"HD AM in NJ/NY ?"

[R.F. Burns]

And Cal, you obviously work for one of the smaller station which feel they can no longer hit those fringe areas due to IBOC. Let's see what the courts decide, shall we? I know that in my suburban home there are no stations which I listened to that I can no longer listen to thanks to IBOC and you know what? Nobody I've talked to has said that their listening has been effected by IBOC. I won't believe a thing until these so called effected stations come out in the open. If there's an issue I'll hear about them soon enough. What I don't understand though is how I am hearing 740 with a 50 Kw IBOC station on either side of it and yet I get NO interference. I am not on Long Island so that can't be it. I must have some unusual radios here. By the way, here's a clue. I don't work for one of the IBOC stations either so I have no dog in this fight. I am an engineer however.

 

[calstymes]

R.F. Burns postulated:

And Cal, you obviously work for one of the smaller station which feel they can no longer hit those fringe areas due to IBOC.

I somewhat see why you might believe that. But I don't. However spectrum analyzers don't lie. Does your statement above indicate that you now concede there MAY be a problem even though YOU haven't heard anything about it?

By the way, here's a clue. I don't work for one of the IBOC stations either so I have no dog in this fight.

I have no dog. Cats are nice however.

I am an engineer however.

I know several engineers myself. They are pretty cool people.

 

[R.F. Burns]

Gee, WCBS AM has turned their IBOC on again. I guess I was right, after all.

 

[calstymes]

R. F. Burns stated:

Gee, WCBS AM has turned their IBOC on again.

Yeah, ain't it a shame? Their audio sounded SO good when it was off. Now it's back to business as usual, although I must say, their analog audio sounds a tiny bit better this time (but not much). Who knows, maybe I cleaned some of the wax out of my ears?

I guess I was right, after all.

You were right about what? Since you're an engineer you are obviously very smart and most likely always right, but to what exactly are you referring?

 

[R.F. Burns]

R. F. Burns stated:

Gee, WCBS AM has turned their IBOC on again.

Yeah, ain't it a shame? Their audio sounded SO good when it was off. Now it's back to business as usual, although I must say, their analog audio sounds a tiny bit better this time (but not much). Who knows, maybe I cleaned some of the wax out of my ears?

I guess I was right, after all.

You were right about what? Since you're an engineer you are obviously very smart and most likely always right, but to what exactly are you referring?

To answer your question it has been brought up in more than one thread on the internet that WCBS had turned off its IBOC exciter for good and some people couldn’t understand why they had a single encoder and no backup. I explained that this is still an experimental technology and whatever failed (I’ll have to find out because I am curious) Ibiquity repaired and the testing will continue. I hope this explains to you exactly what I was referring too. By the way I am not always right but while no genius I am smart. Thanks for noticing.

 

[calstymes]

R.F. Burns affirmed:

it has been brought up in more than one thread on the internet that WCBS had turned off its IBOC exciter for good

Well I never said that! While I had hoped for that to happen, at the same time I realized that it would have been a long shot.

and some people couldn’t understand why they had a single encoder and no backup.

I see.

I explained that this is still an experimental technology and whatever failed (I’ll have to find out because I am curious) Ibiquity repaired and the testing will continue. I hope this explains to you exactly what I was referring too. By the way I am not always right but while no genius I am smart. Thanks for noticing.

Well you are quite welcome. You would have to be smart. You're an engineer and my experience has been that engineers know everything about what needs to be known, right?

But I am surprised that you didn't know that iBiQuity doesn't get involved with supplying IBOC equipment to radio stations or the repair of same. No doubt the equipment manufacturer and provider did that, which might have been, let's see, Harris maybe?

Thank you for explaining what you were referring too. This has been a big help. And I hope you can find out about whatever failed soon. I had heard that it had something to do with the IBOC exciter (a Harris product?) but only the engineers would know for sure because they are, after all, very smart.

 

[R.F. Burns]

R.F. Burns affirmed:

it has been brought up in more than one thread on the internet that WCBS had turned off its IBOC exciter for good

Well I never said that! While I had hoped for that to happen, at the same time I realized that it would have been a long shot.

and some people couldn’t understand why they had a single encoder and no backup.

I see.

I explained that this is still an experimental technology and whatever failed (I’ll have to find out because I am curious) Ibiquity repaired and the testing will continue. I hope this explains to you exactly what I was referring too. By the way I am not always right but while no genius I am smart. Thanks for noticing.

Well you are quite welcome. You would have to be smart. You're an engineer and my experience has been that engineers know everything about what needs to be known, right?

But I am surprised that you didn't know that iBiQuity doesn't get involved with supplying IBOC equipment to radio stations or the repair of same. No doubt the equipment manufacturer and provider did that, which might have been, let's see, Harris maybe?

Thank you for explaining what you were referring too. This has been a big help. And I hope you can find out about whatever failed soon. I had heard that it had something to do with the IBOC exciter (a Harris product?) but only the engineers would know for sure because they are, after all, very smart.

