iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB.

[KB1OKL]

It appears that ibiquity and greater media have been caught trying to badger Narragansett Pier, RI WRNI engineers while testing for adjacent channel interference from WKLB which recently tested higher powered IBOC. It seems that WRNI 102.7 had been getting whooshed by WKLB 102.5 during their higher powered IBOC tests, they tested at 1%, 6% and 10% HD injection. Will the FM band soon be as noisy as the AM band?


"Rhode Island Public Radio"

"Greater Media and iBiquity came on the scene and insinuated themselves into the testing and evaluation of the reception conditions in all of the measurements. Greater Media’s Mr. Shullins was present in the NPR van, which was tailed by an iBiquity van occupied by iBiquity and Greater Media personnel. I was at the WRNI-FM transmitter site coordinating necessary switching, and I could hear via cellphone the sometimes heated discussions in the NPR van about the validity or vitality of any given measurement. It was apparent to me that the purpose of Greater Media’s and iBiquity’s presence was not to promote accurate, real-world results, but instead to minimize any evidence of actual interference to the analog signal of a first adjacent station."

more at:

http://tinyurl.com/n4ejhw

iniquity's response:

"iBiquity Digital Corporation"

"iBiquity Digital Corporation hereby submits this letter in response to certain false accusations contained in the Reply Comments of Rhode Island Public Radio, Inc.,licensee of WRNI-FM... iBiquity cannot explain or understand the caustic nature of RIPR’s reply comments or the Callahan Declaration in particular. His statements are completely misinformed about the nature of the tests as well as iBiquity’s role in the test program... iBiquity invites NPR to supplement this docket in order to address RIPR’s concerns about the integrity of its test program and to give the broadcast industry comfort that Greater Media’s and iBiquity’s efforts were intended to assist rather than undermine the testing."

more at:

http://tinyurl.com/n5cdvp

Great media's response:


"Greater Media, Inc."

"Mr. Callahan further claims that he overheard, via cellphone, 'heated discussions' in the NPR vehicle, concluding that it 'was apparent to me that the purpose of Greater Media's and iBiquity's presence was not to promote actual, real-world results, but instead to minimize any evidence of actual interference to the analog signal of a first adjacent station.'"

http://tinyurl.com/mzdbhs

and...

Latest filings under Docket #99-325 : http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi

 

[mmnassour]

And the surprise here is what? : : :

Ibiquity and its hired minions will stop at absolutely nothing to make this turkey fly.

 

[ajc_trw]

And the surprise here is what? : : :

Ibiquity and its hired minions will stop at absolutely nothing to make this turkey fly.

So the head of Ibiquity is Arthur Carlson? ;-)

 

[mmnassour]

We should be so fortunate, he might have licensed fmXtra!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FXSnoy71Q4

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

It was apparent that iBiquity was going to play dirty and use heavy handed tactics, intimidation, and lies from the first time they denigrated the observations of listeners who also happened to be rural areas (DX'ers). I can tell you that the accusations and insults hurled at me even on this board for daring to challenge this sacred cow have me scared. On one occasion, I actually declined to give out personal information about myself due to some real fears for my safety at the hands of this IBOC crowd. I know that while I was employed at Texas Instruments - I dared not speak out due to concerns that iBiquity would be vindictive and try to cause me trouble with my employer.

I also note that digitaldisaster.org suddenly went off the web a few years ago - no doubt through intimidation / threats / and or payoffs. These people do not play fair, and I suspect they are capable of almost anything to prop up their digital disaster.

For those that want a link to the digital disaster web site, thankfully there are web archive services:

http://web.archive.org/web/20040926102459/http://digitaldisaster.org/

This clearly documents that even at 1% power levels, adjacent channel reception is severe. Given the fact I have received HD lock at 70 miles with nothing more than a dipole, any attempt at promoting a power increase over that level can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to jam first (and probably second) adjacents to eliminate user choice in programming from slightly more distant stations and force them onto the local station.
Great for the local station, sucks for the listeners and owners of adjacents ---

 

[Play Freebird]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

This clearly documents that even at 1% power levels, adjacent channel reception is severe. Given the fact I have received HD lock at 70 miles with nothing more than a dipole, any attempt at promoting a power increase over that level can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to jam first (and probably second) adjacents to eliminate user choice in programming from slightly more distant stations and force them onto the local station.
Great for the local station, sucks for the listeners and owners of adjacents ---

