And The BEST Radio Station In Charlotte Is...

[Steve.Gates]

Several months ago, I said I was investing in HD Radio Tuners. I went through with this, and actually got 2. Both are made by Sony. One comes as a Component Device to add to an existing Hi-Fi Stereo System.

The other, in contrast, comes in a ''Boom-Box'' Form-Factor.

Essentially they are both based on the same tuner/hardware.

I have one pointed at K-104.7's Antenna and they definitely play the best of the '70s.

However, these days I find myself tuning into WLKO-FM's ''102.9͢→2'', pointed towards Gastonia.

This seems to be the best station I have heard awhile. You're not going to find any songs from the '70s or '80s on it. But if what you want is the absolute latest music(*) that is out, you'll find it here. Commercial-Free and CD-Quality to boot.

As a final thought: I am not sure why HD Radio hasn't taken off better. It definitely makes good on its promise:

(a) AM Stations in HD sound like FM Stations, -&-
(b) FM Stations in HD sound like CD-Quality.

This would have seemed like a natural progression as the CD and FM Radio evolved. I guess it just came down to money in the end. At least that seems to be the general consensus.

Too bad - most automobiles manufactured these days are capable of accessing the first channel of a HD Radio Station - but NOT the other one (or two) that are embedded into the signal. I don't quite understand that either - if you can get HD1 on a Station, why not HD2 and HD3? Can anybody shed some light on this?

-Steve

(*) PS: I have heard a track or two from Edwin McCain on this Station, but in general it focuses on music from 2004-2013. Pretty upbeat -&- pretty cool. My new favorite song is Icona Pop - I love It. 8)

(*) PSS: Someone needs to tell WLKO that they still have a reference to ''WLYT'' inside the HD Signal on this Channel. Looks like that was overlooked when they flipped. Steve.Gates.

 

[Steve.Gates]

They are now playing ''Lit - My Own Wost Enemy'' from 1999. If this sounds like the kind of music you like, you should get a HD Tuner

 

[vchimpanzee]

WAVO 1150. Too bad it's not IN Charlotte, even though its studios are. And that the music lasts only from 9 until noon and then from about 12:15 until sunset. I don't live close enough to know what happens on weekends but I do occasionally get to listen in the car. This time of year, that's not really listening unless I can stand being hot.

And of course DJs are expensive. If you're going to play less familiar versions of the great songs, it would be nice to know who those people are.

 

[Steve.Gates]

WAVO 1150. Too bad it's not IN Charlotte, even though its studios are. And that the music lasts only from 9 until noon and then from about 12:15 until sunset. I don't live close enough to know what happens on weekends but I do occasionally get to listen in the car. This time of year, that's not really listening unless I can stand being hot.

And of course DJs are expensive. If you're going to play less familiar versions of the great songs, it would be nice to know who those people are.

Yeah WAVO is a very fine Oldies Station. The Transmitter/Antenna actually hails out of my hometown down in Rock Hill, SC. I'd like to see them upgrade the signal so 1150 would be AM-HD. It would certainly pay homage to all those great Oldies that they play, to at least have them in ''FM-Quality'' on an AM-Radio Station. Don't know what kinds of costs would be involved, but I think the listeners would agree. Steve..

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

WAVO 1150. Too bad it's not IN Charlotte, even though its studios are. And that the music lasts only from 9 until noon and then from about 12:15 until sunset. I don't live close enough to know what happens on weekends but I do occasionally get to listen in the car. This time of year, that's not really listening unless I can stand being hot.

And of course DJs are expensive. If you're going to play less familiar versions of the great songs, it would be nice to know who those people are.

Yeah WAVO is a very fine Oldies Station. The Transmitter/Antenna actually hails out of my hometown down in Rock Hill, SC. I'd like to see them upgrade the signal so 1150 would be AM-HD. It would certainly pay homage to all those great Oldies that they play, to at least have them in ''FM-Quality'' on an AM-Radio Station. Don't know what kinds of costs would be involved, but I think the listeners would agree. Steve..

Hey Steve, listen to the digital trash being spewed out on the sidebands of 610 and 1660. Then ask yourself do you really want 1150 to do the same. HD is fine on FM but on AM it's been a disaster. Thank God for the many stations like WBT that have the technical common sense to not trash up the local AM band.

I enjoy listening to the oldies on 630 WAIZ out of Hickory but I can no longer listen to the station in Charlotte, because of the digital trash from WFNZ. I can only listen now when I get out of the city. Is that progress?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I agree I too can't hear WAIZ 630 anymore. AM-HD is very difficult to get. I live in Charlotte and have the Sanguan HDT-1 tuner. It takes a lot of fiddling with the antenna to get WFNZ and WBCN in HD. At night you can forget it, even though the trash they spew on the side bands of their singnal can be heard in analog mode. AM-HD really doesn't work in its current form and nobody seems to care enough to fix it.