Now I have a question for you Mr. Stymes. Why is this all so personal for you? You come across as a man with a chip on his shoulder and your not so subtle snipe at engineers who you believe have such inflated egos that they claim to know everything. I have tried to be respectful and to answer your questions when I could and what I get in response are comments from an obviously angry, sarchastic individule. Of course I know that Harrris manufactured the IBOC system under licence from Ibiquity. Sadly I can't tell you the name of the technician/technicians who performed the repair, even though from reading your comments I would guess that will be your next question. By the way, nowhere will you read in my former comments any statement where I claimed that you were the source of the rumour that IBOC would disappear from WCBS entirely. I think you should back off a bit and read what you write before you post. It's too easy to type something which you wouldn't otherwise say without the annonymity of a computer keyboard. I sincerely hope you aren't as bitter as your comments would have me believe you are. My comments are not meant to insult but sometimes other people make observations about our behavior which we otherwise overlook. Now back to HD radio.

 

[calstymes]

R.F. Burns asked:

Now I have a question for you Mr. Stymes. Why is this all so personal for you? You come across as a man with a chip on his shoulder

Yes, I do have a chip on my shoulder about the technical claims of AM HD radio. My existing AM radios worked fine until iBiQuity and the cartel decided to break them for me. THAT bothers me. New technology is supposed to be non-invasive and backwardly compatible. AM IBOC is neither. Just ask Tom Wells about that. He will give you all the engineering details you could possibly require to prove that assertion. As for me, I have my ears and observations.

and your not so subtle snipe at engineers who you believe have such inflated egos that they claim to know everything.

Ummm, as I said previously:

I know several engineers myself and as a rule they ARE pretty cool people.

I have nothing but respect for engineers and they ARE very cool people.

But some engineers DO have inflated egos and need to make it clear to the rest of us who are not engineers that they are more knowledgeable than we are about these issues. Not only did you tell us you were an engineer:

I am an engineer however.

But you also told us you were smart:

I am not always right but while no genius I am smart.

And that prompted me to say:

You would have to be smart. You're an engineer and my experience has been that engineers know everything about what needs to be known, right?

Is it a snipe? Not really. You told us that you are an engineer and that you are smart. I was simply feeling very inferior and reacting to what you told us.

I have tried to be respectful and to answer your questions when I could and what I get in response are comments from an obviously angry, sarchastic individule.

Any hint of sarchasm you pick up from this individule is strictly all in good fun and is given with a winck and a smyle.

Of course I know that Harrris manufactured the IBOC system under licence from Ibiquity. Sadly I can't tell you the name of the technician/technicians who performed the repair, even though from reading your comments I would guess that will be your next question.

But of course not! Why in the world would I ask you that? I was simply reacting to what you said here:

I explained that this is still an experimental technology and whatever failed (I’ll have to find out because I am curious) Ibiquity repaired and the testing will continue.

To me, this indicated that you thought iBiQuity repaired the problem. All I said back to you was:

I am surprised that you didn't know that iBiQuity doesn't get involved with supplying IBOC equipment to radio stations or the repair of same. No doubt the equipment manufacturer and provider did that, which might have been, let's see, Harris maybe?

Since I really didn't know whether it was Harris or not, I was guessing, but I KNEW it wasn't iBiQuity that would have repaired it.

By the way, nowhere will you read in my former comments any statement where I claimed that you were the source of the rumour that IBOC would disappear from WCBS entirely.

I never said you did. You had said:

Gee, WCBS AM has turned their IBOC on again.

I guess I was right, after all.

And I asked:

You were right about what?

To which you replied:

it has been brought up in more than one thread on the internet that WCBS had turned off its IBOC exciter for good

To which I replied:

Well I never said that! While I had hoped for that to happen, at the same time I realized that it would have been a long shot.

I simply said that I never said it, not that you said that I had said it.

I think you should back off a bit and read what you write before you post.

Ok, I will do that from now on.

It's too easy to type something which you wouldn't otherwise say without the annonymity of a computer keyboard.

Ah, the beauty of the internet, eh?

I sincerely hope you aren't as bitter as your comments would have me believe you are.

Nah, I'm just funning with you. But I am very upset that my AM radios are now, or will soon be boat anchors if AM HD is approved.

My comments are not meant to insult but sometimes other people make observations about our behavior which we otherwise overlook.

I see.

Now back to HD radio.

No please! Don't make me do that!

 

[amfmsw]

Cal is right. From my home, the ENTIRE low end of the AM dial is a disaster. It's ruined. I've got IBOC hash from 590 to 730! IBOC on 610 WIP, 640 WWJZ, 660 WFAN, 710 WOR. Forget using my wideband hi-fi AM Zenith's from the '60's. They're nothing but trophy's on the shelf now.

 

[R.F. Burns]

R.F. Burns asked:

Yes, I do have a chip on my shoulder about the technical claims of AM HD radio. My existing AM radios worked fine until iBiQuity and the cartel decided to break them for me. THAT bothers me. New technology is supposed to be non-invasive and backwardly compatible. AM IBOC is neither. Just ask Tom Wells about that. He will give you all the engineering details you could possibly require to prove that assertion. As for me, I have my ears and observations.

