More HD AM comments

[Savage]

BREAKING NEWS:

The Media Ratings Council (MRC) has just denied accreditation to PPM in New York City and Philadelphia. Arbitron just released this information in an SEC filing. Source: Radio Ink bulletin e-mailed 10:55am.

 

[R.F. Burns]

There is a common and fallacious assumption in the industry - it's frequently aired here - that the only valid way to measure the success or failure of any given radio station is through Arbitron results. While that's certainly the most common viewpoint ratings are not the only yardstick of a station's viability.

I have first hand knowledge of several stations in my part of the country that make absolutely no showing on Arbitron, but the owner is making a decent living from them. There are many yardsticks of success. At least to me, doing something you like to do and making a decent living doing it is fairly high on my list

And, no, I'm not talking about my own station which did remarkably well in the County Arbitron ratings, thanks.

Your right Chuck, but comparing the small stations you are talking about with the top market facilities I am talking ahout are two different things. While those owners might be happy earning a million or so every year, in a market like mine there are FM facilities changing formats because they've earned under 10 million profit. You're talking mom & pop and I'm talking big time major market operations. With the kind of earnings one of those small stations brings in, they counldn't meet the weekly payroll in NY. Here your talking about engineers earning over $100,000 a year and I believe the WFAN afternoon drive team is making betwen 300,ooo and 500,000 each. Its a completely different world here.

 

[Carmine5]

Many of you may have seen this but I thought a link would be good to include here since this thread is discussing HD AM.

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0048/t.11246.html

These are Guy Wire's predictions for HD for 2008. I thought his comments on broadcasting full time HD AM of interest:

"The anticipated wave of filed interference complaints did not materialize, with the WYSL(AM) vs. WBZ(AM) story as the one notable exception. There will likely be similar challenges from other unlucky stations, especially rim-shooters that have been shoe-horned in to serve a larger nearby market or its suburbs.

I do not see this lingering interference controversy changing the AM HD rollout or its potential to effect significant improvement in the AM service any time soon.

What will likely happen is the larger interfering stations will negotiate and buy off the complaints if they are convinced AM HD will help them long-term. The new rules do allow bilateral negotiations to resolve complaints. But look for AM HD to have little impact on how most AM station owners decide to keep their stations viable.

I do not expect Ibiquity, the NAB or the FCC to change course or offer any real help to those stations that have lost important coverage. In the long run, most surviving stations will choose to bypass the AM HD hybrid mode before the benefits of all-digital can be fully realized and appreciated."

I may be wrong but it seems to me that the HD AM rollout has come to a complete stop. I haven't read of any stations that have converted to it recently.

C5

 

[R.F. Burns]

Many of you may have seen this but I thought a link would be good to include here since this thread is discussing HD AM.

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0048/t.11246.html

These are Guy Wire's predictions for HD for 2008. I thought his comments on broadcasting full time HD AM of interest:

"The anticipated wave of filed interference complaints did not materialize, with the WYSL(AM) vs. WBZ(AM) story as the one notable exception. There will likely be similar challenges from other unlucky stations, especially rim-shooters that have been shoe-horned in to serve a larger nearby market or its suburbs.

I do not see this lingering interference controversy changing the AM HD rollout or its potential to effect significant improvement in the AM service any time soon.

What will likely happen is the larger interfering stations will negotiate and buy off the complaints if they are convinced AM HD will help them long-term. The new rules do allow bilateral negotiations to resolve complaints. But look for AM HD to have little impact on how most AM station owners decide to keep their stations viable.

I do not expect Ibiquity, the NAB or the FCC to change course or offer any real help to those stations that have lost important coverage. In the long run, most surviving stations will choose to bypass the AM HD hybrid mode before the benefits of all-digital can be fully realized and appreciated."

I may be wrong but it seems to me that the HD AM rollout has come to a complete stop. I haven't read of any stations that have converted to it recently.

