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Message to KYW

P

Play Freebird

Just back from a little trip, I had a chance yesterday to "drive test" KYW's HD coverage in the western suburbs and found the same problems that plague WIP, WPEN, WPHT, et al. The system cannot tolerate even moderate power line noise without switching back to analog mode. On some major roads in Chester County (well within KYW's 5 mV/m contour) I get less than 50% digital coverage. Even on West Chester Pike between Westtown and Newtown Square, 1060-HD is in and out, probably due to interference from the 66 kV PECO line that runs atop the poles on the south side of the highway. And the weather was beautiful yesterday, so I can't blame the problem on thunderstorms... but maybe next week.

Although I've always tuned to KYW for their content rather than a "sensory thrill", I should mention the reduction in analog frequency response is quite noticeable and the frequent analog/digital switching is a new distraction. Hopefully, management will order the HD exciter removed from the airchain in a year or two, as they did with the relatively benign AM stereo generator.

Also, I wonder how long the new owners of 1050 CHUM will tolerate the interference this thing causes, once nighttime operation takes effect. KYW's pattern throws nearly 100 kW towards Toronto, taking the skip angle into account.

KYW, if you're listening -- and you really want to use the iBiquity system to your advantage, rather than to your detriment -- you should forget about AM "HD" and simply simulcast 1060's programming on WYSP's HD-2 channel. Until then, I'm planning to spend more time with WHYY-FM when I need a news fix.
 
I just got my HD radio the other day, and I have to concur. CBS Radio's stations just have the worst support for HD in general, never seeming to care whether the simulcast is actually working or not. WYSP-HD2 has been unavailable since early Monday, and their AM stations flicker in and out of HD when I drive past anything with even a little potential for interference - EZ pass lanes, railroad tracks, or someone out on their porch with the front light on.

If you're going to transmit HD signals, then commit to making them available to everyone (I live in the same area as Play Freebird) or else don't do it at all.
 
I have to agree also. I have 2 HD radios at home and the AM in HD sounds GREAT! I don't have an HD radio in my car and I have noticed how bad KYW and WPHT sound in analog now. Put KYW and WPHT on a 2nd HD FM station like WYSP or WOGL and turn off the AM HD but, i guess CBS will eventually put WYSP-2 from the internet on 94.1-2 and something else on 98.1-2.
 
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