Delaware Valley AM quality

[amfmsw]

Fathers Day, my son and I were on our way to Limerick for a visit to ma and Pa. He, 21 yo, was listening to WRTI jazz, and the selections and host bored us to death. Twiddling the dial, he gave up on anything he liked. As we got onto thr xway from Vine Street, I suggested to try AM, check out what was on 1360. The radio switched bands, and the ROAR from IBOC was deafening! Try the new 1340 WHAT. (Standard Chrysler AM Stereo/FM Stereo CD radio in a '99) He liked the station, but we lost the signal in about 15 minutes. Try Sinatra on 1210. ROAR. The audio was so bad, I reluctantly turned off Sid Mark. Get a traffic update from KYW. ROAR. He said what the hell's wrong with the radio. I explained IBOC to him. He said, "Who the hell's gonna put up with that noise?. No wonder AM's dead"

As we left On the way home to the Shore from Limerick,, he asked to listen to the Phillies. We turn on 1210. William Paley is rolling in his grave with that ststion. First, the worst 50kw signal, ever. Second, the audio qualiy was better in 1950 when they were taking AT&T Long Lines Feeds from CBS in New York! Thin, nasty, scratchy, and someone with no clue setting the AGC/AVC. I bet the modulation meter never moved. My son tried in vain to EQ the sound, but that was of little help. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I thought it might be the stadium audio feed. Remembering 1370 WPAZ in Pottstown carries the Phitin's, I tuned through the IBOC ROAR to 1370.

WOW! It was like FM mono! Full bass, rich and warm, loud and legal, clean, bright highs, good dynamic range! Having worked as a kid at WPAZ, I knew the antenna match to transmitter was nearly a perfect Q impedence match. And the audio showed. Wonderful...except the AGC needed to be slightly more active, because of the "empty stadium" effect between calls. I the tried WEEU Reading. ROAR. 830 was very clear, with good strong audio, and the AGC was more active, bringing up the crowd noise slightly. Then back to WPAZ...superior audio in every way, but as we got to King of Prussia, we, alas had to return to the shrill inferior offerings of WPHT 1210.

Maybe the engineers in "Mount Pilot, the big city" could take a lesson from the suburban wingers in Mayberry!

 

[BRNout]

As a relative newcomer to the area, I have been very critical about WPHT's signal and audio quality. This is the worst 50kw signal I've ever heard and the audio quality if flatter than a pancake! Just this morning, i was attempting to listen to Smerconish talk about the partying little hooligans in south Jersey and had to flip to KYW due to electrical interference....in Berwyn! Somehow, the same interference didn't manage to rip up 1060 or the weaker signal on 990.

Before someone tells me how the 1210 frequency doesn't travel as far with 50 kw as 1060 does, I know this already. But, WPHT's signal in the Delaware Valley is just too crappy to be explained away by this single factor. Other 50 kw signals at much higher frequencies (like WWKB in Buffalo) have much better signals. No, WPHT's ground circuitry must be shot - or there are serious problems in the control room. The signal doesn't even do well in Chester county or in parts of Delaware county - nor does it go very far into northern NJ. Where it does travel well (to be fair) is along the Delmarva peninsula. But, that's it. It certainly doesn't bathe its home market in a sufficient signal to be listenable by everyone. Unlike KYW - which does.

The signal meter on my Eton E5 gives the KYW signal a "10" while WPHT rates a "4". The 150 kHz difference in frequencies cannot explain this difference. These guys need to retain a decent engineer and to give that engineer the money to make the needed tx work. That's all there is to it.

And, yes, the IBOC hash is ruining the am band. Not to mention that those stations using IBOC sound like crap in analogue (which is what we all have). The unholy alliance of suits and nerds who think that this is a great idea are contributing to the slow death of am in America.

 

[8638]

As a relative newcomer to the area, I have been very critical about WPHT's signal and audio quality. This is the worst 50kw signal I've ever heard and the audio quality if flatter than a pancake! Just this morning, i was attempting to listen to Smerconish talk about the partying little hooligans in south Jersey and had to flip to KYW due to electrical interference....in Berwyn! Somehow, the same interference didn't manage to rip up 1060 or the weaker signal on 990.

