HD Turnoffs or just down for the count?

[DJKraze]

There's a topic on the HD radio board about the pace of HD radio turnoff, and unless there's some kind of repair going on, it seems true here as well. At some point, I might go out to Hubbard park or somewhere in meriden/southington where I can see all the towers clearly and hope it doesn't overload the radio too much.

(by frequency of course)
WWYZ - Currently only getting RDS. HD-2 was up and down for a while this year and now there's no HD at all now, which makes me think maybe under repair, maybe. (also noted at 5pm just now, no legal ID??? i was waiting to hear them mention HD or not in the ID).
WZMX - OK, this one I can't say for sure, I was only getting RDS an hour ago, but now both HD-1&2 are there, but kudos for actually doing something with a sub-channel, though I'm not sure how often they keep up with the music
WKCI - This one is not a problem with the HD, but in HD or not, the audio on the station is very poor, all the music has the sound quality of a 64k MP3 and it makes the dance channel on the HD-2 sound better even though it's got the typical digital artifacts and crashing high end (at least there sounds like a high end on the HD-2, the main channel has none).
WMRQ – I didn't miss it when the HD-3 went away, but that's because of the programming, and I had hoped that they would change it to something else. However, right now I'm getting a strong enough signal to have HD-1, but I'm not getting HD-2, and I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough signal to have it, seeing as the 97.1 translator is supposed to be a relay of the HD-2, if the HD-2 is gone for more than a reasonable repair related amount of time, won't they have to change what they translate at some point if they can't get the HD-2 back up and running? (I've heard similar mentioned on other boards). I will need to double check by heading to the mountain for this one just in case there is just too little signal here at home (but I'm pretty sure 5 bars means it should be there).

The shining lights in the whole HD thing are those stations that have managed to keep on the air with the HD equipment and make a go of actually putting unique programming on those channels (aside from the sound quality issues inherent in HD radio to begin with or the sync with the main channel but that's two nits in all this that I'm not here to pick today)...

WPKT & CPRN – Now they not only have had little issue with keeping HD going, steady for a while, they have finally started inserting the HD mentions into the legal ID (waiting for the time when the entire CPRN network gets run in the ID, talk about LONG, but it'll be funny at least for the first time).
WKSS- They get both a Yay and a Nay from me, the Yay! Is for the HD always being there, the Nay! Is for the lousy format on the HD-2, I'm not gay, but I have a few Gay friends and not all of them are into dance music, in fact I'm kinda into some dance music and will pop in to see what they might be playing, but it's always the same thing and hasn't seemed to change since the beginning. If the idea is to cater to an LBGT population, Clear Channel isn't doing it with this. This channel sounds as though some programmer at CC HQ just tossed it together and then forgot about it, maybe get someone at one of the stations that run it to actually come up with real programming for it? Take examples from College radio on this!
WTIC-FM – Haven't seen any problems ever with this (none I can remember) and kudos for actually doing something with those channels.
WPLR – Haven't seen any problems ever with this (none I can remember)
WRCH – Haven't seen any problems ever with this (none I can remember) and kudos for actually doing something with a sub-channel, though I'm not sure how often they keep up with the music
WKCI – Yes, I gave them a chewout a minute ago for the audio quality of the main program, but aside from that, they are actually doing something with the sub-channels, and I think the HD-2 does keep up with the music as it's a network feed.
WDRC-FM – Only hiccup was explained by the engineer some time ago and it's a minor one (no text display of the songs other than the main channel, no big deal there, just a luxury that I personally would love to see, but even if it never happens, the stations HD has been totally reliable)
WHCN – Also has been very solid with the 2 HD channels they run, I know the HD-2 had a few outages in the past but overall, it's very much reliable.

 

[RogerAnthony]

Speaking of RDS, 104.1's RDS hasn't worked since spring.

 

[necrat123]

Here is a even briefer update than DJKrazes...

WWYZ's HD is off.
WMRQ has no subchannels at the moment.
WCCC's HD remains off.

WKCI's HD displays "HD - HD1" instead of WKCI.

Everything was status quo as of Saturday.

