HD Radio recption review...North side

[k9ez]

I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the chance to listen to some of the HD signals....

104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD light was lit.

99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting, and what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a little compressed, but the highs were definitly better. It could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to tell. Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though, the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".

95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No additional compression noted.

97.1 nothing

101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.

92.3 nothing

91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality

102.7 nothing

105.1 nothing

92.3 nothing

1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over to digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to remember them being stronger.

1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio quality, people will like the difference.

780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.

Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I expected better digital reception, all were a little spotty except for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there for quite a while.

Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.

 

[mario]

Great Review!! Thanks.

B96 96.3 also in HD.

> I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
>
> 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> light was lit.
>
> 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
> mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting, and
> what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> little compressed, but the highs were definitly better. It
> could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to tell.
> Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
>
> 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> additional compression noted.
>
> 97.1 nothing
>
> 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
>
> 102.7 nothing
>
> 105.1 nothing
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over to
> digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to remember
> them being stronger.
>
> 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> quality, people will like the difference.
>
> 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
>
> Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I expected
> better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there for
> quite a while.
>
> Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
>

 

[ultravox]

> I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
>
> 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> light was lit.
>
> 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
> mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting, and
> what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> little compressed, but the highs were definitly better. It
> could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to tell.
> Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
>
> 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> additional compression noted.
>
> 97.1 nothing
>
> 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
>
> 102.7 nothing
>
> 105.1 nothing
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over to
> digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to remember
> them being stronger.
>
> 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> quality, people will like the difference.
>
> 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
>
> Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I expected
> better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there for
> quite a while.
>
> Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
>

If you don't mind, how did and where did you get a HD radio? I been looking for one and can't find one anywhere. even e-bay didn't have one and best buy didn't know what I was talking about. I would very much apperciative if you can tell me where to get one. Thanks!

 

[k9ez]

> > I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> > chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
> >
> > 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> > seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> > McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> > light was lit.
> >
> > 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
>
> > mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting,
> and
> > what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> > little compressed, but the highs were definitly better.
> It
> > could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to
> tell.
> > Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> > the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> > and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
> >
> > 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> > additional compression noted.
> >
> > 97.1 nothing
> >
> > 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
> >
> > 92.3 nothing
> >
> > 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
> >
> > 102.7 nothing
> >
> > 105.1 nothing
> >
> > 92.3 nothing
> >
> > 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> > analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over
> to
> > digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to
> remember
> > them being stronger.
> >
> > 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> > kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> > HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> > quality, people will like the difference.
> >
> > 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
> >
> > Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I
> expected
> > better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> > for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> > actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there
> for
> > quite a while.
> >
> > Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
> >
>
> If you don't mind, how did and where did you get a HD radio?
> I been looking for one and can't find one anywhere. even
> e-bay didn't have one and best buy didn't know what I was
> talking about. I would very much apperciative if you can
> tell me where to get one. Thanks!
>

I dont mind at all.. I just Googled and came up with a Panasonic CQ-C8901U at eTronics.com for $329. Delivered the next day.

The unit is NOT MULTICASTING capapable. You may want to keep that in mind.

 

[k9ez]

> Great Review!! Thanks.
>
> B96 96.3 also in HD.


Ahh yes, they didnt show up as such. I guess I need to get closer in.



>
> > I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> > chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
> >
> > 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> > seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> > McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> > light was lit.
> >
> > 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
>
> > mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting,
> and
> > what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> > little compressed, but the highs were definitly better.
> It
> > could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to
> tell.
> > Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> > the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> > and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
> >
> > 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> > additional compression noted.
> >
> > 97.1 nothing
> >
> > 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
> >
> > 92.3 nothing
> >
> > 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
> >
> > 102.7 nothing
> >
> > 105.1 nothing
> >
> > 92.3 nothing
> >
> > 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> > analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over
> to
> > digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to
> remember
> > them being stronger.
> >
> > 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> > kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> > HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> > quality, people will like the difference.
> >
> > 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
> >
> > Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I
> expected
> > better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> > for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> > actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there
> for
> > quite a while.
> >
> > Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
> >
>

 

[dave73]