Before someone tells me how the 1210 frequency doesn't travel as far with 50 kw as 1060 does, I know this already. But, WPHT's signal in the Delaware Valley is just too crappy to be explained away by this single factor. Other 50 kw signals at much higher frequencies (like WWKB in Buffalo) have much better signals. No, WPHT's ground circuitry must be shot - or there are serious problems in the control room. The signal doesn't even do well in Chester county or in parts of Delaware county - nor does it go very far into northern NJ. Where it does travel well (to be fair) is along the Delmarva peninsula. But, that's it. It certainly doesn't bathe its home market in a sufficient signal to be listenable by everyone. Unlike KYW - which does.

The signal meter on my Eton E5 gives the KYW signal a "10" while WPHT rates a "4". The 150 kHz difference in frequencies cannot explain this difference. These guys need to retain a decent engineer and to give that engineer the money to make the needed tx work. That's all there is to it.

And, yes, the IBOC hash is ruining the am band. Not to mention that those stations using IBOC sound like crap in analogue (which is what we all have). The unholy alliance of suits and nerds who think that this is a great idea are contributing to the slow death of am in America.

Having listened to this station for years, I can tell you that something is terribly wrong out at the tx site. I think the ground is shot as well. As recently as 10-15 years ago, 1210 boomed out llke a real 50 kW I-1 (class A to the young'uns on the board) . Now WPEN comes in better!! I'm on the shore in Ocean County, N.J., and you are right about KYW. I'm on the edge of the directional pattern, yet KYW sounds much better than WPHT. Spend a few bucks, CBS, and fix the damned thing!
And forget about AM IBOC. Please.

 

[Stuart]

What does IBOC stand for? ???

Thanks
Stuart ;D

 

[8638]

What does IBOC stand for? ???

Thanks
Stuart ;D

In Band On Channel...ibiquity's HD radio system. Some affectionately refer to it as iBuzz, due to the hash it spews to the adjacent channels on either side of a frequency using it.

 

[Stuart]

Thanks Don ;D ;D ;D

Stuart

 

[amfmsw]

I think it really should be IBAC. In Band Adjacent Channels.

 

[KML0224]

Get rid of IBOC now! Here in Connecticut, we have WTIC-AM 1080 of Hartford, a 50,000 watt clear channel station owned by CBS Radio. (Their night signal is directional to protect KRLD-AM 1080 of Dallas.) They sound OK at night, but during the day, it's all noise and terrible. It also makes reception of KYW-AM 1060 almost impossible here.

 

[eatspaste]

"Who the hell's gonna put up with that noise?. No wonder AM's dead"

It's amazing that what's supposed to "save" AM radio is making it sound like crap to practically 100% of the people who currently listen to AM radio.

AM stations won't invest in local talent, develop local shows, or try to build local programming, yet they have no problem dumping money into something that kills how the station sounds for its entire audience.

I don't speak Spanish, but every once and a while I listen to 1310 WEMG/Camden - when their AM stereo kicks in, it really sounds great - nice, full sound!

 

[radiostar2010]

ever try 1540am how is the signal on there ?

 

[amfmsw]

In SJ & Shore area, 1540's as good or better than it's ever been RF wise. It is what it is, with 3/8 wave towers, it will always put half the signal into the sky, and useable half on the ground.

But nothing can make it sing like Mike Venditti did in the early '90's. When it came to putting lipstic on a pig, he was Max Factor! As Geator Gold, he even made the Delco "blanket over the speakers" car radios sound bright.

 

[BRNout]

Last night, while walking the dog and enjoying a fine cigar, I was flipping back and forth between am news/talk stations. And, I noticed something interesting that relates to our discussion of WPHT. At night, with no IBOC, WPHT's audio still sounds like garbage! In most cases, we can blame the hashbox for this - but they don't run it at night. No, something else is wrong with the audio chain at "The Big Talker". It's so bad that flipping quickly to KYW gives the illusion that KYW is an FM station! And, even WABC's scratchy skywave signal was more dynamic than WPHT. Very poor sound quality.

One other thing of geeky interest: at my location, KYW came in strong and clear while WPHT was weaker and I actually got a touch of skywave/groundwave cancellation! That, combined with "Dr. Maz" (who sounds like a wimpier version of Joe Pesci - what horrible pipes!), sent me packing after a few minutes. WABC's talk programming is much better at night....