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WYCT goes HD. Something new coming soon to Pensacola?

Not yet, although that is almost certainly what they will do. No one installs HD anymore just to have a digital copy of the main channel.

I'm picking it up here in Foley tonight but it's in and out. Either they are running high power or conditions are favorable or both. I'm going with conditions as the Mobtown translators on 93.3 and 100.3 were also booming in clearly for a change.

Interesting that this comes around the same time that someone updated the Wikipedia entry for WZYP in Huntsville claiming it's in HD. It's not, but if it's a sign of things to come… that'll be be the most HD activations we've had in Alabama in years.
 
Interesting side note: When I was using the Insignia to check out ZEW's HD content, I noticed that WJTQ does trip the RDS on it. I can get the call letters (still says "WCOA" because of course it would) but nothing else. But looking on the SDR I don't see any trace whatsoever of the RDS carriers. It must be on but with really, really low injection. None of the other radios I tried could get a lock.
 
If I'm not mistaken, 92.5, 96.5 and 101.1 are the only translators left in Mobile that can simulcast FM HD channels. Baldwin county has none available. 94.5 and 95.3 (and possibly 97.1) are available in Pensacola.
Every other translator in the area is married to an AM station? No unused channels are left to provide a metro signal but maybe a 99 watt or directional 250 watt suburban signal could be found.
 
You’re good to rant! I think it’s why corporate radio (Cumulus) in Mobile is cheap. But I feel like it’s different for iHeart.

No, because the market is saturated. A translator brings no value, and in most cases coverage is not good. Pensacola is a little better. WYCT will eventually link all their associated translators with the HD channels.



The HD folks back in the day did a deal with all the big players. It never materialized in all markets. Some markets did better than others. HD has a long way to go. it is still out of the reach of many medium and small market broadcasters because of cost.
 
100.3 The Beat seems to be doing OK considering its size and limited reach. In fact I think it beat either WNSP or WAVH in the 12+'s last quarter. Not bad for someone whose signal barely reaches the eastern shore and has had exactly zero in the way of promotions or advertising.

I think everyone who listens to WZEW knows about their online only channels, so they have a decent built-in audience if any of them were to come to a translator by way of a subchannel.
 
100.3 The Beat seems to be doing OK considering its size and limited reach. In fact I think it beat either WNSP or WAVH in the 12+'s last quarter. Not bad for someone whose signal barely reaches the eastern shore and has had exactly zero in the way of promotions or advertising.

I think everyone who listens to WZEW knows about their online only channels, so they have a decent built-in audience if any of them were to come to a translator by way of a subchannel.

12+ is not a accurate indicator of ratings. We would need to see a breakdown of other demos to see if the numbers look good. Hell I got a 1.2 12+ at WABF many years back, and it didn't mean nothing.
 
Cat Country has turned back on the HD. I don't experience any dropouts in Pensacola. .2 and .3 are both blank but HD4 is simulcasting WNRP.

IMG_1665.jpg
 
You're welcome, Tom. The only reason I posted the pic was because you once told me "pics are cool."

I'm still wondering what ADX plans to do with the .2 and .3? I think using 94.5 as a WNRP simulcast for N.E. P'cola, Pace and Milton is a smart idea.
I already told Tom I expect a "Downtown targeted AAA" or the simulcast of a FWB rock station on 95.3.
... and don't forget that the Ticket 97.1 still needs a host.

So what does "Cool Man HD4" mean?
 
I was wondering about that Cool Man thing, myself. I thought it was a station commercial or something!

I do like putting pictures on my website; if you can get one straight-on of the display when the Cat Country logo is showing, I'd love to get it and post it to my website. There are a couple of visitors who enjoy looking at stuff like that. ;)
 
OK, so I'm going to practice some thread necromancy here, but it was better than starting something new. Seven months since the last post, ADX still hasn't really done much with translators or their HD stuff in Pensacola. They have a translator on 105.3 (with 1 watt!) licensed to Milton, which should have just signed on with 250 watts on 94.5 MHz. I haven't heard anyone mention it yet so no idea if it's really on or not.

Just a few days after filing the license to cover for that, they've filed today to move it to the WDWR tower in Pensacola, still with 250 watts.

Meanwhile, WYCT's audio troubles continue. For ages after this thread died, the analog was mono audio while the HD was stereo. Now the analog is stereo but way over driven and crackles and sounds like dog turds cooking in a microwave. The HD subchannels are still a mess, too. HD2 is blank, 3/4 are WNRP and cut out every minute or so. Probably due to the analog bleeding over and interfering. They are literally interfering with themselves!

I sure wish there was someone from that company on here, to clue us in to what's going on. I know there was some sort of HD controller failure or something like that last time the HD was off, so apparently even new transmitters are buggy.

Looking back over the thread's old posts, I can also say that someone at Cumulus must have gotten some spending money because the engineering dept. has been busy. RDS is fixed on WBLX and Jet and now shows song titles on WBLX, Jet and WABD. WDLT's HD has been fixed and now decodes properly and is in sync. Despite being just one channel, it still doesn't sound great but I figure their encoder must be a decade old at this point. It's a wonder it's kept working this long at all.
 
I'm still wondering what ADX plans to do with the .2 and .3? I think using 94.5 as a WNRP simulcast for N.E. P'cola, Pace and Milton is a smart idea.
I already told Tom I expect a "Downtown targeted AAA" or the simulcast of a FWB rock station on 95.3.
... and don't forget that the Ticket 97.1 still needs a host.

I'd still guess or go with sports talk. On 94.5 and 95.3 (with Pensacola in the middle of both), sourced officially by the newly acquired WEBY 1330. All for advertising packaging with News Talk WNRP.

(But a WNRP simulcast on 94.5 makes sense, too.)
 
94.5 is not on the air.
95.3 is not on the air.
99.1 has been on the air broadcasting silence since I first reported it.

HD on 98.7 has been hit or miss.

WNRP 1620/92.3 put up a new billboard on Barrancas St. last week with the HD logo in the lower left corner. I haven't figured that one out. I don't expect 1620 to turn on HD, I've never heard of a HD translator and it doesn't mention 98.7 HD-4.
 
99.1 was turned off today for the first time since I reported it on the air. I suppose enough time has passed to burn in the new transmitter. ;)

... or 99.1 and 94.5 might be planning to share the same antenna? How many antennas are up on the WDWR (Long Hollow) tower?
 
Over here in Baldwin County I've been checking to see if it makes it into our area, but so far all I've heard is WHOD from Jackson. Since the Jackson stations all came back on the air under new ownership, I've heard them quite regularly down here south of I-10. WBZR in Atmore, too.

Of all the Pensacola translators, only 97.1 makes it into central Baldwin with any regularity. To the point I'm convinced they're cheating on the power or something. Second strongest now is 103.7, I hear it almost every time I check now. 101.1 used to be a regular but not since the God Squad took it over. Dunno why it isn't audible more often anymore. 106.9 makes some regular appearances as well.
 
97.1 is as clear in Crestview as 100.3. Lucky choice of frequency or pushing the limits?

I'm just guessing... but if W233CM was testing from the cell tower in Milton or the WDWR tower in Pensacola at less than 100 meters and/or less than 250 watts... it could produce this interference.

99.1 has gone silent from broadcasting silence.

WYCT's HD subs are unpredictable,

No one knows anything for some reason,
 
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