WCBS-AM: Contributing To The Death Of AM Radio

[DToTheJ]

Okay... somebody asked after I had made a reference to it in another thread, so I'll lay it out for everyone.

There are many reasons why the AM band is dying, if not near-death. If it's not IBOC, it's blowtorch signals that are literally unavoidable all over the dial.

On my previous Walkman, the signal of WCBS (880) penetrates WABC (770) so much, you would think that Citadel sold 770 to CBS!

On my new Walkman - even worse! If you scan up and down the AM dial, you can hear WCBS - and to a certain extent, WFAN, but mostly to the left of the dial - everywhere! That signal drowns out even some dependable signals like WOR, WINS and WEPN so much, I can't bear - or dare - to scan the AM dial any further, and flip it over to FM.

Therein lies my gripe about AM radio. And hence the reason why I think if CBS moves one of its AM properties over to FM, WCBS-AM should not be it.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

We are a nation of some 50 states and rumor has it there are actually radio stations in all 50. Let me see if I understand your posting: Radio is dying in all 50 states because Walkman produced and inferior receiver that doesn't work well in your neighborhood.

Does that mean that radios in pick-up trucks in Kansas no longer work either? Does that mean the radios in 2010 Lexus automobiles no longer work in Arlington, VA? Does that mean when I take my ETON portable out on the dock to fish in Lake Lanier in Georgia that AM will no longer come in.

There you have it, folks. A.M. Radio is dying.... nationwide.... because Walkman sold an inferior radio in NYC.

 

[Rusty Muck]

WCBS-AM and WFAN share the same transmitter on High Island in the Bronx. If you're close to that area (which I presume you either live or work near there?) that would explain your reception problem - both station are so strong as to override adjacent channels. That's just natural; it owes to how AM signals originate, and has been the case since the dawn of the medium.

Even if you live next to a small 1,000 watt signal, if you live right next to the transmitter, that signal will still be overpowering over everything else on either side of it. Similar deal with FM signals, if you're next to the transmitter, "ghost" receptions of that station will pop up all throughout the dial. I do feel for people that live next to IBOC AM transmitters; their radios must be flat-out useless.

 

[vinceapple]

I had a friend who lived in the shadows of the WABC transmitter in Lodi, NJ back in the '60's. He told me he used to be able to pick them on his bedsprings.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Even if you live next to a small 1,000 watt signal, if you live right next to the transmitter, that signal will still be overpowering over everything else on either side of it. Similar deal with FM signals, if you're next to the transmitter, "ghost" receptions of that station will pop up all throughout the dial. I do feel for people that live next to IBOC AM transmitters; their radios must be flat-out useless.

When I lived in East Brunswick, NJ, 99.1 FM from nearby Zarepath came in so strong on my Sony clock radio that 99.5 FM NY actually came in on 99.6. The seek function on my car radio picked up 99.1, but bypassed 99.5. Manually, you could tune in 99.5 and it came in clearly.

Didn't impact my life much, since I don't listen to WAWZ (99.1 FM) or WBAI (99.5 FM).

 

[badjef]

I had a friend who lived in the shadows of the WABC transmitter in Lodi, NJ back in the '60's. He told me he used to be able to pick them on his bedsprings.

There is something eerie about that, although true. I listened to a local station in the toaster - pretty hot signal and tasty, too.

In all honesty, those complaints are few and far between anymore. I would suggest a new and improved " Walkman" is in order. especially if you intend to have a seafood lunch, there at the marina.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[WNTIRadio]

It's not WCBS 880, it's your crappy tuner that sits inside your walkman. Try it in the car and I'll bet that everything is fine.

One used to be able to listen to WABC in Lodi on people's aluminum siding if the house was close enough. You can also light up a florescent tube in a high AM RF field...

 

[Rusty Muck]

I had a friend who lived in the shadows of the WABC transmitter in Lodi, NJ back in the '60's. He told me he used to be able to pick them on his bedsprings.

That sounds similar to stories I've heard of people in Mason, Ohio (the northeastern Cincy suburb where WLW/700's transmitter is located at) picking up the one-time 500,000 watt WLW signal with just about anything in their house: light bulbs, ceiling fans, bathtub drains, vacuums, and any other sort of kitchen appliance.

Of course, the most extreme example was Lucille Ball's claim that, during WWII, she was able to pick up morse code inside her head via dental fillings whenever she drove by KMPC/Los Angeles' transmitter site (now KSPN). Lucy apparently contacted the Feds, who busted a Japanese spy ring nearby. That was one of the first urban legends tested on the first season of Mythbusters (spoiler alert: they busted it).

 

[badjef]

I had a friend who lived in the shadows of the WABC transmitter in Lodi, NJ back in the '60's. He told me he used to be able to pick them on his bedsprings.

That sounds similar to stories I've heard of people in Mason, Ohio (the northeastern Cincy suburb where WLW/700's transmitter is located at) picking up the one-time 500,000 watt WLW signal with just about anything in their house: light bulbs, ceiling fans, bathtub drains, vacuums, and any other sort of kitchen appliance.

