Did WDDM 89.3 hazlet got increase in power??

[jerseymall]

You can listen to this program near Trenton.

 

[d21ofnj]

Nothing is new regarding Dhoom FM. A small signal filed in the books that can be heard in almost all of Central Jersey. This discussion about Dhoom has been on going for such a long time, and the fact that a rumor was for them to be on a New Brunswick translator on 104.7 FM was also in talks. I know a few small signaled stations that can pull an effort to cover a large area, but nothing compares to the monster of a limited signal Dhoom has.

 

[nd2023]

Nope, WWFM just turned off their IBUZ machine. Z88.9 now covers all of Mercer county too. Something just seems fishy with WDDM's large signal. It shouldn't even be heard at all in Trenton.

 

[satech]

Something just seems fishy with WDDM's large signal. It shouldn't even be heard at all in Trenton.

It was the same story 10 years ago. As long as the FCC inspector isn't around, 89.3 always feels free to make up their own rules. And sometimes they don't even bother with the formalities. Remember when they decided to change their transmitter location and city of license (from Hazlet to Telegraph Hill) without telling the FCC first? I believe they got fined for that, but who knows if they ever paid up, and certainly they haven't learned their lesson in terms of things like maintaining legal RF power and audio modulation levels.

 

[tom]

From the FCC - a NOV to WDDM:

47 C.F.R. S 73.1560 (b): "FM stations operating with authorized
transmitter output power of 10 watts or less, may operate at less
than the authorized power, but not more than 105% of the authorized
power." The Special Temporary Authority issued on January 10, 2007,
specified a transmitter power output of 9.3 watts. During the
inspection, the transmitter output power was measured at 12.5 watts,
which constitutes 134% of the authorized transmitter power output.


That extra 3.2 watts must have added like 100 feet to their coverage area.
I don't think they had to pay a fine.

 

[jerseymall]

Also I Noticed they are running commercials. Some of they I do not understand as they are in Indian language.

 

[nd2023]

Isn't 89.3 supposed to be non-commercial? Maybe there's a loophole if the commercials aren't in English.

 

[jerseymall]

It is supposed to be not commercial and they do most of them in English.

 

[nd2023]

Why isn't that station off the air yet? No offense to that ethnic format, but they should follow the law!
I'd say the same thing even if 89.3 were a dance station. It shouldn't have such a large signal and shouldn't play commercials if it's non-commercial. Or else it should be fined and/or lose its license.

 

[Radio411]

Also I Noticed they are running commercials. Some of they I do not understand as they are in Indian language.

I'm sensing someone here with an axe to grind in addition to poor grammar. Unless you have an instrument to take field measurement readings your assessment is pure speculation. If I were them and had previous "run ins" with the FCC the LAST thing I would do is make my OWN set of rules and regulations to abide by. The station gets out about 10-15 miles to the north and maybe 8 or so to the south and fairly well to the west which by my calculations is where Trenton is located. Any time I have scanned past WDDM I have never heard a spot in a foreign language but rather a HEAVY accent... if and when the "preggos" come on in Freehold this will all be a moot point...

 

[bigtom101]

I'm sensing someone here with an axe to grind in addition to poor grammar. Unless you have an instrument to take field measurement readings your assessment is pure speculation. If I were them and had previous "run ins" with the FCC the LAST thing I would do is make my OWN set of rules and regulations to abide by. The station gets out about 10-15 miles to the north and maybe 8 or so to the south and fairly well to the west which by my calculations is where Trenton is located. Any time I have scanned past WDDM I have never heard a spot in a foreign language but rather a HEAVY accent... if and when the "preggos" come on in Freehold this will all be a moot point...

I've gotten them in Trenton - with a 6 element yagi 4 stories in the air using a Sony DSP based tuner. Not impossible, just highly improbable for most radios.

 

[nd2023]

I can get them in Pennsylvania on a car radio during normal conditions. I could also hear it in Brooklyn.

 

[MickeyD]

Also I Noticed they are running commercials. Some of they I do not understand as they are in Indian language.

A few years ago they paid a "sort of fine" for advertising. They made a $50,000 donation to the US Treasury.

 

[MickeyD]

Nothing is new regarding Dhoom FM. A small signal filed in the books that can be heard in almost all of Central Jersey. This discussion about Dhoom has been on going for such a long time, and the fact that a rumor was for them to be on a New Brunswick translator on 104.7 FM was also in talks. I know a few small signaled stations that can pull an effort to cover a large area, but nothing compares to the monster of a limited signal Dhoom has.

