WROR HD-1

[spt87]

Personally I don't notice much difference between analog FM and the HD-1. If anything I suspect some HD radios may not put as much effort into the analog so that the HD sounds better on those units. Secondarily stations may be processing the two differently causing some differences.

Meanwhile I drove my 1999 Ford into work today and was enjoying WJIB in glorious wide band AM-Stereo - sounds fantastic!

 

[dxsphere]

I've ran into translators running HD (there's one 90 mins north of me - K220DV 91.9 running HD and two channels, both matching its primary, KPBX), but I've never heard of a rouge translator transmitting HD subchannels not tied to its primary.

 

[Wimmmex]

Personally I don't notice much difference between analog FM and the HD-1.

The thing I notice is a definite crispness and stereo separation. Smeone mentioned they hear cymbals they didn't hear before. ;-)

Meanwhile I drove my 1999 Ford into work today and was enjoying WJIB in glorious wide band AM-Stereo - sounds fantastic!

WJIB-AM 740? In Stereo?

 

[Deleted User]

I can tell the second my radio switches from FM to HD1, the easiest way to describe it is like going from mono to stereo it is that noticeable.

WRKO and WBZ-A on a HD2 is a huge jump in audio quality, even when WBZ-A was broadcasting IBOC it was night and day.

The HD1's on my presets sound better than the high bit rate SXM channels, and much better than the low bit rate channels

 

[The_Raven]

As I've seen it configured, HD1 uses more digital bandwidth than HD2/3/x, so it's usually the best sounding of the HD channels. The soundfield expansion is more pronounced in my experience, but that sometimes may be a matter of different processors feeding the digital transmitter as opposed to the analog.

It was freaky when WBZ-AM was doing IBOC to hear the beds and sweepers in stereo!

 

[Eli Polonsky]

WJIB-AM 740? In Stereo?

Yes, WJIB 740 AM is the only station in greater Boston still running C-Quam analog AM Stereo.

In the 1980's and 1990's there were several Boston area stations running AM Stereo, including 1030 WBZ, 1060 WJLT (now WQOM), 1090 WILD, 1150 WMEX (now WWDJ), 1330 WRCA, 1360 WLYN, 1470 WSRO (now WAZN), 1510 WSSH/WNRB (now WMEX). One by one they all shut AM Stereo off by the 2000's, except 740 WJIB.

You must have an AM Stereo radio to hear it in that mode, and they are no longer being manufactured. Typical FM stereo radios have mono AM. I still have several AM Stereo radios from the '80s and '90s, portables and home tuners. In a clean reception area, 740 AM WJIB sounds at least as good as WJIB's 101.3 FM translator on a good AM Stereo, especially on some that had a wideband option for increased high-end audio frequency response over typical AM receivers.

 

[nowradioguy]

I can tell the second my radio switches from FM to HD1, the easiest way to describe it is like going from mono to stereo it is that noticeable.

WRKO and WBZ-A on a HD2 is a huge jump in audio quality, even when WBZ-A was broadcasting IBOC it was night and day.

Agree completely here. And with 1030's strong signal, it was easy to get the HD feed on AM. Heck, once I was able to pick up WCBS 880 from New York while waiting in a super market parking lot up here in the Merrimack Valley. I never expected this, since I thought the HD signals, whether on AM or FM, were transmitted several dB below the analog carrier.

I remember when iHeart owned 1430 AM and Rush was on one fine day, while I was driving home after my class. Now, I had NO idea that 1430 broadcast in HD, and, as i was flying down I-495 near Haverhill, all of a sudden, I thought something had happened to my depth perception, because Rush sounded as if he were in the car with me. The improvement over analog AM was THAT good.

The HD1's on my presets sound better than the high bit rate SXM channels, and much better than the low bit rate channels

Ya know, I've often observed that, especially since both are available on the same receiver in my wife's car. In fact, even an HD-2 music channel - think WODS 103.3 HD-2 playing "oldies" after CBS flipped to AMP in 2012 - could beat satellite audio on a premium channel. I'm not totally familiar with the modulation format differences between satellite and FM HD-x.

 

[Least]

Agree completely here. And with 1030's strong signal, it was easy to get the HD feed on AM. Heck, once I was able to pick up WCBS 880 from New York while waiting in a super market parking lot up here in the Merrimack Valley. I never expected this, since I thought the HD signals, whether on AM or FM, were transmitted several dB below the analog carrier.

I remember when iHeart owned 1430 AM and Rush was on one fine day, while I was driving home after my class. Now, I had NO idea that 1430 broadcast in HD, and, as i was flying down I-495 near Haverhill, all of a sudden, I thought something had happened to my depth perception, because Rush sounded as if he were in the car with me. The improvement over analog AM was THAT good.

