WPDH-FM POUGHKEEPSIE, NY FULL POWER DIGITAL

[Petawha2]

I live in Hudson, NY Approx. 35 miles south of Albany, NY
Some stations there have begun hybrid digital broadcasts.
Hence this market is nearest to me for HD broadcasts.
However since the FCC is holding digital broadcasters at 1 percent of analog broadcast power, I must ask how WPDH-FM in Poughkeepsie, NY (Highland) can transmitt both analog and digital at full power.
They are a Class B 50kw station owned by Cumulus broadcasting.
Actual broadcast power is 6kw. I have been in communication with the station manager, and have driven through Dutchess and Ulster counties extensively. The JVC KD-HDR1 in my vechicle locks in that station continusly up to 45-50 miles from the stations broadcast tower in Highland, NY. They are no doubt transmitting full power digital. Thay cannot tell me how they are allowed to broadcast the same parts analog and digital. Just that they are at full power. So does anyone out there know how this can be, or when we will see ststaions transmitting more digital power? After having this radio for one year now, and not seeing any improvement in HD radio signals, I just installed the SIRIUS tuner and it is truely GREAT.

Mike P

 

[Radioman100]

I live in Hudson, NY Approx. 35 miles south of Albany, NY
Some stations there have begun hybrid digital broadcasts.
Hence this market is nearest to me for HD broadcasts.
However since the FCC is holding digital broadcasters at 1 percent of analog broadcast power, I must ask how WPDH-FM in Poughkeepsie, NY (Highland) can transmitt both analog and digital at full power.
They are a Class B 50kw station owned by Cumulus broadcasting.
Actual broadcast power is 6kw. I have been in communication with the station manager, and have driven through Dutchess and Ulster counties extensively. The JVC KD-HDR1 in my vechicle locks in that station continusly up to 45-50 miles from the stations broadcast tower in Highland, NY. They are no doubt transmitting full power digital. Thay cannot tell me how they are allowed to broadcast the same parts analog and digital. Just that they are at full power. So does anyone out there know how this can be, or when we will see ststaions transmitting more digital power? After having this radio for one year now, and not seeing any improvement in HD radio signals, I just installed the SIRIUS tuner and it is truely GREAT.

Mike P

Oh, I don't know. If their signal is so good that you're paranoid that they're broadcasting illegally, it sounds to me like it's working pretty well!

 

[clouseau]

I live in Hudson, NY Approx. 35 miles south of Albany, NY
Some stations there have begun hybrid digital broadcasts.
Hence this market is nearest to me for HD broadcasts.
However since the FCC is holding digital broadcasters at 1 percent of analog broadcast power, I must ask how WPDH-FM in Poughkeepsie, NY (Highland) can transmitt both analog and digital at full power.
They are a Class B 50kw station owned by Cumulus broadcasting.
Actual broadcast power is 6kw. I have been in communication with the station manager, and have driven through Dutchess and Ulster counties extensively. The JVC KD-HDR1 in my vechicle locks in that station continusly up to 45-50 miles from the stations broadcast tower in Highland, NY. They are no doubt transmitting full power digital. Thay cannot tell me how they are allowed to broadcast the same parts analog and digital. Just that they are at full power. So does anyone out there know how this can be, or when we will see ststaions transmitting more digital power? After having this radio for one year now, and not seeing any improvement in HD radio signals, I just installed the SIRIUS tuner and it is truely GREAT.

Mike P

While RM has given you a trite reply, it's basically correct. While I would chjaracterize your 45-50 miles as "Above Average", it's nice to see it working well.

The station is telling you they are at full digital power because they are. They may very well have been using a lower powered setup for HD previously.

I doubt seriously they are equal power digital.

Clouseau

 

[murt225]

Here in Pittsburgh, I see the HD signals start to go in and out around 50-60 miles outside of the city. When I was on vacation in Deep Creek, MD, I locked in 3 of these stations during the day, every day I was there, and it is about 120 miles away.

 

[RichWood]

The station is telling you they are at full digital power because they are. They may very well have been using a lower powered setup for HD previously.

I doubt seriously they are equal power digital.

To date, the digital power limit is 1% of the analog power. There are suggestions that it be boosted to 10% but that may cause damage to the real moneymaking analog. With so few digital receivers that would be suicide.

I suspect the station simply has a great transmitting site.

 

[Radioman100]

To date, the digital power limit is 1% of the analog power. There are suggestions that it be boosted to 10% but that may cause damage to the real moneymaking analog. With so few digital receivers that would be suicide.

I suspect the station simply has a great transmitting site.

Are you aware of the LA test Rich? The station it's being conducted on just had another outstanding book. Suicide is overrated.

 

[RichWood]

Are you aware of the LA test Rich? The station it's being conducted on just had another outstanding book. Suicide is overrated.

Again, you misread my post. This is a single station and I'm sure everything is operating perfectly (very rare, at least in my market). With your allegedly extensive engineering background you should be well aware that the system's performance varies widely depending on the transmitting facility and terrain. The upside of this system is the incentive to improve your transmitter and studio plants. Even if the system dies a benign death we'll have better facilities than before. Particularly AM.

What I said was that, if you damage your analog, you're committing economic suicide. Analog will be our big moneymaker for decades to come at the rate digital receivers are selling.

 

[Radioman100]

Again, you misread my post. This is a single station and I'm sure everything is operating perfectly (very rare, at least in my market). With your allegedly extensive engineering background you should be well aware that the system's performance varies widely depending on the transmitting facility and terrain. The upside of this system is the incentive to improve your transmitter and studio plants. Even if the system dies a benign death we'll have better facilities than before. Particularly AM.

What I said was that, if you damage your analog, you're committing economic suicide. Analog will be our big moneymaker for decades to come at the rate digital receivers are selling.

And what I'm saying is there is a station in LA that has an experimental authorization to operate their HD transmitter at the "suicidal" power level you describe above. This "suicidal" mode of operation doesn't seem to be effecting their ratings.

 

[RichWood]

And what I'm saying is there is a station in LA that has an experimental authorization to operate their HD transmitter at the "suicidal" power level you describe above. This "suicidal" mode of operation doesn't seem to be effecting their ratings.

And I'll repeat: since it's an experiment I suspect the facility is fine-tuned with someone actually paying close attention. The increased power isn't suicidal if it does no harm to the analog. But you knew that.

Other awesomely talented engineers, such as yourself, have expressed concern about the 10% level. If it does no harm to the analog cash cow, that's terrific. I deal in 5 book trends. If there's no change besides the increase in digital power we'll know if there's an effect at that fifth book's release. An increase in digital power would sure help the signals here.

 

[Radioman100]

And what I'm saying is there is a station in LA that has an experimental authorization to operate their HD transmitter at the "suicidal" power level you describe above. This "suicidal" mode of operation doesn't seem to be effecting their ratings.

And I'll repeat: since it's an experiment I suspect the facility is fine-tuned with someone actually paying close attention. The increased power isn't suicidal if it does no harm to the analog. But you knew that.

Other awesomely talented engineers, such as yourself, have expressed concern about the 10% level. If it does no harm to the analog cash cow, that's terrific. I deal in 5 book trends. If there's no change besides the increase in digital power we'll know if there's an effect at that fifth book's release. An increase in digital power would sure help the signals here.

Well Rich, it's been at this power level for over two years now. Guess the experiment is a success!