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WPEN Dumps Digital

W

westlife

Guest
If 950 WPEN sounds much louder and clearer on your radio today, that's because they've finally abandoned the ill-fated digital transmission system known as IBOC or "HD Radio", and have returned to broadcasting a normal full-bandwidth analog AM signal. This means you can finally hear all the treble that has been missing from WPEN's audio since they began the Oldies format, and there is no longer any annoying background hiss or interference surrounding their signal on the dial. Today, WPEN's signal is noticeably STRONGER and clearer on my radio here in central NJ, and I don't think it's just my imagination. Their audio still isn't as good as WMTR's, but at least this is one big step in the right direction!
<P ID="signature">______________
noiboc.jpg
</P>
 
Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

This can't be good news for anyone who enjoys hearing IBOC hash devouring adjacent stations away. I will really miss the IBOC trash around 950, and I will miss the poor audio quality of 950's analog signal. I will miss not hearing anything else from 930-970 because of its IBOC hash. Oh well, at least there are other stations with nice IBOC hash around them. I hope Greater Media decides to keep the IBOC on its other stations. It's so much better to invest money on IBOC equipment instead of improving the programming, or God forbid, jocks for 95.7 Ben FM.

> If 950 WPEN sounds much louder and clearer on your radio
> today, that's because they've finally abandoned the
> ill-fated digital transmission system known as IBOC or "HD
> Radio", and have returned to broadcasting a normal
> full-bandwidth analog AM signal. This means you can finally
> hear all the treble that has been missing from WPEN's audio
> since they began the Oldies format, and there is no longer
> any annoying background hiss or interference surrounding
> their signal on the dial. Today, WPEN's signal is
> noticeably STRONGER and clearer on my radio here in central
> NJ, and I don't think it's just my imagination. Their audio
> still isn't as good as WMTR's, but at least this is one big
> step in the right direction!
>
<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471</P>
 
Re: Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

> I will miss not hearing
> anything else from 930-970 because of its IBOC hash.

I've been sitting on the side watching the IBOC bashing for a while now. Having experienced the death of AM firsthand, the absolute failure of AM Stereo to rejuvenate the band, and the big saviour, AMX... well enough said. What do you propose for the AM band that could be a better alternative to IBOC and what is so important on 940 and 970 that someone in the Philadelphia Area could be so interested in?

We bemoan the fact that Corporate Radio has killed localism in radio. I love to DX too, but to save the AM dial and it's potential, I'm willing to scan past the hash on adjacent frequencies. As a matter of fact, now we can go back to complaining about good ol' splatter instead of hash.

2 cents, no waiting.
 
Re: Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

Good, Now we can discuss WAMS 1260 again.

> This can't be good news for anyone who enjoys hearing IBOC
> hash devouring adjacent stations away. I will really miss
> the IBOC trash around 950, and I will miss the poor audio
> quality of 950's analog signal. I will miss not hearing
> anything else from 930-970 because of its IBOC hash. Oh
> well, at least there are other stations with nice IBOC hash
> around them. I hope Greater Media decides to keep the IBOC
> on its other stations. It's so much better to invest money
> on IBOC equipment instead of improving the programming, or
> God forbid, jocks for 95.7 Ben FM.
>
> > If 950 WPEN sounds much louder and clearer on your radio
> > today, that's because they've finally abandoned the
> > ill-fated digital transmission system known as IBOC or "HD
>
> > Radio", and have returned to broadcasting a normal
> > full-bandwidth analog AM signal. This means you can
> finally
> > hear all the treble that has been missing from WPEN's
> audio
> > since they began the Oldies format, and there is no longer
>
> > any annoying background hiss or interference surrounding
> > their signal on the dial. Today, WPEN's signal is
> > noticeably STRONGER and clearer on my radio here in
> central
> > NJ, and I don't think it's just my imagination. Their
> audio
> > still isn't as good as WMTR's, but at least this is one
> big
> > step in the right direction!
> >
>
 
> If 950 WPEN sounds much louder and clearer on your radio
> today, that's because they've finally abandoned the
> ill-fated digital transmission system known as IBOC or "HD
> Radio", and have returned to broadcasting a normal
> full-bandwidth analog AM signal.

I can't believe it. Someone at Greater Media actually made a good decision. Are people in the industry finally beginning to realize that the Emperor has no clothes?
 