Ya know, I've often observed that, especially since both are available on the same receiver in my wife's car. In fact, even an HD-2 music channel - think WODS 103.3 HD-2 playing "oldies" after CBS flipped to AMP in 2012 - could beat satellite audio on a premium channel. I'm not totally familiar with the modulation format differences between satellite and FM HD-x.

Sound quality may he better, but the programming variety does not. People will sacrifice one way or another. Current Boston area FM just lacks, than it did in 2012. Back then you could get Irish Music, Oldies, over-played 90s rock songs via 98.5-2. 80s centric, 70s centric, classic country, Blues, and so on.

All those niche formats left. Many FMs either don't broadcast an HD-2/3/4, or they repeat an AM station which is mostly talk. I think the only original formats that are exclusive to HD substations in Boston are BIN on 94.5-2, WERS+ on 88.9-2, the the new Hip-Hop format on 96.9-2, the Channel Q on 103.3-2, The Cove on 103.3-3, the "tomorrow's hits on 104.1-3, WAAF on 93.7-2 and 104.1-2 (which is a zombie Jukebox that calls itself WAAF), and is 106.7-2 still doing Christmas music? I refuse to include Hubcast on 98.5-2, which is a "best of" for content that originates live on The Sports Hub. Nor am I counting stations that rebroadcast AM stations or FM and HD-1 signals that originate out of market.

HD had more variety, but changes in direction and ownership changed all of that. Then to add that HD Radio has low listenership. I agree with your analysis about the sound quality, but I argue the offerings are poor at best. At that rate, just connect your phone via Bluetooth and stream something that interests you. The sound quality will beat out FM, AM, HD, and satellite radio.

 

[jlehmann]

Sound quality may he better, but the programming variety does not. People will sacrifice one way or another. Current Boston area FM just lacks, than it did in 2012. Back then you could get Irish Music, Oldies, over-played 90s rock songs via 98.5-2. 80s centric, 70s centric, classic country, Blues, and so on.

All those niche formats left. Many FMs either don't broadcast an HD-2/3/4, or they repeat an AM station which is mostly talk. I think the only original formats that are exclusive to HD substations in Boston are BIN on 94.5-2, WERS+ on 88.9-2, the the new Hip-Hop format on 96.9-2, the Channel Q on 103.3-2, The Cove on 103.3-3, the "tomorrow's hits on 104.1-3, WAAF on 93.7-2 and 104.1-2 (which is a zombie Jukebox that calls itself WAAF), and is 106.7-2 still doing Christmas music? I refuse to include Hubcast on 98.5-2, which is a "best of" for content that originates live on The Sports Hub. Nor am I counting stations that rebroadcast AM stations or FM and HD-1 signals that originate out of market.

HD had more variety, but changes in direction and ownership changed all of that. Then to add that HD Radio has low listenership. I agree with your analysis about the sound quality, but I argue the offerings are poor at best. At that rate, just connect your phone via Bluetooth and stream something that interests you. The sound quality will beat out FM, AM, HD, and satellite radio.

96.9’s HD2 has been gone for quite some time. Yes, Christmas is still on 106.7 HD2

 

[raccoonradio]

Talking about streaming: recently got new smartphone and found no app for FM radio listening.No chip...or, a chip but carrier/manufacturer didn't activate. Reason could be that people are just used to doing the stream.
Most stations do stream but WJIB doesn't.
With a built in FM chip, those within 101.3's signal could pull it in...otherwise, get a portable AM-FM instead.

You could be eating at a restaurant, Celtics game on, but they won't put sound on. If you wanted to hear play by play (admittedly just ahead of what shows on TV) you'd have to either access stream or get small radio.

 

[Deleted User]

My cheapo Motorola ( Lenovo) Moto G has a FM tuner in it.

 

[nowradioguy]

Sound quality may he better, but the programming variety does not. People will sacrifice one way or another. Current Boston area FM just lacks, than it did in 2012. Back then you could get Irish Music, Oldies, over-played 90s rock songs via 98.5-2. 80s centric, 70s centric, classic country, Blues, and so on.

All those niche formats left. Many FMs either don't broadcast an HD-2/3/4, or they repeat an AM station which is mostly talk. I think the only original formats that are exclusive to HD substations in Boston are BIN on 94.5-2, WERS+ on 88.9-2, the the new Hip-Hop format on 96.9-2, the Channel Q on 103.3-2, The Cove on 103.3-3, the "tomorrow's hits on 104.1-3, WAAF on 93.7-2 and 104.1-2 (which is a zombie Jukebox that calls itself WAAF), and is 106.7-2 still doing Christmas music? I refuse to include Hubcast on 98.5-2, which is a "best of" for content that originates live on The Sports Hub. Nor am I counting stations that rebroadcast AM stations or FM and HD-1 signals that originate out of market.

