Another new Cox translator for Greenville?

[KyleSmith1988]

I was listening to 107.3's HD channels earlier today while in Spartanburg.
I was right...here's what I was able to hear on 107.3's HD:

107.3 HD-1 Jamz (but no audio)
107.3 HD-2 X98.5 FM (30 second delay compared to 98.5 and very bad audio quality)
107.3 HD-3 Chuck FM (30 second delay compared to 97.7 and great audio quality)
107.3 HD-4 Hot 98.1 (30 second delay compared to 98.1 and good audio quality)

It's really not over the air if the HD is that delayed,
how are they able to bypass this and why is it 30 seconds off, it makes no sense to me?

Also the HD-2 (X98.5) sounded like a very bad quality mp3 or internet stream like 32kbps, that definitely isn't right
and I'm not sure why it doesn't match the quality on 98.5.
Don't the rules say it's supposed to be an exact copy of the translator signal? Nevermind the big delay...

Driving around Spartanburg 107.3's HD does cut out in some spots, but it's ok in others.
107.3's HD is pretty much completely gone once you get to Cowpens, or just past exit 83 on I-85.

 

[Kent]

It's really not over the air if the HD is that delayed,
how are they able to bypass this and why is it 30 seconds off, it makes no sense to me?

The translators are "fill-in" translators, meaning that they're within the 60 dBu signal contour of the main station. Fill-in translators may be fed by means other than over-the-air, and these translators are probably fed directly. The rule requiring commercial band translators to be fed off-air only applies to translators outside the main station's primary signal contour.

 

[carolinaradio]

Spartanburg is barely in WJMZ's 60dbu, so it makes sense that there could be some HD signal issues, especially since it's not one of the strongest signals in this area.

WJMZ is one of the few stations airing four HD channels. They may have a low bitrate on the HD-2 to help preserve some of the HD audio quality on the other channels...if that was the case, though, I'd put low bitrate on the HD4.

I notice they already have new imaging for X. Various call outs to 93.3 and The Rise Guys. Fantastic

 

[awp69]

Finally got a chance to listen this afternoon on my way back from a trip. Not too shabby! It's not Radio 104.5 (could use a little less of the grunge stuff that 104.5 doesn't play much of. And that station does seem to have a very independent, we'll play what we want to attitude that's rare on radio.), but it's still great to a lot of music that wasn't being heard around this place. I know as a translator they have little chance of beating The Planet, but I sure wish they would kill off that piece of crap.

Definately will be number one stop of my presets for now, followed by MY then the Charlotte CHRs. But I can see this taking up most of my radio listening (primarily in the car).

 

[awp69]

Just curious. Was looking at their website and they don't have a "playlist" posted yet, but -- and this I guess is directed at you carolinaradio -- have they been playing things like Metric, Silversun Pickups and Florence and the Machine? Again, I didn't listen long and was glad to hear things like the Black Keys and others that haven't been played here. But there seemed to be -- much like The Planet - a pretty heavy empahsis on male oriented songs. Granted it's a HELL of a lot better than The Planet, but other than the Cranberries (which doesn't even belong on The Planet with what they play), The Planet pretty much writes off any female rock group regardless of whether they are rock (and Metric is more rock than the Cranberries IMO).

Anyway, that's my only issue from what I've heard so far and from the songs you listed. I like the music but I also like bands like Metric, Silversun Pickups, etc., that are on most alternative rock stations. Just hoping they aren't going full fledged against The Planet's male listeners and sacrificing some good alt rock bands that I'd still like to hear around here.

Oh, and I thought that it was odd that they do list one female on their website - Fiona Apple. Not even a current in New Rock/Alternative. Yes, I'm a male and dig most of the songs they play, but alternative isn't just an all male band format.

EDIT: Sorry for all the questions. Just excited to see Alternative return to the area.

