WPDI 104.7 Hazlet is on the air

[myke25]

Heard them on the air yesterday clear in Woodbridge, decent down the turnpike in E Brunswick, static around 8A, somewhat clear in South Brunswick. Does anyone know if they're transmitting from their new location on 34 on the Aberdeen/Marlboro border?

 

[nd2023]

What's the format? Indian music?

I wonder if they're going to translate it on 100.7 and/or 104.7 (New Brunswick) since the 104.7 in New Brunswick that they also own blocks them out where the highest concentration of Indians in NJ live.

The 100.7 translator currently translates 98.7-HD2. However, 98.7 was just sold to ESPN. ESPN likes to simulcast its stations from nearby markets on the HD 2, 3, and 4 and they don't need the money from Hum Desi. So this is perfect timing for 100.7 to switch to translating WPDI. Then 104.7 in New Brunswick can translate 100.7 in Edison to provide better coverage of the Indian music where most of the Indians live.

 

[TimeIsTight]

The 100.7 translator currently translates 98.7-HD2. However, 98.7 was just sold to ESPN. ESPN likes to simulcast its stations from nearby markets on the HD 2, 3, and 4 and they don't need the money from Hum Desi. So this is perfect timing for 100.7 to switch to translating WPDI.

Don't forget, ESPN didn't "buy" 98.7, it leased it. And "Hum Desi" probably has a lease on the HD. That lease will probably have to run out before ESPN can offer to lease the HD channel and run something else.

 

[myke25]

It's the radio asia format and the guy in the afternoons around 5 pm talks way too much (in english) about bad movies and soundtracks.

104.7 is the WWFM translator and I'm sure the owners aren't going to pull the plug on that partnership just yet. 100.7 might as well be shut down anyhow. For the 8 watts or so it's supposed to be putting out, it's not going that far. It's also killing WLEV to the W/SW.

ESPN is leasing 98.7 from Emmis and nothing's been mentioned about the HD2.

Radio Asia should just use their advertising dollars to buy a whole bunch of HD radios and give them away to their audience and use WPRB 103.3 HD2 (also in stereo vs. WPDI's mono) instead since the HD signal isn't turning off soon....(sorry KTU fans... all 7 of you.)

WPDI should go back to local WCNJ, but operated this time in full compliance with the FCC.

 

[satech]

Is the WWFM translator on 104.7 in Franklin Twp. still on the air? I'm in Somerset County, so Franklin is a lot closer to me than Hazlet, but all I hear on 104.7 now is the Indian format -- not a peep from WWFM!

I also see that after they complained of interference from the WWFM translator, the WRNJ translator on 104.7 in Hackettstown (W284AQ) got a construction permit last month for a higher antenna and more power.

 

[jvn]

Is the new WPDI broadcasting in Stereo or Mono ?

 

[satech]

Is the new WPDI broadcasting in Stereo or Mono ?

They're in stereo, with good audio processing, unlike the old overmodulated, muffled 89.3 mono signal.

But do they even play music? Every time I tune in, I hear people talking. Not even taking callers or anything -- just talking. So far I haven't even heard any station IDs or commercials.

 

[myke25]

I wasn't getting them in stereo when I picked them up. The audio processing doesn't sound that good. I haven't heard any legal ID's either between 5 and 6 pm again yesterday.

I don't hear WWFM's translator on 104.7 either in South Brunswick. Hmm.

 

[satech]

I don't hear WWFM's translator on 104.7 either in South Brunswick. Hmm.

This afternoon I'm getting WWFM's translator strong and clear again on 104.7, and in stereo, too. If I adjust my antenna in a certain position I can get WPDI, but not nearly as strong as they were last night. So either there were atmospheric conditions enhancing WPDI's signal yesterday, or WPDI was experimenting with a higher-than-authorized transmitter power level (which the old 89.3 WCNJ/WDDM did frequently).

I also heard one ID saying "Radio Asia, now on 104.7 in central Jersey!" -- which is bogus, because the 104.7 in central Jersey is the WWFM translator, not them!

Alas, didn't they learn that when operating as legally authorized, there is no way a 10-watt signal from Hazlet is going to reliably cover Oak Tree Road?

 

[WNTIRadio]

I'm betting that a contract runs out with Hum Desi at the end of this month and then 104.7 WPDI will be relayed via 100.7 in Edison. Now the trick is going to be nulling out the translator on 104.7 in New Brunswick and picking up 104.7 in Hazlet. That's going to be a tough order.

They may have to rough it out until the contract expires with WWFM and then take the translator dark or move it farther away.

 

[satech]

I'm betting that a contract runs out with Hum Desi at the end of this month and then 104.7 WPDI will be relayed via 100.7 in Edison. Now the trick is going to be nulling out the translator on 104.7 in New Brunswick and picking up 104.7 in Hazlet. That's going to be a tough order.

WWFM's translator (W284BW) really does have an excellent signal for only 13 watts -- today I was getting them on my car radio as far to the northwest as Glen Gardner, where WRNJ's own 250-watt (!) translator on 104.7 (W284AQ) rapidly fades out and gets overtaken by W284BW.

Therefore I really have to wonder what caused WPDI to totally overtake the channel last night and drown out WWFM's translator. Either they really cranked up the power, or W284BW was off the air for some reason, or both!

 

[nd2023]

Could have been tropo, which favors stations that broadcast closer to the shore.

 

[jvn]

Must have been tropo or whatever last night. I was in Hazlet last night and had a hard time picking up WPDI. They were drifting in and out in stereo and in the background when they drifted I could hear the WWFM classical music translator. On there old Frequency they came in Much better in their city of License but then again they were in mono and I think their old transmitter was closer to Hazlet then their new location is. On Radio locator the construction permit lists their format as unKnown.

