WDRC-AM loud hum on stream

[TheBigA]

Either way it's a sad commentary on the state of radio today.

Just one station isn't a commentary on an entire industry. It's like saying a rude American tourist is a sad commentary on all Americans.

I'm listening to the stream right now. Clear as a bell. No hum at all. Check your settings.

 

[wadio]

I remember threads long ago on WDRC-FM's audio issues -- over the air, that is -- that speculated that WDRC stood for We Don't Really Care. That was back in the station's Doolittle days. Now, two ownership groups later, little has changed but the means of transmission!

LOL! That's an acronym that makes sense.

 

[wadio]

Just one station isn't a commentary on an entire industry. It's like saying a rude American tourist is a sad commentary on all Americans.

I'm listening to the stream right now. Clear as a bell. No hum at all. Check your settings.

If you're listening on a device with any kind of low end it's VERY noticeable. Others should be able to confirm that. My "settings" are the same for every station that I stream.

My point is that this is just one example of the indifference shown by radio management these days. Repetitive PSA's (half a dozen in the same break) and promos for dead hosts are others.

I love radio! It makes me sad to see this kind of inattention. Rick Sklar must be turning over in his grave.

 

[CTListener]

LOL! That's an acronym that makes sense.

Of course, the acronym stood for Doolittle Radio Corporation, the station's first owners. But I erred in my post in saying the complaints started on Doolittle's watch; they actually came up when Buckley Broadcasting owned WDRC.

 

[TheBigA]

If you're listening on a device with any kind of low end it's VERY noticeable. Others should be able to confirm that.

I listened on the same device I use for listening to music. I heard no hum or distortion. I listened very carefully, and in a very quiet room.

My point is that this is just one example of the indifference shown by radio management these days. Repetitive PSA's (half a dozen in the same break)

As I've said to you before, the PSAs you're hearing on streaming aren't coming from radio stations. They're coming from streaming platforms.

You blame radio management for indifference, yet you seem to like the free content you hear outside of the PSAs or promos. Those same managers you say are indifferent are also the ones who make it possible to hear the talk you want to hear.

 

[MarcB]

I made it a point when I was out and about on Saturday to check out WDRC (AM). I heard a hum underneath the programming on both 1360-AM and 103.3-FM.

 

[wadio]

Just for fun I just checked WDRC's stream and, no surprise, the LOUD hum is still there. Check it out:

WDRC-AM - Bloomfield, CT

Just another ITMWPB Sites site

www.talkofconnecticut.com

So the stream has been a tough listen for well over three months -- pretty solid evidence that they really don't care about their potential audience.

And no, I won't "complain" to them. That's "not my job!" I don't care about WDRC per se. It's just a sad commentary on the state of broadcast companies today.

 

[TheBigA]

So the stream has been a tough listen for well over three months -- pretty solid evidence that they really don't care about their potential audience.

Or they don't know about it. Or they don't consider people who stream to be their audience.

It's just a sad commentary on the state of broadcast companies today.

Or on the state of small locally owned radio today. It wouldn't happen at a bigger company.

BTW I still don't hear the hum.

 

[wadio]

Or they don't know about it. Or they don't consider people who stream to be their audience.

Then why do they bother to stream? If you own a piece of property you should maintain it.

Or on the state of small locally owned radio today. It wouldn't happen at a bigger company.

Good point.

BTW I still don't hear the hum.

That's a mystery. Others have confirmed. And it's not just a little background hum, it's LOUD.

All I can think of is:

• You're listening on a device with a low-end that cuts off below 100Hz ... or
• Somehow you're getting a different stream

How are you listening?

 

[TheBigA]

Then why do they bother to stream? If you own a piece of property you should maintain it.

It's not really their "property." As we've discussed, most stations use outside suppliers to do the stream. I have no idea who they're using. It may even be from another country. The station's legal responsibility is for the air signal. That's what the FCC requires them to monitor. Which is why I say they may not even know about this. You've complained about a number of streaming issues, and typically they're not under the control of the radio station. They likely don't make much money from the stream. They probably do it as a courtesy. They also have an FM translator. Does anyone hear the hum on the translator?

