2 casualties of HD-Radio in Lafayette

[Fieldtech1]

Since signing on their HD signals,
KMDL 97.3 has obliterated KZMZ 96.9 in Lafayette,
KAJN 102.9 has made WFMF 102.5 a pain to listen to driving around with fade outs from 102.9s HD signal.
Also, WFMF has messed up their rafter rattling processing in favor of a bland sound.

At first I was excited about digital, but now that I see the flaws, or should I say side-effects im not nearly as excited. Im curious to see how stations like 101.1 KBON fairs once 100.7 and 101.5 have their HD running, hammering 101.1 from both sides.

 

[smashedcd]

WFMF sounds better now with that horrible processing off!

 

[JasonReed]

Also, WFMF has messed up their rafter rattling processing in favor of a bland sound.

Fieldtech1,

It was kinda unique to WFMF. But don't forget, WYNK and 96.1 The River had processing similar to FMF since they were owned by the same company before CC. Was it Gulf Star Media or something?? I think they were the ones responsible for whatever it is/was that made them have an "expanded stereo" effect over the air. I have airchecks of WYNK back around 2000/2001 with that "rafter rattling" processing as well!!! And some are thinking... "Heavy compression on a country station?!?!" I'd like to talk to an engineer over there cause I wanna ask him what they used to widen the stereo field on-air!

But yeah, I agree with you on that subject. They had some tough "we mean business" processing until a few months ago. I do miss it, too! It sounds too much like a CD player plugged straight in to the transmitter. Personally, if I wanted my music to sound bland with no enhancements, I'd listen to an iPod or CD player of the sorts. We do have that choice. Radio is the only place you can go to for a taste of what you could do with processing. If done right, it can sound loud AND good! Don't take that away from us!

Jeremy

 

[buttonpuncher]

I’m surprised that the FCC doesn’t require “HD” Radio stations to install a mask filter at the TX output as DTV stations are doing.

This first, often second, and sometimes even third channel adjacent interference should not be tolerated; perhaps this is a result of the screwy state of radio and a near dysfunctional FCC.

From what I’ve seen the tuning of the tube-type low-level combined “HD” transmitters will affect the amount of sideband garbage, and I assume the same is true to some degree with the high-level combined “HD” rigs.

I wonder how many folks running “HD” are paying attention to their occupied bandwidth, or even have a spectrum analyzer to do so? Although, some of the better "HD" exciters have a spectrum analyzer built-in.

 

[w9wi]

From what I’ve seen the tuning of the tube-type low-level combined “HD” transmitters will affect the amount of sideband garbage, and I assume the same is true to some degree with the high-level combined “HD” rigs.

(disclaimer: my professional affiliation is in TV, not radio. Then again, HD-FM transmission isn't all that totally different from TV...)

I would imagine.

With HD-FM, the linearity of the amplifier stages becomes important. (it isn't all that horribly important with analog FM transmission) Non-linearity can cause the transmitter to double as a really powerful mixer(grin). The various HD sidebands can mix with each other and spread out.

I've not encountered any spreading problems here in the Nashville market but I've heard of them from reliable sources elsewhere. All our commercial HD stations are either Cumulus or Clear Channel. Besides them, Nashville Public Radio's two stations (one AM, one FM) are also HD.

 

[lafayetteindependentradio]

Receiving 96.9 had become problematic in Broussard and Youngsville since 96.5 & 97.3 were placed on the same tower.

The signal is decent in the Sunset/Grant Coteau area.

 

[stevenNOLA]

Receiving 96.9 had become problematic in Broussard and Youngsville since 96.5 & 97.3 were placed on the same tower.

The signal is decent in the Sunset/Grant Coteau area.

South Lafayette Parish is outside of KZMZ's listening area since they left KALB's tower and downgraded from 1500' to 1000'. KZMZ sounds decent north of Congress St.


KFTE & KMDL are not on the same tower. KFTE's transmitter is in downtown Youngsville. KMDL's transmitter is south of Youngsville near the Vermillion/Lafayette parish line.

 

[Rex Tremendae]

Receiving 96.9 had become problematic in Broussard and Youngsville since 96.5 & 97.3 were placed on the same tower.

The signal is decent in the Sunset/Grant Coteau area.

South Lafayette Parish is outside of KZMZ's listening area since they left KALB's tower and downgraded from 1500' to 1000'. KZMZ sounds decent north of Congress St.


KFTE & KMDL are not on the same tower. KFTE's transmitter is in downtown Youngsville. KMDL's transmitter is south of Youngsville near the Vermillion/Lafayette parish line.

I hate it when radio companies downgrade signals. It's wrong at many levels. Aside from shrinking coverage area and losing listeners, hardly any negative ramifications. What idiots.

So sayeth Rex.

 

[RFLA]

From my understanding... KZMZ was on the same tower as KALB-TV when it was a C. Basically tower space needed for the DTV plus on top of that Clear Channel owns the tower down the road and was basically paying rent to be on KALB's tower.. so to drop 400 feet (From 442 meters(1450 ft) to 321 (1050ft) , yeah it's crappy as I used to get them good on tropo on the KALB tower and used to listen to them when they were rolling new and classic rock in the early part of the decade... but simple economics explains all....

 

[stevenNOLA]

It makes total economic sense since KZMZ still more than adequately covers the Alexandria DMA. I just don't like. Also important to note--KZMZ and KALB were co-owned prior to the Clear Channel purchase of KZMZ. Also co-owned was oldies KALB-AM 580 (now Radio Maria).