1070 “The Fan” PLEASE LISTEN...

[hipporadio]

After being home for the holidays and receptive to your NEW format on 1070AM – I have but ONE REQUEST... Turn the degrading “HD” radio IBOC OFF! You’re doing yourself [and thousands of others] NO FAVOR while you pursue this new endeavor! I understand that Jeff and his “ilk” may have found [and optimized] a so-called “HD receiver” to their VERY-private liking, BUT – REALITY CHECK – the “fans” AREN’T buying the over-priced and under-performing “HD” receivers. Are the only minions capable of hearing the swishy artifact-ridden audio offered by this pathetic compromise tuning-in on Monument Circle? [EDIT]

The legendary “1070” HAD legendary audio—NO LONGER! Something seemed to go a-rye... Maybe you’re proclivity to support the NARROWEST of SELF-INEREST—IBOC “HD”? After twenty-years in radio [including ownership], I now work in the MARKETING field... Our firm “advises” about TWO-DOZEN retail and root-level consumer electronics concerns – there is NO “consumer” interest in your “HD science-fair” project... There WASN’T from the beginning – there ISN’T now – and there WON’T be in the practical future... So WHY DEGRADE your 50,000-watt signal for the 99-percent of those [some with good-quality AM radios] that listen?

‘Just a friendly request... TURN IT OFF and restore what is left of decent AM audio to those that casually find it AND THOSE that decidedly seek it out... THANK YOU!


[EDIT-profanity]

 

[radio lover]

I agree. If 1070 keeps the Ibuzz than taking the pocket radio to a sporting event would be pointless with the delay!

 

[perenoel6218]

I have read the entries on this subject. However, as I am sure they are all legit, I must
say that on my Accurian here in Broad Ripple, when I tune to 1070 (not that I do anymore
since the switch) after 7 seconds the audio improved considerably.

I find the HD factor quite the improvement. Normally I listen to the WZPL HD comedy
station. I have noticed over the past few months some stations dropping their HD
channels.

I also own a Radiosophy tuner and it too provides me with all the HD channels here in Indy.

The WICR HD is an interesting mix too of their classical and jazz programming sharing
both HD and analog. I find that a unique challenge to satisfy both audiences.

I hope HD stays and continues to prosper.

 

[Timewarp]

HD radio is too little and too late! How can it make it? The internet stream on my cell phone
has far more bandwidth than any FM station can provide.
If HD radio had come about 10 or 15 years ago it might have made it. Compare it to the
RCA video disc player that came out at the same time as the VCR. And, just like the video
record player and mini discs, it can't succeed.

 

[IndyDan]

HD radio is too little and too late! How can it make it? The internet stream on my cell phone
has far more bandwidth than any FM station can provide.

Just like AM stereo. The big problem is not only it is arriving late on the scene, but there is a lot more competetion from Ipods, Interent radio, and Satcasting. Walk into a big box store and you will have no problem finding the latest Sirius or XM radio hanging there in a blister pack, ready to rock with just a phone call, or an Ipod Nano just a few isles over. Now try to find a HD radio...there may be one or two models buried somewhere, otherwise you go to Crutchfield and order one of the very few available. I think really the general public could care less about the whole thing, and a lot of people are just downright confused thinking it is the same thing as satellite radio. I scratch my head sometimes wondering why stations are spending so much money to upgrade..seems like the return on investment ratio would be awfully poor if they intend on generating some cash out of the deal. It's a disaster on AM with all the hash it generates. Looks good on paper, I guess.

 

[radioho]

Looks good on paper, I guess.

So do you Dan!

 

[perenoel6218]

Over the past year or so I have read so much negative criticizing of HD FM. Why are
so many on these boards constantly putting this new technology down? Maybe I am
missing something here. But, first off, instead of XM and Sirius, HD costs the listener
absolutely nothing. If one does not have an iPod or something like that, then right
away HD gives the listener more formats to choose from. iPod is NOT radio. It is
simply pre-stored music and downloads. Radio, if done right, is immediate and local.

I was in Frye's Electronics during the holidays. They now have three different HD
radios on display. One is a Sony. One is a Sangean and the other is a Radiosophy.
The price range seemed to be 99 to 199 dollars. That is not the end of the world.

What is the difference between HD being available and all of a sudden the FCC opens
up a brand new band for stations? Would those on this board who criticize HD now
find themselves doing the same to a new band? It seems to me that with a new band
a new receiver would necessitate. So why the complaints about having to buy a new
receiver just to get HD? Both examples will give listeners in communities the
possibility of adding new channels...thus new formats...and is not that what many of
us listeners desire....more choices...FREE...no subscriptions?

Let us give HD all the promotion and interest it deserves. Station owners have paid
quite a lot to get the signal out there and engineers have spent many hours configuring
their station output for this. Let us try to see the good side of HD. More formats,
cleaner sound, all FREE !!!

 

[radioho]

... he says as he listens to the crystal clear audio from his Laser Disk ...

 

[IndyDan]

Let us give HD all the promotion and interest it deserves. Station owners have paid
quite a lot to get the signal out there and engineers have spent many hours configuring
their station output for this. Let us try to see the good side of HD. More formats,
cleaner sound, all FREE !!!

So......will WITT be offering HD when it hits the air this year?

 

[perenoel6218]

The question is: Will WITT be offering HD? We are in dialogue with several groups
who would perhaps use the HD channels. A bit too early to say. We have plans for
HD should those groups not come on board.