C5

Good point although WQEW (Radio Disney), NYC has installed a HD exciter. The AM rollout is much slower then whats happening on FM, but at this stage there's still some forward progress.

 

[Savage]

Sorry, but how do you figure "forward progress," RF? WSPZ 690 (Citadel) in Birmingham has turned off HD entirely for almost two months now. CC turned WRVA-HD off at night because of severe interference with its co-owned 1130s in Detroit and Milwaukee. There has been zero progress on HD with all the Citadel stations that turned it off at night, neither has there been any progress with the Cox stations that turned it off 24/7. Essentially iBiquity is ignoring these situations.

The pop count of operating HD-AM stations is actually slightly lower than it was before the nighttime rollout on 9/14/07. Nighttime HD-AM operators peaked at about 80 stations in January. It fluctuates between 76 and 79 now. I have it on good authority that a former CBS AM recently bought in spinoffs is going to turn their HD off 24/7 as soon as my friend takes it over. This HD-AM situation is that station implementation has essentially ended with the vast majority of stations choosing not to install it. Read Guy Wire's RW commentary.

Saunter into your local Best Buy or Circuit City and try to buy a HD radio, and watch what happens.

How is this "forward progress?"

 

[TheRover]

There is a common and fallacious assumption in the industry - it's frequently aired here - that the only valid way to measure the success or failure of any given radio station is through Arbitron results. While that's certainly the most common viewpoint ratings are not the only yardstick of a station's viability.

I have first hand knowledge of several stations in my part of the country that make absolutely no showing on Arbitron, but the owner is making a decent living from them. There are many yardsticks of success. At least to me, doing something you like to do and making a decent living doing it is fairly high on my list.

And, no, I'm not talking about my own station which did remarkably well in the County Arbitron ratings, thanks.

Yeah....but for B-i-g Corporations.... Making a "Decent" Living is never enough. An "Indecent" amount for the Top Execs and the biggest stockholders.... Yeah... that's "doing something they like".

Doing something you like, does not mean a huge overhead...... Unless you're a big corporation....playing all of those Stock Market "Games" with the stock-buying public.

Anyway.... Isn't it a JOY to hear someone on radio playing music, with personal integrity, ie the DJ actually likes the music, and loves playing it for people.... vs. the typical DJ job where the DJ accpets renumeration for sounding excited and enthusiastic about playing "someone else's" choice of "Good Music". ;D

 

[R.F. Burns]

There is a common and fallacious assumption in the industry - it's frequently aired here - that the only valid way to measure the success or failure of any given radio station is through Arbitron results. While that's certainly the most common viewpoint ratings are not the only yardstick of a station's viability.

I have first hand knowledge of several stations in my part of the country that make absolutely no showing on Arbitron, but the owner is making a decent living from them. There are many yardsticks of success. At least to me, doing something you like to do and making a decent living doing it is fairly high on my list.

And, no, I'm not talking about my own station which did remarkably well in the County Arbitron ratings, thanks.

Yeah....but for B-i-g Corporations.... Making a "Decent" Living is never enough. An "Indecent" amount for the Top Execs and the biggest stockholders.... Yeah... that's "doing something they like".

Doing something you like, does not mean a huge overhead...... Unless you're a big corporation....playing all of those Stock Market "Games" with the stock-buying public.

Anyway.... Isn't it a JOY to hear someone on radio playing music, with personal integrity, ie the DJ actually likes the music, and loves playing it for people.... vs. the typical DJ job where the DJ accpets renumeration for sounding excited and enthusiastic about playing "someone else's" choice of "Good Music". ;D

It's time to wake up to the real world. Playing radio when your in your 20's is one thing. When my commute to work costs me over $30 a day and you have reoccuring bills of over $4,000 a month, what you consdier "indecent" we might consider modest. Companies which own these stations must satisfy their stock holders, IE; owners. Speculation is the name of the game. How many times has it been reported that a companies stock price has fallen because it didn't meet its anticipated monitary goal. Speaking of indecent amounts, any thoughts on companies, such as those in the oil industry who are earning record profits, or any numbers of business where the CEO is earning multi millions of dollars annually. Radio is but one small industry in the country. You can't compare radio to say Enron. Radio is doing what is needed to survive into the future.

