WCRB 99.5'S ADVERTISERS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT ITS RADIO SIGNAL

[Casablanca]

I know FM signals don't change at sunset. Well, I don't think they do but last night WCRB's new frequency at 99.5 FM was nearly impossible to pick up just south of Boston.

The new owners of 'CRB has to move to improve that signal or its current and future advertisers should be worried if their commercials on the new WCRB 99.5 can actually be heard out side of Lowell where the station's tower is located.

Glad to have a classical music station still in this area but if you can't hear it outside of a small circle - especially in the evening what good is it. All I heard was another station bleeding into 'CRB's dial position, and this was on a C.C. Crane Radio which is suppose to pick up distant signals.

 

[AKLes]

To a certain extent, advertisers on Classical Music stations are more concerned with image building than with actual shor-term results. The size of the audience matters not so much as being seen to be supportive of "the good things in life" that generally appeal to affluent consumer contingent.

I doubt there's much advertiser concern over signal strength.

 

[Laurence Glavin]

I know FM signals don't change at sunset. Well, I don't think they do but last night WCRB's new frequency at 99.5 FM was nearly impossible to pick up just south of Boston.

The new owners of 'CRB has to move to improve that signal or its current and future advertisers should be worried if their commercials on the new WCRB 99.5 can actually be heard out side of Lowell where the station's tower is located.

Glad to have a classical music station still in this area but if you can't hear it outside of a small circle - especially in the evening what good is it. All I heard was another station bleeding into 'CRB's dial position, and this was on a C.C. Crane Radio which is suppose to pick up distant signals.

Actually, the tower is located on a hill in the westernmost section of Andover overlooking route 495. This twaddle about "good to have classical music on the air" is meaningless on a station so badly programmed as WCRB. Presumably, many cities and towns south and southwest of route 128 that got their signal when it was on 102.5 are currently receiving hash on 99.5 (actually an improvement) and I haven't noticed any letters of complaint in the Globe or Herald. NOBODY CARES! Just buy one of those CD compilations of classical favorites that are advertised on TV and you'll have their entire playlist NO EXAGGERATION.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

You've complained about the 99.5 signal before Casablanca, it's getting old .

Casablanca said:
**The new owners of 'CRB has to move to improve that signal**

They can't just improve it, several stations in New England make any dramatic signal improvement near impossible. If they were to increase power from their current site, it probably wouldn't make a huge difference.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

You've complained about the 99.5 signal before Casablanca, it's getting old .

Casablanca said:
**The new owners of 'CRB has to move to improve that signal**

They can't just improve it, several stations in New England make any dramatic signal improvement near impossible. If they were to increase power from their current site, it probably wouldn't make a huge difference.

It's already a full Class B, I don't think they can increase it any further.

I'm not having any trouble picking it up driving around Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and the west suburbs. Clean, full stereo in the car in most spots. Haven't tried it south of 128 yet, but I know that I could hear the old WKLB well past Brockton...

 

[Garrett]

I know FM signals don't change at sunset. Well, I don't think they do but last night WCRB's new frequency at 99.5 FM was nearly impossible to pick up just south of Boston.

The new owners of 'CRB has to move to improve that signal or its current and future advertisers should be worried if their commercials on the new WCRB 99.5 can actually be heard out side of Lowell where the station's tower is located.

Glad to have a classical music station still in this area but if you can't hear it outside of a small circle - especially in the evening what good is it. All I heard was another station bleeding into 'CRB's dial position, and this was on a C.C. Crane Radio which is suppose to pick up distant signals.

Gee, yah think Paul?
We've only been talking about this for 2 years now...

 

[nhradiochild]

Casablanca,

FM Radio signals don't change much after sunset, but are significantly influenced by things that influence the ether, such as weather or seasons in some cases, and sometimes even moon phases it seems. (Don't quote me on that last one, it just seems that way.)

I'm sure seasonal increase is due largely in part to trees losing their leaves, but I digress. (Oh by the way, can't say that this would have any effect on MA radio. I lived in NH where the mountains and hills are plentiful, and are quite distracting to certain signals.

 

[johnwas5]

new signal is noticeably weaker though. A legitimate complaint especially as classical spends so much time being quiet.

 

[Neggy]

NH you are 100% correct about foliage and FM signal.

In the winter I get WATD (Marshfield) booming into Wakefield, but as soon as the trees start sprouting some leaves my signal quality drops a bit. Granted I'm on the fringe of thier 40Dbu secondary coverage, but I called Ed Perry one day to ask if they were working on the transmitter and it was he that explained to me the tree thing.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

new signal is noticeably weaker though. A legitimate complaint especially as classical spends so much time being quiet.

It's not weaker in wattage, it's just transmitting from a different location. If you were north of Boston, it would be stronger (than the old one).