Why does WEEI-FM run stereo?

[reelyreal]

Unless there's something I'm not thinking of, isn't it NOT in the best interest of WEEI-FM to run stereo? I mean, their signal is killer anyways, but why run stereo? Am I not thinking of something?

 

[faderraider]

Why Not?

 

[MarcB]

Exactly Why not? Even long time hold-out 92.1 WLNG out in Sag Harbor, Long Island is running stereo.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

It sounds bettr with crowd noise,bumber music.WEEI probably has the best FM signal in the state.

 

[reelyreal]

The Red Sox Radio Network is in mono though, and I'm fairly certain EEI-FM picks them up off the satellite like the rest of the affiliates.

Thinking about it more, if you're airing spots produced in stereo on a mono station, things could get funky. I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I realize that the WEEI-FM signal is killer anyways, but it could be that much more killer with the stereo turned off.

 

[ScottBurns]

WEEI-FM indeed has one of the great Rhode Island signals. The geographic extent to which I have ever picked up WEEI-FM, and its previous incarnations:
-To the west: In the mid-40s exits past New Haven
-To the east: Falmouth
-To the south: The vineyards of eastern Long Island
-To the north: The streets of Brookline

 

[pqgeorge]

All of their bumper music, ads and whatnot are produced in Stereo. I would hope that the Sox Network would eventually provide the games in Stereo. Stereo would really add to the experience with the crowd noise and the spacial feel of the game. Any sport, adding Stereo sound to any game would really make a difference. It was really great when Red Sox games went color back in the 60's, it really added to the excitement of the game, at home. IMHO.

 

[Wbzfm2010]

what about hd hahahah

 

[reelyreal]

All of their bumper music, ads and whatnot are produced in Stereo. I would hope that the Sox Network would eventually provide the games in Stereo. Stereo would really add to the experience with the crowd noise and the spacial feel of the game. Any sport, adding Stereo sound to any game would really make a difference. It was really great when Red Sox games went color back in the 60's, it really added to the excitement of the game, at home. IMHO.

I agree that I'd love to hear the games in stereo. How much additional satellite bandwidth would be required to distribute the games in stereo? I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of satellite distribution... would you have to double the bandwidth? I would assume that if you had to double the bandwidth, it'd be cost prohibitive, especially with most of the network still comprised of AM mono stations.

 

[j117]

And 106.3 has the worst signal in the state

 

[ScottBurns]

It is amazing, but 99.7's signal is probably equal to that of 106.3. The 99.7 signal was meant to be more of a Southern RI signal. The thing that saves Hot 106 is the fact that its coverage in Providence proper is better than its signal in all points south.

 

[pqgeorge]

And 106.3 has the worst signal in the state

Surprisingly, 106.3 in Woonsocket has a rather good signal for a Class A station (an ERP of 3000 watts). It's a lot better than in the past during the WWON-FM/WNEF days. I live about 35 miles northeast of Woonsocket and get the signal quite well (though I cannot stand the rap "music"). Back in the early 70's, WWON-FM had a rather good oldies format, though their signal barely made it out of it's own back yard. Believe it or not 106.3 embraced Stereo earlier than WPRO-FM did ('ON-FM went Stereo back in the late 60's, 'PRO-FM did not go Stereo until the early '70's).

 

[pqgeorge]

Physical bandwidth on satellite is not really a major factor anymore with digital techniques as they are now. Since most satellite transmission is in the digital form, it's just a matter of getting the proper coordinates and codec from your uplink provider and it's just a matter of pushing a few buttons and...there you are. I think the cost of satellite time has dropped a bit over the years. Switching to a Stereo feed of the games should be pretty easy using the same transponders that they are now using.

All of their bumper music, ads and whatnot are produced in Stereo. I would hope that the Sox Network would eventually provide the games in Stereo. Stereo would really add to the experience with the crowd noise and the spacial feel of the game. Any sport, adding Stereo sound to any game would really make a difference. It was really great when Red Sox games went color back in the 60's, it really added to the excitement of the game, at home. IMHO.

I agree that I'd love to hear the games in stereo. How much additional satellite bandwidth would be required to distribute the games in stereo? I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of satellite distribution... would you have to double the bandwidth? I would assume that if you had to double the bandwidth, it'd be cost prohibitive, especially with most of the network still comprised of AM mono stations.

