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Hot 106's chance to shine

R

RadioJay

Guest
For the last couple of weeks, Boston's Jam'n 94.5 has been transmitting on low power due to transmitter flooding damage and is unable to reach the Rhode Island area with a decent signal. Even though Boston's Hot 97.7 WBOT recently became WILD FM playing urban comtemporary during the day and hip-hop at night, the tower move to Blue Hill has made it almost impossible to receive in Rhode Island anyway. As a result of the transmitter problems at Jam'n 94.5 there's a good chance Jam'n listeners in Rhode Island are tuning into Hot 106 to hear their favorite music. Hot 106 should take this opportunity to really show local hip-hop and R&B fans what they've got as far as music and talent. Any thoughts on the overall sound of Hot 106? In my opinion, the talent is good and the music could be better with more R&B and old school instead of mostly hip-hop. <P ID="signature">______________
Moe: (Sees a microphone in a radio studio) Ooh, a microphonie!

Curly: Or a phoney at the mike!

Moe: Quiet numbskulls I'm broadcastin'!

From The Three Stooges episode "Micro-Phoneys"</P>
 
> For the last couple of weeks, Boston's Jam'n 94.5 has been
> transmitting on low power due to transmitter flooding damage
> and is unable to reach the Rhode Island area with a decent
> signal.

Just to clarify a couple of points.
WJMN is transmitting 10kW using the backup antenna.
While 10kW @ 208meters is not a full class B signal, it's also not low power.

The problem has nothing to do with transmitter flooding, but in fact a feedline burn out on the top of the tower near the ERI antenna. (It could be damaged from the recent rain falls however if water got into the transmission line).

Just to clear up a couple of points! =)
 
Tex: right after the flooding, I could not pick up Mix 98.5 clearly like I usually can (I am in southeast Mass). Even today, the station was hard to pick up. Was the station on low power right after the flooding? I realized 94.5 and 98.5 were off the air the day the flooding hit, and I didn't hear them return to the air till a couple of days later, but both stations, especially 98.5, were difficult to pick up. Thanks.
 
Question for TX Engineer

>
> Just to clarify a couple of points.
> WJMN is transmitting 10kW using the backup antenna.
> While 10kW @ 208meters is not a full class B signal, it's
> also not low power.
>
> The problem has nothing to do with transmitter flooding, but
> in fact a feedline burn out on the top of the tower near the
> ERI antenna. (It could be damaged from the recent rain falls
> however if water got into the transmission line).
>
> Just to clear up a couple of points! =)
>
TX Engineer,
Where are they transmitting from? The signal is extremely weak in Johnston, RI where it is usually very strong. <P ID="signature">______________
Moe: (Sees a microphone in a radio studio) Ooh, a microphonie!

Curly: Or a phoney at the mike!

Moe: Quiet numbskulls I'm broadcastin'!

From The Three Stooges episode "Micro-Phoneys"</P>
 
I'm sure you saw the recent 12+ Arbitrons, but Hot 106 had quite a significant jump this summer. Obviously there are more younger listeners in the summer, but the jump was farther significant than it usually is.

As far as Jam'n 94.5, TX is right, plus I believe the station's IBOC is off, too. Here in the Boston area, I can pick up 94HJY more clearly again. The weather conditions also affected Mix 98.5 (lower power and sound processing issues) and 102.5 WCRB (no stereo). Also, Mix 98.5 was broadcasting in mono for a few days, but the stereo light was still on.

Also, for future reference, urban contemporary and hip-hop are pretty synonymous. 97.7 WILD-FM's current format would probably be considered urban AC. The station's sounding good though.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>
 
This answers both Radio Jay and Shawn O.

> Tex: right after the flooding, I could not pick up Mix 98.5
> clearly like I usually can (I am in southeast Mass). Even
> today, the station was hard to pick up. Was the station on
> low power right after the flooding? I realized 94.5 and
> 98.5 were off the air the day the flooding hit, and I didn't
> hear them return to the air till a couple of days later, but
> both stations, especially 98.5, were difficult to pick up.
> Thanks.
>

The FM 128 Master antenna on the top of the old channel 5 tower in Newton had a feed line burn up. (The tower guys reported 'several black spots' along it).
WJMN had a fully functional (just built too) backup lower down FM128.

WCRB and WBMX didn't. According to Scott Fybush, WBMX is operating from the PRU at severly reduced power (Ive heard reports of it being less than 1kW) and WCRB is operating of a not fully functioning master antenna at reduced power as well.
 
Re: This answers both Radio Jay and Shawn O.

Tex: thanks again for your help and explinations...much appreciated.
 
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