 

[CTListener]

Note that WDRC-FM is still mentioning HD at the top of each hour, but they're calling it "High Definition Radio," which is not what HD stands for.

 

[MarcB]

I know 97.1 was on yesterday - Sunday. I was listening to it for a while.

 

[WPHA]

WMRQ – I didn't miss it when the HD-3 went away, but that's because of the programming, and I had hoped that they would change it to something else.

And what, exactly, was "wrong" with the programming, there? ???

 

[Ozman]

all I listened to down here in Greenwich was q-104.3 HD-2 with no signal issues. Imaging was awesome with the local q guy and then the Rock nation radio. I felt something was up before I left China with all this Alternative music being mixed in. Long and behold I am back but now I don't listen because it is all alternative and no active rock. we have 3 alternative hd-2 channels. enough of them. In fact, I don't even listen to the radio at home mostly and just to my laptop. only time I am listening to radio is in my car really where internet has trouble and I get lazy with my MP3 player on my iphone. WCCC I beg you a better stream please! I would even pay to have a subscription for it just to have them kick some ass and I'll listen almost non stop. that should tell you guys something.

 

[MarcB]

I was listening to BOMBA 97.1 on my drive home from work today. I know that legally the HD2 of 104.1 is supposed to be feeding the 97.1 translator, but could they illegally be doing things the other way around? That's the only way I see that BOMBA 97.1 can still be on the air if 104.1 HD2 is off the air.

 

[reelyreal]

I noticed today that the RDS for WMRQ was back on for the first time in months. I'm too far from Meriden for an HD check.

 

[fybush]

I was listening to BOMBA 97.1 on my drive home from work today. I know that legally the HD2 of 104.1 is supposed to be feeding the 97.1 translator, but could they illegally be doing things the other way around? That's the only way I see that BOMBA 97.1 can still be on the air if 104.1 HD2 is off the air.

97.1 is a "fill-in" translator for 104.1, and can be fed audio in whatever way the licensee wants to do it. There's probably some sort of IP-based STL feeding 97.1, and there's no reason that would go down just because the HD's not working on 104.1's main signal.

 

[WPPCProductions]

Thanks for the update.Now somebody got to check the AM band.

 

[DJKraze]

Here is a even briefer update than DJKrazes...

WWYZ's HD is off.
WMRQ has no subchannels at the moment.
WCCC's HD remains off.

WKCI's HD displays "HD - HD1" instead of WKCI.

Everything was status quo as of Saturday.

I almost was going to mention WCCC as the least reliable HD having been unable to return to air since the first year, but the engineer did explain that the shut off is on purpose and permanent.

Any word on a return of WWYZ or the subs on WMRQ? (a little more detail on why I dissed the HD-3 programming, it seems to be overkill as there are already several religious outlets here and the audio was enough to make ears bleed with that high-end screech it had).

 

[DJKraze]

WMRQ – I didn't miss it when the HD-3 went away, but that's because of the programming, and I had hoped that they would change it to something else.

And what, exactly, was "wrong" with the programming, there? ???

The atrocious audio quality of the channel aside (and I hope the original station doesn't have that same problem)... in a word, redundancy.

A big part of the selling of HD features to the public had been the availability of new and unique programming (and yes, there has been much failure of that selling point as it is). A relay of yet another religious broadcaster just doesn't seem like new or unique to me. Lack of originality or variety is a big part of why radio has been floundering for as long as it has and HD is claimed to be a part of the solution, but seems to be yet just another failure.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not basing this on the content of the programming, it could be the best in it's genre out there (and if it is, maybe one of the locals that carry similar should pick it up replacing their own), but not counting the pirates or WTIC's weekday 3pm show State and Church (sorry, just had to make a pun), I already get 9 religious stations on my radio, which is not as much as NPR, or the overload of AM talkers but is more than most other formats out there. What I'm saying is where are these other genres of programming that we were all promised?

 

[DJKraze]

I was listening to BOMBA 97.1 on my drive home from work today. I know that legally the HD2 of 104.1 is supposed to be feeding the 97.1 translator, but could they illegally be doing things the other way around? That's the only way I see that BOMBA 97.1 can still be on the air if 104.1 HD2 is off the air.