 

[Radi0Engineer]

107.3 HD-1 Jamz (but no audio)
107.3 HD-2 X98.5 FM (30 second delay compared to 98.5 and very bad audio quality)
107.3 HD-3 Chuck FM (30 second delay compared to 97.7 and great audio quality)
107.3 HD-4 Hot 98.1 (30 second delay compared to 98.1 and good audio quality)

It's really not over the air if the HD is that delayed,
how are they able to bypass this and why is it 30 seconds off, it makes no sense to me?

Also the HD-2 (X98.5) sounded like a very bad quality mp3 or internet stream like 32kbps, that definitely isn't right
and I'm not sure why it doesn't match the quality on 98.5.
Don't the rules say it's supposed to be an exact copy of the translator signal? Nevermind the big delay...

You are correct on all four.

The rules do allow for 'alternative feed' on HD translators. In the case of Chuck & X, they are fed via a T-1. (94.1 is also fed by a T-1 ... just listen anytime a thunderstorm within 5 miles of the Wellford Landfill)

The 'informal letter' to the FCC stating that the 94.1 translator is fed via HD4 has been submitted. Because it's informal, it may or may not show up.

The audio on HD2 is poor and will improve in the next few weeks as I rearrange some feeds. That poor transmitter site has gone from a single stereo feed to needing four stereo feeds - in 6 months. Preferrably uncompressed. Needless to say, that's not happening right now. The X signal is coming down two 'aux' channels on HDLink. These channels are usually for AM or remote control data use.

the HD configuration is HD1-32k, HD2-32k, HD3-32k, HD4-24k. This maxes out the HD hardware/software as currently supplied by iBiquity.



Streaming is coming. Waiting on Stream The World to get around to creating the custom player.

RDS is also coming. Waiting on corporate to get a Jump2Go box configured up and sent to us.



For what it's worth ......




p.s. I would like to get some constructive criticism of the processing on the 98.5 onair signal. Changes can be made based on user input.

 

[ATOMO]

And a fine job you are doing Radi0Engineer! Once you get the data compression swimminess gone here's what I would recommend for the X 98.5 feed: Brighten the upper end a tad - however, with rock and alternative there's lots of cymbal use - so not too much on the stereo expansion (i.e. the Planet) .. Also, perhaps slightly less audio compression than you'd run on say, Hot, as most all the alt/rock records are coming 'wall of sound' flat lined from the record companies. The 90's alt., in general, has some awesome stereo separation when allowed to breathe a tad. Happy to lend my ears whenever you are tweaking - I believe you have the digits. See 'ya at the landfill!

 

[carolinaradio]

Just curious. Was looking at their website and they don't have a "playlist" posted yet, but -- and this I guess is directed at you carolinaradio -- have they been playing things like Metric, Silversun Pickups and Florence and the Machine? Again, I didn't listen long and was glad to hear things like the Black Keys and others that haven't been played here. But there seemed to be -- much like The Planet - a pretty heavy empahsis on male oriented songs. Granted it's a HELL of a lot better than The Planet, but other than the Cranberries (which doesn't even belong on The Planet with what they play), The Planet pretty much writes off any female rock group regardless of whether they are rock (and Metric is more rock than the Cranberries IMO).

I haven't heard any of the artists you mentioned, and no female material that I can recall - but, then again, my listening has been limited to the car or when I can sit down and listen on my portable radio so I haven't listened for long periods of time. A stream will be MUCH appreciated and it will be way more convienent. I remember even MY played Florence + The Machine when they started - so it seems like this station would, also. I haven't even heard Fun.'s "Some Nights" either (have heard "We Are Young" at least 3 times), but I'd hope to God they're playing it as it is #1 on Alt. Seems like I hear Third Eye Blind more than any other act.

Oh, and I thought that it was odd that they do list one female on their website - Fiona Apple. Not even a current in New Rock/Alternative. Yes, I'm a male and dig most of the songs they play, but alternative isn't just an all male band format.

EDIT: Sorry for all the questions. Just excited to see Alternative return to the area.

I concour.

