WBMX IBOC Off?

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

Are the sidebands just hiding or has WBMX-104.1’s IBOC been off for at least the last several days?

Don’t know if it was related or not, but from before 2:25am until 6:10am this morning, WMJX-106.7 was apparently using their alt. Newton xmtr, as they were buried in the Pru overload noise floor at South Station (and Dan Justin quipped at about 6:15am, “Broadcasting from the top of the Pru” and chuckled)....But all of the other Pru stations——including 104.1——appearingly remained there all night, at their full power(s).

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Are the sidebands just hiding or has WBMX-104.1’s IBOC been off for at least the last several days?

I also noticed that it has been off.

 

[wcozBoston]

Are the sidebands just hiding or has WBMX-104.1’s IBOC been off for at least the last several days?

Don’t know if it was related or not, but from before 2:25am until 6:10am this morning, WMJX-106.7 was apparently using their alt. Newton xmtr, as they were buried in the Pru overload noise floor at South Station (and Dan Justin quipped at about 6:15am, “Broadcasting from the top of the Pru” and chuckled)....But all of the other Pru stations——including 104.1——appearingly remained there all night, at their full power(s).

What is the Pru overload noise floor at South Station?

 

[nd2023]

My portable HD radio simply does not overload. I remember getting all Boston stations clearly in South Station.

 

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

as they were buried in the Pru overload noise floor at South Station

What is the Pru overload noise floor at South Station?

Image overload is the effect of a local signal overloading a receiver’s circuitry and shielding, so that you hear the signal all over the dial——the extent depending on the (lack of) quality of the receiver and the strength vs. distance of the offending signal(s).
So, at South Station (which is only 2.3km/1.4mi away from the Pru, as measured from the Post Office cafeteria), instead of weak signals of distant stations or audio “snow” on an empty frequency, the FM dial consists of varying strength images of signals from the Pru, piling on each other!

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Image overload is the effect of a local signal overloading a receiver’s circuitry and shielding, so that you hear the signal all over the dial——the extent depending on the (lack of) quality of the receiver and the strength vs. distance of the offending signal(s).
So, at South Station (which is only 2.3km/1.4mi away from the Pru, as measured from the Post Office cafeteria), instead of weak signals of distant stations or audio “snow” on an empty frequency, the FM dial consists of varying strength images of signals from the Pru, piling on each other!

Also, if you're near South Station, the stations on One Financial Place, WERS, WHRB and WHBA, can contribute to the intermodulation overload mix along with the more powerful stations from the Pru. Though they have much lower power than the Pru stations, they are almost literally "next door". I have heard this happen on a portable on Atlantic Ave.

 

[aaronread]

Also, if you're near South Station, the stations on One Financial Place, WERS, WHRB and WHBA, can contribute to the intermodulation overload mix along with the more powerful stations from the Pru. Though they have much lower power than the Pru stations, they are almost literally "next door". I have heard this happen on a portable on Atlantic Ave.

IIRC, South Station proper is actually TOO close to OFC for there to be blanketing and intermod from the OFC stations. The multi-bay antennas, combined with shadowing from the building itself, reduce the downward signal substantially for a small "donut" right around OFC proper.

 

[carmen]

base of the Pru is a good place to escape pru overloadh - theres an outdoor garden/lawn area next to the mall where all the memories on the ol FM app came in fine - cant even do that in northern parts of roxbury if youve got lineofsight to that monstrosity of energywaste