HD had more variety, but changes in direction and ownership changed all of that. Then to add that HD Radio has low listenership. I agree with your analysis about the sound quality, but I argue the offerings are poor at best. At that rate, just connect your phone via Bluetooth and stream something that interests you. The sound quality will beat out FM, AM, HD, and satellite radio.

Implied in my post to which you responded was the notion that there is NOW nothing of interest to me on any Boston HD-2, HD-3, HD-1, or analog FM. So I'm in agreement with your post. And, yes, a lot is due to the not-always-for-the-better changes in ownership over the past few years. When I'm not listening to WBZ on either 1030 AM or 107.9 HD-2, I'm either streaming the True Oldies Channel or Smooth Jazz on iHeartRadio. My phone can also stream SiriusXM, which I've come to appreciate. (I NEVER thought I'd be saying THAT!) But, still, there's nothing like music and a DJ, or decent talk on live/local terrestrial radio, and I wish I could listen to FM again, but, alas....

 

[nowradioguy]

96.9’s HD2 has been gone for quite some time. Yes, Christmas is still on 106.7 HD2

I simply CANNOT believe that there are "listeners" to 106.7 HD-2's Christmas music, but none for when they used to broadcast smooth jazz.

For the record, I never believed Entercom was the best buyer for the CBS Radio stable of stations.

 

[Least]

Implied in my post to which you responded was the notion that there is NOW nothing of interest to me on any Boston HD-2, HD-3, HD-1, or analog FM. So I'm in agreement with your post. And, yes, a lot is due to the not-always-for-the-better changes in ownership over the past few years. When I'm not listening to WBZ on either 1030 AM or 107.9 HD-2, I'm either streaming the True Oldies Channel or Smooth Jazz on iHeartRadio. My phone can also stream SiriusXM, which I've come to appreciate. (I NEVER thought I'd be saying THAT!) But, still, there's nothing like music and a DJ, or decent talk on live/local terrestrial radio, and I wish I could listen to FM again, but, alas....

I agree. I see it as the byproduct of the big company owning a station. They program for the biggest return on investment (which makes perfect sense for a buisness to do so); however, the trade is the loss of unique programming.

My analogy of terrestrial (analog and digital) goes with MTV. MTV played a variety of popular music in the 80s and early 90s. When it started playing more shows, VH1 came along covering more music. Then VH1 started playing more shows, so along came MTV2 to play more music. Then MTV2 started playing more shows, and it goes down the line. I'm not even going to get into that modernly all the channels that play music stick to the same three genres (Pop, Hip-Hop, and Country).

And that's the same with FM. Terrestrial did span a bit more with the greater number of smaller owners. Then as the industry changed, it slowly began to be competing stations within the same few music genres, under slightly variant formats. For example, CHR vs Hot AC, or Active Rock vs Alt-Rock. HD Radio came along, and stations created niche formats. Then the industry changed to where HD became a viable source to either feed a translator or clear an AM station on FM (be it not a traditional analog signal). That's business.

I find myself personally listening to WBZ on 1030, as I don't have HD Radio in my truck, or I'm playing a usually downloaded Podcast or music. Because I don't have unlimited data through my cell carrier, I usually stream only when I'm on Wi-Fi, such as when I'm mowing my lawn. Then it's something like SiriusXM or an internet station like Indie617. Every now and then, I will use Radio Garden to get a signal for an out of market game. I was able to listen to some of the Rangers vs Penguins series through 98.7 in New York, one afternoon when I was waiting to pick my daughter up from softball.

My favorite HD station, which was lost in the Entercom-CBS deal, was Radio Mojo on 100.7-2. I used to stream that on a regular basis, much to the anger of my wife. 😆

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Every now and then, I will use Radio Garden to get a signal for an out of market game. I was able to listen to some of the Rangers vs Penguins series through 98.7 in New York, one afternoon when I was waiting to pick my daughter up from softball.

You probably know that Radio Garden is just a wi-fi streaming radio app with a unique graphic interface (clicking on an image of the world). It plays the web streams of the stations selected. Any station that does not stream (such as our WJIB 740 AM) is not on it.

I've seen many (mainly non-technical) people who think that Radio Garden is some sort of "magic" radio app. that somehow pulls in over-the-air radio signals of all strengths from anywhere around the world. Not at all, streams only.

 

[CTListener]

You probably know that Radio Garden is just a wi-fi streaming radio app with a unique graphic interface (clicking on an image of the world). It plays the web streams of the stations selected. Any station that does not stream (such as our WJIB 740 AM) is not on it.