Re: Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

> What do you propose for the AM band that could be a better alternative
to IBOC<

How about compelling programming? It's always been about the programming. People will listen to AM if there's something there they want to hear - particularly if it's not duplicated on FM. And there are more options in this area now that FM is becoming more homogenized than ever before. AM has been waiting for a magic bullet for decades while ignoring the core problem: Programming.

Also, on the techncial side, how about Motorola's Symphony chipset for receivers that will offer digital audio processing and noise reduction for listeners without any investment by the broadcaster and complete compatability with current AM analog transmissions? Cost: under 10 dollars per receiver.

>what is so important on 940 and 970 that someone in the Philadelphia Area could be so interested in?<

You have a point here, at least during the day. After dark, there are some interesting stations in the frequency range. But IBOC does negatively impact analog transmission. WPEN sounds a lot better now that 100 percent of its transmission resoruces are devoted to the analog signal.

>I love to DX too, but to save the AM dial and it's potential, I'm willing to scan past the hash on adjacent frequencies.<

You can scan past the hash now... but you won't be able to once everyone on the AM dial has gone IBOC. And, considering the few compelling programming choices currently available on AM, every decent station counts - even you can only get most of them after dark.

Also, a final thought: Is it possible WPEN turned off its IBOC signal as part of the engineering process leading to its new power levels and antenna patterns? Perhaps it'll turn up again soon.

Steve
KC2LDY
 
Re: Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

> Also, a final thought: Is it possible WPEN turned off its
> IBOC signal as part of the engineering process leading to
> its new power levels and antenna patterns? Perhaps it'll
> turn up again soon.
>
> Steve
> KC2LDY
>
I'm thinking the same thing. Considering how quickly Greater Media was to committ to IBOC, I doubt very highly it will be gone from WPEN's signal for very long.
 
Re: Oh no! I won't hear the IBOC hash around 950 anymore!

> > Also, a final thought: Is it possible WPEN turned off its
>
> > IBOC signal as part of the engineering process leading to
> > its new power levels and antenna patterns? Perhaps it'll
> > turn up again soon.
> >
> > Steve
> > KC2LDY
> >
> I'm thinking the same thing. Considering how quickly
> Greater Media was to committ to IBOC, I doubt very highly it
> will be gone from WPEN's signal for very long.
>
I still couldn't tune in 940 and 960 from central Pa. in Montgomery Co. today that I used to be able to hear pre-IBOC, there's still noise from WPEN. Wonder if the reception of 940 and 960 is now improved farther west in Chester & Berks where they were drowned out by the hash?
 
Where is the cquam?

Hmmm.....when is the C-QUAM comming back? I got a C-QUAM Delco tuner in the caddy and it would be nice to have the AM oldies in stereo.<P ID="signature">______________
AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
I just checked thier site,it is back :(

http://www.sportstalk950.com

This thread caught my attention cause you dont usually find stations that dump this trash........

YES,once all stations start using IBOC the am band as we know it will be worthless unless you have 100's of dollars for an HD radio..

Why does a sports station want this crap anyway?? Where i live up here a sports station also has it,i dont get it!! I think its garbage from the word go!!!!!!! I love DXing and once this crap starts all over the band,it wont be possible anymore :(
 
This, of course, is not the first time that WPEN has dumped the hash-maker. There have been periods of a week or two in the past when their IBOC was off. So perhaps saying that WPEN Dumps Digital is a bit premature. I hope that it's true, and wish WIP and other AMs in Philly will follow suit; however, only time will tell.

Speaking of which, WTIC 1080 in Hartford, CT was testing their IBOC the other night around 10PM and was wiping out WBAL around here. A foretaste of nighttime IBOC.

AM IBOC is useless.

Rene'
 
Unreal......Im glad i didnt hear it (I would have been very upset!!)

I dont get why all these stations are caving into this crap so easily!!!!!

Its garbage!!!!!!!!!! -- Hardily anyone is listening on the HD side!!!!! -- Is it really worth trashing the band for 5 people??

I think the FCC just wants to mock up our ANALOG bands thats all this is... If every station got together and started disabling thier IBOC crap and told the FCC to take a flying leap,maybe things would get better!!!!!! (They couldnt take them all off the air)
 
I have to go along with the post that stated it was probably eng. testing. The IBOC mess was very much alive and well at 3pm Friday.
 
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