Status of WXRK-HD2 and HD3 in NYC

[BruceS8852]

I was going through my Accurian HD radio and found signals at WXRK-HD2 and HD3 in NYC, but no sound. I live in Queens and have not had reception problems on HD2 and 3 stations. I read on another message board that WFAN is to be carried on the HD3. What will be heard on HD2?

Thanks

Bruce

 

[Play Freebird]

In his most recent commentary, Bob Struble told us the wrong tale about the "long tail". The free market has spoken; it's apparently not interested in low budget, low quality, corporate "jukebox" formats. The best thing CBS could do with a vacant WXRK multicast channel is to carry WFAN's programming. If they're really smart, they'll just forget about the third HD channel and give those bits back to HD-1 to improve its quality. Stop the 32k madness!

Now that the "HD Alliance" is out of the way, I expect most groups will simply simulcast the programming of their sister AM stations on HD-2, and hopefully this will convince them to pull the plug on failed experiment known as AM IBOC. The only digital signal AM stations should consider transmitting is a low-speed low-injection on-channel data signal (within +/- 5 kHz of the carrier) that would display the station's call letters or "handle" and allow future receivers to retune automatically to a simulcast on FM HD-2, FM eXtra, 76-88 MHz expanded band, web stream -- or whatever -- in a manner similar to RDS alternate frequency switching.

By the way, KYW 1060 has been simulcast on WYSP HD-2 for several months and the resulting digital coverage there is MUCH better than on their own AM IBOC. I've had trouble getting a solid lock on the KYW AM signal as close to the transmitter as Willow Grove; field strength there must be over 20 mV/m and it still doesn't work.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

I was going through my Accurian HD radio and found signals at WXRK-HD2 and HD3 in NYC, but no sound.

I've seen this reported on another board as well. Never mind all the other problems with this tech. If station personnel can't be bothered to keep the programming up and running on the secondaries, then the value-added that the HD proponents keep touting is valueless.

 

[Mike Walker]

It's hard to argue with that, Dumber.

A few years back I was the PD/Operations Mgr./and Morning dude at an FM station. When the AM Mgr. quit, they dropped tha AM talk station on me too. When the automation on AM glitched, I was expected to leave my live show on the FM station, walk down the hall and fix the AM DURING MY SHOW! Get real. OBVIOUSLY "something's gotta' give", and that something will be the AM talker (a daytimer with a fraction of the FM's coverage, and no established audience as they'd just changed formats from gospel). It sucks. The AM deserved better, the audience deserved better, but the owners weren't willing to spend an additional cent to make this happen. That's the situation many new HD multicast formats are in.

Potential? Galore! But try proving that with no additional budget or staff! If you're knee-deep in problems with the established "main channel" at your station, and the HD2 (or 3) goes down, where will your priorities lie? WITH THE ESTABLISHED STATION, AND LISTENERS, OF COURSE! Which is as it should be. Stations...if you have multicast operations, step up to the plate and make sure someone (preferably a capable someone, with time to do the job) is available to make it work!

Add another straw if you like, but eventually that camel's back is gonna' break! Do the right thing...get another freakin' camel (employee!)