I've seen many (mainly non-technical) people who think that Radio Garden is some sort of "magic" radio app. that somehow pulls in over-the-air radio signals of all strengths from anywhere around the world. Not at all, streams only.

I've never tried Radio Garden. Is it a way to receive stations that limit the areas that can listen to their streams, or does it reject attempts to listen with an explanatory message?

 

[nowradioguy]

I've never tried Radio Garden. Is it a way to receive stations that limit the areas that can listen to their streams, or does it reject attempts to listen with an explanatory message?

It’s new to me, too. I’ll have to give it a whirl.

 

[nowradioguy]

I agree. I see it as the byproduct of the big company owning a station. They program for the biggest return on investment (which makes perfect sense for a buisness to do so); however, the trade is the loss of unique programming.

My analogy of terrestrial (analog and digital) goes with MTV. MTV played a variety of popular music in the 80s and early 90s. When it started playing more shows, VH1 came along covering more music. Then VH1 started playing more shows, so along came MTV2 to play more music. Then MTV2 started playing more shows, and it goes down the line. I'm not even going to get into that modernly all the channels that play music stick to the same three genres (Pop, Hip-Hop, and Country).

And that's the same with FM. Terrestrial did span a bit more with the greater number of smaller owners. Then as the industry changed, it slowly began to be competing stations within the same few music genres, under slightly variant formats. For example, CHR vs Hot AC, or Active Rock vs Alt-Rock. HD Radio came along, and stations created niche formats. Then the industry changed to where HD became a viable source to either feed a translator or clear an AM station on FM (be it not a traditional analog signal). That's business.

I find myself personally listening to WBZ on 1030, as I don't have HD Radio in my truck, or I'm playing a usually downloaded Podcast or music. Because I don't have unlimited data through my cell carrier, I usually stream only when I'm on Wi-Fi, such as when I'm mowing my lawn. Then it's something like SiriusXM or an internet station like Indie617. Every now and then, I will use Radio Garden to get a signal for an out of market game. I was able to listen to some of the Rangers vs Penguins series through 98.7 in New York, one afternoon when I was waiting to pick my daughter up from softball.

I only have a 5-GB data plan, and on trips of up to three hours and then some, my data usage is still miniscule. On long trips, I stream either True Oldies Channel or SiriusXM. Try streaming more if you have a similar plan. Don’t settle for the lousy terrestrial fare (other than WBZ, that is) we have here in the Boston area. (No, I do not work for WBZ or any other broadcast entity.)

My favorite HD station, which was lost in the Entercom-CBS deal, was Radio Mojo on 100.7-2. I used to stream that on a regular basis, much to the anger of my wife. 😆

 

[nowradioguy]

I agree. I see it as the byproduct of the big company owning a station. They program for the biggest return on investment (which makes perfect sense for a buisness to do so); however, the trade is the loss of unique programming.

My analogy of terrestrial (analog and digital) goes with MTV. MTV played a variety of popular music in the 80s and early 90s. When it started playing more shows, VH1 came along covering more music. Then VH1 started playing more shows, so along came MTV2 to play more music. Then MTV2 started playing more shows, and it goes down the line. I'm not even going to get into that modernly all the channels that play music stick to the same three genres (Pop, Hip-Hop, and Country).

And that's the same with FM. Terrestrial did span a bit more with the greater number of smaller owners. Then as the industry changed, it slowly began to be competing stations within the same few music genres, under slightly variant formats. For example, CHR vs Hot AC, or Active Rock vs Alt-Rock. HD Radio came along, and stations created niche formats. Then the industry changed to where HD became a viable source to either feed a translator or clear an AM station on FM (be it not a traditional analog signal). That's business.

I find myself personally listening to WBZ on 1030, as I don't have HD Radio in my truck, or I'm playing a usually downloaded Podcast or music. Because I don't have unlimited data through my cell carrier, I usually stream only when I'm on Wi-Fi, such as when I'm mowing my lawn. Then it's something like SiriusXM or an internet station like Indie617. Every now and then, I will use Radio Garden to get a signal for an out of market game. I was able to listen to some of the Rangers vs Penguins series through 98.7 in New York, one afternoon when I was waiting to pick my daughter up from softball.

My favorite HD station, which was lost in the Entercom-CBS deal, was Radio Mojo on 100.7-2. I used to stream that on a regular basis, much to the anger of my wife. 😆

Radio Mojo was a blues channel, right? Yup, you can thank CBS or iHeart for killing it.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Radio Mojo was a blues channel, right? Yup, you can thank CBS or iHeart for killing it.

Yes, it was blues and blues-rock, programmed by WZLX's (formerly WBCN's) Carter Alan. iHeart killed it on the day that their transfer of the station from CBS was legally completed.