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Since were still talking about KIOL!

S

shortwave

I was in the car listening to KLDE and then flipping around the dial. KLDE was playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and oddly enough, KIOL was playing it at the same time. I started flipping back and forth and...............

The sonic quality of the audio on KIOL is awful. I don't if anyone else has noticed this, but it's true. I didn't listen to notice whether the L-R stereo image is still backwards or not.

The audio on KLDE was crisp and dynamic (even though all stations have heavy limiting) and the KIOL audio was dull and lifeless. You would think that they could at least get that part right.

It makes the station and the crap playlist sound worse.....but at least they have an ice cream truck. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pathetic!

SW
 
I am really trying to keep my head up about the station, since they brought back Walton& Johnson, but yes, I agree, it sounds incredibly awful today. Sorry about the oxymoron there, but it does.

It has sounded bad these past two days, and I don't think it's necessarily a reception problem. Yesterday during W&J there was a persistent ringing/tingling sound bleeding out of their voices. Today, just now in the car, I heard "Beautiful Day" by U2. It sounded like it was coming out of an AM radio, and my car has a decent sound system. "Beautiful Day" it wasn't!

I don't think it's that odd that KLDE and KIOL were playing the same song...if 2 stations each have 20 songs on their playlist, then it's bound to happen sooner or later! j/k

Like I said, I still will say I support the station, but I really am worried about its chances for survival...and playing heavy on the classic rock isn't helping its situation.

JB

> I was in the car listening to KLDE and then flipping around
> the dial. KLDE was playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and
> oddly enough, KIOL was playing it at the same time. I
> started flipping back and forth and...............
>
> The sonic quality of the audio on KIOL is awful. I don't if
> anyone else has noticed this, but it's true. I didn't listen
> to notice whether the L-R stereo image is still backwards or
> not.
>
> The audio on KLDE was crisp and dynamic (even though all
> stations have heavy limiting) and the KIOL audio was dull
> and lifeless. You would think that they could at least get
> that part right.
>
> It makes the station and the crap playlist sound
> worse.....but at least they have an ice cream truck.
LOLOLOLOLO> LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
> Pathetic!
>
> SW
>
 
> I am really trying to keep my head up about the station,
> since they brought back Walton& Johnson, but yes, I agree,
> it sounds incredibly awful today. Sorry about the oxymoron
> there, but it does.
>
> It has sounded bad these past two days, and I don't think
> it's necessarily a reception problem. Yesterday during W&J
> there was a persistent ringing/tingling sound bleeding out
> of their voices. Today, just now in the car, I heard
> "Beautiful Day" by U2. It sounded like it was coming out of
> an AM radio, and my car has a decent sound system.
> "Beautiful Day" it wasn't!
>
> I don't think it's that odd that KLDE and KIOL were playing
> the same song...if 2 stations each have 20 songs on their
> playlist, then it's bound to happen sooner or later! j/k
>
> Like I said, I still will say I support the station, but I
> really am worried about its chances for survival...and
> playing heavy on the classic rock isn't helping its
> situation.
>
> JB
>
> > I was in the car listening to KLDE and then flipping
> around
> > the dial. KLDE was playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
> and
> > oddly enough, KIOL was playing it at the same time. I
> > started flipping back and forth and...............
> >
> > The sonic quality of the audio on KIOL is awful. I don't
> if
> > anyone else has noticed this, but it's true. I didn't
> listen
> > to notice whether the L-R stereo image is still backwards
> or
> > not.
> >
> > The audio on KLDE was crisp and dynamic (even though all
> > stations have heavy limiting) and the KIOL audio was dull
> > and lifeless. You would think that they could at least get
>
> > that part right.
> >
> > It makes the station and the crap playlist sound
> > worse.....but at least they have an ice cream truck.
> LOLOLOLOLO>
> LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> >
> >
> > Pathetic!
> >
> > SW
> >
>
You are correct! I noticed the bad sound quality as well.
 
> I was in the car listening to KLDE and then flipping around
> the dial. KLDE was playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and
> oddly enough, KIOL was playing it at the same time. I
> started flipping back and forth and...............
>
> The sonic quality of the audio on KIOL is awful. I don't if
> anyone else has noticed this, but it's true. I didn't listen
> to notice whether the L-R stereo image is still backwards or
> not.
>
> The audio on KLDE was crisp and dynamic (even though all
> stations have heavy limiting) and the KIOL audio was dull
> and lifeless. You would think that they could at least get
> that part right.

