CBS-FM Transmitter Issues?

[wmgcbs]

Recently, I have noticed that on weeknights, CBS-FM's signal becomes terribly weak in Piscataway. Right around midnight during the weeknights, the signal goes from strong and listenable to EXTREMELY weak - even on my tabletop radio. The other night, I heard Daughtry's "Feels Like Tonight" booming in from Philly in an area that usually receives CBS-FM quite consistently. I just heard the signal get weak during the top of the hour going into the midnight hour this evening.

Is there work being done up at Empire? Hopefully there is, or if not, I just want to make sure that people are aware of the issue over there at CBS-FM. This is the only station I have a problem with; all of the others from NYC are loud and clear.

 

[neo11]

More than likely it's work being done at the top of Empire, with the station broadcasting from an auxiliary site, which would explain the weak signal. Similarly, many of the DTV signals consistently are off the air late at night as well, probably due to work leading up to the switchover in a few months.

 

[wmgcbs]

More than likely it's work being done at the top of Empire, with the station broadcasting from an auxiliary site, which would explain the weak signal.

I think that's what it was; it sounds like CBS-FM and Fresh installed new processors (or did some major tweaking). Both stations now sound much more robust and full than before - a different sound, but a welcome change. Two thumbs UP!!

 

[mjb1124]

The other night, I heard Daughtry's "Feels Like Tonight" booming in from Philly in an area that usually receives CBS-FM quite consistently.

Funny, it seems like that's always the song that's playing whenever B101 overpowers CBS-FM in my car. And that's been a pretty frequent occurrence here in New Brunswick.

 

[Tibbs4]

More than likely it's work being done at the top of Empire, with the station broadcasting from an auxiliary site, which would explain the weak signal.

I think that's what it was; it sounds like CBS-FM and Fresh installed new processors (or did some major tweaking). Both stations now sound much more robust and full than before - a different sound, but a welcome change. Two thumbs UP!!

Correctamundo. More to come next week.

 

[wmgcbs]

Correctamundo. More to come next week.

Wow. At least my ears are good for something! It is sounding much better, especially with regards to Motown on WCBS. While it can be somewhat flat at times, my ears are much happier now compared to a week ago. The old setup was good, but I cannot say I was extemely fond of it. I more or less learned to deal with it after a while. I'm guessing the new processor is similar to what WLTW is using... Omnia perhaps?

**I'm hoping that the pre-processor (Ariane) days are over at 101.1 and that the new processor can do the job alone; hopefully the addition of a pre-processor wasn't the "more to come" you mention. I think things just sound better without it - especially the music, which is the real star of the station.**

Fresh sounds better as well, and I believe I'm hearing something new at K-Rock as well. All 3 CBS stations got new processors? Sounds good to me!

Oh, and are there any hints for the "more to come?" Now, I'm curious. ;D

 

[RJJ-RADIO]

Speaking of problems with WCBS-FM why is the text on the hd-1 signal not displaying the song title, it is just displaying NEW YORKS GREATEST HITS 101.1 HD.

 

[erwin33]

No Optimod 8500 on CBS FM anymore?

 

[wgliradio]

No, it's the same airchain from end to end @ CBS FM, just a software revision for the 8500 that allows for more "freedom" and I actually had some extra time last week to really craft it.

 

[Ed B]

Mr WGLI is WCBS still running the Blue BE Xmitters FM 30A or FM 35A with FX 30 exciters ?
And if I remember they are on the mini master antenna with WQHT and WPLJ I know Kevin who was the Chief Engineer at WPLJ when they put up the mini master. a number of years back.

 

[wmgcbs]

No, it's the same airchain from end to end @ CBS FM, just a software revision for the 8500 that allows for more "freedom" and I actually had some extra time last week to really craft it.

After listening over the past couple of days, I must say that CBS-FM sounds better. It sounds similar to before, but more refined. I'm impressed. Both of the versions of "Only the Lonely" from Roy Orbison and the Motels sounded quite amazing.

 

[wgliradio]

HAHA! I was just listening to that too!!! ;D

 

[wmgcbs]

HAHA! I was just listening to that too!!! ;D

WOW! That's really freaky. Since you crafted the airchain, you must be just as happy, much likely moreso, than I am. Nevertheless, those two songs back to back sounded very good, which I'm sure is no easy task to pull off.

On the topic of audio improvements, it seems as if WLTW tweaked their audio processing last weekend. Driving in the car on Sunday, I was impressed at what I heard on the Lite compared to what I was used to. I haven't had a chance to listen earlier in the week on a decent radio, so I don't know if it was short-lived or an actual much-needed improvement which lasted beyond one day.

 

[erwin33]

LTW still with the Omnia 6?

 

[wmgcbs]

On the topic of audio improvements, it seems as if WLTW tweaked their audio processing last weekend. Driving in the car on Sunday, I was impressed at what I heard on the Lite compared to what I was used to. I haven't had a chance to listen earlier in the week on a decent radio, so I don't know if it was short-lived or an actual much-needed improvement which lasted beyond one day.

Whoops. Apparently not. Lite stilll sounds as muddy as ever. Whatever I was hearing, if something actually was tweaked, lasted for a very short while apparently. Yikes. Better fix that processing for Christmas music.