J
JohnW
Guest
WDCX 990 AM in Rochester has had the IBOC off for the last few days. Has Crawford seen the light?
</wishful thinking>
</wishful thinking>
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Don't get too giddy. iBiquity Decepticon exciters are notoriously unreliable, and break down with laughable regularity. Or need firmware upgrades. Or the barometric pressure variations are too much for them. Or something.
And Crawford VP Engineering Cris Alexander is a famous HD Radio bootlicker, constantly filing ludicrously optimistic pro-IBOC stories to RW. Anything he can do to keep his digital daytimer hissing (and sounding like crap with 990's lovely 4.5 kHz analog bandpass) he'll do.
And Crawford VP Engineering Cris Alexander is a famous HD Radio bootlicker, constantly filing ludicrously optimistic pro-IBOC stories to RW. Anything he can do to keep his digital daytimer hissing (and sounding like crap with 990's lovely 4.5 kHz analog bandpass) he'll do.
Savage said:...Crawford VP Engineering Cris Alexander is a famous HD Radio bootlicker, constantly filing ludicrously optimistic pro-IBOC stories to RW. Anything he can do to keep his digital daytimer hissing (and sounding like crap with 990's lovely 4.5 kHz analog bandpass) he'll do.
Bootlicker? Boot. Licker. "Toady" would have sufficed, but you went for the slam dunk. Phew.
BTW, 990's audio does indeed sound harsh to the point of being unlistenable. Then again, one hears a lot of that on the AM band these days. Pity. Their daytime RF used to get out quite well back Pre-HD, clearly listenable just east of Buffalo in Lancaster.
Yep: bootlicker. Toady. Conspirator with a corrupt FCC and ibiquity. Whatever colorful descriptive turn you like. Yet another Tom Ray-esque cheerleader for a fantasy world where an elite echelon of stations get a free license to interfere with others, all for the irrelevant aim of pushing HD Radio - the grimly toxic cure for a nonexistent disease that's not afflicting AM.
I have a special enmity for Alexander because, in the admirable fashion of "kick 'em when they're down," he tried to marginalize WYSL in an inexplicably self-congratulatory and insufferable article scoffing at HD adjacent-channel interference. It ran in the onanistic Crawford house organ "The Local Oscillator" and mocked WYSL by name while it essentially claimed, with utterly no field data on which to base its arguments, that the disastrous adjacent-channel problems were made up by us. As if we would do something like that, or that we don't have better things to do with our time.
I have observed before and will do so again now: publicly mocking another broadcaster's legitmate concerns simply because they dare to oppose the unholy grail of HD Radio is a markedly ugly and non-Christian thing to do. Don Crawford should have fired Alexander for it.
I have a special enmity for Alexander because, in the admirable fashion of "kick 'em when they're down," he tried to marginalize WYSL in an inexplicably self-congratulatory and insufferable article scoffing at HD adjacent-channel interference. It ran in the onanistic Crawford house organ "The Local Oscillator" and mocked WYSL by name while it essentially claimed, with utterly no field data on which to base its arguments, that the disastrous adjacent-channel problems were made up by us. As if we would do something like that, or that we don't have better things to do with our time.
I have observed before and will do so again now: publicly mocking another broadcaster's legitmate concerns simply because they dare to oppose the unholy grail of HD Radio is a markedly ugly and non-Christian thing to do. Don Crawford should have fired Alexander for it.
C'mon now. Do you really expect a C(-h)ris to be C(+h)ristian in his attitude?
PS - Merry C(h)ristmas!
PS - Merry C(h)ristmas!
S
scooterodell
Guest
As to 990's present status, due to issues with the microwave STL, we are getting audio to the transmitter site over the phone line with a pair of Comrex units. That takes out our ability to operate the remote control, so we're stuck in night mode 24/7 until everything is fixed. It also take the quality of our audio down a notch (or two or three). I'm not sure if the HD is off completely, but I know I can't pick it up at the studio.
As for the Cris Alexander... I don't know the man. I'm way too far down the totem pole. I doubt, however, that Don Crawford pays much attention to the articles Cris writes for the Oscillator or any other publication.
As for the Cris Alexander... I don't know the man. I'm way too far down the totem pole. I doubt, however, that Don Crawford pays much attention to the articles Cris writes for the Oscillator or any other publication.
Yes, Scooter, the HD signal is off as I'm able to pick up ESPN 1000 out of Chicago without white noise interference. Now before anyone asks, I do work with Scooter @ Crawford and, despite not being able to call the remote control due to the STL issues, we still do a nightly visual check of our towers. I'm generally the one who does this as I live just about a mile and a half from the transmitter site out here in Brockport.