 

[satech]

The strange thing about the WWFM translator on 104.7 in Franklin Twp. is that at home, only my Denon TU-680NAB tuner can receive them in stereo -- ever other tuner in the house receives them in mono, even with a strong signal. And in my car, it gets even more strange: my Mazda's factory stereo receives them in stereo, but does not illuminate the "ST" indicator!

Even when I was driving just a few hundred feet away from the tower along Route 27 in New Brunswick today, my car radio still didn't display the ST indicator, but I could clearly hear the audio on 104.7 in stereo -- including the hiss and multipath caused by the translator's less-than-perfect reception of the main 89.1 WWFM signal.

So I think for some reason the 104.7 translator is transmitting the 19 kHz MPX pilot tone at a lower than normal level, causing many radios to either receive the signal in mono, or to receive it in stereo but not trigger the stereo indicator.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Must have been tropo or whatever last night. I was in Hazlet last night and had a hard time picking up WPDI. They were drifting in and out in stereo and in the background when they drifted I could hear the WWFM classical music translator. On there old Frequency they came in Much better in their city of License but then again they were in mono and I think their old transmitter was closer to Hazlet then their new location is. On Radio locator the construction permit lists their format as unKnown.

I noticed the same thing... in fact I commented on it in another topic on this page. I would think WPDI would have a VERY easy time determining/proving UNacceptable interference from the translator prohibiting them from solid coverage in their COL. If I were them I would try to pursue the interference complaint and open up the frequency for themselves. As far as I know the only other station on the channel is WSPK in the hudson valley and of course a bit of hash from 104.5 which seems to be fairly strong in that area from Philly.

 

[WNTIRadio]

They own BOTH properties. So the only interference is anything they cause themselves. WWFM only leases the translator, which they can do as a non-commercial operator.

 

[jerseygirl1]

They own BOTH properties. So the only interference is anything they cause themselves. WWFM only leases the translator, which they can do as a non-commercial operator.

I was not able to find anything to confirm that the operators of WPDI have anything to do with the W284BW translator so unless you have inside information you are just stating speculation. WHY would they willingly cause interference to themselves after being off the air for so long? Seems your theory gives them 5 steps forward, 10 steps back...


What does appear to be true is that the SAME person DOES own the translators of 100.7 & 104.7

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=W264BT

 

[MickeyD]

It's the radio asia format and the guy in the afternoons around 5 pm talks way too much (in english) about bad movies and soundtracks.

104.7 is the WWFM translator and I'm sure the owners aren't going to pull the plug on that partnership just yet. 100.7 might as well be shut down anyhow. For the 8 watts or so it's supposed to be putting out, it's not going that far. It's also killing WLEV to the W/SW.

ESPN is leasing 98.7 from Emmis and nothing's been mentioned about the HD2.

Radio Asia should just use their advertising dollars to buy a whole bunch of HD radios and give them away to their audience and use WPRB 103.3 HD2 (also in stereo vs. WPDI's mono) instead since the HD signal isn't turning off soon....(sorry KTU fans... all 7 of you.)

WPDI should go back to local WCNJ, but operated this time in full compliance with the FCC.

They are owned by Krausers.

 

[WNTIRadio]

I was not able to find anything to confirm that the operators of WPDI have anything to do with the W284BW translator so unless you have inside information you are just stating speculation. WHY would they willingly cause interference to themselves after being off the air for so long? Seems your theory gives them 5 steps forward, 10 steps back...


What does appear to be true is that the SAME person DOES own the translators of 100.7 & 104.7

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=W264BT

It's the same family. They're all tied in together. The move to 104.7 was a last ditch resort move after being displaced from 89.3.

It isn't speculation, I know people who have had dealings with them directly.

So it isn't a theory. It is fact. Pull up the applications in the FCC database. All the same names and same consulting engineer.

The translator on 104.7 was granted BEFORE WPDI was moved to 104.7.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I was not able to find anything to confirm that the operators of WPDI have anything to do with the W284BW translator so unless you have inside information you are just stating speculation. WHY would they willingly cause interference to themselves after being off the air for so long? Seems your theory gives them 5 steps forward, 10 steps back...


What does appear to be true is that the SAME person DOES own the translators of 100.7 & 104.7

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=W264BT

It's the same family. They're all tied in together. The move to 104.7 was a last ditch resort move after being displaced from 89.3.

It isn't speculation, I know people who have had dealings with them directly.

So it isn't a theory. It is fact. Pull up the applications in the FCC database. All the same names and same consulting engineer.

The translator on 104.7 was granted BEFORE WPDI was moved to 104.7.

Actually they are not the same consulting engineers from what I was told this morning. The translator gentleman has utilized Ted Schober and the WPDI folks utilized Comm Tech out of Burlington County. So your information is factually INCORRECT! Also as a side note, just the translator owner may or not be Asian and the same for the WPDI folks, doesn't mean they are "all tied together." Again factually INCORRECT. But if if "WNTIradio" or Nick Straka wants to state false information with his own name attached to it... Then by all means have at it!

Also it wouldn't make sense to get a translator in Franklin Twp as a "last ditch effort" for the displaced 89.3 for a number of reasons. First being hitting Franklin over the air from Marlboro is not an easy task by any means. Second how would they translate 104.7 on the same frequency they were granted in Marlboro to cover Hazlet? They certainly wouldn't put a strong enough into Hazlet from Franklin even at 400+ feet.

My point is... Check your facts before you post. A few minutes of research proves credible something some folks should strive for when they attach their name to something...

Thanks!