 

[Carmine5]

Young people today expect their entertainment to be in stereo with none of AM's static prone noise. I don't want to read the Disney radio argument again either. Disney radio buys AM facilties because they are relatively cheap and their programing is seen as one big infommercial. I don't know of any Disney stations which make the ratings in any of the larger markets let alone successfuly compete with FM music stations.

Sorry to contradict you but you don't know squat about young people. Radio Disney is probably the hottest radio format with the teen crowd, particularly teenage girls. All of my friends and family who have teenagers, and specifically teen females, tune in to Radio Disney (if they listen to radio at all). Where else can they get up-to-the-minute information on a Hannah Montana concert or what the cast members of High School Musical are up to or about Miley Cyrus as well as hearing the latest music from these Disney properties? All served up by an anonymous boy-toy voice. And they don't give a flying flip that it's on AM or in mono.

Maybe the Radio Disney stations don't get ratings but they certainly are successful in stoking the publicity/marketing fires under the Disney Channel, which is obviously what these stations are meant to do.

But most significantly Radio Disney brands as false the notion that young people will not listen to AM. They will IF the programming interests them. And they will gladly listen to Radio Disney in mono analog.

C5

I might not know young people but I do know professional broadcasting and Radio Disney is a low rated outlet which is really a loss leader for the Disney corporation. In NYC alone Radio Disney doesn't even garner a .4 share 12+ even though it is broadcst over a 50 KW am facility. By the way, the NY Radio Disney is testing in IBOC. So much for your "theory". You guys who see the business through the eyes of a handful of your friends are only fooling yourselves. By the way, while it is true that people will seek out programing of interest on AM or FM. What do you think the chances are of someone listening to a music AM facility when they can hear the same thing in stereo on FM. Maybe you should ask your friends.

Actually, KDIS 1110 in Los Angeles has been broadcasting in HD for about two years so it's hardly a test. But how many teens are a listening in HD? I'd venture to say few given that only a few hundred thousand HD Radios have been sold so far.

Radio Disney is not a "loss leader" for Disney but a marketing tool; nothing more, nothing less. There's a big difference.

The point is not that the under-20 somethings will prefer FM to AM if given a choice, it's that they will listen to AM if
the programming is of interest to them. They are not put off by the fact that Radio Disney is on AM. They listen anyway.

C5

Call it what you will, their audience is tiny and I'm sure the under 20 numbers are for those WAY under 20. Radio Disney isn't even seen in the ratings. Why would anyone want to put a radio station on the air which is attracting such small numbers. You claim that large numbers of young people love radio Disney, but they don't show up in the ratings. That means they have literally no listeners. You are only fooling yourself if you think radio Disney is a major broadcast success, they aren't.

You need to think of Radio Disney as just one part of a gigantic marketing/publicity machine that includes The Disney Channel and not in the context of CBS Radio or Citadel who depend on ratings for agency buys. Good ratings are nice but not necessary for Disney stations.

For that matter, I don't know of any Korean radio stations that even have a pulse in terms of ratings. Does this make them a failure? Absolutely not. They effectively service their segment of the population and they make money (so much so that a Korean group bought KMPC 1540 in Los Angeles for 33 million).

In the same manner, the Radio Disney/Disney Channel marketing machine is designed to target only a certain segment of the American audience, pre-teens, teens and tweens, driving them to the Disney website or iTunes or Ticketmaster or a Disney Store or some other retailer or a movie theater. And since they cross promote each other, kids are also driven back to the Disney radio and cable TV outlets in a round robin cycle. You have to admit that who ever dreamed up this whole juggernaut is a genius.