Finally got a chance to listen this afternoon on my way back from a trip. Not too shabby! It's not Radio 104.5 (could use a little less of the grunge stuff that 104.5 doesn't play much of. And that station does seem to have a very independent, we'll play what we want to attitude that's rare on radio.), but it's still great to a lot of music that wasn't being heard around this place. I know as a translator they have little chance of beating The Planet, but I sure wish they would kill off that piece of crap.

I was hoping for a Radio 104.5 sound also, but I will NOT complain. I'd be rich if I had a $1 for every post I've read from posters all over this site wanting a Radio 104.5'ish Alternative. They are really unique. X98.5 reminds me more of 99X in Atlanta. I wonder if X98.5 will put much emphasis on local/regional music.

Oh, as far as the signal - I was all over Greenville on Sunday and 98.5 does better than 97.7, IMO. Especially down here in my neighborhood, as you start to head out in the "sticks." 98.5 carries further, to the south at least. 97.7 DOES, though, have better penetration in the immediate Greenville area (tested on several clock radios at Best Buy ). I guess that is because of the 250w on 97.7 vs. 200w on 98.5.

 

[awp69]

Not sure if it was the weather or something else, but 98.5's signal this morning was getting a lot of cross interference in the Woodruff Road area (Five Forks down to around I-385). Yesterday, it was pretty clear.

As far as the music, I agree with most of what carolinaradio responded. It is more similar to something like 99X in Atlanta, but even that station has cut back on the amount of "grunge" they play. X98.5, again from my limited listening, seems like they play a fair amount of Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and their contemporary peers (like Chevelle). 99X also does play things like Metric and Silversun Pickups.

With their direct attacks on The Planet, the grunge stuff on X98.5 seems like an attempt to grab The Planet's listeners. That said, the mix is 1000X better than The Planet even with the omissions of things like Metric (also, since you mentioned it, Fun.'s "Some Nights" seems to be even getting airplay on B93.7 now).

It may not be exactly what I'd like it to be -- and it should be whatever is going to pull in the ratings in this area -- but I'm just glad to see a new rock station that at least exposes the Upstate to music we weren't hearing before. There's some crossover with The Planet, but 93.3's mix is so awful with it's stretching all the way back to the '70s occassionally for a "New Rock" station and a hard-rock lean that completely ignores a good chunk of today's rock.

I'll be anxious to listen to X98.5 some more....and, yes, a stream would be nice.

 

[awp69]

Signal was much better at lunch today in the same Woodruff Road area. And they actually played a song with a female lead (think the band itself switches off between male/female leads). Can't remember who it is, but it was a song I liked and heard regularly on Radio 104.5. Think I'll have to stream Radio 104.5 this afternoon to see if they play it. Driving me crazy that I can't remember who it is!

Still quite a bit of grunge...STP, Nirvana...but I can live with it.

 

[awp69]

And they actually played a song with a female lead (think the band itself switches off between male/female leads). Can't remember who it is, but it was a song I liked and heard regularly on Radio 104.5.

Wish the time period for editing posts here was longer. Just figured out who it was The Naked and Famous' "Young Blood" --- can't believe I couldn't remember that. Definately a band not heard in these parts prior to X98.5.

Seems like the promos are primarily are going after the Rise Guys. Think there's a lot more they could say to put it to The Planet. I'm assuming that this will be like Chuck-FM and be likely programmed elsewhere (with local specific promos of course) with no local talent or on-air personalities at all.

 

[carolinaradio]

Tropo might have been acting up this morning because the signal is weaker. I expected that in the warmer months. A couple of times I have gotten a mishmash between B-98.5 in Atlanta and Magic 98.5 in Columbia with very little X on the frequency. I had trouble listening to 97.7 Chuck FM yesterday because despite a clear signal, 97.5 WCOS in Columbia was bleeding over on it.

I don't know if Chuck-FM is programmed elsewhere (I know the branding and logo is somehow licensed), but I have heard people getting requests on 98.5, so there is some local aspect. I wondered if there would be air personalities, likely voicetracked from a couple of Cox's other Alternative stations, but with an impending sale likely, I don't know if they would go that far.

