98.7 FM stereo pilot off

[d21ofnj]

While attempting to pick up B98.5 in Belmar, NJ, a mixture of La Fiesta and a bleed through of ESPN was on it. I then switched to 98.7 and noticed the stereo pilot is off. :-\

 

[ansky212]

It has been going on and off since ESPN took over the station. It was actually off for a couple weeks but then came back on towards the end of last week.

 

[BJSteigner]

It could be 1 of 2 things.

Updating the stereo pilot OR putting 98.7 on mono to cut cost.

 

[nd2023]

It could be 1 of 2 things.

Updating the stereo pilot OR putting 98.7 on mono to cut cost.

Might as well also turn off the HD to cut costs

 

[iyiyi]

Two questions. When the stereo pilot is on is any programming being broadcast in stereo? How does putting 98.7 in mono "cut costs"?

-

 

[mets18]

I hope when the Jets are on they are in stereo. I've heard Eagles games in stereo on WYSP (now WIP-FM) and it sounds great. The talk shows obviously don't matter.

 

[secondchoice]

Two questions. When the stereo pilot is on is any programming being broadcast in stereo? How does putting 98.7 in mono "cut costs"?

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#1 It depends if the original audio source is in stereo if it "sounds" stereo but with the pilot (19 khz) "on" the receiver will try to demodulate the L + R (mono) signal and two channels of audio will come out of the appropriate speakers.

#2 FM stereo is a "multiplex" product with negligible extra electric cost. It is one less thing for the engineer to have to fix and if you pay the phone company for only one balanced audio circuit instead or a pair to the transmitter, some savings very very small savings, but if the station is using a composite microwave STL, tunneling internet protocol or T1 for the STL then no real savings.

BTW: FM mono will help some with building penetration, mulitpath, and "demodulation noise" the fringe areas.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

It could be 1 of 2 things.

Updating the stereo pilot OR putting 98.7 on mono to cut cost.

"Updating" the stereo pilot? English, please.

Changing it to mono doesn't cut any costs, but does reduce multipath distortion of the signal, which in a market like NYC is an important factor. It will also improve the signal in the far reaches of its coverage area.

 

[secondchoice]

This might help:

http://www.qsl.net/zl1wtt/stereo.htm

 

[MickeyD]

Two questions. When the stereo pilot is on is any programming being broadcast in stereo? How does putting 98.7 in mono "cut costs"?

-

#1 It depends if the original audio source is in stereo if it "sounds" stereo but with the pilot (19 khz) "on" the receiver will try to demodulate the L + R (mono) signal and two channels of audio will come out of the appropriate speakers.

#2 FM stereo is a "multiplex" product with negligible extra electric cost. It is one less thing for the engineer to have to fix and if you pay the phone company for only one balanced audio circuit instead or a pair to the transmitter, some savings very very small savings, but if the station is using a composite microwave STL, tunneling internet protocol or T1 for the STL then no real savings.

BTW: FM mono will help some with building penetration, mulitpath, and "demodulation noise" the fringe areas.

Yes mono will help with everything you mentioned. It's sport do you need it to be in Stereo? Does NYC 101.9 broadcast the news in Stereo? If they do why?

 

[badjef]

Two questions. When the stereo pilot is on is any programming being broadcast in stereo? How does putting 98.7 in mono "cut costs"?

-

#1 It depends if the original audio source is in stereo if it "sounds" stereo but with the pilot (19 khz) "on" the receiver will try to demodulate the L + R (mono) signal and two channels of audio will come out of the appropriate speakers.

#2 FM stereo is a "multiplex" product with negligible extra electric cost. It is one less thing for the engineer to have to fix and if you pay the phone company for only one balanced audio circuit instead or a pair to the transmitter, some savings very very small savings, but if the station is using a composite microwave STL, tunneling internet protocol or T1 for the STL then no real savings.

BTW: FM mono will help some with building penetration, mulitpath, and "demodulation noise" the fringe areas.

Yes mono will help with everything you mentioned. It's sport do you need it to be in Stereo? Does NYC 101.9 broadcast the news in Stereo? If they do why?

What is old is new again.

WINS was in AM (psudo)Stereo with C-quAM. The answer I got was it was for the commercials that were recorded in stereo. It was a selling feature and a byproduct to enhance the listeners' experience when hearing the spot.

When listening to a sporting event, it gives a dimensional aspect to the experience.

Effects of Multipath and pushing a little more distance is the reason to turn it off.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!