Not that I give a rip what Cris Alexander, or anyone else at your organization, thinks regarding this. But your company can't escape accountability for what your engineering executives say publicly about our station and its HD interference issues with a lame dismissal like "Don Crawford doesn't read The Local Onanist."
The comments made by Alexander in TLO were borderline libelous. Not to say unkind, unprofessional and decidely un-Christian.
When your ego-addled engineering executives get out of line like this, they reflect unfavorably on everyone in your organization. Alexander makes qman and Scooterodell look bad too. So don't try to shrug it off.
That goes for Don Crawford too.
The comments made by Alexander in TLO were borderline libelous. Not to say unkind, unprofessional and decidely un-Christian.
When your ego-addled engineering executives get out of line like this, they reflect unfavorably on everyone in your organization. Alexander makes qman and Scooterodell look bad too. So don't try to shrug it off.
That goes for Don Crawford too.
Savage said:When your ego-addled engineering executives get out of line like this, they reflect unfavorably on everyone in your organization. Alexander makes qman and Scooterodell look bad too. So don't try to shrug it off.
That goes for Don Crawford too.
Easy, Counsellor. Does that mean that Jim Pastrick and Bill Lacy are tarred by their "association" with Farid? Ditto Norton, Rob Lederman, JP, Russo, Shredd and Ragan, etc.?
Be careful you don't join the ranks of "ego-addled executives" just because of your distaste for Cris Alexander.
No, I think I was trying to make two points:
a. If you don't distance yourself from unprofessional and ugly behavior committed by some loudmouth in a position of authority with your company, that amounts to tacit agreement with that behavior. I understand they get a paycheck from Crawford but still, I'd be embarassed by Alexander's choosing to ridicule another station operator publicly over such an asinine issue as HD Radio. Maybe we operate on different ethical standards compared with Crawford people.
b. Don Crawford doesn't get to escape responsibility for the public statements of his people, particularly those in management, by claiming he doesn't read them. Alexander made his comments as a Crawford engineering bigshot in an official Crawford newsletter. The buck stops with Mr. Crawford, legally, ethically and morally.
BTW: that's great that you're confirming tower light operation visually. But how are you controlling your transmitter? If you can't perform pattern changes from the operating location, how are you able to turn the transmitter on and off? How do you know whether the system is over or under power? I'm pretty familiar with that 6-tower array, having worked with it (and the "econo" 1/4" sampling system installed by Malrite) in the field for over two years. Unless it's been rebuilt since about 1991, you want to keep a close watch on it during winter weather. Just a word to the wise.
a. If you don't distance yourself from unprofessional and ugly behavior committed by some loudmouth in a position of authority with your company, that amounts to tacit agreement with that behavior. I understand they get a paycheck from Crawford but still, I'd be embarassed by Alexander's choosing to ridicule another station operator publicly over such an asinine issue as HD Radio. Maybe we operate on different ethical standards compared with Crawford people.
b. Don Crawford doesn't get to escape responsibility for the public statements of his people, particularly those in management, by claiming he doesn't read them. Alexander made his comments as a Crawford engineering bigshot in an official Crawford newsletter. The buck stops with Mr. Crawford, legally, ethically and morally.
BTW: that's great that you're confirming tower light operation visually. But how are you controlling your transmitter? If you can't perform pattern changes from the operating location, how are you able to turn the transmitter on and off? How do you know whether the system is over or under power? I'm pretty familiar with that 6-tower array, having worked with it (and the "econo" 1/4" sampling system installed by Malrite) in the field for over two years. Unless it's been rebuilt since about 1991, you want to keep a close watch on it during winter weather. Just a word to the wise.
S
scooterodell
Guest
Savage said:No, I think I was trying to make two points:
a. If you don't distance yourself from unprofessional and ugly behavior committed by some loudmouth in a position of authority with your company, that amounts to tacit agreement with that behavior. I understand they get a paycheck from Crawford but still, I'd be embarassed by Alexander's choosing to ridicule another station operator publicly over such an asinine issue as HD Radio. Maybe we operate on different ethical standards compared with Crawford people.
b. Don Crawford doesn't get to escape responsibility for the public statements of his people, particularly those in management, by claiming he doesn't read them. Alexander made his comments as a Crawford engineering bigshot in an official Crawford newsletter. The buck stops with Mr. Crawford, legally, ethically and morally.
BTW: that's great that you're confirming tower light operation visually. But how are you controlling your transmitter? If you can't perform pattern changes from the operating location, how are you able to turn the transmitter on and off? How do you know whether the system is over or under power? I'm pretty familiar with that 6-tower array, having worked with it (and the "econo" 1/4" sampling system installed by Malrite) in the field for over two years. Unless it's been rebuilt since about 1991, you want to keep a close watch on it during winter weather. Just a word to the wise.
