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Blue Rocks / Phillies crummy audio quality

6

650AM

Can anyone explain why the audio quality for Blue Rocks broadcasts (even HOME games) really stinks on 1290? Is it that they are using antiquated equipment that gives them that tinney, echo-in-the-trashcan sound?

Anyone else also notice that for those of us in Delaware, the Phillies continue to sound better on 1210 than they do on 1150 WDEL most of the time? I would prefer to "patronize" the local outlet and its sponsors, but often shift to 1210 for the better audio.

Also, during Phillies games, WDEL occasionally runs a phoned-in station ID from Harry Kalas that is of such poor quality it should not even be used. Is it too much of an imposition for Harry to cut some quality in-studio station IDs for the Phillies' affiliates?
 
650,

In regards to WDEL, define the word "crummy." What do you mean? I haven't noticed, but that's because I'm listening to WDEL. I haven't flipped to 1210 to compare. Let me know what you mean and I'll look into it.

Also, we received live mike legal IDs from Harry Kalas about a month ago. It's not something the Phillies offer, but we asked for them around Opening Day. When they finally arrived, we deleted the phone-quality ID.
 
Hey Chris:

I mainly directed the word "crummy" to the quality of the Blue Rocks transmissions when I first wrote the post, but then I expanded it to include the questions about the Phils games and you may have been unfairly tarnsihed in the way that came across.

Although the Blue Rocks games take the cake for poor audio quality, there is still a definite depreciation in the Phillies audio quality on WDEL as opposed to hearing them on 1210. Some of it may be 1210's stronger signal, but that does not seem to explain it in total.

If you are in your car, and in New Castle County, the next time a game is on, flip back and forth between 1150 and 1210 and you will hear what I mean. It is as if 1210 is getting a high-quality, direct feed.

I have not heard the new Kalas id's of late, so I apologize on that issue.

BTW, is WDEL's application for a power boost still in the works? When is that expected become reality?
 
I'll try to check that out. Maybe 1210's feed is cleaner because it's more direct. Our feed goes from 1210 to Starview in Kansas City (I think) and then down to us via satellite. You'd think with technology that wouldn't matter, and maybe it doesn't. Just a theory.

The power boost is still in the works. We hope to begin that project in '09. The sooner, the better.
 
That is a good question about the Blue Rocks broadcasts. Even when the game is in Wilmington and not out of town, the sound isn't as good as the Phillies games on either WDEL or WPHT. WWTX 1290 the ticket is housed in the same brand new state of the art studio complex that both WILM and WRDX are located in near New Castle. So the equipment at the station shouldn't be the issue. Now, as to what sort of equipment is being used at the ball park, or possibly how the signal is being relayed from the ball park to the station may provide a clue.

My guess is, the Blue Rocks are not on a satellite as the Phillies are. They might even be on a phone line which might explain the lesser quality of the sound. I remember when I worked weekends at WILM (while still at 12th and French Sts), prior to us getting a special high quality phone line for Metro Weather it always sounded tinny and like he was on the Moon, so that may be how the Blue Rocks games are being relayed to WWTX. I'm sure the Blue Rocks budget is far smaller than the budget for the Phillies.
 
The Blue Rocks do sound like the audio is from a low-quality phone line. Has anyone checked to see how they sound on WDOV? (which is probably worse).

The Phillies have not sounded good on either WDEL or WPHT since those stations switched to HD. Theme songs and music beds in general are often distorted.
 
WTUX,

Just to clarify, your HD theory may be true for WPHT and the audio that they provide to us, but WDEL is not using an AM HD transmitter. We are simply providing our on-air signal to WSTW, which is putting it on their HD3 channel. 1150AM is not in HD.
 
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