KQQK IN HD

[Mrtejano]

I’m in the Heights i’m picking up KQQK in HD. Is this something new or is weather playing a factor with a stronger signal?

 

[Mediafrog+]

HD comes and goes on the Estrella stations. KQQK has been in HD at times in the past, but is not consistent. Have never heard any additional subchannels on either 98.5 or 107.9 when the HD is on.

 

[jras20]

KNTE was always in HD until they flipped a while back now it is analog RDS.

 

[BamaTX]

KQQK first broadcasted IBOC hybrid when they changed towers over a decade ago.

If KQQK has not been broadcasting IBOC hybrid lately, then it is just further proof that the technology is irrelevant.

 

[davideduardo]

If KQQK has not been broadcasting IBOC hybrid lately, then it is just further proof that the technology is irrelevant.

Or, more simply, that a rimshot signal does not have much incentive to run HD since the HD signal, usually, is more limited than the analog one. So the KQQK HD channel might be good near the transmitter site... but the site is not inside the Houston radio survey area!

Also figure that the KQQK listener group is about the least likely to have in-car HD capability .

 

[BamaTX]

Or, more simply, that a rimshot signal does not have much incentive to run HD since the HD signal, usually, is more limited than the analog one. So the KQQK HD channel might be good near the transmitter site... but the site is not inside the Houston radio survey area!

So in other words, it is a useless feature for the vast majority of broadcasters who don't have a 100kW facility located inside the market?

Also figure that the KQQK listener group is about the least likely to have in-car HD capability .

Does anyone even keep track of who is buying HD Radios? I'm assuming most HD Radio purchases aren't from buyers who are specifically looking for "HD Radio". IBOC is probably just a feature most people overlook in their purchases and it just comes with other high end features that are sought after.

For example if you want a high end audio system with Navigation and Apple CarPlay on a new F-150, then the upgrade also forces HD Radio on you. At least it did on the older gen trucks.

 

[davideduardo]

So in other words, it is a useless feature for the vast majority of broadcasters who don't have a 100kW facility located inside the market?

Let's say that stations that have marginal signals over their target coverage area are not going to have a reliable HD signal.

Does anyone even keep track of who is buying HD Radios? I'm assuming most HD Radio purchases aren't from buyers who are specifically looking for "HD Radio". IBOC is probably just a feature most people overlook in their purchases and it just comes with other high end features that are sought after.

Most HD radios are bought with a car attached.

For example if you want a high end audio system with Navigation and Apple CarPlay on a new F-150, then the upgrade also forces HD Radio on you. At least it did on the older gen trucks.

But many other car brands come with HD... I suppose that there is some logic in not putting it in trucks, but I don't see it as many trucks are used in metro areas with lots of HD signals.

 

[JustinT]

Different format of course, but would be great to see HD on KOVE. If HD can sound great on 92.1, surely it would work pretty well on 106.5 too? It's really the only major signal now without it turned on.

 

[AnyHuman]

KJXK is a major signal in San Antonio that never had HD. Honestly if I were Alpha I would have put HD on KJXK and used it for the translator, not KTFM, KJXK is in the center of town and full power.

 

[Mrtejano]

Different format of course, but would be great to see HD on KOVE. If HD can sound great on 92.1, surely it would work pretty well on 106.5 too? It's really the only major signal now without it turned on.

Yes it would sound great, I love AMOR 😂, no seriously I like this station a lot. Only one complaint, the guy doing the announcements and I really don't care for the DJs. Maria Ester and that guy seem kinda boring for me. But I really like the variety of music they play.

 

[BamaTX]

It's really the only major signal now without it turned on.

KHCB?

 

[JustinT]

KHCB?

Dang it! Being as the Houston dial is cluttered with translators and LPFMs, and given the way my car displays stations, I always mistakenly cluster the HD-less 105.7 in with the other riff-raff.

 

[HTX]

It's really the only major signal now without it turned on.

KFNC where the 92.5 translator mentions a non existent HD2? A lot of the rimshots don’t have HD though.

