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Fresno / Central Valley KYNO's transmitter turning on and off for some reason

@yeoldeschool I agree!

Given KYNO's format (50s/60s/70s oldies), broadcasting in C-QUAM would be fun, and would make it stand out. I doubt that there would be any penalty for those with mono receivers because I believe C-QUAM was specifically designed to be fully mono compatible.

The only possible issue I just thought of is licensing. Does KYNO need to apply for some kind of permission from the FCC to switch on C-QUAM?

c
 
As I mentioned the C-Quam setting is there in the NX series transmitter but I have not looked further if that allows the transmitter to accept the output of a C-Quam exciter or what else might be needed. So it may or may not be as easy as 5 keystrokes. Further research is needed. Unless you own or maintain an NX series transmitter or a radio station for that matter you don't know what your talking about when it comes to expense, what's needed or licensing. Unless you have done said research and present it.

You need a C-Quam modulation monitor to make sure things are within specifications. So I don't think its as easy a 5 keystrokes. I asked up thread if any NX users were using C-Quam and no response so far. I'll ask the same question in the engineering forum and see if any one responds. That would help clarify what is actually needed to enable C-Quam on an NX series transmitter.

As far as audio codecs there are few areas we use those in Broadcasting these days. The encoded webcast made available to stream to a computer, phone or smart speaker. The encoder/decoder used in a stations STL to the transmitter or bringing audio to the studio from a remote location. For remote and STL use most station use a professional codec made by Comrex, Gates-Air (the IP-link) and Tieline. I work with the STL/Remote broadcast Codecs.

In the engineering forum I started a thread about the codecs available on the Comrex and IP-link. Broadcasters for STL or remote need a low latency codec so that means Plain AAC or Opus. both of those are available on the Comrex and only Opus on the IP Link (Unless you want to buy the AAC license). I'm leaning more towards Opus at a minimum of 128 these days. While we are at it I'll throw out FLAC. I'm looking at running FLAC in place of Uncompressed in a couple of links.

The difference between people that work in radio and those that don't is the ones that do have to view cost as if it were their own cost. That includes Bandwidth, some times we have alot to play with like a fiber connection can provide. Other times we need to be more frugal like running on a StarLink. For a compressed format running on Comrex or the IP link I'm inclined to use Opus at 160 or 192. If you have not had the chance to evaluate a Comrex or IP-link codec I would reserve any comment on how they implement AAC or Opus. AAC dual mono or Stereo 128 is pretty much a standard for a compressed format with little to no artifacts when using a Comrex.

For some one that does not have to look at the budget or get called on the carpet for a decision, it's easy to say run everything uncompressed or Just do it. But for the ones that have to do it and answer for the cost or process it's different. The same can be said for those that work in the industry and have tried that or this and been able to see the outcome or been called into a meeting to justify or explain what happened. Versus someone that has not had the experience of implementing a process (In Radio) and seeing the effect, either in cost numbers, complexity or listener numbers and feedback. I think that's where some on both sides get frustrated in dialog with this forum.

Yes I help manage several NX series transmitters, but I have not contemplated what really is involved with enabling C-Quam, because it won't help the bottom line of the station that owns the transmitter. I'm more interested in defining what codecs I'm willing to run on the STL to the transmitter to provide a clean sound.

As far as KYNO, Get the box on the air, Get a clean STL for your audio to the processor and then to the transmitter. Enable MDCL to lower the power bill, start with 3DB of compression.
 
cc333 said:
The only possible issue I just thought of is licensing. Does KYNO need to apply for some kind of permission from the FCC to switch on C-QUAM?

c
Click to expand...
When I read this I thought of the extra complexity of maintaining stereo program sources and STL. Those old recordings are sometimes challenged stereo-wise. Didn't think about the mod monitor that xmtrland spoke of. Not impossible, and yes - it would be cool. But there's more to it than flipping a software switch.

Dave B.
 
DaveBayArea said:
When I read this I thought of the extra complexity of maintaining stereo program sources and STL. Those old recordings are sometimes challenged stereo-wise. Didn't think about the mod monitor that xmtrland spoke of. Not impossible, and yes - it would be cool. But there's more to it than flipping a software switch.

