^^Re WLNK. If you can clarify when you get the update, because I am not a technical expert. But I had heard they had a separate 8 bay Shively antenna for HD. And a picture was posted on a tower site. But their analog antenna still has too much of a null to the west as compared to their old antenna which was replaced in 2005. 95.1 and 96.1 are stronger to the west in areas such as Spartanburg and Hendersonville compared to the other Charlotte stations. They put in too much null, although I know this is beyond their target market it seems unnecessary. And especially now that you have to combat annoying translator signals interfering. The low power WXRU signal in Greenville, SC is within the secondary coverage contour of WLNK on the FCC maps and should not be allowed as it interferes with the clear WLNK signal on 107.9. Ask the engineer if they could protest this signal or at least make them point their signal towards Anderson rather than Greenville.
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Charlotte HD Radio Signals
- Thread starter tylerSC
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^^Re WLNK. If you can clarify when you get the update, because I am not a technical expert. But I had heard they had a separate 8 bay Shively antenna for HD. And a picture was posted on a tower site. But their analog antenna still has too much of a null to the west as compared to their old antenna which was replaced in 2005. 95.1 and 96.1 are stronger to the west in areas such as Spartanburg and Hendersonville compared to the other Charlotte stations. They put in too much null, although I know this is beyond their target market it seems unnecessary. And especially now that you have to combat annoying translator signals interfering. The low power WXRU signal in Greenville, SC is within the secondary coverage contour of WLNK on the FCC maps and should not be allowed as it interferes with the clear WLNK signal on 107.9. Ask the engineer if they could protest this signal or at least make them point their signal towards Anderson rather than Greenville.
And I know Greenville, SC is not an official designated market for WLNK, but for years they always had a strong, clear signal here. And Bob and Sheri have listeners here. The local translator on 107.9 should be isolated to Anderson County where WLNK begins to drop off. There is very bad mutual interference. But despite the car interference, I still get WLNK clear on my home radio with rabbit ears, including HD. And you can get WBTV Channel 3 with a strong signal here also from the same tower.
And Beasley should sell 104.7 rather than 107.9, because 104.7 has the inferior limited signal due to WNOK in Columbia.
And Beasley should sell 104.7 rather than 107.9, because 104.7 has the inferior limited signal due to WNOK in Columbia.
From what I have researched, WLNK uses an 8 bay Shively antenna side mounted for analog, and a separate 7 bay Shively for HD. With an ERI combiner. These Shively antennas are not panel antennas and tend to be a bit directional, which explains the null to the west since they are on the Charlotte side of the tower. Would be nice if they could go back to an ERI omnidirectional antenna on all 3 sides of the tower like they reportedly had before. As for the Nautel transmitter, it should have their patented HD PowerBoost capability, so I wonder if they plan to eventually use it for HD also. It is supposed to be very good for IBOC digital, from what I have read.
I agree, but just how bad is 104.7 to the South? I know there is a problem with WNOK but does 104.7 cover the Charlotte-Rock Hill-Gastonia market with a usable signal? I don't go down that way enough to know. 104.7's 6+ numbers have been better than 107.9 many times.
I can hear it now K-107.9 and 104.7 The Link, wow that just doesn't seem right.
If EMF buys I predict they will take 104.7 so they can shave off a few dollars from the purchase price. After all they'll just run K-Love on it. Maybe sell 91.9 and 94.1. It could happen.
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Oh, is that how it could happen? I hadn't thought of that. I thought the only logical station for K-Love to buy would be WMIT because it would cover the areas the other two don't, but I doubt Franklin would sell.
As for whether WLNK and K-104.7 could be owned by the same company ...
http://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?697109-K104-7-musical-changes
K-104.7 Charlotte suffers mutual interference from WNOK Columbia on 104.7 in parts of Rock Hill and Lancaster, SC which are actually part of the Charlotte market. And to the west. K-104.7 begins to fade past Gaffney, though it remains spotty in parts of Spartanburg. But WLNK has the far superior signal on 107.9, with a strong clear signal in Rock Hill, Lancaster, Spartanburg, and south to the fringes of Columbia. It also makes it to Greenville, SC but is now subject to mutual interference from a local translator I always complain about on 107.9. But overall 107.9 is the much stronger signal, both analog and HD.
Apparently since last weekend the HD signal has been down on 99.3FM-WBT. Or perhaps reduced power because I am not seeing in the fringe. Sometimes the HD logo will flash on a station but refuse to lock on. But there is no HD indicated at all on 99.3 right now. I get the analog with indoor rabbit ears antenna, and the WLNK-HD signal is fine, so I usually listen to WBT on 107.9-HD2. Perhaps a technical issue on 99.3.
If I haven't posted about it here, back in the early 80s I lived a couple of miles north of the SC border near Waxhaw, and WNOK and EZ-104 fought for the title. I got almost listenable signals from most of the 3,000-watt Columbia area stations, but there weren't a lot of stronger ones.
