WRTO AM 1200 NEW TRANSMITTER SITE.

[radiotower40]

I took a little detour tonight on my way home to see how far along they were. They have all six towers up now.
The towers are self-supporting, silver, unpainted towers. They run on a mostly north-south axis, however they
deviate to the east and west rather sharply. It is a much different configuration than their current setup. My guess
is that they will be broadcasting from the new site by the end of the summer(if it ever starts ).

If you want to see the way these towers or any others are arranged, I found a great website for it.
Go to www.fccinfo.com and type in WRTO(make sure you click on AM STATION box on the left),
It will show you which towers they use during the day, and which one's they use at night. They also
show you the current day and night patterns, so you can compare the two. You can also use this site
to see FM and TV directional patterns.

 

[radioman148]

Looks like the new night coverage will give them a better shot into Milwaukee.

 

[stormy01]

You can also use this site www.fccinfo.com to see FM and TV directional patterns.

Especially after the radio locator website tells you that "you have exceeded the limit for today"

WRTO does need to improve their night coverage as WOAI and other stations on 1200 tend to drown out the 1kW signal. 4.5kW at night with 661 mV/m @ 1 kilometer is slightly more than double the signal strength in their main lobe from what WRTO has now at night. And with the power increases day & night WRTO will better cover the vast majority of listeners they are trying to reach.

 

[avtosalon]

While they're at it, they need to SHUT-OFF the HD signal on AM 1200.

The hash / hiss / distrortion sounds from WRTO are very noticeable in the north suburbs when trying to listen to AM 1220 WKRS and and AM 1240 WSBC.

If someone wants to hear WRTO in HD, they can tune in to WOJO-HD3 which simulcasts WRTO on FM. Besides, HD is not necessary for an AM talk station.

 

[radioman148]

While they're at it, they need to SHUT-OFF the HD signal on AM 1200.

The hash / hiss / distrortion sounds from WRTO are very noticeable in the north suburbs when trying to listen to AM 1220 WKRS and and AM 1240 WSBC.

If someone wants to hear WRTO in HD, they can tune in to WOJO-HD3 which simulcasts WRTO on FM. Besides, HD is not necessary for an AM talk station.

Indeed WRTO's HD is very annoying.

 

[stormy01]

While they're at it, they need to SHUT-OFF the HD signal on AM 1200.
The hash / hiss / distrortion sounds from WRTO are very noticeable in the north suburbs when trying to listen to AM 1220 WKRS and and AM 1240 WSBC.
If someone wants to hear WRTO in HD, they can tune in to WOJO-HD3 which simulcasts WRTO on FM. Besides, HD is not necessary for an AM talk station.

I have never heard that an IBOC station is interfering with reception 40 kHz away (WSBC), maybe 30 kHz on either side of an HD signal according to the NRSC mask for digital: http://www.nrscstandards.org/DRB/Non-NRSC%20reports/AM_All_Digital_Report.pdf Is the 40 kHz interference reproducible on several radios in your location? If so, I would bring it up with the station first, and then the FCC if the station doesn't want to cooperate.

 

[avtosalon]

I have never heard that an IBOC station is interfering with reception 40 kHz away (WSBC),

Indeed it does. The HD of WRTO obliterates WKRS in southern Lake County. For some reason, WKRS' signal was always flawed in a southwest direction from their transmitter, even before days of HD. Now the station is basically unlistenable even with a quality AM radio. I'm using a RCA Super Radio III, which is known for good reception of weak AM signals in fringe areas.

As far as WSBC, the squeal (in the background) caused by WRTO is very noticeable. I'm sure the sound of WSBC would be better if I travel south, going closer to their transmitter on the north side of Chicago. But if you're in a fringe area, get ready for the SQUEAL caused by WRTO.

I don't listen much to AM 1180 WSQR Sycamore, but I bet WRTO's interference is their too. I can call the station, but I already know what they will tell me, that "this was allowed by the FCC".

 

[audioguy]

I have never heard that an IBOC station is interfering with reception 40 kHz away (WSBC),

Indeed it does. The HD of WRTO obliterates WKRS in southern Lake County. For some reason, WKRS' signal was always flawed in a southwest direction from their transmitter, even before days of HD. Now the station is basically unlistenable even with a quality AM radio. I'm using a RCA Super Radio III, which is known for good reception of weak AM signals in fringe areas.

As far as WSBC, the squeal (in the background) caused by WRTO is very noticeable. I'm sure the sound of WSBC would be better if I travel south, going closer to their transmitter on the north side of Chicago. But if you're in a fringe area, get ready for the SQUEAL caused by WRTO.

I don't listen much to AM 1180 WSQR Sycamore, but I bet WRTO's interference is their too. I can call the station, but I already know what they will tell me, that "this was allowed by the FCC".
[/quote

Yes, I also can hardly contain my joy at the thought that WRTO's sideband hiss will soon obliterate 1180 and 1220 even more than they do now. To answer your question, 1180 is already basically unlistenable in the western suburbs due to RTO's current signal. They'll be finished when the power goes up.

AM radio has become the vast wasteland that Newton Minow accused TV of being... such a shame.