Of course, the most extreme example was Lucille Ball's claim that, during WWII, she was able to pick up morse code inside her head via dental fillings whenever she drove by KMPC/Los
Angeles' transmitter site (now KSPN). Lucy apparently contacted the Feds, who busted a Japanese
spy ring nearby. That was one of the first urban legends tested on the first season of
(spoiler alert: they busted it).

That was used in an episode of Gilligan's Island.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[DToTheJ]

WCBS-AM and WFAN share the same transmitter on High Island in the Bronx. If you're close to that area (which I presume you either live or work near there?) that would explain your reception problem - both station are so strong as to override adjacent channels...

Thanks much for the explanation, Nathan.

WNTIRadio: Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to try it out next time my Walkman unit is inside a car...

And GRC... thanks for the good laugh. ;D

 

[badjef]

WCBS-AM and WFAN share the same transmitter on High Island in the Bronx. If you're close to that area (which I presume you either live or work near there?) that would explain your reception problem - both station are so strong as to override adjacent channels...

Thanks much for the explanation, Nathan.

WNTIRadio: Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to try it out next time my Walkman unit is inside a car...
And GRC... thanks for the good laugh. ;D

The same thing used to happen on FM. Back in the 80's, the radio stations were testing the new antenna on 1WTC. Some moved, while others stayed on Empire. When downtown, Empire signals were bad. Conversely, when at midtown, the 1WTC signals would suffer.

I never heard an official explanation of why most everybody moved back to Empire, as opposed to the higher location at 1WTC, as their primary site, but during that time period, it was bad.

TV stayed on 1WTC. I figured there must have been cheaper rent at Empire for radio which could be justified better for TV at 1WTC.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

And GRC... thanks for the good laugh. ;D

Thank you for receiving it as intended. Some times the forum becomes so full of insult and flames that efforts at adding a bit of levity are just viewed as more fuel on the fires.

On the serious side of this discussion..... the design and marketing of receivers is a big challenge for the broadcasting industry. If your daily grind is in an area where some NYC stations indeed swamp your receiver, you need a totally different product than I do.

I am out at the edge of Applachia in an area where I think the FCC Ground Conductivity maps are wrong. They say we have a ground conductivity that is the lowest they show anywhere on the national map. Their error is: our ground conductivity should show up as a negative value.

I go to Walmart or Target or some appliance chain and buy the same Walkman available to you. In my front yard that Walkman might pick up 4 stations.... maybe one of them is strong enough to mask the noise and interference in the spectrum. My dandy little Eton the size of a ladies shoe box doesn't do much better.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

DToTheJ:

What is the model number of the radio you are using? Just curious.

The AM/FM-cassette player digitally tuned Walkman doesn't have a good tuner. If you're looking for a good quality Sony radio with earphones, I suggest either the SRF-M37W (digitally tuned) or the SRF-59W (analog tuned). Of the two, the SRF-59 is quite respected by MW-band DXers. You can find them both in stores like K-Mart or Walmart.

 

[DToTheJ]

My main model was a Sony (don't recall the model, but it's a cassette player with 5 AM and 10 FM presets). When the headphone jack started dying, I got a new one - a Craig CS2301A with - not a digital tuner, but an old-school tuning dial. Needless to say, the latter model is even worse. When I go looking for a new Sony, I shall keep your information in mind. Thanks.

 

[Rusty Muck]

DToTheJ:

What is the model number of the radio you are using? Just curious.

The AM/FM-cassette player digitally tuned Walkman doesn't have a good tuner. If you're looking for a good quality Sony radio with earphones, I suggest either the SRF-M37W (digitally tuned) or the SRF-59W (analog tuned). Of the two, the SRF-59 is quite respected by MW-band DXers. You can find them both in stores like K-Mart or Walmart.

Mine is the SRF-M37V model, which the SRF-59W replaced (the M37V model also had the "TV" VHF audio band for channels 2-13, which was obviously removed prior to the analog-digital TV switchover). I've had it for nearly four years now, and it still performs fantastically.

Here's what the SRF-59W looks like, from Amazon.com

 

[WNTIRadio]

The FM's moved off of WTC because the master FM antenna was mounted too low on the mast. What resulted was that the large roof surface area shadowed the signal close in to the WTC. There was also the issue of the signals getting swamped near the ESB.

 

[Ai4i]

The FM's moved off of WTC because the master FM antenna was mounted too low on the mast.

We suppose that they might gravitate to the Freedom Tower which might be a much thinner structure.

 

[Tim L]

I live close to the transmitter of WILB-1060 Canton, Ohio (was 5kw. now 15kw) and on some cheaper radios, it almost overrides WTAM-1100 Cleveland..I have also heard WILB and earlier WRCW, on 740 with a weak signal..

 

[WPPCProductions]

I have to agree with the posts on the crappy walkman am tuners.Zero selectivity and sensitivity. local station overload .these days tuners dont have.those old GM car radios are great.I have an old JVC boom box that has a sensitive am tuner in it.The FM tuner great too.I use to use my old walkman am/fm cass recorder radio on trips DXing and recording airchecks.I got tired of getting gibberish and noise.Now I use a modified GM car radio and a digital recorder to do that task.