You might be interested in running the numbers with NPR Labs' online calculator. This shows the maximum digital injection level that would still protect first-adjacent stations from harmful interference (above and beyond what is already caused under present IBOC rules), and identifies the potential "victims":

http://www.nprlabs.org/publications/distribution/interimIBOCpowerallowance/index2.php

Nearly all of the Class B stations in the Northeast Corridor appear to be limited to the present -20 dBc (one percent) digital injection under NPR's assumptions. I haven't looked at southern California or the Chicago area yet, but expect the situation in those markets is similar. Try some of your local stations and let us know if anyone can actually go all the way to -10 dBc.

 

[mgpt6]

According to web site WRNI-FM has IBOC too.

 

[KB1OKL]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

According to web site WRNI-FM has IBOC too.

They probably do they're a public radio station, ironic huh? IBOC makes it every man for himself.

 

[jlehmann]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

According to web site WRNI-FM has IBOC too.

They probably do they're a public radio station, ironic huh? IBOC makes it every man for himself.

WRNI-FM does not have IBOC. WRNI (AM) 1290 did have it, but it's been off for a while.

 

[ve3jf]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

It's clear that iBiquity & friends only got involved in the CPB-sponsored NPR studies this summer in order to try and influence the outcome. If they really were interested in finding the truth about the interference problems, then why would be trying so hard to persuade the FCC to grant the power increase before the studies were completed? Fortunately, the NPR folks have dug in their heels, and are not about to be bullied. There is no chance of any kind of concensus coming from these studies... NPR will issue their report on their findings, and, no doubt, the other guys will issue a dissenting report, attacking NPR's methodology, etc. The FCC will not be pleased. Another round of comments will ensue, one presumes. And so it goes...

Interesting historical footnote: The precursors of iBiquity, USA Digital Radio and Lucent Digital, both developed FM IBOC systems in the 90's. In both cases, the digital power level was set at -22 dBc. They both independently came to the conclusion that -22 dBc was as high as they could go without seriously jeopardizing analog FM service. It was not until after they merged in 2000 that the power was ratcheted up to -20 dBc. And now they claim that it can go to -10 dBc without causing any problems? Absolute BS.

 

[ve3jf]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

It was not until after they merged in 2000 that the power was ratcheted up to -20 dBc.

Was there a public comment period for that increase, as there is now?

No. The -20 dBc power was already part of the system specification when it was "evaluated" by the NRSC. The opportunity for public comment did not arise until after that process was completed.

 

[jhardis]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

No. The -20 dBc power was already part of the system specification when it was "evaluated" by the NRSC. The opportunity for public comment did not arise until after that process was completed.

That's not quite clear.

Go back in history before docket 99-325, and search on "RM-9395." This was the public comment on the "Petition for Rulemaking." You'll find things like:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6010952869

In the document "IBOC Field Test Guildlines - FM Band," one test procedure stated, "This test should be conducted in an FM station's coverage area where the 1st adjacent analog signal is at least 10 dB below the digital signal. With a host analog to digital
power ratio of 22 dB, the analog D/U would be 35 dB."

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6005940352

The effects of the various interference scenarios illustrated here are quantified through analysis and supported through simulation and testing. Analysis of the DAB to first adjacent interference at the edge of coverage showed that the total DAB signal should be set about -22 dB relative to its FM power. [In a report by Westinghouse for USADR.]

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6005543856

Hybrid Waveform -- Power in DAB signal -22 dBc [USADR Ex Parte Presentation to FCC/OET]

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=2170270010
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=2170270011
[Etc.]

See the USADR FM IBOC DAB Technical Report


I think it would be appropriate for someone knowledgeable about this early history to put late-filed comments on the 99-325 docket about it.

- Jonathan

 

[ve3jf]

Re: iBiquity/Greater Media caught badgering WRNI RI public radio, hash from WKLB

Interesting stuff, Jonathon. Today's IBOC is certainly not what was promised in the early days, but reminding the Commission of that (as you have ably done in several filings) would probably not carry much weight at this late date. And if one could get iBiquity to respond to comments (something I've never succeeded in doing) about the early power increase, I can predict what the response would be. They would say that, like the NPR interference predictions, those early studies were based upon laboratory studies. The real world is different, so they say - and they have some carefully contrived field measurements on a few hand-picked stations to prove it.