50 kw KFAB iBOC hissing 1 kW KXES at 180 miles away

[Tom Wells]

Working in Kansas City for a couple days, I noticed that while KC has no AM IBOCs, KFAB 1110 Omaha is the only HD which can be heard on the AM. It sounds hissy and muffled, moreso than even the weakest AM on the dial.
Again, even the weakest analog AMs sounded better than the 50 kw at 180 miles with IBOC.
Cleaner, purer and easier to understand vocally. There are still many stations with 10khz audio.

In addition, KFAB is throwing a fine hiss on the upper sideband of KEXS 1090, of which I am currently in the primary area.
I don't know if it's enough to make anyone complain, but it is there.

It is possible just as in the WLS/WGTO case, to tune to the cleaner sideband, but it's still there.
Anyone with a step-tuning radio will hear the hiss, unless it's one of the 3khz "low-pass" models, which they should discard anyway.

I thought this noise was supposed to only impact the local/regional neighbors.
180 miles seems a bit far to be stepping on your neighbors' signals with splatter.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I thought this noise was supposed to only impact the local/regional neighbors.
180 miles seems a bit far to be stepping on your neighbors' signals with splatter.

Get ready - when they cut loose with this jamming at night, you won't be able to hear any station unless you happen to be a mile or two from the tower. On a recent DXpedition - I heard IBOC "pairs" hundreds of miles away from stations too faint to be heard in analog. Nighttime will be horrendous.

 

[davideduardo]

In addition, KFAB is throwing a fine hiss on the upper sideband of KEXS 1090, of which I am currently in the primary area.
I don't know if it's enough to make anyone complain, but it is there.

The usable signal of KEXS barely hits Liberty to the NE.

 

[Mike Walker]

I don't suppose you were able to make a recording, Tom. If so, I'd appreciate hearing it. We've all heard OF AM interference. I think those of us who witness it should, if possible, post samples so everyone can hear.

 

[Tom Wells]

I don't suppose you were able to make a recording, Tom. If so, I'd appreciate hearing it. We've all heard OF AM interference. I think those of us who witness it should, if possible, post samples so everyone can hear.

There were really no more than I described. It was like the WGTO/WLS comparison, maybe 6 db cleaner, due to the somewhat better signal of KXES,
compared to the WGTO case, where I was outside the primary service area.

It wasn't noteworthy enough to record.

 

[raydofan]

The only real hope for AM IBOC is to go completely digital. Cold Turkey. Course, the NAB and the industry won't have that.

 

[4dude]

Nighttime will be horrendous.

Please dont remind us!

 

[scanman1]

The only real hope for AM IBOC is to go completely digital. Cold Turkey. Course, the NAB and the industry won't have that.

Or drop it completely from AM. Despite the improved audio quality, it can be troublesome to hold on to the HD signal, plus, it makes noise all over the analog band. 8)

 

[raydofan]

The only real hope for AM IBOC is to go completely digital. Cold Turkey. Course, the NAB and the industry won't have that.

Or drop it completely from AM. Despite the improved audio quality, it can be troublesome to hold on to the HD signal, plus, it makes noise all over the analog band. 8)

Yes, it is hard to hold onto because it excludes the central part of the carrier as part of the process. Place the digital information where the audio is now placed, require all stations to do this at once, and give people fair warning about it. And BLOODY STICK TO THE DATE. Otherwise, drop it completely.