If it's anything like what recently happened with WCCR's tower array, then most likely the grounding system has deteriorated and needs to be replaced. Their budget and the amount of listeners probably doesn't justify the cost of the repair, with the majority of listeners being located well inside of WTAM's primary coverage area, most of which probably receive an acceptable signal.
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WTAM
- Thread starter Vidtech
- Start date
On the stereo my father-in-law has in his sun room, WJR and CKLW come in far better than WTAM at all hours. Dial position and the fact that there is pretty much nothing but Lake Erie between Conneaut and Detroit/Windsor not withstanding, the difference in strength is very noticeable.
On drives between Akron/Canton and Columbus over the years, mostly for work, WTAM seems to start noticeably phasing around New Philadelphia and Mansfield, depending on the route I take. It's the same deal as in Conneaut, perhaps not quite as bad.
Agree, but if those listeners within 30 miles or so start noticing a deteriorated signal ... like one of our own here has in Lorain County, is that enough to make the fixes?
Being about 13 miles away from their transmitter, WTAM comes in fairly well, although there is a noticeable AC hum in the background, and that's operating the radio off of batteries. However, it does sound like the broadcast is a tad weaker than before when tuned into the adjacent frequencies. I'll have to see how well they come in while driving around town, but since I barely ever listened to WTAM within that last 25 or so years, I don't have a solid footprint on where the good and problem areas are.
When I used to visit my grandparents in Mayfield in the 90s, WTAM's signal would phase fade at night. Very subtle and I doubt the average listener would notice, but it was there.
Mentioned in a previous thread on this topic, several years ago IHeart or maybe CC at the time was said to be planning to build a new tower for 1100 on the Cuyahoga-Summit line. That would have renewed the ground system and left behind the other antennas tacked on the current tower, which itself has been around for a long time.
With the state of the industry today, I doubt that will ever happen.
With the state of the industry today, I doubt that will ever happen.
I believe WTAM does have an aux antenna, which should be that tiny tower located in front of of the road. For one, that tower and even the tuning box for it in no way looks like it would be able to handle 50,000 watts. Second, is that the aux tower was likely fed from the former studio building in front of the main WTAM tower, which has since been demolished. Also of note, is that the land that the tower sits on was put up for sale several years ago as well, so if a new tower was to be built, it would likely be in a new, nearby location, with the old tower likely being removed completely.
VintageMac
Banned
Just listen online with no hum:
When I’d drive home from my high school in Gates Mills in winter months when the sun was setting or already down, often
1100 would frequently have cancellation from skywave @nd ground wave fighting, and it was not until around Lyndhurst that it would be solid.
The hum doesn't bother me, and it went away after I moved the radio, so it must have been something nearby. However, this is a Sony radio from 20 years ago, which isn't as good compared to older vintage units when it comes to AM reception, unless there's a powerhouse like WTAM nearby.
VintageMac
Banned
I have found the best reception and listening quality with the GE SuperRadio series especially the third version which has the AM wideband mode. Music is actually decent sounding and pleasant. Other than an old quality tube radio, it's the best I've used.
I have the original SuperRadio model, and although it works, it could probably use a recap. Needs a new speaker as well, which is a common issue with those models.
Checked WTAM last night at midnight, and it was still coming in loud and clear. But at ~13 miles from the tower, I doubt that I'm going to notice any reception issues.
I can confirm as recently as five years ago, you could still pick up WTAM (albeit briefly) in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains west of Denver, Colorado. That, despite there being an 50K day/10K night Class B 1100 AM station in western Colorado (KNZZ). Their signal mostly goes the farthest south and west of Grand Junction, CO.
I use a first edition CC Radio which does out perform my GE 3rd edition Super radio. The night time drifting occurs with both radios.
I was in Port Clinton last week and was upset I coudn't listen to the Guardians playoff game because of the poor, noisy reception on my car's radio. I switched to WMJI 105.7 and listened to the tunes instead which came in crystal clear. Signal began to improve greatly between Marblehead and Sandusky on WTAM.
VintageMac
Banned
I was referring to sound quality as stated in my post. Reception can vary depending on conditions. I also have a Crane Radio but the audio on those is nowhere near as good as the SuperRadio III.
Even here in Shaker Square, on certain nights there is a very slight skywave/groundwave fading on even my best radio receivers. It doesn't detract from casual listening, you have to be paying close attention.
Turn the bass knob up to halfway between middle and max. Works best.
The ground conductivity in Cleveland isn't that bad, is it? I could almost understand that happening to, say, WSB or KDKA. Just seems to me that should not happen that close in for a 50K signal. Heck I am over 90 miles from WLW and only rarely hear flutter or cancellation.
According to the WTAM coverage map on radio-locator.com, that's where the boundary of their local contour falls. With AM, as soon as you're outside of that local contour, reception sharply degrades.