97.1 is a "fill-in" translator for 104.1, and can be fed audio in whatever way the licensee wants to do it. There's probably some sort of IP-based STL feeding 97.1, and there's no reason that would go down just because the HD's not working on 104.1's main signal.

Personally, I figured for that as the feed doesn't sound anything like the actual HD-2, but what I'm wondering is, if the HD-2 doesn't come back, how long can they leagally program that station as the fill-in for a station that is off-line or had shut down?

 

[newbritainradio]

WWYZ Country 92.5 has their HD back as of last night after being missing for most of the summer. There is no HD2 at this time. In the past, they have played classic country on HD2.

Also, WMRQ 104.1 has its HD2 back with a simulcast of La Bomba 97.1. Maybe they were reading these boards?

 

[KML0224]

I believe there was also transmitter work going on up on West Peak, which may explain some of that. I know WKSS-FM 95.7 was quite weak for some time heading down CT Route 15 past the West Rock Tunnel into New Haven and then Woodbridge.

 

[WPHA]

The atrocious audio quality of the channel aside (and I hope the original station doesn't have that same problem)... in a word, redundancy.

I didn't find their audio quality all that bad when they were there... of course, I didn't listen A LOT, but from time-to-time. Why? It was a bit of a pain, the way my HD receiver was set up. (More on that, later.)

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not basing this on the content of the programming, it could be the best in it's genre out there (and if it is, maybe one of the locals that carry similar should pick it up replacing their own)

It was originating from a little 100 watt station just north of the CT border, near Rte 395. Locally operated, locally owned. A real "Mom and Pop" little station, labor-of-love, automated because they can barely make ends meet, kind of operation.

I already get 9 religious stations on my radio, which is not as much as NPR, or the overload of AM talkers but is more than most other formats out there. What I'm saying is where are these other genres of programming that we were all promised?

NINE?! Where are you??? CAN'T be MA or CT?!

Seriously... NINE?!? All I know of are WYCM, that little 100 watter that WAS on the HD3, WVNE, daytime on 760, the new WSDK 1550 in Hartford, WIHS 104.9FM in Middletown... that's four! Who are the other five? Can you hear WFIF 1500 from Milford, and WMCA 570 from NYC? That's still only 6!

As for my HD receiver, I have now pressed that into permanent service, relaying the K-Love station in New Rochelle, into a Part 15 AM transmitter on 1630, so that I can listen to K-Love on any radio in the house. I even custom-built a 5-element yagi for 96.7Mhz and spent a good 10 minutes in a sweltering attic just to get their signal! It's been WELL WORTH IT!

 

[WPHA]

PS: WYCM (that little 100 watt Christian station that was on the HD3) was UNIQUE for THIS AREA! Why? It was the ONLY station playing current CCM! Now that we have K-Love down in the NYC area, we have ONE CCM station on the dial. ONE!!!

 

[Barry]

Getting back to HD stations in CT that have switched off HD, there is WEBE, with its powerful signal on 107.9.
Their HD signal has been off the air for months. I found out from the station that there were overheating issues related to the HD equipment, and the fact that it is located by a power station.
They are in no rush to switch it back on, given the costs to boost the cooling. I was told that HD may return during the winter months. They also feel that their signal has very good audio, and does not sound significantly better with HD.

 

[WPHA]

Getting back to HD stations in CT that have switched off HD, there is WEBE, with its powerful signal on 107.9.
Their HD signal has been off the air for months. I found out from the station that there were overheating issues related to the HD equipment, and the fact that it is located by a power station.
They are in no rush to switch it back on, given the costs to boost the cooling. I was told that HD may return during the winter months. They also feel that their signal has very good audio, and does not sound significantly better with HD.

They're right. When it WAS working, I compared the two. The analog sounds FINE. The only reason to have HD is for the extra "channels", but that causes a sacrifice on the "HD1". It's a catch-22 that's really best avoided altogether!

If only FMeXtra radios were more readily (and cheaply!) available! I remember when FMeXtra was supposed to be CHEAP and COMMON... still waiting!! At least with that, you DON'T need expensive transmitter modifications! It plugs in like an SCA generator.