 

[VelvetR]

It's too many years ago to remember the call letters at the time....it was an FM in Woonsocket that was a class A but had an incredible signal. Not so much for "reach" as for penetration of buildings and absolutely minimal "picket fencing". The secret was a (relatively) high power transmitter and low gain antenna. At the most two bays though I faintly remember it being only one. With the right antenna height you could use a 5kW transmitter running slightly low - enough to compensate for the transmission line losses - and pump out an HONTEST 3kW. Yeah, it cost a little on the power bill but at that sort of power level well worth it.

 

[j117]

And 106.3 has the worst signal in the state

Believe it or not 106.3 embraced Stereo earlier than WPRO-FM did ('ON-FM went Stereo back in the late 60's, 'PRO-FM did not go Stereo until the early '70's).

How come PRO-FM is always late? ;D

 

[necrat123]

And 106.3 has the worst signal in the state

I have to disagree with you on this one 100%

They have the best class A signal in the state. That is IN the state. The signal is listenable into Plymouth, MA, south into Westerly without much trouble. It suffers north out of the state, where it gets hit by the Nassau station out of NH. There are some areas where the signal suffers multipath issues in Providence & Johnston due to Neuatconakut hill, and in downtown Providence due to the hills of the east side. But those are minor at best. When 106.3 was in HD, you didn't even notice those issues with an HD radio.

99.7's signal is limited because it is directional protecting WQRC on the cape. So by nature the signal is pretty bad.

102.7 in Narragansett Pier gets the award for having the worst however, and that is no fault of the fine engineering folks at WRNI.
The tower location is so low, and they are only a 1.95kW at 69 meters. The allocation is what is killing them.
They unfortunatley get the award for the worst commercial band signal in the state, because of that allocation.
They do have a construction permit to go to 6kW, which I hope gets built out.

Obviously some of the smaller college signals (WDOM, WELH, WCVY) are bad by nature of their low power.

 

[j117]

And 106.3 has the worst signal in the state

I have to disagree with you on this one 100%

They have the best class A signal in the state. That is IN the state. The signal is listenable into Plymouth, MA, south into Westerly without much trouble. It suffers north out of the state, where it gets hit by the Nassau station out of NH. There are some areas where the signal suffers multipath issues in Providence & Johnston due to Neuatconakut hill, and in downtown Providence due to the hills of the east side. But those are minor at best. When 106.3 was in HD, you didn't even notice those issues with an HD radio.

99.7's signal is limited because it is directional protecting WQRC on the cape. So by nature the signal is pretty bad.

Why are you comparing a 3kw short space station to 6kw station?

WWKX 106.3 signal is worse its short space with (106.3 WEIB) (106.3 WFNQ) (106.1 WCOD) and (106.5 WBMW)

WEAN 99.7 is not short space + its a 6kw = better signal

 

[Numo]

I forgot that terrible station existed... LOL!

 

[necrat123]

Why are you comparing a 3kw short space station to 6kw station?

WWKX 106.3 signal is worse its short space with (106.3 WEIB) (106.3 WFNQ) (106.1 WCOD) and (106.5 WBMW)

WEAN 99.7 is not short space + its a 6kw = better signal

106.3's short spacings are in directions OUTSIDE of Rhode Island. I thought the discussion was signal INSIDE the state. WWKX is a NON DIRECTIONAL 3kW station. They radiate the full 3kW to the south. And last time I listened, WCOD and WBMW caused very little interference inside the borders of Rhode Island to WWKX, with maybe the exception in the Westerly area or out on Block Island.

While WEAN is a 6kW, it is DIRECTIONAL. A 30 second search on FCC INFO reveals that from their transmitter site in Exeter (which is WEST of the heavily populated areas in this state, North Kingstown, Warwick, etc.) their directional pattern puts LESS THAN HALF of the power level from 80° to 95° on axis from true north. Now thats the FCC pattern, as any engineer can tell you, even the best directional FM antenna actually puts LESS than the full pattern power in the direction of the null and usually in a wider aspect window. Last time I checked, half of 6kW, is 3kW, so less than 3kW makes a worse signal than a 3kW.

The bottom line is, go into Providence, with a Spectrum analyzer and measure signals. WWKX's signal in Providence is stronger than WEAN-FM's.
I don't care what the licensed power is, the TX locations and 99.7's DA make it so.

 

[aaronread]

Actually WELH's new signal is pretty sweet these days. Big step up from their old one.

WDOM's signal is, by necessity, pretty limited...but it covers the most populous area of the state pretty well. I'm sure more than a few people have approached Providence College trying to purchase or LMA the signal.