If past history is any indication, that is due to corporate at Cumulus...
it is well known throughout the industry that the VP of Engineering,
Gary Kline, does not know much about RF (if any!)...I have heard that same thing from SEVERAL sources....including a well known RF Engineer consultant who has done work for Cumulus (not in Houston)....Kline seems to be a self proclaimed "expert" on processing and thats what he does once a station is on...set up the audio processor "right"...A former Cumulus engineer in LA told me Kline put a new Omnia 6 processor at one station, set it up and didnt give the local engineers or anyone the password to access the programming menu!! A few other engineers at audio automation groups (Scott and others) have had similar dealings with Kline..and when asked, they just shooked their heads and agreed with what was said by others..(while saying, Yep, been there, seen it!)

ME? I never met the man personally....but I can say I am not sure I want to! I hear he shoots down what the local engineers want to do because they dont know better??? (Egos do that to people).....well KIOL's audio is a good example of this!!! Heck the hype about 103.7 being a new tower (25 miles from Downtown Houston) in the original press release shows either Kline was blowing smoke up Dickey's ass or Dickey actually believed everything he is told (which is pathetic either way you go...but I know two other radios groups just like that where the DOE/VP of Egr is a total JERK and idiot and yet the owners believe everything he says!..yet I could prove HIM wrong every time...but since I dont have my nose stuck deep up someone's ass, I dont get taken seriously...NO problem. I have more important things to do with my time and talents)

AND their rocker in Lake Charles (Pirate 101.3) sucks audio wise.....even the gawd awful CC stations in the Beaumont area sound better than 101.3 (and thats saying a LOT!!!)

107.5's audio is crisp, clean and sounds great....heck even stations in LFT and BTR (smaller markets 100 and 83 iirc) sound better than 103.7....PATHETIC??
YES IT IS!!! Heck I could set a Orban Optimod 8200 or 8400 up better than that (and I have several times; even an, YUK, Omnia!! :)
 
> You are correct! I noticed the bad sound quality as well.
>

They are apparently concentrating on the HD audio quality - they are promoting it on the station. Guess they are trying to get people to buy the receivers. I'll place mine next to my quadrophonic receiver...
 
I noticed it this afternoon also. I thought it was just the radio I was listening to. I also heard the promo about them broadcasting in HD Radio technology. It didn't sound like it. Wonder what a difference it would make if we all called the station and made a big stink about the audio... but calling constantly. Think they would have no choice but to make changes? Just a thought.

> > You are correct! I noticed the bad sound quality as well.
> >
>
> They are apparently concentrating on the HD audio quality -
> they are promoting it on the station. Guess they are trying
> to get people to buy the receivers. I'll place mine next to
> my quadrophonic receiver...
>
 
> 107.5's audio is crisp, clean and sounds great....heck even
> stations in LFT and BTR (smaller markets 100 and 83 iirc)
> sound better than 103.7....PATHETIC??
> YES IT IS!!! Heck I could set a Orban Optimod 8200 or 8400
> up better than that (and I have several times; even an, YUK,
> Omnia!! :)
>

CW,

Thanks for the info. I just can't believe that a company would spend 2 million dollars on a new tower and then have the final product sound that bad. I thought that KIOL sounded bad before, but it definitely got worse today which would explain the notion that they turned the digital signal on.

The only word that keeps coming to my mind is PATHETIC!

"Cumulus = Doomulus in Houston" quoteth the Shortwave!

SW
 
> CW,
> Thanks for the info. I just can't believe that a company
> would spend 2 million dollars on a new tower and then have
> the final product sound that bad. I thought that KIOL
> sounded bad before, but it definitely got worse today which
> would explain the notion that they turned the digital signal
> on.

More than that; they paid 32million to Ben Amato for 103.7.....
then the tower was more than 2 million (probably 4-5mill...I have not verified if it has an elevator on it yet but I bet it does)..that doesnt include the costs of the xmtrs, remote control, STLs, etc...

> The only word that keeps coming to my mind is PATHETIC!
>
> "Cumulus = Doomulus in Houston" quoteth the Shortwave!
>
> SW

Sounds like a good quote to me...Yesterday, I heard the most terrible newscast on 97.5....if they wanted to be serious, they lost it.....if they wanted to be an "Onion" on the air, they made it...and I cannot believe they expect that to work...when I listen to NEWS on radio, I expect it to be factual and REAL...yesterday, they had a joke report on some spray that makes your license plates invisible to cameras and how some guy in Philly sprayed his entire car...
after three seconds, I realized it was a total joke....and could NOT believe they actually played that on 97.5...

Sorry boys, you totally lost your credibility yesterday....AT LEAST KTRH would not do that crap!!! Maybe on a ROCK station that had NO news and wanted to do a good stunt....but on a NEWS STATION????? Goodbye to 97.5 on the radio presets!
 