 

[radioman148]

I have never heard that an IBOC station is interfering with reception 40 kHz away (WSBC),

Indeed it does. The HD of WRTO obliterates WKRS in southern Lake County. For some reason, WKRS' signal was always flawed in a southwest direction from their transmitter, even before days of HD. Now the station is basically unlistenable even with a quality AM radio. I'm using a RCA Super Radio III, which is known for good reception of weak AM signals in fringe areas.

As far as WSBC, the squeal (in the background) caused by WRTO is very noticeable. I'm sure the sound of WSBC would be better if I travel south, going closer to their transmitter on the north side of Chicago. But if you're in a fringe area, get ready for the SQUEAL caused by WRTO.

I don't listen much to AM 1180 WSQR Sycamore, but I bet WRTO's interference is their too. I can call the station, but I already know what they will tell me, that "this was allowed by the FCC".

WKRS nulls towards the SW to protect WLPO La Salle, Il.

 

[Link]

It would be really nice to hear the new facility in full bandwidth AM. However I don't think that will happen until they sell it. Univision dumped their AM in San Jose. Hopefully they will eventually do the same in Chicago. Then 1200 will be a better neighbor to 1220 and 1180.

 

[radioman148]

It would be really nice to hear the new facility in full bandwidth AM. However I don't think that will happen until they sell it. Univision dumped their AM in San Jose. Hopefully they will eventually do the same in Chicago. Then 1200 will be a better neighbor to 1220 and 1180.

I'm all for that.

 

[radiotower40]

I would have to agree with those of you that say that WRTO is one of the worst AM HD offenders in Chicago.
I am about 7 miles directly west of their current location. The Hiss is so bad some days that it has interfered
with AM 1160 WYLL, which is 50 kw. They also interfere with WJOB AM 1230 who's audio is terrible anyways. I
can't even get a signal on 1180 anymore, and I can imagine when the new towers fire up, it will only get worst.
Even when I get out to the Oak Brook area, WRTO's HD is still interfering.

I know I live rather close to the transmitter, but, when their HD is "broken" I can pick up WSQR great on my car
radio in front of my house, and can hear them on a cheap alarm clock radio inside the house. I have called the
station several times and every time I'm told they are doing nothing illegal.

I think maybe the time has come for us all to start writing and calling the FCC and complaining. Just like the parking
meter fiasco in Chicago if, only 5 people complained, they wouldn't worry, when 500 people call, they get scared. More
importantly the stations that are being stepped on have to start speaking out. Has Nelson Multimedia ever spoken to the
FCC folks?

If this was a mall and the people who owned the store 2 doors down were "blocking" your customers from coming
into your store, would you not be trying everything you could to make it stop?

 

[radioman148]

I would have to agree with those of you that say that WRTO is one of the worst AM HD offenders in Chicago.
I am about 7 miles directly west of their current location. The Hiss is so bad some days that it has interfered
with AM 1160 WYLL, which is 50 kw. They also interfere with WJOB AM 1230 who's audio is terrible anyways. I
can't even get a signal on 1180 anymore, and I can imagine when the new towers fire up, it will only get worst.
Even when I get out to the Oak Brook area, WRTO's HD is still interfering.

I know I live rather close to the transmitter, but, when their HD is "broken" I can pick up WSQR great on my car
radio in front of my house, and can hear them on a cheap alarm clock radio inside the house. I have called the
station several times and every time I'm told they are doing nothing illegal.

I think maybe the time has come for us all to start writing and calling the FCC and complaining. Just like the parking
meter fiasco in Chicago if, only 5 people complained, they wouldn't worry, when 500 people call, they get scared. More
importantly the stations that are being stepped on have to start speaking out. Has Nelson Multimedia ever spoken to the
FCC folks?

If this was a mall and the people who owned the store 2 doors down were "blocking" your customers from coming
into your store, would you not be trying everything you could to make it stop?

Their HD is worse than normal. It is quite annoying even in the northern suburbs.

 

[Link]

Are they on the new site? I hear more hash on 1180 and louder audio on 1200. It could just be processing.

 

[radiotower40]

Are they on the new site? I hear more hash on 1180 and louder audio on 1200. It could just be processing.

No, their still on the 103rd and Woodlawn towers. I drove by their today.

 

[WGTO]

fyi.. they claim they are having trouble with water at the new site.. they had to get an extension on the cp for the new place...Also noticed the towers are self suppoorting but the cp calls for uniform cross section guyed towers... someone could make a stink about that...but it will probably be ignored by the FCC

 

[Link]

Is this bad boy 3 khz audio blowtorch updated yet? It must cost them a ton of money to do this upgrade. I don't see anything on the fcc website that looks like this is completed. Its getting kind of late in the year for construction...

 

[audioguy]

Is this bad boy 3 khz audio blowtorch updated yet? It must cost them a ton of money to do this upgrade. I don't see anything on the fcc website that looks like this is completed. Its getting kind of late in the year for construction...

I wondered if they had switched over, because it seems to me that their nighttime signal is weaker in the northern burbs. Mind you, I'm not complaining... I can now listen to WOAI again!

Please keep us posted.

 

[Link]

I would not be surprised if they are running on their new array. A few months ago there was a change to the strength of the signal. At that time I thought it was just processing. However maybe the switch has already happened.

 

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In a conversation with one of Univision-Chicago's engineers this morning, he revealed that there were some major components necessary for completing the antenna system are not yet delivered to the WRTO site. It sounds like another 2-4 weeks before the new site is up.