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AM 1680

firepoint525

firepoint525

Has anyone listened to AM 1680 while driving down the interstate? Last weekend, I noticed the lights flashing on the sign, indicating an emergency, so I tuned in. The sound quality was not good, but I was just able to make out that there was a traffic situation on the opposite side of town which would not affect me. A couple miles later, when I approached the Amber alert sign, I noticed that it was not turned on! ??? If there is an emergency that necessitates activating the flashing lights on the sign, shouldn't the Amber alert system be activated as well? And I realize that AM 1680 is for information, not entertainment, but couldn't they improve their sound quality so that they are more listenable? (I suppose this would come out of our tax dollars? ::)) They remind me of NOAA weather radio with all their automated voices!
 
firepoint525 said:
Has anyone listened to AM 1680 while driving down the interstate? Last weekend, I noticed the lights flashing on the sign, indicating an emergency, so I tuned in. The sound quality was not good, but I was just able to make out that there was a traffic situation on the opposite side of town which would not affect me. A couple miles later, when I approached the Amber alert sign, I noticed that it was not turned on! ??? If there is an emergency that necessitates activating the flashing lights on the sign, shouldn't the Amber alert system be activated as well? And I realize that AM 1680 is for information, not entertainment, but couldn't they improve their sound quality so that they are more listenable? (I suppose this would come out of our tax dollars? ::)) They remind me of NOAA weather radio with all their automated voices!
Click to expand...

It's really hard for me to believe the FCC is letting T-DOT get away with this. They have several of those 10 watt transmitters all over the city, including one right in the middle of Highway 386, not to far from my house. They all are broadcasting the same message, but at different times. This idea T-DOT has for 1680 was not handle in the right way. As you know, they are little 10 watt transmitters, with whip-like CB, coil loaded, antennas with a transmitter in a aluminum box, sitting in the middle of the highway, licensed as TIS (Travelers Information Stations).

What T-DOT should have done is filled for a full power station, but the rules prohibit them to do that, so this is what our tax money gets us, a bunch of grable 10 watt AM translators making a mess that as you travel around town, the signals bump into each other.

I agree with you and in my opinion I think the TAB should should step in address this and push the FCC to allow T-DOT to have a full power (one transmitter) station to do Amber Alerts, traffic, etc. on 1680 so we can make some sense out of the important messages they are trying to send us, the public.

Oh by the way, since you asked about the audio quality, there is an FCC rule that TIS stations (like what your hearing on 1680) must reduce thier audio bandwidth down to 2 Khz. This is why the audio sounds so bad on TIS stations, not just here, but all over the U.S.
 
scottwmro said:
It's really hard for me to believe the FCC is letting T-DOT get away with this. They have several of those 10 watt transmitters all over the city, including one right in the middle of Highway 386, not to far from my house. They all are broadcasting the same message, but at different times. This idea T-DOT has for 1680 was not handle in the right way. As you know, they are little 10 watt transmitters, with whip-like CB, coil loaded, antennas with a transmitter in a aluminum box, sitting in the middle of the highway, licensed as TIS (Travelers Information Stations).

What T-DOT should have done is filled for a full power station, but the rules prohibit them to do that, so this is what our tax money gets us, a bunch of grable 10 watt AM translators making a mess that as you travel around town, the signals bump into each other.
Click to expand...

What you're hearing here is really a fairly common configuration, run in a number of other cities. Dunno, I really think it works pretty well, from a technical standpoint. You need the station on the freeways, and in my experience it works pretty well there. Even at night. I would argue 1680 is second only to WSM in terms of reliable nighttime coverage along Nashville's interstates. (just don't try to listen more than a few blocks from the nearest freeway) Unless they could raise enough money to buy WSM, I don't think they'd be able to achieve adequate nighttime coverage on any other full-power signal.

I do concur the programming could be better. (and should be linked to the signs) It really seems they activate the entire network regardless of where in town the problem is - and that applies to both the radio and the blinking yellow lights.
 
So what have we got to do to get TDOT and the Amber alert people on the same page? Maybe TDOT and the Amber alert folks are one and the same! ??? Seems to me that any important messages about traffic should also be on the Amber alert board just in case anyone is too lazy to tune their radio to 1680, or too busy jamming to something else to do so! ::) I realize this is passively getting the message out, but sometimes you've got to spoonfeed people! ::)
 
I was headed south toward Nashburg on I-65 from viet blvd today and the amber boards all told of two left lanes blocked just before I-24. As I exited onto Briley Pkwy, traffic was backed up to where I was getting off. I saw no flashing lights on the tdot radio signs.
Isn't technology great? glad I don't understand it.
 
olebud said:
Isn't technology great? glad I don't understand it.
Click to expand...

you didn't 'upconvert' the TDOT signs, too...did you?
while driving on 24/40 near Fesslers about 5 this afternoon...I could hear at least three different TDOT
stations fighting it out on 1680: guess if you're VERY close to the transmitters they work OK...but this was
a mess. also time for skywave to fire up...so that didn't help either
 
firepoint525 said:
courier37027 said:
It shouldn't be too long before TDOT 1680 is beating 106.7 The Fan in the ratings.
Click to expand...
Or putting out a stronger signal than 92Q! ;D
Click to expand...

At least up this way (Pleasant View) I don't think 92Q has anything to complain about... Indeed, their signal beats the pants off 106.7 The Fan...
 
Why would the FCC limit the band width to only 2 kHz for these transmitters? At 10 watts, come on, are you really gonna interrupt someone else's signal?

Maybe we can sell the state on the idea of upgrading the transmitters to AM digital! A much clearer 2 kHz !!! :D
 
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