Maybe they are starting out "safe" to try to lure some listeners from The Planet and then get a little more "cutting edge" after they start with commercials, etc. after Labor Day. I'm just surprised they aren't playing more currents from the chart, at least a lot, but I guess I need to stop comparing to Radio 104.5. There is still plenty of stuff that has never seen the light of day here. Earlier in the week, I heard mentions of 93.3 The Planet's "Twisted Todd", as well, but now it seems to be The Rise Guys, a disaster.

 

[awp69]

I don't know if Chuck-FM is programmed elsewhere (I know the branding and logo is somehow licensed), but I have heard people getting requests on 98.5, so there is some local aspect. I wondered if there would be air personalities, likely voicetracked from a couple of Cox's other Alternative stations, but with an impending sale likely, I don't know if they would go that far.

And that remains my primary concern. Still wonder what's going to happen to these translators after the sale. I think you had mentioned that they wouldn't be part of the sale, but I don't understand enough about it since they are under WJMZ's HD transmissions.

Just hope whoever buys the Cox stations keeps both Chuck-FM and X98.5.

I agree that they aren't playing many currents. Hopefully, that'll change as they establish themselves.

 

[carolinaradio]

Still no female artists heard yet. The only thing close to a female artist (or current) I've heard today was Of Monsters & Men a little while ago. I like older alternative material, but there's plenty of new stuff out there - IMO, there is more good Alternative material now than in recent times. I think that is also helping Radio 104.5 in Philadelphia do so well. I haven't listened to the new Alternative station in NYC (WRXP) yet to hear how they compare to X98.5.

The translators are leased - the intellectual property that you hear would be sold, but not the actual 97.7 and 98.5 frequencies as they are under lease. I'm sure as long as whoever owns the intellectual property of X-98.5/Chuck FM and Hot 98.1/107-3 JAMZ pays, they can keep leasing the translators. And, I see no reason not to, as they add value to a cluster of stations that has no other way to expand.

 

[awp69]

Still no female artists heard yet.  The only thing close to a female artist (or current) I've heard today was Of Monsters & Men a little while ago.  I like older alternative material, but there's plenty of new stuff out there - IMO, there is more good Alternative material now than in recent times.  I think that is also helping Radio 104.5 in Philadelphia do so well.

Completely agree. I know '90s grunge was considered alternative then but it sounds outdated now. I liked it then, but now, not so much. There's a lot more interesting music being made these days. Probably am spoiled having listened to 104.5, but there's no reason why even if it's not as "cutting edge," that X98.5 couldn't be playing more currents. As you mentioned before, maybe after they've settled down after the commercial free period, then hopefully we'll hear some more new material.

I hate to sound like I'm complaining. After all, I've been dying to have an Alternative station around here for years. It's just a little stale at times. Aside from Of Monsters and Men, the only female-led song I've heard was what I mentioned above -- The Naked and Famous. Female or male, that's more of the new stuff I'd like to hear.

I'll take what I can get. Our market is still far better than it was 2 years ago. Hopefully, it can only get better.

Oh, and I tuned to 93.3 to see if they've seemed to respond at all, and Ozzy was blasting. Guess not.

 

[awp69]

Listened a little longer today. Still wish they had a stream. But only somewhat currents I heard were, again, The Naked and Famous, Of Monsters and Men, Black Keys and Alex Claire. That made up about 10% of what I heard. The rest was almost all '90s and a few 2000s -- Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, etc.

They seem to have a heavier lean like The Planet, but without some of the real crap like Slip Knot and Five Finger Death Punch. Still far, far better than The Planet both in mix and presentation.

Just wish they'd play more truly "new" rock. Their own promos say the "all New Rock Alternative". Seems like they'd be playing more stuff that's NEW.

I like the station. I'll just be flipping more than I had hoped. But, at least, with the choices available in our area now, I feel like I'll almost always be able to find a song that I like being played at any one time. Haven't felt that way in a long time.