In fact, shouldn't every broadcaster be just a little grateful to Radio Disney for, at least, getting kids into the habit of listening to some terrestrial radio? True, like their clothes, kids outgrow Radio Disney and this is perhaps the saddest part. When they do finally stop listening, there is no format the kids (now young adults) graduate up to and, eventually, they forget terrestrial radio altogether.

This is something the radio industry still needs to address.

C5

 

[LinoNYC]

author=Savage

Sorry, but how do you figure "forward progress," RF? WSPZ 690 (Citadel) in Birmingham has turned off HD entirely for almost two months now

Your posts are really like a gift, so much to pick apart.

Here in market #1 WADO had it's iboc exciter off for almost a year, it been back since early Jan 08. Both WPAT-AM and co-owned WZRC have had their iboc units off for three years but I noticed them sporadically since then so the equipment is still in the racks. Given their 10K power and relatively weak city coverage I didn't see the point of ever installing iboc, but their well-heeled owner is probably waiting for better receivers.

The pop count of operating HD-AM stations is actually slightly lower than it was before the nighttime rollout on 9/14/07. Nighttime HD-AM operators peaked at about 80 stations in January. It fluctuates between 76 and 79 now

So it seems that even with the loss of Citadel's stations, nightime operation continued to grow 'till "peaking" earlier this year? You do realize that even among daytime operation a fluctuation of 4 stations out of approx 80 is not much to talk about. The daytime number is ofcourse much higher but you get the point.

This HD-AM situation is that station implementation has essentially ended with the vast majority of stations choosing not to install it. Read Guy Wire's RW commentary.

I did. He also pointed out that thusfar your's is the only formal complaint filed over night operation.

In commenting on your situation he adds: There will likely be similar challenges from other unlucky stations, especially rim-shooters that have been shoe-horned in to serve a larger nearby market or its suburbs.

Saunter into your local Best Buy or Circuit City and try to buy a HD radio, and watch what happens.

You and the hippo seem to have a fondness for this quaint "saunter". I once had a headmaster whose name was Saunders, but he did not saunter, he sashayed.

Whatever. I invite you to peruse these llinks to Best Buy and Circuit City, by my weekly sunday visits both have HD radios on display.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&searchType=user&keyword=hd+radio&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=hd+radio&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960

Customer reviews although anecdotal, seem positive.

Here are some Acurian customer reviews:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?summary=summary&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=summary&cp=&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&accessories=accessories&productId=2460834&support=support&tab=custRatings

Also anecdotal, I visited one of the three Radio Shack stores in this area and whilr there spoke to a young Asian salesman the fact that I'am considering buying a DTV conversion box to experiment with, I pointed out that Best Buy had them for sale but out of 11 Samsung units on the shelf, five were "open box" -returns. He said that his experimenting with ota DTV in his store yielded poor results with few channels and lots of dropouts.

Since I had bought my Acurian HD radio there, I asked how the sale of these units had gone, he stated that out of "11 or 12" that he sold none had come back. However several customers complained about the reception and he then sold them a cheap rabbit ears which seems to have solved the problem. the fact that no one commented on AM hd is I guess not much of a surprise.

I don't discount the reports I read here of problematic reception of AM iboc, but overall the system has worked well here.

Lino

 

[rbrucecarter5]

In the same manner, the Radio Disney/Disney Channel marketing machine is designed to target only a certain segment of the American audience, pre-teens, teens and tweens, driving them to the Disney website or iTunes or Ticketmaster

UH - the overwhelming majority of the time, they are playing music - not commercials. In fact, I added up the time, they were playing commercials less than half the time of a local Clear Channel station. If they are a marketing machine, they are particularly ineffective because they play way too much music. If anything, that indicates to me they can't sell air time and Disney commercials don't fill the commercial time available.

You make them sound like a giant infomercial and they are not. They play far more music than commercials. In fact, they are pretty good to listen to because there are fewer commercials. And Disney products aren't repulsive like some products I hear advertised - like lottery tickets (which are a tax on the stupid). Or political ad playing on people's greed.

