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94.5 WLW audio hiccups

Their audio has been subpar for years. It used to sound like a normal FM talk station then a couple years ago it went off the air and came back with the audio being fed by an AM radio in Kenwood (you could hear lightning static crashes). The last year or so it's just sounded badly compressed and crackly. So I'm not surprised it's gotten worse.
 
I find an actual AM analog for translator feed interesting*. Several years ago I heard of someone was going to try the digital IBOC to provide audio for a FM translator. Don't know if it worked. On papet it could work, but regular analog AM even with a Class A AM power and signal protection is IMHO "questionable".

I am surprised the IT folks didn't at least go to a used computer store (outdated computer if you have some in storage) an buy 2 cheap computers install Linux and get some kind of tunneling protocol going really cheap. Of course there are the several "boxes" from different vendors. Just be sure to change the passwords.

* I am trying not to be negative
 
secondchoice said:
I find an actual AM analog for translator feed interesting*. Several years ago I heard of someone was going to try the digital IBOC to provide audio for a FM translator. Don't know if it worked. On papet it could work, but regular analog AM even with a Class A AM power and signal protection is IMHO "questionable".

I am surprised the IT folks didn't at least go to a used computer store (outdated computer if you have some in storage) an buy 2 cheap computers install Linux and get some kind of tunneling protocol going really cheap. Of course there are the several "boxes" from different vendors. Just be sure to change the passwords.

* I am trying not to be negative
Click to expand...

Near Dayton, the 103.3 translator for 1600 WULM was fed off-air from an AM analog tuner for a while after it first went on the air. When 1600 dropped to its 34 watt night power you'd hear a mix of the Catholic programming and Regional Mexican music from some station coming in on skywave which made for some amusing mash-ups.

It has since been replaced with a direct feed of the programming.
 
It all depends on the STL. No "size fits all". There were several AMs in the past that were still feed by copper pairs of regular phone company where microwave STLs won't work. There still are some local phone companies that will work with you. If your AM is in a flood plan most likely there is no cable service due to the lack of close customers. I guess someone somewhere is using "home Internet" from a cell company somewhere, I just haven't given it much thought.

IMHO the best way 99% of the time is to concentrate funds on an excellent STL to the translator and get a decent FM receiver for the AM.
 
almaniac27 said:
Their audio has been subpar for years. It used to sound like a normal FM talk station then a couple years ago it went off the air and came back with the audio being fed by an AM radio in Kenwood (you could hear lightning static crashes). The last year or so it's just sounded badly compressed and crackly. So I'm not surprised it's gotten worse.
Click to expand...

The last time I was in a part of Cincinnati where I could hear WLW on 94.5, it sounded just as you describe. That is beyond ridiculous for them to be feeding that transmitter with anything but a direct link from the studios. I have a very hard time believing iHeart could not figure out how to do that.
Reminds me of when the sports station where I interned in college picked up WJR's Tigers broadcasts off an AM radio instead of a satellite link. I at least get that. Not this.
 
techie2 said:
Near Dayton, the 103.3 translator for 1600 WULM was fed off-air from an AM analog tuner for a while after it first went on the air. When 1600 dropped to its 34 watt night power you'd hear a mix of the Catholic programming and Regional Mexican music from some station coming in on skywave which made for some amusing mash-ups.

It has since been replaced with a direct feed of the programming.
Click to expand...
Somewhere I have a recording of that. WAOS in Austell, GA, which has used day power at night for years blaring in with regional Mexican with a guy droning on about the evils of birth control in the distant background. (Even in the WULM days WAOS was an issue..."is this sports show being broadcast from a Mexican restaurant?"
 


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