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The ALL NEW "I hate WDRC-FM" thread

T

Turntable

Well I hope this gets some attention from the idiots at 'DRC...

I just bought TWO (2) JVC KD-HDR-1 radios. One of them is going into my 1991 Saturn SL-1, the other went into my mother's '96 Honda Accord tonight.

When I first tuned to WDRC-FM, I got their HD-1 just fine. It sounded ATROCIOUS! Worse than the analog signal and I couldn't believe it. Distorted and nasty sounding, with a really crunchy top end. The analog sounded 100% better and I didn't think that was possible. Then after brief playing around with the radio after the install, including adjusting the 7-band EQ, setting the time, etc. I ran it up to WKCI which sounded ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC on both HD1 and HD2. I listened to a couple of other stations (which sounded fantastic as well although most of them were doing all xmas) and then went back to check out WDRC (stands for 'We Don't Really Care') No HD signal at all... the radio didn't even pick up the pilot-- didn'even try to search for it because it wasn't there. Fine with me because the analog sounded like gold compared to their HD stream.

Somebody please fix... not the equipment, but whoever is doing their engineering. In this age of corporate downsizing in radio, one would think this person should be the first expendable employee.

~End of Rant~

-A
 
Thanks for confirming my bet that the HD would sound equally as bad if not worse than their analog signal.

Of course, you mentioned WKCI - Fred Santore actually has an ear anf a clue for getting it done right. No surprise whatsoever on it sounding great. I'd bet that most other HD signals in the state sound much better than the stuff on 102.9.

Anybody interested in co-composing an open letter to Buckley Broadcasting?
 
Why is it that I never hear WKCI identify with "HD1" on the hour? WWYZ and WTIC-FM most definitely have it in their IDs.

While we're on the subject of HD radio, which of the commercial AM and FMs in the Hartford/New Britain/Middletown market broadcast in HD?
 
If the engineer cares about the station, I'll bet that person is ripping their hair out-figuratively-as we type.

Bill is correct about Fred, and the rest of Radio Towers Park's engineers have similiar good sense. Alas, I'm sure sometimes they are over-ruled by the demands of management.

I guess dial presence is just code word for squeeze the life and integrity out of the music.
 
From what I can tell, they're working on killing it a third time. Horrible audio and a rapidly deteriorating playlist. I'll be in the area later this week and will spend a decent share of time checking out DRC-FM out of curiosity. Besides, there's not a whole lot else worth sampling in the market at the moment.

The audio was worth putting up with when they were playing a unique mix of oldies. But recently, I was hearing waaaay too much of the typical AC/rock stuff from the 70's and 80's. If that continues, I will not trouble myself any more about their low-fidelity audio sound.

"How to Ruin a Good Thing in Three Easy Lessons" - the book that Buckley Broadcasting needs to write.... ::)
 
The thing that surprised me is that Wayne Mulligan, the soon to be retired GM, was the chief engineer back in the days when DRC-FM actually sounded decent - why the heck did he let the place turn into a toilet?
 
Well, at least they're still using their excellent library of Christmas music -- and deploying it just two weeks before the holiday, which is perfect for avoiding burnout. Two or three songs an hour for now, increasing in frequency as the day nears, and then the big Christmas Eve blowout with Rob Ray and all those novelty songs.

For those (both?) of you with HD radios, the HD-2 stream appears to have gone all-Christmas -- just heard the Temptations' "Silver Bells," Elvis' "The Christmas Song" and the Supremes' "My Christmas Tree." Good stuff!
 
CTListener said:
Well, at least they're still using their excellent library of Christmas music -- and deploying it just two weeks before the holiday, which is perfect for avoiding burnout. Two or three songs an hour for now, increasing in frequency as the day nears, and then the big Christmas Eve blowout with Rob Ray and all those novelty songs.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with you here. Am in the area this week and have been checking out WDRC-FM. Yes, the audio sounds crappy. But, their conservative use of Christmas tunes (and actual sweepers wishing you a "Merry Christmas") hits the spot nicely. Still hearing a decent mix of 60's and a few rarer 70's oldies; however, I liked them better about 3 months ago. But, they're dropping in a few too many 80's songs and too many 'classic rock' acts that are adequately played elsewhere.
 
CTListener said:
Well, at least they're still using their excellent library of Christmas music -- and deploying it just two weeks before the holiday, which is perfect for avoiding burnout. Two or three songs an hour for now, increasing in frequency as the day nears, and then the big Christmas Eve blowout with Rob Ray and all those novelty songs.

For those (both?) of you with HD radios, the HD-2 stream appears to have gone all-Christmas -- just heard the Temptations' "Silver Bells," Elvis' "The Christmas Song" and the Supremes' "My Christmas Tree." Good stuff!
Click to expand...

