the fog went away. I don't know if either stations have this option. Just east of you on Elgin AFB I personally experienced the fog taking out my microwave shot (TRC 97) back in 1976 right in the middle of a JCS exercise. Fortunately we were allowed to use the "cold weather" mode with the klystron and solved the issue.
I believe Rocket and Mix are on the same tower and use the same antenna. Most likely it's something common to both. There could be something wonky in the STL, if they share the same STL. They could be on an auxiliary transmitters with a really old processing chain. Not everyone has HD and RDS on their auxiliary sites or transmitters.
There are a couple of stations near the Gulf that actually have issues with the fog "reflecting" the signal and tropoducting so they have "low height" backups. If you have had really bad fog they might have switched and forgot to switch back after the fog went away. I don't know if either stations have this option. Just east of you on Elgin AFB I personally experienced the fog taking out my microwave shot (TRC 97) back in 1976 right in the middle of a JCS exercise. Fortunately we were allowed to use the "cold weather" mode with the klystron and solved the issue.
I've noticed this as well and figured they're on auxiliary or something. I know HD encoders are flakey but they don't usually fail in pairs, lol.
If I remember correctly, these stations are on the WKRG tower along with WHIL so if any of them are doing antenna work, I could see the iHeart stations moving to aux facilities for a little while.
If I remember correctly, these stations are on the WKRG tower along with WHIL so if any of them are doing antenna work, I could see the iHeart stations moving to aux facilities for a little while.
If a station moves it has to protect other signals: on channel, first, second, and third* adjacents plus IF harmonic 10.6 mhz. So a station over a hundred miles away can make it almost impossible to move a station more than a couple of miles and keep it's status.
*Why the FCC still worries about 3 adjacents amazes me. Translators don't interfere with existing stations on third adjuncts but Class A thru C can't get that close. Modern (solid state 1985 +) receivers are rarely affected by 3 adjacent stations. In fact some really old licences don't have that protection. Example 94.9, 95.5 and 96.1 in Atlanta are all on towers inside the perimeter.
secondchoice is on the right track; the gulf coast FM dial is so crowded these days it may be impossible to move even a few miles further east to the towers east of Loxley.
That said, it's surprising that iHeart or their predecessors didn't attempt to do that years ago. There are benefits to co-location: the stations could share one antenna, one feedline, have one big transmitter plant at the base of the tower, and probably pay less rent, too. Going to one of the more centrally-located towers would also cost them a good 100 feet of antenna height. Of course the only thing I can see that extra height at that location giving WRKH and WMXC (and WABD) is more usable coverage in Pascagoula and Biloxi. But who knows if that even comes into play with commuters anymore or not. It comes with a tradeoff of a worse signal east of Pensacola. I doubt any of them are usable in Fort Walton Beach, Crestview or Destin, whereas WKSJ and WTKX probably do a lot better there.
A combined site has advantages as you mentioned, but there are disadvantages too. Anytime tower work is required all stations have to reduce power or go off air. If there is a problem with the combiner, master antenna or feed line, everyone is off air unless they have a backup facility.
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