1180 and 1480

[audioguy]

For those of you who may not be familiar with them, Nelson Multimedia owns two AM's that broadcast the Timeless Favorites format on 1180 (WSQR) and 1480 (WSPY). I enjoy listening to them when I am driving out in the western suburbs.

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon during my travels out that way. When driving north on I-355 just north of the exit to eastbound I-290, you pass under three overpasses. If you happen to be listening to 1480 when you pass under the middle one (part of the ramp from southbound I-355 to eastbound I-290), you will observe something very interesting: the signal increases enormously in volume-- as a guess, something like 20 dB. The effect is very persistent and I have observed it every single time I've gone that way, but is very short lived at highway speeds (about a second). Usually when driving under an overpass, AM signals are attenuated, but in this case it is just the opposite.

Now that AM 1200 is operating from their new transmitter site with IBOC turned off, 1180 is very listenable out in the western suburbs. Before, I couldn't stand to listen for more than a minute. Interference from IBOC sidebands is more of a "screech" than a hiss on 2nd adjacent channels. How long this will last is anyone's guess, but I will enjoy it as long as possible. The signal from 1180 hangs in there pretty well until I get far enough north to the point where 1160 starts to overload my radio.

 

[Link]

I think citadel is killing the timeless favorites feed they have been running. It will be interesting to see what happens next for programming.

 

[Link]

I think Feb 13, 2010 is the last day for timeless favorites.

 

[radiotower40]

I think Feb 13, 2010 is the last day for timeless favorites.

I guess that is Citadel's way of saying Happy Valentine's a day early.

I am also wondering what The Nelson Station's are going to go with after Timeless ends. I also enjoy listening
to WSQR, and it is much better to listen to now that the noise is gone from WRTO. I'm also hoping they leave
the HD off, but, I'm not holding my breath. I am able to hear WSQR on my car radio, as well as on my better
radio's at home, in the Oak Lawn area, something I could never do when they were running HD. I do receive
some splatter from WRTO, due to my location, yet on a good radio, I'm able to null it out enough to hear it
and enjoy it. This was impossible when the HD was on. I could pick up nothing but hiss on WSQR. Like you
pointed out audioguy, this was even making it hard to listen all the way out in the western burbs. I used to
be able to get a reliable signal from WCGO AM 1600 until Kovas killed it off, so it's nice to hear WSQR now.

Audioguy, the 1480 signal is very strange, they've been running on a long wire from a communication's tower
in Batavia, on an extended STA, which from what I can see has already expired. Their 4 tower array has been
gone for a few years now, and is a subdivision. I have noticed the same thing you have with it getting louder
right there, I have also noticed this happening in other area's, closer to where they are broadcasting in Batavia.
My best guess is because of the "temporary" nature of their setup. One morning I checked them from home, where
I've never heard them before, I usually get spillover from 1470 and 1490, but I gave it a shot and they came
booming in like a local for about 5 seconds and then completely disappeared for a minute and then did the same thing
again. This was right around sunrise, and stopped shortly thereafter.

I hope that Nelson goes with something like Dial Global, or some other type of musical format close to what they have
now. There are not many options out there besides DG, which is about the closest to the Timeless format, but not exactly
the same, which is either good or bad depending on who you ask. Music Of Your Life IMHO would not be the right fit, to
replace it. I'm wondering if Hit Parade will step up and try to get some of the Timeless station's. They don't seem to
be to very organized right now though.

Nelson, uses Timeless on WCSJ AM-FM (1550-103.1), WSPY AM (1480), and WSQR AM (1180). They are going to
have to make a decision soon on what to do. I do hope they keep a music format though, and not go talk.

 

[audioguy]

Today I received a very nice e-mail from the General Manager at Nelson Multimedia stating that they are working diligently on a replacement for "Timeless Favorites" and have narrowed it down to a couple of possibilities, but that a final decision has not yet been made. She suggested that listeners would notice a "subtle and welcoming change" in the format. It sounds to me like they intend to stay with music. I am very glad to hear that, and I thought some of you who enjoy the stations would be too.

 

[radiotower40]

Today I received a very nice e-mail from the General Manager at Nelson Multimedia stating that they are working diligently on a replacement for "Timeless Favorites" and have narrowed it down to a couple of possibilities, but that a final decision has not yet been made. She suggested that listeners would notice a "subtle and welcoming change" in the format. It sounds to me like they intend to stay with music. I am very glad to hear that, and I thought some of you who enjoy the stations would be too.

I'm also glad to hear that they are sticking with a music format. When you say a "subtle and welcoming change",
that really sounds to me like their going to go with Dial Global. It is the closest to the Timeless format, of any other
syndicated programming available. They are a little heavier on Sinatra and Dino, and some of the crooner's, than Timeless
is, and that's OK with me, as I enjoy all these artists.


Here is a link to the DG Adult Standards format.

www.dialglobaltotal.com/overview.php?format=6

 

[Link]

They flipped to an oldies format from ABC. Heard steve gunn on it. I hope others like it more than I do.

 

[BOBBY.B]

= [ maybe the outlet for the hit parade??with larry in the morn.

 

[adrianb28]

DG's America's Best is really turning into just another oldies format anyway. Here' s a quick suggestion for something that is a little different. WNTG, AM 950 is now an affiliate of the new Timeless Cool Music network that is taking off nationally. It is a mix of Standards, Blues, Light Jazz and some classic Soft Pop. Currently they are still talk during the day and run the TCM format from 7 in the evening to 7 in the morning. It is definitely not a direct replacement for Timeless, but it is interesting.