 

[carolinaradio]

I still haven't heard Train, new Fun. ("Some Nights"), Grouplove, Imagine Dragons, new'ish Neon Trees ("Everybody Talks", but I have heard "Animal"), new Killers ("Runaways"), Lumineers ("Ho Hey"), etc. in addition to the other stuff mentioned earlier. Most are featured on the website. I haven't heard anything from Coldplay, either, which is surprising as they have had quite a bit of Alternative hits. I agree with your assessment.

I love the occasional 90s flashbacks, but would love to hear more new music.

As long as that loud crap isn't played, and the "attitude" stays down, I'm happy. I agree that things are much, much better here than, say, in 2009 when the only listenable stations (for me) were the AC's which were too old or B-93.7.

 

[awp69]

I still haven't heard Train, new Fun. ("Some Nights"), Grouplove, Imagine Dragons, new'ish Neon Trees ("Everybody Talks", but I have heard "Animal"), new Killers ("Runaways"), Lumineers ("Ho Hey"), etc. in addition to the other stuff mentioned earlier. Most are featured on the website. I haven't heard anything from Coldplay, either, which is surprising as they have had quite a bit of Alternative hits.

Finally heard "Some Nights" on my way home around 6ish. But then about 15 minutes later (I think in the middle of a Pearl Jam song), there was dead silence for a good 5-10 minutes. Not a good impression for a new station. Came back and heard Stone Temple Pilots. Flipped to 102.5 and heard the Killers then R.E.M. (not new, but more my style).

Even though they list things like Train on their website and have played groups like Of Monsters and Men, I do fear that they're going to be one of those stations that thinks groups like Coldplay are "too soft" to be played on their station. Hoping that isn't the case, but as I mentioned before, they tend to be on the harder side of the rock spectrum....still not all the thrashing trash they have on The Planet, but still. Again, I hope it's more of a move to get people from The Planet listening. Then settle into a mix of more new material and not as much harder grunge-type music.

 

[carolinaradio]

Finally heard "Some Nights" on my way home around 6ish. But then about 15 minutes later (I think in the middle of a Pearl Jam song), there was dead silence for a good 5-10 minutes. Not a good impression for a new station. Came back and heard Stone Temple Pilots. Flipped to 102.5 and heard the Killers then R.E.M. (not new, but more my style).

Even though they list things like Train on their website and have played groups like Of Monsters and Men, I do fear that they're going to be one of those stations that thinks groups like Coldplay are "too soft" to be played on their station. Hoping that isn't the case, but as I mentioned before, they tend to be on the harder side of the rock spectrum....still not all the thrashing trash they have on The Planet, but still. Again, I hope it's more of a move to get people from The Planet listening. Then settle into a mix of more new material and not as much harder grunge-type music.

That's good to hear they finally played it. I don't think, though, that Coldplay is any softer than a group like Fun. ("Some Nights" literally sounds like something from The Lion King, to me). If compared to Radio 104.5, though, 104.5 is a pretty "light" Alternative station a lot of times and there aren't many like it. I actually think that aids in their success.

That's funny about the silence. It seems like there'd be some kind of backup, but maybe it's not been on the air long enough to have one in place.

 

[awp69]

I don't think, though, that Coldplay is any softer than a group like Fun. ("Some Nights" literally sounds like something from The Lion King, to me). If compared to Radio 104.5, though, 104.5 is a pretty "light" Alternative station a lot of times and there aren't many like it. I actually think that aids in their success.

Yeah, you're probably right. I guess I've just felt burned by The Planet all these years. I don't mind good, hard-rocking songs, but "good" is not a term that The Planet applies to what it plays. I think I mentioned that back even when The Planet first started I talked to then PD Zac Tyler and questioned why they called themselves new rock, but refused to play a wide range of artists (at that time even groups like U2). Yet they still did occassionally "throw a bone" to groups like The Cranberries (which I still have heard on their station in recent years). He never really did give me a straight answer and even admitted that he wish they didn't play The Cranberries. All I know is they wouldn't touch Coldplay with a ten foot pole.

So, coming from that perspective, I tend to be more cynical when it comes to what a radio station does and doesn't do. X98.5 already is a major improvement over The Planet so hopefully they'll get better with time.