All sounding like two Campbells™ soup cans (Chicken Noodle, perhaps) with a string in-between. Lordy, I'd rather listen to 'LNG as far as the audio goes.

Today I heard a possible gaffaw, when they did the weather that muffed the intro sounder for it - I don't know if they're no longer using Channel 3's Early Warning weather or it was just a typical screw-up.
 
Bill DeFelice said:
CTListener said:
Well, at least they're still using their excellent library of Christmas music -- and deploying it just two weeks before the holiday, which is perfect for avoiding burnout. Two or three songs an hour for now, increasing in frequency as the day nears, and then the big Christmas Eve blowout with Rob Ray and all those novelty songs.

For those (both?) of you with HD radios, the HD-2 stream appears to have gone all-Christmas -- just heard the Temptations' "Silver Bells," Elvis' "The Christmas Song" and the Supremes' "My Christmas Tree." Good stuff!
Click to expand...

All sounding like two Campbells™ soup cans (Chicken Noodle, perhaps) with a string in-between. Lordy, I'd rather listen to 'LNG as far as the audio goes.

Today I heard a possible gaffaw, when they did the weather that muffed the intro sounder for it - I don't know if they're no longer using Channel 3's Early Warning weather or it was just a typical screw-up.
Click to expand...

Contract must not have been renewed. The liner I've been hearing for a couple of weeks now is "Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast on 102.9 DRC-FM."
 
CTListener said:
Contract must not have been renewed. The liner I've been hearing for a couple of weeks now is "Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast on 102.9 DRC-FM."
Click to expand...

That would make sense, perhaps they still have the old liner in their Dumbcaster and played it.

wgliradio said:
A little birdie told me that the audio processing at WDRC will be addressed after the 1st of the new year.
Click to expand...

The proof is in the pudding so only time will tell. It would be great to see if a new "golden ear" puts the audio where it should be (or could be).
 
With the Caddy man gone, and the re-hiring of gary Kristafer, DRC is D-O-N-E...why go BACKWARDS??? (is it 1983 again?)...get some new-fresh blood in there! The hiring of these dinosaurs does NOTHING to make me want to listen...
 
Don't Be Hatin'!

Where is this "fresh blood" supposed to come from? The farm system in this business has been decimated by the latest round of automation, corporate consolidation and new media competing for the attention of young people. Radio is very cyclical, and Hartford radio is no exception. Gary Craig, Sebastian and even Howard Stern went away and came back to be heard in CT in some way. The idea of morning political talk and then oldies is not new, either. It was done by Brad Davis when WDRC-AM played oldies 20 years ago. We'll see soon enough whether or not that'll be done on FM and whether or not it works.

It's JERRY Kristafer, not Gary, by the way. Gary works at WLIS/WMRD doing news. It'll be a New Year and a new manager at WDRC. Give it a chance. Jerry's certainly worked hard enough to deserve that.

The WDRC-FM HD-2 channel is worth a listen. No, I'm not starting another audio thread. Nobody's mentioned anything about HD in CT, yet some posters here may appreciate the option. I can only assume the pricetag is still keeping the masses away. Happy New Year!
 
Re: Don't Be Hatin'!

GlennO said:
Where is this "fresh blood" supposed to come from? The farm system in this business has been decimated by the latest round of automation, corporate consolidation and new media competing for the attention of young people.
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth!

GlennO said:
The WDRC-FM HD-2 channel is worth a listen. No, I'm not starting another audio thread. Nobody's mentioned anything about HD in CT, yet some posters here may appreciate the option. I can only assume the pricetag is still keeping the masses away.
Click to expand...

I know I'm not going to pony up my own money to hear the few decent offerings on HD-2.

GlennO said:
Happy New Year!
Click to expand...

Right back at ya!
 
OK< I was listening this morning on the way in to work and the audio still sounds like they're playing their music thru a toilet paper tube. I like Jerry but the audio makes it all too easy to switch back over to my morning podcasts or audio cds.
 
Jerry played a lot more music than I'd been led to believe he would, but I guess he needs time to get all the elements of the show in order.

He mentioned a couple of times how little DRC-FM has changed in the 10 years he was "working south of here" (mumbled), but he was talking about the fact that Larry Wells, Doug Taylor and Mike Stevens are still around, not about the audio.

Speaking of 10 years ago, I think it was the late '90s when the NBA's Washington Bullets became the Wizards. Jerry read the sports report twice an hour today and called them the Bullets every time. Some things DO change!
 
wgliradio said:
A little birdie told me that the audio processing at WDRC will be addressed after the 1st of the new year.
Click to expand...

Does you birdie have any more up to date info? We did airchecks of DRC-FM the first two days with Jerry back and the audio still sounds worse than an duck farting underwater. I'd love to listen to Jerry more but the audio is a turn off for me.
 
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