 

[audioguy]

I gave the new format a listen last weekend when I was out that way. It's not too bad. I will be listening when I can.

Unfortunately, the signal on 1480 is weaker than ever. It's almost to the point of being like a Part 15 AM! Driving around Wheaton, it faded in and out badly in places where it had been "OK". No reception at all at night.

The amplification effect under the bridge that I mentioned at the beginning of this thread is still present and just as pronounced as always.

 

[cyberdad]

They flipped to an oldies format from ABC. Heard steve gunn on it. I hope others like it more than I do.

Doesn't seem to mesh very well with the local community news, community calendar, trading post sort of stuff they've got. Frankly, I think the result of this "shotgun wedding" (no pun intended) is a mess.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

It's on 103.1 WCSJ Morris as well 1180 and 1480's FM sister

 

[cyberdad]

When I posted about the "shotgun wedding", I had been thinking "Hit Parade" might fit better. I'm traveling (Pensacola atm), but was listening to the Hit Parade stream earlier this morning. To early to form an opinion, but my first impression is fairly positive.

 

[audioguy]

When I posted about the "shotgun wedding", I had been thinking "Hit Parade" might fit better. I'm traveling (Pensacola atm), but was listening to the Hit Parade stream earlier this morning. To early to form an opinion, but my first impression is fairly positive.

Although I miss "Timeless Favorites", the new format isn't too bad. However, the signal on 1480 is weaker than ever now, to the point where it is a DX catch driving around Wheaton. It's too bad, because I do like the station.

 

[Greg Strickland]

I think the 1480 "amplification effect" could be the metal portions of the overpass structure:

1. Creating a tuned circuit at around 1480 that is changing the level relationship between the carrier and the AM sidebands.

2. Creating a tuned circuit that is boosting the entire 1480 signal carrier and sidebands together. and the area normally has a very weak 1480 signal (that has "fallen out" of the receiver RF AGC that normally equalizes audio levels for different station RF signal levels).

My view is #1 is most likely. This happens all the time in nulls of complex directional antennas, and it changes the audio frequency response.
We have all heard "raspy" nulls. AM broadcast antenna arrays (and the entire system to the receiver) must have flat frequency response across the 18 KHz channel bandwidth.

In your case it is not the antenna or pattern bandwidth of 1480, but the total system bandwidth, including the effect of the metal in the overpass. End result is a ragged signal response across the channel bandwidth necessary for 1480 to deliver AM to you.

On my drive home the sound quality of one AM radio station changes in a recurring cycle because of a power line that runs along the road. I assume the repetition is one half wavelength.

 

[cyberdad]

I have to back off my initial impression with a second impression. I listened some more for a while this afternoon.

Sounds to me like the jocks are just phoning it in. A little disappointing if this is what its going to be. Especially given all the high-caliber talent involved.

 

[stormy01]

I was on Randall near Bolcum Road in St. Charles last night before nightfall (roughly 5 miles away from their transmitter site) and the signal was horrible, even if it's the reported 125 watts - anything to keep their license for 1480... What is Nelson Multimedia thinking - other than cheap land for towers - will the cows listen out there?

 

[audioguy]

Yup, it's a DX catch in Wheaton. They're down to Part 15 power!

 

[cyberdad]

I was on Randall near Bolcum Road in St. Charles last night before nightfall (roughly 5 miles away from their transmitter site) and the signal was horrible, even if it's the reported 125 watts - anything to keep their license for 1480... What is Nelson Multimedia thinking - other than cheap land for towers - will the cows listen out there?

Good point. 1480 is inaudible 24/7 up here in southeast McHenry county. The used to have an okay daytime signal here and were still listenable at night. And as for the junk they replaced "Timeless with" on 1180, it sounds absolutely awful.

What were they thinking indeed!

Note: I'm not here to bash Nelson. No dog in the fight whatsoever. Other threads have discussed a few "shortcomings" they may have, but on balance, Nelson Multimedia had struck me as a decent enough community-oriented local outfit.

 

[Goldilocks94941]

Back in the day when I worked at 1480 when it was WFXW "The Voice of the Valley," the daytime 1kw 4-tower Ior was it 5?) signal was aimed up and down the Fox River Valley, and west to DeKalb. Had coverage in the tri-cities, Elgin, and Aurora, and other adjacent suburbs. Nighttime signal of 500 watts still got up and down to the other cities on the Fox River, but switched to eastbound, with car reception OK as far as Glen Ellyn and Schaumburg, because the Oak Park station, WOPA on 1490, dropped to 250 watts. I believe there was a posting a few months back about the unconventional directional array of the station, designed by an engineer who had passed away at the time.

Real shame to know it's not really serving the communities it was intended for anymore. Yet another reason the radio industry itself is a major factor for the demise of AM radio, when it can't even maintain licensed coverage areas on this and a number of "second rate" stations anymore.

As for hearing louder AM when going under an underpass, I've heard that a few times, too. Can't reall what stations and where in all cases, but sometimes I figured out it was due to there being another AM transmitter nearby. The kind of radio I had in my Mazda made all other AM signals gradually fade under a hiss that it picked up when approaching an AM transmitter site, and going under an underpass temporarily blocked the interference. Not what you'd expect, but I still notice it on my Subaru car radio now, too, when I'm listening to an out of market AM signal and I get near a local AM site.