> I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
>
> 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> light was lit.
>
> 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
> mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting, and
> what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> little compressed, but the highs were definitly better. It
> could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to tell.
> Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
>
> 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> additional compression noted.
>
> 97.1 nothing
>
> 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
Don't expect to get 92.3 in McHenry County. 92.3 has their transmitter in Burnham, IL and they have nulls mainly to the northeast, west, and southwest.
>
> 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
>
> 102.7 nothing
>
> 105.1 nothing
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over to
> digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to remember
> them being stronger.
>
During the daytime, 1200 aims much of their signal southwest in order to protect WOWO's daytime 50kw signal and I believe WKRS up in Waukegan. Night time, don't expect to hear it in most areas as it's currently only 1kw at night and mainly aims their signal northwest. I barely get 1200 (WRTO) at night on the north side of Chicago with WOAI pounding on 1200. From my experience on the analog radios, I lose Chicago's 1200 in Lansing and in NW Indiana it's only heard in the far northern most part of Hammond at night, around Horseshoe Casino.
>
> 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> quality, people will like the difference.
>
> 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
>
> Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I expected
> better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there for
> quite a while.
>
> Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
>

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> I drove from Wisconsin to McHenry last night and had the
> chance to listen to some of the HD signals....
>
> 104.3 What is a big surprise is that in Wisconsin, WJMK
> seems to be the strongest ANALOG signal, but even in
> McHenry, the digital never kicked in, even though the HD
> light was lit.
>
> 99.5 (Multicasting) the earliest to kick into full digital
> mode. I wanted to hear a station that was multicasting, and
> what the main HD signal sounded like. The HD sounded a
> little compressed, but the highs were definitly better. It
> could be the processing or the lower bit rate, hard to tell.
> Either way the sound seemed better. Interesting though,
> the RDS area for HD showed something like a serial number
> and not some tag line, like "Americas Country station".
>
> 95.5 (Multicasting) Smooth transition, clean audio. No
> additional compression noted.
>
> 97.1 nothing
>
> 101.9 kicked in fairly early. clean audio as well.
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 91.5 kicked in, no real difference in audio quality
>
> 102.7 nothing
>
> 105.1 nothing
>
> 92.3 nothing
>
> 1200 the HD light is lit in Wisconsin, even though the
> analog signal is barely listenable. Never switched over to
> digital. Did these guys drop in power? I seem to remember
> them being stronger.
>
> 1690 HD light lit in Wisconsin, but not enough signal to
> kick over. I really want to hear what they sound like in
> HD. If it is anything like our 1640 Radio Disneys audio
> quality, people will like the difference.
>
> 780 Get them in HD in Milwaukee already.
>
> Bottom line -- Granted McHenry is way north, but I expected
> better digital reception, all were a little spotty except
> for 99.5. It takes quite a while for the HD signal to
> actually kick in. The HD light and station ID are there for
> quite a while.
>
> Sorry I dont have my multicast radio yet.
>

My dad lives in the Woodstock area and I travel to Lake Geneva a lot. The Chicago FMs are much weaker over there then they are here even though they are listenable. Northern McHenry County and southern Walworth County is the very edge of the coverage to the northwest.
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[Link]

> > >
> > > 97.1 nothing
> > >
It will be interesting to see how 96.9 in zion interferes with
the drives HD.

 

[Rocco]

> Ahh yes, they didnt show up as such. I guess I need to get
> closer in.

I think that's a fallacy with IBOC HD radio, and that is when you're close enough in to get the digital signal, analog sounds fine! Out where the digital signal could really be of some benefit because of a noisy analog signal, the digital signal is not there.

Your experience seems to bear this out.

 

[eggsdannythomas]

> When you're close enough in to get the digital signal,
> analog sounds fine! Out where the digital signal could
> really be of some benefit because of a noisy analog signal,
> it's not there.

Sounds like sucky technology that's not gonna make it. And what is the point of buying an HD radio if you cannot hear the multicasts?

Man, when are those internet radios coming out, all this XM, HD and Sirius are crap. AM died a few years back. Like AM Stereo before it, IBOC is too little too late, terrestrial radio is a dying technology. Sad really.

 

[chris]

I'm guessing he bought the radio before stations started multicasting.

