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Mickey37
Guest
I went to the website last night and this morning for 96.9's HD-2 signal, 969irish.com, and hear nothing. Anyone have any info/insight about this?
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webcastboy
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I just checked and all of Greater Media's four Pru FM's (WBOS, WTKK, WMJX and WROR) have silent HD2 channels...although there's PAD info for each (no idea if it's "correct"). Doesn't sound like a muted channel due to lack of HD signal, sounds more like "dead carrier"...which would imply a problem at the studio or maybe with the STL. Or maybe not...with HD Radio a lot of the things you used to be able to make educated guesses about don't apply anymore. ???
FWIW, I know those four stations have all had the same intermittent problem with their HD2 channels. Usually it's a half-second of silence every 5-20 seconds...seems to vary somewhat with temperature/seasons. I've personally only heard it in the past few weeks (I don't listen much to commercial radio) but I've been told it's been going on for a while. Whatever the cause, the rumor mill was that it was maddeningly difficult to track down, hence why it persisted for so long.
Regardless, if it's dead silence at the moment, perhaps they're doing work on the system to fix it?
FWIW, I know those four stations have all had the same intermittent problem with their HD2 channels. Usually it's a half-second of silence every 5-20 seconds...seems to vary somewhat with temperature/seasons. I've personally only heard it in the past few weeks (I don't listen much to commercial radio) but I've been told it's been going on for a while. Whatever the cause, the rumor mill was that it was maddeningly difficult to track down, hence why it persisted for so long.
Regardless, if it's dead silence at the moment, perhaps they're doing work on the system to fix it?
WZLX's HD-2 was also off the air at times last week. Sometimes the carrier was there, sometimes not. Their main HD signal was sometimes off too, though the RDS display was always on. They must've been working on the system.
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Mickey37
Guest
I logged on to 969irish.com this morning, and found the signal has returned 
Living in the Acton Metropolitan area, I can pick up WGBH's HD-2 signal, WZLX's excellent
deep tracks stream, WCRB is absent, WKLB's HD-2 classic country, WROR HD-2 all 70's format, WMJX's HD-2 Smooth Jazz (NAC?) format, but I'm really bumming about not being able to pick up WBCN's HD-2 Indie alternative stream.
I have a Radiosophy radio, and where I live I have to use the dipole antenna in order to hear the HD signals both on the main channels and the multichannels.
(Generally, I am really happy about my choice of Radiosophy)
If you are having trouble picking up the HD-2 signals from Greater Media, or Entercom outlets
(I would like to hear WBOS's HD-2 signal as well) You may want to contact the stations themselves and inquire.
But also consider that the general consensus is that the HD-2 signal range is about half
the distance of the main FM signal. If you live outside of the 495 belt, it may be hard to pick up Boston's HD-2 streams
deep tracks stream, WCRB is absent, WKLB's HD-2 classic country, WROR HD-2 all 70's format, WMJX's HD-2 Smooth Jazz (NAC?) format, but I'm really bumming about not being able to pick up WBCN's HD-2 Indie alternative stream.
I have a Radiosophy radio, and where I live I have to use the dipole antenna in order to hear the HD signals both on the main channels and the multichannels.
(Generally, I am really happy about my choice of Radiosophy)
If you are having trouble picking up the HD-2 signals from Greater Media, or Entercom outlets
(I would like to hear WBOS's HD-2 signal as well) You may want to contact the stations themselves and inquire.
But also consider that the general consensus is that the HD-2 signal range is about half
the distance of the main FM signal. If you live outside of the 495 belt, it may be hard to pick up Boston's HD-2 streams
Norm Rosen said:
If you mean the wire antenna that comes with the unit, try replacing that with a good old fashioned TV "rabbit ear" antenna, a free-standing "top of set" unit with it's own base, around $10 at Ace Hardware outlets. You won't believe the difference.
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webcastboy
Guest
I think WCRB 99.5's HD signal was off last night, I don't know why. But usually I can get it on my radio at home and around 11:30pm last night I wasn't getting it. I can get it on my radio at work, right now, though. AFAIK they are not multicasting.
HD-2 (and all multicast channels) by definition have the same range as the main HD-1 channel. It's all the same bitstream. Strictly speaking, you should be able to receive an HD signal within a station's 60dBu protected service contour but anything outside that is not to be expected. In other words, what the FCC has been warning for years (that stations cannot count on listeners outside their 60dBu contour) is starting to become a reality.
Obviously there will be places inside the 60dBu where you can't get an HD signal...just like how there's places inside a 60dBu contour where you can't get an analog signal, either. Interference, terrain shielding, etc all still apply.
But if you can get WROR'sH HD then you really should be able to get WBCN's HD...they're both on the Pru, after all. Admittedly it's not the same antenna, but still. Being out in Acton you're well within the 60dBu, so I'd guess you've either got terrain shielding playing a role...or you've got something (probably an electrical device) nearby causing interference. Remember, HD signals are -20dB off analog, so WBCN's 22000W becomes only 220W. That's only going to penetrate a certain amount of trees, hills and thick building walls.
Definitely try another antenna, though. I wouldn't recommend a powered antenna, not yet...they usually just raise the noise floor more than anything else. Do you have the option of a chimney mount TV/FM antenna on a rotator? That can make a world of difference...and you can get DTV channels that way, too!
HD-2 (and all multicast channels) by definition have the same range as the main HD-1 channel. It's all the same bitstream. Strictly speaking, you should be able to receive an HD signal within a station's 60dBu protected service contour but anything outside that is not to be expected. In other words, what the FCC has been warning for years (that stations cannot count on listeners outside their 60dBu contour) is starting to become a reality.
Obviously there will be places inside the 60dBu where you can't get an HD signal...just like how there's places inside a 60dBu contour where you can't get an analog signal, either. Interference, terrain shielding, etc all still apply.
But if you can get WROR'sH HD then you really should be able to get WBCN's HD...they're both on the Pru, after all. Admittedly it's not the same antenna, but still. Being out in Acton you're well within the 60dBu, so I'd guess you've either got terrain shielding playing a role...or you've got something (probably an electrical device) nearby causing interference. Remember, HD signals are -20dB off analog, so WBCN's 22000W becomes only 220W. That's only going to penetrate a certain amount of trees, hills and thick building walls.
Definitely try another antenna, though. I wouldn't recommend a powered antenna, not yet...they usually just raise the noise floor more than anything else. Do you have the option of a chimney mount TV/FM antenna on a rotator? That can make a world of difference...and you can get DTV channels that way, too!
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