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News Flash! A new AM HD!

K

KenoGuy

So, I was doing my usual bandscan while waiting for my daughter to get out of school. When I got to the 1600s (X-Band) I hit 1630, only to hear what sounded suspiciously like HD hash. 1650, same hash. Now I do not have HD in my vehicle, but my wife does. Sure enough, WSJP 1640 Sussex, WI (Milwaukee) is now in HD!

I guess my question is, WHY? They are Relevant Radio (Catholic programming) and broadcast nothing that would benefit being in HD. Back in the day, when 1640 was a Radio Disney outlet (as WKSH), they were in HD after they turned off their C-QUAM AM stereo. So, maybe they're just seeing if the equipment still works?

This is strange, as everyone in the Milwaukee and Chicago markets have long since abandoned AM HD. In fact the last station anywhere near here that could trip the HD indicator (but not lock) was WHA Madison. WHA shut off HD last year.

Again, weird...
 
Cool I’ll be Checking it out - I have an HD radio, Never heard an AM HD signal, pretty cool, I have hear AM Stereo daily because I have a small AM stereo transmitter that was built via a transmitter kit
 
KenoGuy said:
So, I was doing my usual bandscan while waiting for my daughter to get out of school. When I got to the 1600s (X-Band) I hit 1630, only to hear what sounded suspiciously like HD hash. 1650, same hash. Now I do not have HD in my vehicle, but my wife does. Sure enough, WSJP 1640 Sussex, WI (Milwaukee) is now in HD!

I guess my question is, WHY? They are Relevant Radio (Catholic programming) and broadcast nothing that would benefit being in HD. Back in the day, when 1640 was a Radio Disney outlet (as WKSH), they were in HD after they turned off their C-QUAM AM stereo. So, maybe they're just seeing if the equipment still works?

This is strange, as everyone in the Milwaukee and Chicago markets have long since abandoned AM HD. In fact the last station anywhere near here that could trip the HD indicator (but not lock) was WHA Madison. WHA shut off HD last year.

Again, weird...
Click to expand...

Oddly enough I can't hear WSJP at all in Whitewater. It's likely they aren't just testing, they could possibly be doing a format flip. To be honest the only time I've seen AM radio stations reinstant HD radio is during a format change.
 
IKHNetworks said:
Oddly enough I can't hear WSJP at all in Whitewater. It's likely they aren't just testing, they could possibly be doing a format flip. To be honest the only time I've seen AM radio stations reinstant HD radio is during a format change.
Click to expand...

What on earth would Relevant Radio do for a format flip? And on an AM signal no less? The reason they bought the AM was to to cover areas that it's very limited 100.1 FM signal didn't (i.e. most of the market). They do have a translator in the Waukesha area at 99.9 (nice placement!), but 1640 AM at least covers Milwaukee County, which the two FM signals do not.

I expect them to continue the full simulcast. If anything, they probably found the old HD setup and they're evaluating it.

And yes, I have noticed that AM HD is currently non-existent between the Milwaukee and Chicago markets. WTMJ tried it, but eventually shut it down due to interference and a delay that caused issues with live sporting events (plus, they're still on 94.5-2 HD and an FM translator). Audacy removed it from their two Chicago stations, WSCR and WBBM, a few years ago. I never liked the sound quality. Way too harsh and compressed.
 
IKHNetworks said:
I would also like to know
Click to expand...
WSJP is a fringe signal for me, so I could never get it to lock. Indicator said HD, but no lock. That, coupled with the fact that the only HD radio I have available is in my wife's car, didn't really give me any time to drive around and find a good spot for it to lock in.

So, I really can't tell you how it sounded.

I can tell you that the last time I listened to WHA in HD I wasn't impressed. Very high-end-biased, and a lot of digital artifacts.
 
KenoGuy said:
WSJP is a fringe signal for me, so I could never get it to lock. Indicator said HD, but no lock. That, coupled with the fact that the only HD radio I have available is in my wife's car, didn't really give me any time to drive around and find a good spot for it to lock in.

So, I really can't tell you how it sounded.

I can tell you that the last time I listened to WHA in HD I wasn't impressed. Very high-end-biased, and a lot of digital artifacts.
Click to expand...
I live in Whitewater Wisconsin - I'm am lucky to have glimpses of their signal. Most of the time it's unaudbile. They are usually better around sunset.
 
I'm glad they decided to turn it off. When they were running IBOC on 1640, they were causing quite a bit of hash on 1630 KCJJ here in the Minneapolis area.
 
KenoGuy said:
So, I was doing my usual bandscan while waiting for my daughter to get out of school. When I got to the 1600s (X-Band) I hit 1630, only to hear what sounded suspiciously like HD hash. 1650, same hash. Now I do not have HD in my vehicle, but my wife does. Sure enough, WSJP 1640 Sussex, WI (Milwaukee) is now in HD!

I guess my question is, WHY? They are Relevant Radio (Catholic programming) and broadcast nothing that would benefit being in HD.
Click to expand...

Actually, if they broadcast any Gregorian chant (the traditional liturgical music of the Catholic Church, usually in Latin), it would benefit very much from being on HD rather than regular AM. I don't know if that is part of their format or not.
 


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