Chris

> And what is the point of buying an HD radio if you cannot
> hear the multicasts?

 

[chris]

What I'm wondering...is if the IBOC sidebands of 97.1 WDRV are interfering with 96.9 WWDV... I think that would be the bigger problem. I can't wait to see what happens when both of those have the IBOC fired up.

Chris

> It will be interesting to see how 96.9 in zion interferes
> with the drives HD.

 

[dave73]

> What I'm wondering...is if the IBOC sidebands of 97.1 WDRV
> are interfering with 96.9 WWDV... I think that would be the
> bigger problem. I can't wait to see what happens when both
> of those have the IBOC fired up.
>
> Chris
>
I would expect it to be more of a problem in Lake & McHenry Counties in Illinois since 96.9 & 97.1 are short-spaced around that area. I don't see 96.9 being a problem in Kenosha County since that area is fringe area for 97.1.

 

[RockManAC]

> I would expect it to be more of a problem in Lake & McHenry
> Counties in Illinois since 96.9 & 97.1 are short-spaced
> around that area. I don't see 96.9 being a problem in
> Kenosha County since that area is fringe area for 97.1.

Although, WDRV IS directional away from Lake County. That's why they simulcast on the 2 (has been that way since WNIB, except for the year or so as a simulcast of WTMX). I'm actually more worried about 96.9 throwing interference onto 97.1 since I believe 96.9 in ND.

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[PhilJSmith67]

WDRV and WWDV

Currently, WDRV is "mildly directional" to protect WWDV and "something" in the 60º direction from Chicago (perhaps WLAV-FM?). WWDV is more sharply directional, with the deepest of its null directly toward the Hancock.

FCC 54dBu service contour for WWDV Zion

Bonneville has an app to keep WDRV at approximately the same power and HAAT, but with a less directional pattern, which would theoretically shift the breakeven point between 96.9 and 97.1 farther north.

 

[k9ez]

> I'm guessing he bought the radio before stations started
> multicasting.
>
> Chris
>
> > And what is the point of buying an HD radio if you cannot
>
> > hear the multicasts?
>


I had to get SOMETHING in to set out delay in our HD stations.... and for processing. I will have a multicast radio in a few weeks.

 

[dave73]

> > I would expect it to be more of a problem in Lake &
> McHenry
> > Counties in Illinois since 96.9 & 97.1 are short-spaced
> > around that area. I don't see 96.9 being a problem in
> > Kenosha County since that area is fringe area for 97.1.
>
> Although, WDRV IS directional away from Lake County. That's
> why they simulcast on the 2 (has been that way since WNIB,
> except for the year or so as a simulcast of WTMX). I'm
> actually more worried about 96.9 throwing interference onto
> 97.1 since I believe 96.9 in ND.
>
> -A
>
Actually 96.9 is even more directional than 97.1 is. I don't know if 97.1 switched to the new directional pattern, but the new pattern has the null to the NW. 96.9 is shortspaced with not only 97.1, but 96.5 & 97.3 in Milwaukee. 96.9 has their primary contour in Lake & McHenry Counties in Illinois, but Kenosha & Racine Counties in Wisconsin. The only problem that might come out of this is 96.9 is on a more powerful, but shorter tower and likely to interfere with 97.1 in areas where primary contours overlap.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> > > I would expect it to be more of a problem in Lake &
> > McHenry
> > > Counties in Illinois since 96.9 & 97.1 are short-spaced
> > > around that area. I don't see 96.9 being a problem in
> > > Kenosha County since that area is fringe area for 97.1.
> >
> > Although, WDRV IS directional away from Lake County.
> That's
> > why they simulcast on the 2 (has been that way since WNIB,
>
> > except for the year or so as a simulcast of WTMX). I'm
> > actually more worried about 96.9 throwing interference
> onto
> > 97.1 since I believe 96.9 in ND.
> >
> > -A
> >
> Actually 96.9 is even more directional than 97.1 is. I
> don't know if 97.1 switched to the new directional pattern,
> but the new pattern has the null to the NW. 96.9 is
> shortspaced with not only 97.1, but 96.5 & 97.3 in
> Milwaukee. 96.9 has their primary contour in Lake & McHenry
> Counties in Illinois, but Kenosha & Racine Counties in
> Wisconsin. The only problem that might come out of this is
> 96.9 is on a more powerful, but shorter tower and likely to
> interfere with 97.1 in areas where primary contours overlap.
>
Here's some WWDV signal observations:

Tower is located about a mile or so north of the IL/WI state line.