Funny, I don’t have any problems receiving stations I once did even with the 4 IBOC 50KW stations in my area. I even use a wood boxed Philco radio, Which stations that you used to listen to can you no longer receive?

:

I know several engineers myself and as a rule they ARE pretty cool people.

I have nothing but respect for engineers and they ARE very cool people.

But some engineers DO have inflated egos and need to make it clear to the rest of us who are not engineers that they are more knowledgeable than we are about these issues. Not only did you tell us you were an engineer:

Because by mentioning that I am an engineer I admit who I am instead of making allegations and not admitting who I am as so many of the anti IBOC people in here do. It’s called honesty and too few in here will admit where their anti bias comes from. As an example, if they DX fine, if they own stations which suffer from IBOC competition fine, but when I am told that every radio a person owns is rendered useless because of IBOC I have my doubts which are based on my own experience.

But you also told us you were smart:

You must be kidding me. Do you think I said that out of the blue? Talk about a short attention span. That was my sarcastic response to your inane statement.

I think you should back off a bit and read what you write before you post.

Ok, I will do that from now on.

It's too easy to type something which you wouldn't otherwise say without the annonymity of a computer keyboard.

Ah, the beauty of the internet, eh?

Nah, I'm just funning with you. But I am very upset that my AM radios are now, or will soon be boat anchors if AM HD is approved.

As I’ve said in here, AM IBOC has a long way to go before I can see it becoming common place. The low bit rate artifacts make it unacceptable to me. But, AM radio must do something to remain viable because the audience for stations on that band are aging and will soon disappear and young people do not listen to AM radio. FM is another matter. I am very satisfied with FM IBOC and feel it stands a good chance of succeeding.

 

[calstymes]

R. F. Burns questioned:

Funny, I don’t have any problems receiving stations I once did even with the 4 IBOC 50KW stations in my area. I even use a wood boxed Philco radio, Which stations that you used to listen to can you no longer receive?

Hmmmm. Maybe it is the wood box of your Philco. I understand the number of mhos in wood is not very high.

But seriously, I listen to radio when I am MOBILE and I do a lot of driving. You can hear this atrocious buzz all over the AM band on channels up to 30 KHz. away from the flame throwers in any given market that are running IBOC. Complaints HAVE been filed with the FCC. You'll hear about them soon.

by mentioning that I am an engineer I admit who I am instead of making allegations and not admitting who I am as so many of the anti IBOC people in here do.

Oh, and several IBOC supporters in here don't do that?

As for allegations, I don't make them. Never have, never will. As a general rule, I don't say it unless it's true, although I must admit, I was led astray and when I expressed an obviously incorrect opinion about clouseau he called me on it. My bad. But usually, if it is my opinion I will say it is my opinion. Otherwise, if I don't say it is an opinion then it is a truth whether you or anyone else in this here message board believes me or not.

It’s called honesty and too few in here will admit where their anti bias comes from. As an example, if they DX fine, if they own stations which suffer from IBOC competition fine,

I am neither an AM DXer nor do I own a station which suffers from IBOC competition. Wow, that's a new term that I never heard before! "IBOC competition". I love it! In other words, if I'm a big station and I want to blow my smaller neighbor on an adjacent channel out of the water all I have to do is put on IBOC? Yessss!!!!!!

but when I am told that every radio a person owns is rendered useless because of IBOC I have my doubts which are based on my own experience.

I didn't say that "every radio" is rendered useless. I said that there are problems with AM IBOC in large markets that cause formerly listenable smaller stations in many areas adjacent to those large markets to become unlistenable and because of that this technology is neither non-destructive nor backwardly compatible but yet it is being forced down the throats of a disinterested public.

Yes, I DO resent that.

But you also told us you were smart:

You must be kidding me. Do you think I said that out of the blue? Talk about a short attention span. That was my sarcastic response to your inane statement.

Now which inane statement was that? I make several of those (sometimes by design) on a daily basis to all sorts of people.

As I’ve said in here, AM IBOC has a long way to go before I can see it becoming common place. The low bit rate artifacts make it unacceptable to me.

Well, I'm glad that SOMETHING makes it unacceptable to you even if it is only the low bit rate.

But, AM radio must do something to remain viable because the audience for stations on that band are aging and will soon disappear and young people do not listen to AM radio.

It's called using competent people to provide good programming in order to keep audiences interested in listening. What a concept! Using humans to provide programming. Now that is not an original idea! I believe a very smart engineer may have thought of that.

FM is another matter. I am very satisfied with FM IBOC and feel it stands a good chance of succeeding.

I agree. FM IBOC is another matter entirely. I generally view it as yet another solution looking for a problem to solve although in some instances the programming diversity that is available could become interesting in the future if they would employ humans to talk to audiences. I haven't really been interested enough in the automated programming that is being offered on these new HD channels to want to do any in depth or serious listening.