 

[Carmine5]

In the same manner, the Radio Disney/Disney Channel marketing machine is designed to target only a certain segment of the American audience, pre-teens, teens and tweens, driving them to the Disney website or iTunes or Ticketmaster

UH - the overwhelming majority of the time, they are playing music - not commercials. In fact, I added up the time, they were playing commercials less than half the time of a local Clear Channel station. If they are a marketing machine, they are particularly ineffective because they play way too much music. If anything, that indicates to me they can't sell air time and Disney commercials don't fill the commercial time available.

You make them sound like a giant infomercial and they are not. They play far more music than commercials. In fact, they are pretty good to listen to because there are fewer commercials. And Disney products aren't repulsive like some products I hear advertised - like lottery tickets (which are a tax on the stupid). Or political ad playing on people's greed.

What I'm basically saying is that all of Disney's content; their cartoon characters, their roster of talent, their music, movies, television programs, live shows, etc., are all "product" and the Disney Channel and Radio Disney are outlets to both entertain as well as generate interest in and promote their "product." There's nothing wrong with that. I'm not putting them down, rbrucecarter5.

In fact, I used to regularly listen to KDIS when they were broadcasting in AM stereo, primarily because they were broadcasting in AMS and the station sounded very good. When they switched to HD-AM, and totally trashed their analog signal in the process, I stopped listening.

Right now I'm working with a record label who specializes in Smooth Jazz develop a new website. One component of the site will be an internet radio station. Naturally the radio station will play only this label's artists. They might or might not sell ad space, they will do a limited amount of "call to action" or where to buy. Mostly its about showcasing the music and artists (or as they call it, the "product"). The station both entertains and acts as a promotional tool for the label's content. It's what Disney is doing on a very tiny scale.

C5

 

[rbrucecarter5]

In fact, I used to regularly listen to KDIS when they were broadcasting in AM stereo, primarily because they were broadcasting in AMS and the station sounded very good. When they switched to HD-AM, and totally trashed their analog signal in the process, I stopped listening.

I can relate to that - I pretty much stopped listening when they trashed their audio here. You really have to wonder about their business plan - HD AM for KIDS. I am sure all of those kids are going to go out and buy HD radios with Mickey Ears on them for $200. If I had been in charge - I would have pushed for really good sounding C-Quam on the Disney network, and made a deal with a Japanese manufacturer to sell the radios for $25. Not only would they sound great, but they would work at night and there would be no coverage problems. There is a lot more chance a kid will get a $25 radio that doesn't require a huge antenna than a $200 radio that requires a large antenna and a fair amount of tinkering.

I've already seen one kid tapping a stream of Radio Disney on their cell phone somehow.

 

[R.F. Burns]

In fact, I used to regularly listen to KDIS when they were broadcasting in AM stereo, primarily because they were broadcasting in AMS and the station sounded very good. When they switched to HD-AM, and totally trashed their analog signal in the process, I stopped listening.

I can relate to that - I pretty much stopped listening when they trashed their audio here. You really have to wonder about their business plan - HD AM for KIDS. I am sure all of those kids are going to go out and buy HD radios with Mickey Ears on them for $200. If I had been in charge - I would have pushed for really good sounding C-Quam on the Disney network, and made a deal with a Japanese manufacturer to sell the radios for $25. Not only would they sound great, but they would work at night and there would be no coverage problems. There is a lot more chance a kid will get a $25 radio that doesn't require a huge antenna than a $200 radio that requires a large antenna and a fair amount of tinkering.

I've already seen one kid tapping a stream of Radio Disney on their cell phone somehow.

You would put in a C-Quam encoder...TODAY???? Where ya gonna find one...Ebay? Oh and where are the line of kids screaming for AM stereo radios. You know the ones that aren't being produced any longer? By the way, kids of that age don't buy electronics. Their parents buy it for them. As has been said eventually HD might be as typical on a radio as the FM band currently is. If and when that occurs then stations running IBOC will have a clear advantage. However, these things take time. You know what they say about a watched pot.