The HD signal still appears to be down on 99.3FM-WBT. Perhaps Entercom has made a change here because they do not run HD on their news/talk station 106.3-WORD in Upstate SC. And also in the last week it looks like they dis something to improve the analog signal on 107.9-WLNK, as there is not as much interference from the low power station as there was previously. 107.9HD signal remains strong.
Update: Apparently WXRU-LP is temporarily off the air due to a technical problem with the transmitter. So that explains the improvement in the WLNK analog signal, as the interference has been removed. WLNK has always had a good signal in Greenville County, SC before WXRU signed on the same channel.
The HD signal is up and running again on 99.3-WBT.
It appears in recent days they may have boosted the power of the HD Radio signal for Kiss 95.1. At my location in Greenville, SC, it is locking in more in the car, and locks in easily with just rabbit ears on my home receiver. Better than before.
WLNK also has a strong HD signal, and I can also pull it in reliably with rabbit ears. But unfortunately car reception remains problematic due to a LPFM interfering, and that low power station has allegedly boosted their power beyond the legal limit, according to an engineering source. But I guess it would be up to Entercom to file a protest with the FCC.
WLNK also has a strong HD signal, and I can also pull it in reliably with rabbit ears. But unfortunately car reception remains problematic due to a LPFM interfering, and that low power station has allegedly boosted their power beyond the legal limit, according to an engineering source. But I guess it would be up to Entercom to file a protest with the FCC.
107.9 LP is waaay over power. Anyone can complain to FCC. In fact, this regions rep takes listener complaints pretty seriously and usually act fairly quickly.
That said Charlotte doesnt give a flip about Gvl and Entercom isnt going to bring an out of market competitor into Gvl to delute their in market stations.
Signal wise the comings and goings of your distant signals is the atmosphere. Temperature inversions wreak havoc on fm signals, hd included. Hot to cold, vice Versa in upper atmosphere, hazy conditions and super humid conditions, all will degrade or even obliterate local signals with distant ones.
That said Charlotte doesnt give a flip about Gvl and Entercom isnt going to bring an out of market competitor into Gvl to delute their in market stations.
Signal wise the comings and goings of your distant signals is the atmosphere. Temperature inversions wreak havoc on fm signals, hd included. Hot to cold, vice Versa in upper atmosphere, hazy conditions and super humid conditions, all will degrade or even obliterate local signals with distant ones.
Before the LP interference, 107.9 from Charlotte always had a good signal in Greenville, SC ever since 1984 when they began broadcasting from the WBTV tower. And I remember during the Jefferson-Pilot days the on air personalities would promote their distant signal in places such as Winston-Salem and Greenville, SC where they had listeners. Now that WLNK is part of Entercom, seems like there would be concern about interference with one of their own stations, despite the designated market. Radio reception has always extended beyond certain market boundaries. And iHeart put Ace and TJ from Charlotte on one of their Greenville stations, My 102.5. So their can be out of market sharing of signals or programs. Just like Entercom has John Boy and Billy from Charlotte on their Greenville station, Rock 101. Perhaps they could at least consider putting Bob and Sheri on on one of their Greenville stations or duplicating translators since their is now interference.
But despite the LPFM interference in the car, I can still get WLNK clearly in the house with rabbit ears antenna, including the HD Radio. I also like to listen to WBT on 107.9-HD2.
Regarding Kiss 95.1, they definitely have made some sort of technical upgrade that has boosted their HD Radio signal. I don't know whether they actually boosted power or made some other kind of adjustment to their transmitter. But it locks in reliably on my home radio with rabbit ears antenna, and I am 75 miles from their transmitter on the WJZY tower in Gaston County. It comes and goes in the car, but locks in reliably as you travel into Spartanburg County.
KISS 95.1HD: It has definitely improved in the car recently as well as in the house. My side bedroom it now comes in, and this is not direct line of sight to the tower like my front bedroom. Anyone know what type of technical upgrade or did they increase power? Perhaps they installed a new transmitter. But I believe they use a combined ERI antenna, whereas WLNK has separate Shively antennas for analog and HD. But they have definely made an improvement that has boosted the signal for HD.
Despite improvements to 95.1-HD in August, the signal began to deteriorate by the end of September and has continued into October. But I think it was more than weather, as the HD symbol still appears whereas previously it did not. But it is not locking on as consistently as it did. Perhaps they changed something or it was just summer conditions. But I can still get it on my home radio, but no longer locks on in the side bedroom like it was. Not as strong as August.
I get strong HD Radio signals from Kiss 95.1 and 107.9-WLNK on my home radio here in Greenville, SC. Using indoor rabbit ears antenna. But Channel 96.1- HD will no longer lock on, although the logo sometimes appears. I think it is due to local interference from strong neighboring signals on 95.9 and 96.3, but it no longer locks on like it used to. But the analog 96.1 signal is still strong.
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