How are you listening?

On my laptop.

 

[wadio]

It's not really their "property." As we've discussed, most stations use outside suppliers to do the stream. I have no idea who they're using. It may even be from another country. The station's legal responsibility is for the air signal. That's what the FCC requires them to monitor. Which is why I say they may not even know about this. You've complained about a number of streaming issues, and typically they're not under the control of the radio station. They likely don't make much money from the stream. They probably do it as a courtesy. They also have an FM translator. Does anyone hear the hum on the translator?



On my laptop.

My question wasn't how do they stream, it was why do they bother.

 

[TheBigA]

My question wasn't how do they stream, it was why do they bother.

As I said: It's a courtesy. I don't think anyone is making money from streaming.

 

[wadio]

Then why do some streams show up in ratings? If the stream sounded decent maybe people would listen. Why defend mediocrity?

BTW, if you plug earbuds into your laptop I'm sure you'll hear what I'm talking about.

 

[TheBigA]

Why defend mediocrity?

I'm just presenting other options besides the one you have given. If it sucks so much, shut it off. Lots of alternatives.

 

[davideduardo]

As I said: It's a courtesy. I don't think anyone is making money from streaming.

There have been many articles in trade publications about how it is impossible to make money with a web stream. I have not read any articles about profitable radio station streams.

 

[wadio]

If it sucks so much, shut it off.

Wow, that is the classic defensive reply when there's nothing constructive to say. An oldie but goodie!

 

[wadio]

There have been many articles in trade publications about how it is impossible to make money with a web stream. I have not read any articles about profitable radio station streams.

"Impossible" is a strong word. At a time when AM is fading fast, there are two viable alternatives: FM and streaming.

FM has the several advantages:

• It’s familiar
• It’s easy to access
• It’s quick to access content – no pre-roll ads
• The sound is decent and levels are uniform
• Ads don’t need to be blocked with repetitive filler

Streaming has roadblocks but, I have to say, things are improving:

• Access is complicated – there are too many separate apps; Bluetooth to the car is slow and unreliable
• While pre-roll ads are an additional source of revenue, they’re destructive to the user experience. Fortunately, pre-roll ads have diminished, from long video ads a few years ago, to 30-second audio ads, to many stations not running any pre-rolls. Question: if it’s impossible to make money from streaming, how do pre-roll ads add to that non-existent bottom line?
• Repetitive ads are still sometimes a problem, but far less than in the past. Even now during the post-holiday season, I’m hearing more ads, mostly targeted at my geographic area, which is a strong sign for the future of streaming.
• Maybe the biggest problem that’s seldom mentioned is sound processing. On many streams, levels are all over the place! At home I use an excellent $30 audio processor (Claesson Edwards Breakaway) to keep levels in check. In the car it’s another matter. Processing, as you know, can be the “silent killer” when it comes to keeping listeners engaged – either too much or too little. For streaming to achieve its maximum reach, it needs at least some processing. Since the FCC isn’t involved, it’s up to the streamers to figure it out.

So, my point is, why just give up on something that might be the future of spoken-word radio? (Music radio has other issues.) And when it’s a little thing like a 60Hz hum, why not just fix it!

Overall, I believe things are improving in terms of streaming. Will it reach a point where it's deemed "profitable?" Time will tell.

 

[TheBigA]

Wow, that is the classic defensive reply when there's nothing constructive to say. An oldie but goodie!

There IS nothing constructive to say. You hear hum on their stream. Then from that, you extrapolate a lot of fiction that they don't care about what they do, and it's another example of the failure of the industry. Do you think any of that is constructive? I don't,

 

[wadio]

Do you think any of that is constructive?

Absolutely. If you don't think so, then don't read it!
How's that?

 

[TheBigA]

Absolutely. If you don't think so, then don't read it!
How's that?

Classic defensive reply.