 

[wgliradio]

You would put in a C-Quam encoder...TODAY???? Where ya gonna find one...Ebay? Oh and where are the line of kids screaming for AM stereo radios. You know the ones that aren't being produced any longer?

Actually there are a few

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...834&siteID=c9Y1xnss3.w-Zl1fIuLUK2oe5Sv0Lg0ahw
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J171MK
http://www.radiosophy.com/products/hd100.html

It should be noted that AM stereo reception on these radios exceeds, in most cases, HD reception. WREF is pretty clear in stereo on the Radiosophy and Accurian, but neither will decode any NYC HD offering anymore, even though their analog signals are clean.

 

[dbdigital]

You would put in a C-Quam encoder...TODAY???? Where ya gonna find one...Ebay? Oh and where are the line of kids screaming for AM stereo radios. You know the ones that aren't being produced any longer?

Actually there are a few

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...834&siteID=c9Y1xnss3.w-Zl1fIuLUK2oe5Sv0Lg0ahw
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J171MK
http://www.radiosophy.com/products/hd100.html

It should be noted that AM stereo reception on these radios exceeds, in most cases, HD reception. WREF is pretty clear in stereo on the Radiosophy and Accurian, but neither will decode any NYC HD offering anymore, even though their analog signals are clean.

And it looks like Delta Electronics is still manufacturing C-QuAM exciters.

http://www.deltaelectronics.com/data/ase2data.htm

When KABC and KDIS were broadcasting AM stereo their coverage throughout the L.A. basin was very good, especially KABC. Admittedly, the signal wasn't noise-free but it had a nice depth and richness to it and could be heard even into parts of Orange County and the Inland Empire.

I don't want to get in the middle of a pro vs. con discussion of HD here but I will say that if an AM station can't for some reason upgrade to HD, AM stereo seems like a nice compromise, particularly if these new HD radios can decode it.

Of course, if you believe Guy Wire's commentary that, at some point, AM stations will be allowed to broadcast digital only then it may be wiser to wait before upgrading anything.

db

 

[Play Freebird]

Your right Chuck, but comparing the small stations you are talking about with the top market facilities I am talking ahout are two different things. While those owners might be happy earning a million or so every year, in a market like mine there are FM facilities changing formats because they've earned under 10 million profit. You're talking mom & pop and I'm talking big time major market operations. With the kind of earnings one of those small stations brings in, they counldn't meet the weekly payroll in NY. Here your talking about engineers earning over $100,000 a year and I believe the WFAN afternoon drive team is making betwen 300,ooo and 500,000 each. Its a completely different world here.

But for how much longer? WRXP is reportedly offering the airstaff $40K to $50K in New York:

http://gormanmediablog.blogspot.com/

See also the first item in Tom Taylor's column today. Small markets (which have mostly stayed away from IBOC) are still doing well.

 

[R.F. Burns]

You would put in a C-Quam encoder...TODAY???? Where ya gonna find one...Ebay? Oh and where are the line of kids screaming for AM stereo radios. You know the ones that aren't being produced any longer?

Actually there are a few

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...834&siteID=c9Y1xnss3.w-Zl1fIuLUK2oe5Sv0Lg0ahw
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J171MK
http://www.radiosophy.com/products/hd100.html

It should be noted that AM stereo reception on these radios exceeds, in most cases, HD reception. WREF is pretty clear in stereo on the Radiosophy and Accurian, but neither will decode any NYC HD offering anymore, even though their analog signals are clean.

C'mon you're one of the good guys (No not WMCA) and you are out quite a distance from those sticks in Jersey. WREF (which at 850 Khz) is barely audible at my QTH which is about 50 miles from Ridgefield, while it's really just across the sound from you. All of the major NY AM HD stations are listenable in HD on all three of my HD radios. By the way, is your stations C-Quam encoder still being used as a door stop? On a more serious note, did you hear that Ronnie I (ex of WHBI and a really nice man) has passed away. I read he died of Cancer. I met him a few times and even went to Clifton music once (Its the ultimate oldies experience). He was a very nice man.