 

[BamaTX]

KFNC where the 92.5 translator mentions a non existent HD2? A lot of the rimshots don’t have HD though.

But they're not major signals, which is what Encarta focused on. You can catch KOVE, KROI, & KGLK just fine anywhere inside the Houston city limits. Can't say the same thing about KQBU, KTJM, KQQK, KHJK, KKHT, and KFNC.

Broadcasting IBOC on a Devers rimshot probably does more harm than good. When I had an HD unit, KKHT, KTJM, and KQQK would annoyingly go back and forth between HD and a weak, mono analog feed inside the loop. The consistent drops were veey noticeable to my ear and after a while it would annoy me.

 

[davideduardo]

But they're not major signals, which is what Encarta focused on. You can catch KOVE, KROI, & KGLK just fine anywhere inside the Houston city limits. Can't say the same thing about KQBU, KTJM, KQQK, KHJK, KKHT, and KFNC.

But the radio market is not the city of Houston. In most of the northern counties of the market, KOVE can't be heard well to cite one example. KOVE puts a 60 dbu over just two-thirds of the market population. The Nielsen MSA consists of 11 counties.

 

[BamaTX]

But the radio market is not the city of Houston. In most of the northern counties of the market, KOVE can't be heard well to cite one example. KOVE puts a 60 dbu over just two-thirds of the market population.

Two thirds is significantly more than the Devers rimshots.

There's no need for technicalities. We all know what he meant.

 

[davideduardo]

Two thirds is significantly more than the Devers rimshots.

There's no need for technicalities. We all know what he meant.

Yes, and the point that marginal signals are poor HD candidates is very valid. When big areas inside a metro are fringe areas with that flip/flopping between HD and analog can and will occur, it makes no sense to employ HD.

 

[AnyHuman]

I always mistakenly cluster the HD-less 105.7 in with the other riff-raff.

KHCB is not riff-raff LOL at least not from what I've heard. They follow the FCC's rules as far as I know and run their format very well for their audience. The programming isn't my style but still not bad if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[JustinT]

Yes, and the point that marginal signals are poor HD candidates is very valid. When big areas inside a metro are fringe areas with that flip/flopping between HD and analog can and will occur, it makes no sense to employ HD.

I'll be honest, I checked out KQQK the other night, and the signal was drifty and staticy on analog in Montrose. When the HD clicked in, it sounded amazing! I've heard the same experience from KTHT from time to time too; drifty analog that sounds great once the HD clicks in.

I wouldn't know the engineering or weather conditions that make this happen. But if KQQK, KTJM, and KTHT are both able to put up enough of a fight a few miles outside of downtown, I'd think KOVE could join the party. Or worst case, put KOVE on KAMA HD-2 so HD listeners can enjoy a crisp signal if they desire?

KHCB is not riff-raff LOL at least not from what I've heard. They follow the FCC's rules as far as I know and run their format very well for their audience. The programming isn't my style but still not bad if you're into that sort of thing.

Sorry, not a dig on the station keeping hymns close by! My car radio (Volkswagen) will call out an HD signal like "104.9 KAMA HD-1" and "106.9 KHPT HD-1" with details and station logos, but analog signals just get their frequency and at best some some cut-off RDS words. So my car's user experience itself is not eagerly promoting 105.3, 105.7, 106.1, or 106.5.

 

[ChuckTiller]

But they're not major signals, which is what Encarta focused on. You can catch KOVE, KROI, & KGLK just fine anywhere inside the Houston city limits. Can't say the same thing about KQBU, KTJM, KQQK, KHJK, KKHT, and KFNC.

Broadcasting IBOC on a Devers rimshot probably does more harm than good. When I had an HD unit, KKHT, KTJM, and KQQK would annoyingly go back and forth between HD and a weak, mono analog feed inside the loop. The consistent drops were veey noticeable to my ear and after a while it would annoy me.

KKHT has never broadcast in HD. We have broadcast in mono since 2006, when we purchased it.