A. I was distancing myself by saying "I don't know the man." I don't know Cris, so I won't be coming to his defense or attacking him. I'm not in a position to pass judgment--negative or positive--on him any more than I am on Mr. Savage himself. I prefer to be known by the company I keep... the people I spend time on this board with: Savage, Rox, et. al. I hope my reputation isn't forever sullied by comments made by some guy in Colorado who happens to draw a paycheck from the same company I do.
B. I'm not saying that Don Crawford has escaped all responsibility. I'm just saying he is likely unaware of the issue. Were you to write to the man and lay your case out before him, you just might get the type of response you're looking for.
BTW: We're taking readings manually... I've made the trip out there myself several times, and I know the engineer is keeping a close eye on things.
C'mon, barrister. Give these two guys a break. This isn't a courtroom, it's a message board. Nobody's under oath, thankfully. It's not a deposition. A little bit of compassion. You've made your points clear and convincingly stated your case re: IBOC. From what's been written, most posters concur with you. No need to castigate two Crawford employees as aiding and abetting a guy or policy they may know nothing about. These guys come on this board and walk a fine line commenting about their station and the market. Easy does it.
Fair enough, all. If I'm being too harsh with Crawford Rochester employees I apologize. It's been a tough year fighting the HD Radio battle. We've lost $50K in revenue due to loss of nighttime service thanks to WBZ-HD; fortunately we've been able to compensate but $50K lost is $50K lost. Try having some idiotic science project vacuum YOUR wallet to the tune of $50K and ask yourself how you'd feel.
When Crawford, officially or otherwise, chooses to taunt us and marginalize us because we oppose HD Radio out of sheer self-preservation, that's nasty. And unnecessary.
You guys are welcome to work for whoever you want. I've already made my points about what I think of your company. Just remember, as you cash those Crawford paychecks, whatever goes around comes around. So keep your heads down.
When Crawford, officially or otherwise, chooses to taunt us and marginalize us because we oppose HD Radio out of sheer self-preservation, that's nasty. And unnecessary.
You guys are welcome to work for whoever you want. I've already made my points about what I think of your company. Just remember, as you cash those Crawford paychecks, whatever goes around comes around. So keep your heads down.
I spent 24 of the best years of my life on the air on 1460 am. Unfortunately, ownership decided to sell and new ownership had no use for me, so that meant that I had to find a new place to ply my trade. When other stations I applied to dismissed me as someone with no experience (imagine that! 24 years on the air and they told me I had NO experience), Crawford gave (and still gives me) the opportunity to do something I enjoy. Even though I went from full time and management at 3WG to part time employee, I am really enjoying my time at Crawford and enjoying the people I work with. For the record I've met NO ONE at the corporate level although I do get a birthday and employee anniversary card from Mr. Crawford once a year (oh and a Christmas card, too.).
Savage said:It's been a tough year fighting the HD Radio battle. We've lost $50K in revenue due to loss of nighttime service thanks to WBZ-HD; fortunately we've been able to compensate but $50K lost is $50K lost. Try having some idiotic science project vacuum YOUR wallet to the tune of $50K and ask yourself how you'd feel.
Mr. Savage:
Here's hoping that 2009 is a better year for your station. I quite understand how you feel about HD radio, especially after reading that WYSL lost $50,000 in revenue thanks to a corporate decision in Boston.
I also can understand your anger and frustration resulting from comments made against your radio station by a top executive of a so-called "Christian" operation. We can both agree that 1040 has far more listeners than 990 AM ever will, despite what Arbitron claims. Therefore let 990AM go ahead and install all the “toys” it desires. In the long-run it's the product that will determine what stations are successful and which ones will fail. I'm confident that your station will be around for many years.
I have gotten many nice comments along the lines of VOR's on this board and elsewhere. I thank all of you for your support and indulgence.
And best to all for 2009. Let's hope it's a year for honesty, professionalism and rededication throughout our industry, as we weather some bumps. I'm confident we'll make it through to the other side in good shape.
This fine fraternity of radio folks, as evidenced by the posts all over the board, and the sturm-und-drang of VTing, telescoping staffs, corporate dithering, loss of localism, HD Radio and other follies, all bring to mind the memorable quote from Winston Churchill:
"Americans (radio people) can always be counted on to do the right thing. After they have exhausted every other option."
And best to all for 2009. Let's hope it's a year for honesty, professionalism and rededication throughout our industry, as we weather some bumps. I'm confident we'll make it through to the other side in good shape.
This fine fraternity of radio folks, as evidenced by the posts all over the board, and the sturm-und-drang of VTing, telescoping staffs, corporate dithering, loss of localism, HD Radio and other follies, all bring to mind the memorable quote from Winston Churchill:
"Americans (radio people) can always be counted on to do the right thing. After they have exhausted every other option."
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