 

[R.F. Burns]

Your right Chuck, but comparing the small stations you are talking about with the top market facilities I am talking ahout are two different things. While those owners might be happy earning a million or so every year, in a market like mine there are FM facilities changing formats because they've earned under 10 million profit. You're talking mom & pop and I'm talking big time major market operations. With the kind of earnings one of those small stations brings in, they counldn't meet the weekly payroll in NY. Here your talking about engineers earning over $100,000 a year and I believe the WFAN afternoon drive team is making betwen 300,ooo and 500,000 each. Its a completely different world here.

But for how much longer? WRXP is reportedly offering the airstaff $40K to $50K in New York:

http://gormanmediablog.blogspot.com/

See also the first item in Tom Taylor's column today. Small markets (which have mostly stayed away from IBOC) are still doing well.

They obviously don't want to hire AFTRA members. Desk assistants in our newsroom earn at least 50K a year.

 

[wgliradio]

C'mon you're one of the good guys (No not WMCA) and you are out quite a distance from those sticks in Jersey.

Actually this includes the High Island signals too.

WREF (which at 850 Khz) is barely audible at my QTH which is about 50 miles from Ridgefield, while it's really just across the sound from you.

Actually, FAN and CBS are stronger than REF. So is WINS and WOR for that matter.

By the way, is your stations C-Quam encoder still being used as a door stop?

Actually it is being used on 75 meters. There are a few hams who do Stereo up there.
I was never more than lukewarm on AM HD, I am now cold on it. Working with it day to day, listening to it, hearing it, experienceing the dropouts driving around, the better audio from the 317-C when it is on, the promise other technologies have, I just don't see it or hear it. It's wrong to me. AM may die, but it should die in peace as stations migrate their content to a more stable platform.

On a more serious note, did you hear that Ronnie I (ex of WHBI and a really nice man) has passed away. I read he died of Cancer. I met him a few times and even went to Clifton music once (Its the ultimate oldies experience). He was a very nice man.

Yes I did. Very sad

 

[LinoNYC]

C'mon you're one of the good guys (No not WMCA) and you are out quite a distance from those sticks in Jersey.

Actually this includes the High Island signals too.

WREF (which at 850 Khz) is barely audible at my QTH which is about 50 miles from Ridgefield, while it's really just across the sound from you.

Actually, FAN and CBS are stronger than REF. So is WINS and WOR for that matter.

By the way, is your stations C-Quam encoder still being used as a door stop?

Actually it is being used on 75 meters. There are a few hams who do Stereo up there.
I was never more than lukewarm on AM HD, I am now cold on it. Working with it day to day, listening to it, hearing it, experienceing the dropouts driving around, the better audio from the 317-C when it is on, the promise other technologies have, I just don't see it or hear it. It's wrong to me. AM may die, but it should die in peace as stations migrate their content to a more stable platform.

On a more serious note, did you hear that Ronnie I (ex of WHBI and a really nice man) has passed away. I read he died of Cancer. I met him a few times and even went to Clifton music once (Its the ultimate oldies experience). He was a very nice man.

Yes I did. Very sad

Perhaps you can clear this up for me, over the years I have noticed that stations which convert to the newer switching-type tx's have a sort of mushy/hash-y quality especially on music. I realize there are other factors such as compressed stl's and storage but if you compare Saturday night oldies on WABC to the audio quality of the late WQEW as a pop standards all analog station, there is no comparison, the latter with it's 317 wins the quaity race, although after the mouse took over the sat fed format sounded awful.

"AM may die, but it should die in peace as stations migrate their content to a more stable platform.

What would be the more stable platform?

As for AM's fate, I don't see a graceful death such as WNBC had. Most of these stations aren't going to go dark, they'll be sold to operations such as churches and other hucksters, the pit that shortwave has become is in my opinion not out of the question for AM, infact it seems to be well underway already.

Regards, Lino