I once thought that the AM Band might go all digital but the interference and lightning crashes on the band make it useless for digital broadcasting.

 

[Steve.Gates]

WAVO 1150. Too bad it's not IN Charlotte, even though its studios are. And that the music lasts only from 9 until noon and then from about 12:15 until sunset. I don't live close enough to know what happens on weekends but I do occasionally get to listen in the car. This time of year, that's not really listening unless I can stand being hot.

And of course DJs are expensive. If you're going to play less familiar versions of the great songs, it would be nice to know who those people are.

Yeah WAVO is a very fine Oldies Station. The Transmitter/Antenna actually hails out of my hometown down in Rock Hill, SC. I'd like to see them upgrade the signal so 1150 would be AM-HD. It would certainly pay homage to all those great Oldies that they play, to at least have them in ''FM-Quality'' on an AM-Radio Station. Don't know what kinds of costs would be involved, but I think the listeners would agree. Steve..

Hey Steve, listen to the digital trash being spewed out on the sidebands of 610 and 1660. Then ask yourself do you really want 1150 to do the same. HD is fine on FM but on AM it's been a disaster. Thank God for the many stations like WBT that have the technical common sense to not trash up the local AM band.

I enjoy listening to the oldies on 630 WAIZ out of Hickory but I can no longer listen to the station in Charlotte, because of the digital trash from WFNZ. I can only listen now when I get out of the city. Is that progress?

Sounds like it is controversial at best. I was not aware that AM-HD had a by-product. That is most definitely not cool. I now have a question --- if AM-HD causes channel interference then why did the FCC let the industry go ahead and made HD Equipment for AM? It would seem to be in violation of Part 15 of the FCC Rules. What am I missing here? ???

I had no idea there was an Oldies Station on 630 AM in Hickory. I'll have to try to pick it up in my car. It is non-existant on my Grundig S350DL Radio. Steve.

 

[Steve.Gates]

I agree I too can't hear WAIZ 630 anymore. AM-HD is very difficult to get. I live in Charlotte and have the Sanguan HDT-1 tuner. It takes a lot of fiddling with the antenna to get WFNZ and WBCN in HD. At night you can forget it, even though the trash they spew on the side bands of their singnal can be heard in analog mode. AM-HD really doesn't work in its current form and nobody seems to care enough to fix it.

I once thought that the AM Band might go all digital but the interference and lightning crashes on the band make it useless for digital broadcasting.

Nice tuner Mike - it is one of the best FM Tuners ever made. I too noticed that it's very hard to keep an AM-HD signal on in the evening.

Here is a comparison of the one you have verses the one I just picked up:

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

 

[Mike Sheridan]

The Sony looks nice, a first rate product I'm sure. Thanks for the link.

As for the FCC money talks, I think they let big business push them around.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Best Radio Station in Charlote...my pick is 107.9 The Link with air personalities in morning and afternoon drive. The music is just okay but it's not any worse than the other 2 A/C stations or whatever the Lake claims to be. For me PEOPLE make the difference.

 

[tylerSC]

I agree I too can't hear WAIZ 630 anymore. AM-HD is very difficult to get. I live in Charlotte and have the Sanguan HDT-1 tuner. It takes a lot of fiddling with the antenna to get WFNZ and WBCN in HD. At night you can forget it, even though the trash they spew on the side bands of their singnal can be heard in analog mode. AM-HD really doesn't work in its current form and nobody seems to care enough to fix it.

I once thought that the AM Band might go all digital but the interference and lightning crashes on the band make it useless for digital broadcasting.

Nice tuner Mike - it is one of the best FM Tuners ever made. I too noticed that it's very hard to keep an AM-HD signal on in the evening.

Here is a comparison of the one you have verses the one I just picked up:

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

You are very fortunate to be able to find a Sony or Sangean HD Radio tuner these days, as they are now very hard to find. Both are excellent tuners.

 

[tylerSC]

I am inclined to agree regarding 107.9 the Link, as local air talent indeed makes a difference. And their variety music format has gotten much better in the past year. I just wish they would give Pam Stone her show back on the weekend again.

 

[tylerSC]

I also like the music variety on 102.9 the Lake. And for CHR, I think Channel 96.1 sounds very good. And in the mornings, I often flip between Ace and TJ on 96.1 and Bob and Sheri on 107.9.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Agree with you on Pam Stone. Just hearing her voice cracks me up! She's a funny lady and I say that with respect. I'd like to see her come back.

 

[w00t]

The Link is okay, but it is nothing like it was 5-6 years ago. I'm glad that so far Greater Media hasn't completely dismantled the station but they aren't getting too far from it.