Actually, they are changing frequency to 104.7 because of interference from a station that has increased power or something like that. 104.7 was supposed to be a LPFM in Point Pleasant but it was never built. The new Freeholf station on 89.3 I think.
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101373380&qnum=5230&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

 

[Deeman1710]

WDDM did not get a power increase and what you heard in PA had to be Tropo. They do not get are that far. Conditions must of been favorable when you heard it. The audio is at 110% on peaks and is not over modulated. The transmitter is a Bext 30 and 100.7 is a Bext 50. Even at a TPO of it's full 30 watts it would not reach PA under normal conditions. As is in any transmission line you have loss ,the measured TPO for 8.5 ERP is 23 watts. You can't have a TPO of 8.5 or 12.5 watts which it was at the FCC visit time and have that at the input of the antenna with the hard line loss and 15 ft 1/2" pig tail to 250ft of 7/8". The FCC agent who came out wasn't the brightest in understanding that. The antenna is a single bay Jampro at 62 meters (203 ft.) on the Telegraph hill tower behind the art center. The FCC did pay a visit 3 years ago and they were fined for public file and for running commercials instead of sponorship. They do say WDDM thanks the following sponsors for support of this radio station now. After all the calculations and measurements were determined the proposed fine for the transmitter was dissmissed. When Sal ran it he had a 500 watt amp in the basement when they would transmitt from the house studio in Hazlet. Sal was a pisser, may he rest in radio peace. You should of seen his house and his 1580 AM station which was in it and the 25 watt LPB transmitter he at in a trailer in his driveway with a long wire antenna. He just never gave up until his death, like Ed Beck. It was there life. WVRM WCNJ WDDM does have a crazy history of it's antenna and power out and transmitters

 

[MickeyD]

Also I Noticed they are running commercials. Some of they I do not understand as they are in Indian language.

I'm sensing someone here with an axe to grind in addition to poor grammar. Unless you have an instrument to take field measurement readings your assessment is pure speculation. If I were them and had previous "run ins" with the FCC the LAST thing I would do is make my OWN set of rules and regulations to abide by. The station gets out about 10-15 miles to the north and maybe 8 or so to the south and fairly well to the west which by my calculations is where Trenton is located. Any time I have scanned past WDDM I have never heard a spot in a foreign language but rather a HEAVY accent... if and when the "preggos" come on in Freehold this will all be a moot point...

They aren't Preggos anymore they immediatly sold the CP to the Catholic Church. All Jesus, All the time! That is why they are moving to 104.7.

 

[tom]

They aren't Preggos anymore they immediatly sold the CP to the Catholic Church. All Jesus, All the time! That is why they are moving to 104.7.

Nothing has been sold. There was talk that Domestic Church Media, owners of
the old WBUD, Trenton, now WFJS were going to buy it. They are not
"the Catholic Church" but so far nothing has happened.

 

[satech]

It must be "good conditions" again tonight, because WDDM's supposedly 8-watt translator on 100.7 MHz in Edison (W264BT) is blasting in loud and clear (and in distorted mono) here in northern Somerset County, well outside of their 40 dBu contour -- drowning out any chance of receiving WLEV or WHUD like I normally do, depending on which way I aim my antenna. I also noticed the translator itself is receiving a very clear full-quieting signal from WDDM's main 89.3 signal, unlike its normally hissy reception.

 

[Deeman1710]

The 89.3 signal is not always clear to the translator because of the distance and ERP of 89.3 thats why WDDM can't do stereo. The Fannon translator receiver is on narrow and attenuated by 10db to keep 89.5 out of the receiver. All the power levels are legal on both transmitters and the audio is clean in the audio chain from the studio to Homdel. Most of the music they play is distorted because of the way it was recorded. When they play newer stuff the audio is very clean soundng. This time of the year with temperature change FM, TV and the 6 meter band see a lot of tropo. If you have any other questions email me otherwise listen to another station and don't worry about distorted indian music to them it's clean. [email protected]

 

[satech]

All the power levels are legal on both transmitters and the audio is clean in the audio chain from the studio to Homdel. Most of the music they play is distorted because of the way it was recorded. When they play newer stuff the audio is very clean soundng.

What kind of audio processing is WDDM using? It sounds like some kind of wideband studio compressor running straight into a composite clipper. The modulation may be legal, but the levels and tonal balance are all over the place. They would sound worlds better even with a cheap low-end processor like a CRL Amigo or Inovonics David.