> Sounds like a good quote to me...Yesterday, I heard the most
> terrible newscast on 97.5....if they wanted to be serious,
> they lost it.....if they wanted to be an "Onion" on the air,
> they made it...and I cannot believe they expect that to
> work...when I listen to NEWS on radio, I expect it to be
> factual and REAL...yesterday, they had a joke report on some
> spray that makes your license plates invisible to cameras
> and how some guy in Philly sprayed his entire car...
> after three seconds, I realized it was a total joke....and
> could NOT believe they actually played that on 97.5...

actually, there is such a thing. I saw a mention on Ch.11 last weekend with the car guy say something about a spray for the license plates. it makes it really shiny and the cameras at the stoplight can't read the numbers on the plate.

http://www.phantomplate.com/<P ID="signature">______________

"I'll see you Left of the Dial!"</P>
 
I was listening to KIOL at about 2:30 in the FM 1960 area near Kuykendhall and Oh My God...it was truly AWFUL!
The were playing Temple of the Dog "Hunger Strike"--great song, but the audio quality was some of the worst I have heard in years.
I felt like I was in an apartment listening to my neighbor throw a party next door with a really crappy stereo. HD quality it is not.
 
> actually, there is such a thing. I saw a mention on Ch.11
> last weekend with the car guy say something about a spray
> for the license plates. it makes it really shiny and the
> cameras at the stoplight can't read the numbers on the
> plate.
>
> http://www.phantomplate.com/

Thats not what the story was about....the story on KFNC took to the extreme that this guy had sprayed his ENTIRE car...and it was now invisible...what a bogus thing...and yet they ran it as a news story in a legit newscast...
as IF!!!
 
> I was listening to KIOL at about 2:30 in the FM 1960 area
> near Kuykendhall and Oh My God...it was truly AWFUL!
> The were playing Temple of the Dog "Hunger Strike"--great
> song, but the audio quality was some of the worst I have
> heard in years.
> I felt like I was in an apartment listening to my neighbor
> throw a party next door with a really crappy stereo. HD
> quality it is not.
>
KIOL 103.7 was to be HD/IBOC radio from the day KIOL switched over from 97.5. At least that was what was suppose to happen. I can not verify if it really did occur as planned.

CW, you could answer this question one hand behind your back. My understanding is that the HD/IBOC signal needs to be more robust than it's analog counterpart. That the Minimum Threashold for FM HD/IBOC is 60 dbu or 1mV/m, while with analog you can often get a good signal to the 50- dbu or 0.316mV/m or less signal. Would the hybred mode decrease the effective range of the analog signal? There is very little, actually I came up with no information about this, Ibquity certainly is not going to volunteer any info that shows any flaws of HD/IBOC radio and the radio corporations have been silent on the matter, not surprising the stations are trying to sell how great they are in HD Radio. It is very possible that KIOL did not really turn the HD/IBOC on until a few days ago, thus the crap signal. It sounds like I am listening to the station underwater. It was much better a week ago.

Do you think that AM IBOC is going to stand a chance? Both Canada and Mexico suddenly are pointing to the NARBA Treaty and rightfully stating that every US station on AM that uses Ibiquity's IBOC is adding two more stations +/- 10kHz and these stations are not authorized under The Treaty. Odd how two countries that openly flaunt not adhering to NARBA, now want the US to adhere to The Treaty. From what I have read 50kW stations that run AM IBOC are causing some serious problems as early as the evening Critical Hours. WHAM 1180 Rochester is one that is allegedly clobbering a first adjacent in it's own protected 5mV/m signal contour the last hour of the CH. I don't know if fact or fiction.

As of March 31st,2005 - 4761 AM stations, 75 stations in IBOC/HD, per the FCC. It could mean nothing or it could mean that AM stations are not interested in the financial burden and limitations placed on AM IBOC. It could mean that AM stations will be the last to switch over by the large corporations. Another question; I understand that a great many of the patterns that are used by US stations, particuliarly at night will not support the use of IBOC? With the tight patterns and deep nulls and some just plain down right strange patterns will prevent the use of IBOC, just as some AM Stereo stations could not broadcast in Stereo at night due to the complex pattern? 790 KBME was one station that said due to the nighttime pattern they could not broadcast in Stereo at night. Could this spell AM Stereo or Quad Sound or eight-track or Beta for Ibquity's AM HD? If the FCC allows nighttime use they are effectively killing AM radio at night.

Mexico tested Ibiquity's system for a few weeks to a month and last I read was Mexico was doing a month trial with DRM, in hopes that system will work with the many stations in Mexico City that are spaced 20kHz apart with powers of 0.1kW up to 250kw. They apparently co-reside with each other in analog without incident. My guess is that did not happen with Ibiquity's IBOC or Mexico would not still be testing. Actually that will be good, if and when Mexico has a sunset date for analog AM. We shouldn't hear Mexican stations on AM any longer. Of course the Mexican sunset date might come past mine.

Mike O
 
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