 

[hipporadio]

My initial comments were LIMITED to degradation of the ANALOG audio by stations choosing to transmit with the AM IBOC system [sic: 1070 WFNI]. I again will question the sensibility of purposely and significantly degrading the analog signal depended-upon by upwards of 99-percent of a station’s potential audience, so one IN BROAD RIPPLE with an Accurian HD radio can elevate AM fidelity to a level on-par with that afforded by circa-1998 RealAudio v3.0 accessed via a 48k AOL dial-up internet connection! I seriously doubt that enhancement would be available to an HD radio’s owner living in some other portions of the metropolitan Indianapolis area – especially at night.

My commentary DID NOT extend to HD on the FM band, but I wholeheartedly share the “too-little too-late” prognosis. Content is “king” with the typical consumer—NOT some proprietary modulation scheme... THERE is the current radio industry’s greatest challenge – and possibly its most-glaring “disconnect”.

Will WITT be offering HD? We are in dialogue with several groups
who would perhaps use the HD channels.

I intend NO offense to your efforts, BUT... I see that the proposed 6kw DIRECTIONAL facilities for WITT “City 91.9FM” are centrally-located in... BOONE COUNTY. So what “City” are you contemplating a reliable HD service for? Lebanon? Realistically, that is what you will achieve with the current HD FM capability. It would be “a stretch” to anticipate consistent HD coverage to even your C.O.L. of Zionsville from your proposed facilities! It is well-known that iBiquity’s HD FM system is VERY-seldom recommended for the Class A FM service due to coverage limitations... WITT [as proposed] is 10-meters and a non-directional antenna shy of that commercial class. GOOD LUCK with that $100,000.00 “HD enhancement”!

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I am totally against HD radio for AM broadcasting. It not only degrades the analog signal and causes Digital Hash on the band, but it also ruins DXing. While im not totally opposed to FM HD, I think it could have some potential in the future, If and when the iron the bugs out. I bought an Accurian HD radio last year to listen to the 93.1 HD-2 feed for Orbital 93.1 Dance Format. While I live within 30 miles of the tower and the FM feed is clear as bell, I couldnt get consistent reception to save my tail. The HD feed would cut in and out, if I could even get it to come in at all, and everytime the microwave came on it would completely wipe out the HD feed, and with the HD-2 and 3 stations, you either get it, or you dont, which means trying to listen to Orbital 93.1 HD-2 feed was like trying to listen to an online radio feed over a 28k dial up connection. Why do they need HD for AM anyway, AM is mostly for Talk, we dont need high fidelity for talk, we just need good clean warm sound, and for the radio hosts to sound like a real person, and not a digitized robot. First and foremost, I dont think any station should have the right to create the digital hash noise across the band and ruin the reception of stations from out of town.

 

[perenoel6218]

In response to HippoRadio concerning "City".
CityRadio was the project name some 15 years ago to bring community radio to
the Indy area. One of the remaining, if not THE remaining full service NCE spots available
then was 91.9 and for FCC technical reasons it had to be licensed to one of the
towns sort of between Zville and Lebanon. Lebanon already had 91.1, so that was
not a good option. The other towns, such as Whitestown, Pittsboro and Jamestown are rather
small so we decided to use Zville.
91.9 WITT therefore is licensed to Zionsville. WITT will serve Zville with community
news and dialogue of issues relevant to that community. And, since the signal should
reach into a rather good part of Marion county, Indy too will be part of the mix, as will
Brownsburg which will have a 60dbu contour coverage. Also Carmel and maybe Fishers.
Much of the programming will develop based on the feedback and interest of the
various towns covered. This is something we cannot predict at this time, so therefore
locally relevant coverage is still to be determined.

 

[Timewarp]

I think what Hippo is trying to say is that $100,000 for HD radio might not be such a great investment for you.
But if you have money to burn? Go do it.

 

[perenoel6218]

Gee, I thought all those on this site would gladly contribute the $100K to get the
HD equipment!!! And it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summer time.

 

[radiowannab]

In response to HippoRadio concerning "City".
CityRadio was the project name some 15 years ago to bring community radio to
the Indy area. One of the remaining, if not THE remaining full service NCE spots available
then was 91.9 and for FCC technical reasons it had to be licensed to one of the
towns sort of between Zville and Lebanon. Lebanon already had 91.1, so that was
not a good option. The other towns, such as Whitestown, Pittsboro and Jamestown are rather
small so we decided to use Zville.
91.9 WITT therefore is licensed to Zionsville. WITT will serve Zville with community
news and dialogue of issues relevant to that community. And, since the signal should
reach into a rather good part of Marion county, Indy too will be part of the mix, as will
Brownsburg which will have a 60dbu contour coverage. Also Carmel and maybe Fishers.
Much of the programming will develop based on the feedback and interest of the
various towns covered. This is something we cannot predict at this time, so therefore
locally relevant coverage is still to be determined.

So which community will you be serving? You listed a bunch of different ones there. From the sounds of that it wont be much longer until you are just another Indianapolis station who used your idea of "community radio" to get a license and some publicity. We listeners would really like community radio. But community radio means serving a community. Not whichever one is advertising best that week.

 

[radioho]

So which community will you be serving? You listed a bunch of different ones there. From the sounds of that it wont be much longer until you are just another Indianapolis station who used your idea of "community radio" to get a license and some publicity. We listeners would really like community radio. But community radio means serving a community. Not whichever one is advertising best that week.

It's all about the children. Remember to serve the children.