Dave B.
Click to expand...
If a tree falls in the forest and there's no one around with a C-QUAM receiver, does it even matter if the source material is in stereo?
 
cc333 said:
No, probably not.

I'm just happy KYNO exists as an oldies station. Not many of them are left.

c
Click to expand...
Nope, you're right. There are some streamers that do an admirable job though.

As much as I want to wring the Dentist's neck whenever he posts some putdown of his own participants because he always knows better, he actually does a great job of programming his Rewound Radio channel (rewoundradio.com, or ask Alexa or Siri or Google to "Play Rewound Radio", or use TuneIn or iHeart.) The flavor of WABC with jingles and all, just without the phenomenal roster of talent that once graced that station. (Who are mostly dead by now.)
 
Is the new transmitter and grounding system online yet? It's sounding better than before.

I can't quite tell on the car radio, but I think it sounds a bit cleaner (it tended to sound a bit distorted before).

c
 
Another thing I noticed was that the signal seemed stronger, with less fading.

I doubt I'll hear it in the daytime, but I'll check. That would be fun if I can!

c
 
I decided to tune in tonight using my Sony SRF-A100, and even in mono, KYNO is sounding quite good now!

It always used to sound a bit distorted and it faded a lot, but now it's strong and clear enough that I can actually put my radio in wide band mode and hear it clearly. i couldn't do that too well before!

c
 
mofocat2 said:
Very listenable! Is that par for the course for KYNO? What else might come up on 940 there?
Click to expand...

Somewhat par for the course, it can be a bit worse but id say its fairly listenable most of the time, maybe not this good.. notice the audio filter wasnt 3khz.

Ive not heard anything else on 940
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
Somewhat par for the course, it can be a bit worse but id say its fairly listenable most of the time, maybe not this good.. notice the audio filter wasnt 3khz.

Ive not heard anything else on 940
Click to expand...
You seem to have a very advantageous listening spot up there. That and your amazing antenna. Absolutely fantastic sounding catch! It's just like listening to 740 from San Francisco down here in L.A.

Incidentally, for you or anybody else sharing Google Drive links, here's a spiffy shortcut. Instead of posting the standard sharing links Google Drive generates, like this one:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DlOGjMgn4jQn02_OzqLKRVR1Vemk9igP/view

Take the part in red and replace the rest like so:

https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DlOGjMgn4jQn02_OzqLKRVR1Vemk9igP&export=download

That results in instant download links. No intermediate HTML landing page to contend with.

Edit: what version of Crimson and Clover was that? :D
 
Last edited:
yeoldeschool said:
You seem to have a very advantageous listening spot up there. That and your amazing antenna. Absolutely fantastic sounding catch! It's just like listening to 740 from San Francisco down here in L.A.

Incidentally, for you or anybody else sharing Google Drive links, here's a spiffy shortcut. Instead of posting the standard sharing links Google Drive generates, like this one:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DlOGjMgn4jQn02_OzqLKRVR1Vemk9igP/view

Take the part in red and replace the rest like so:

https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DlOGjMgn4jQn02_OzqLKRVR1Vemk9igP&export=download

That results in instant download links. No intermediate HTML landing page to contend with.

Edit: what version of Crimson and Clover was that? :D
Click to expand...

My most solidly regular AMs are KFBK with 125kw "ERP" in my direction and KVRI 1600 Blaine WA with 50kw "ERP in my direction" .. you think KYNO sounds good? KVRI and KFBK put them to shame





 
Was driving home from the East Bay last night and got bored of KCBS, so we tuned to KYNO.

The signal was SOLID from Sears Point to Lakeport, and it only faded twice, once in Santa Rosa or Petaluma, and once just before we got home. I think both times we had passed under some power lines.

And the sound quality was solid (if a bit over compressed, but I guess that's part of the sound their aiming for), with no distortion or muddiness other than that introduced the lousy quality of most modern AM radios.

I would say the transmitter upgrade has been a smashing success!

c
 


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