Makes 97.1 pretty much unlistenable (except in a car) from just south of Waukegan north. You can start to get 97.1 in a car once you're into Zion. Its also possible to get 97.1 in a car in Racine, WI but the bleed over is very noticable. These are observations I made from 2001-2002 when 96.9 simmulcasted WTMX and both stations had different programming.

In January 2005 I was visiting my mom at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan. A few miles west of downtown. In her hospital room I was able to recieve 97.1 but could not get 96.9 at all.

Here's a pic of WWDV's tower that I took while driving by http://www.wisconsinbroadcasting.com/Sites/Jeremy/pics/WWDVtower.jpg

<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[dave73]

> > > > I would expect it to be more of a problem in Lake &
> > > McHenry
> > > > Counties in Illinois since 96.9 & 97.1 are
> short-spaced
> > > > around that area. I don't see 96.9 being a problem in
>
> > > > Kenosha County since that area is fringe area for
> 97.1.
> > >
> > > Although, WDRV IS directional away from Lake County.
> > That's
> > > why they simulcast on the 2 (has been that way since
> WNIB,
> >
> > > except for the year or so as a simulcast of WTMX). I'm
> > > actually more worried about 96.9 throwing interference
> > onto
> > > 97.1 since I believe 96.9 in ND.
> > >
> > > -A
> > >
> > Actually 96.9 is even more directional than 97.1 is. I
> > don't know if 97.1 switched to the new directional
> pattern,
> > but the new pattern has the null to the NW. 96.9 is
> > shortspaced with not only 97.1, but 96.5 & 97.3 in
> > Milwaukee. 96.9 has their primary contour in Lake &
> McHenry
> > Counties in Illinois, but Kenosha & Racine Counties in
> > Wisconsin. The only problem that might come out of this
> is
> > 96.9 is on a more powerful, but shorter tower and likely
> to
> > interfere with 97.1 in areas where primary contours
> overlap.
> >
> Here's some WWDV signal observations:
>
> Tower is located about a mile or so north of the IL/WI state
> line.
>
> Makes 97.1 pretty much unlistenable (except in a car) from
> just south of Waukegan north. You can start to get 97.1 in a
> car once you're into Zion. Its also possible to get 97.1 in
> a car in Racine, WI but the bleed over is very noticable.
> These are observations I made from 2001-2002 when 96.9
> simmulcasted WTMX and both stations had different
> programming.
>
> In January 2005 I was visiting my mom at St. Therese
> Hospital in Waukegan. A few miles west of downtown. In her
> hospital room I was able to recieve 97.1 but could not get
> 96.9 at all.
>
> Here's a pic of WWDV's tower that I took while driving by
http://www.wisconsinbroadcasting.com/Sites/Jeremy/pics/WWDVtower.jpg
>
I've driven by that tower site, so I know where it's at. WIIL/WLIP is just north of WWDV's tower, but that tower is shorter. As for WDRV, I barely can listen to it in Lake County, which I must switch to 96.9 if I want to comtinue listening to The Drive. And this is just the car radio. At the state line, 97.1 can't be heard at all on the car radio because of WWDV's tower being nearby.

 

[w9wi]

> During the daytime, 1200 aims much of their signal southwest
> in order to protect WOWO's daytime 50kw signal and I believe
> WKRS up in Waukegan. Night time, don't expect to hear it in
> most areas as it's currently only 1kw at night and mainly
> aims their signal northwest. I barely get 1200 (WRTO) at
> night on the north side of Chicago with WOAI pounding on
> 1200. From my experience on the analog radios, I lose
> Chicago's 1200 in Lansing and in NW Indiana it's only heard
> in the far northern most part of Hammond at night, around
> Horseshoe Casino.

1200 was surprisingly good up in Merrill last Friday night... about even with WOAI.