[IRCA] WTOP interference

["Bill Harms" <wharms@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Radio Friends:

First of all, I am a regular listener of WTOP and find their 
programming to be highly informative, particularly when I am driving 
around. That said, I am registering a complaint about WTOP producing 
a large amount of interference from its IBOC.

I just drove to Germantown from here (Elkridge, Maryland) and back. 
The route going took us along I-70 and down MD-27.  On the way back, 
we drove on I-270 to I-495 and then to I-95. On most of the trip, we 
listened to WTRI 1520 to see how much interference there was from 
WTOP.  We noticed WTOP producing a hissing sound on 1520 just a few 
miles west of Baltimore and it grew worse the closer we got to 
Germantown. A large portion of this route took us through WTRI's 
primary coverage area.  WTRI, of course was absolutely unlistenable 
in the Silver Spring area, the vicinity in which WTOP's transmitter 
is located.  Furthermore, WTOP itself, had a hissing sound in 
Montgomery County, between Germantown, past Silver Spring and towards 
home. Imagine, a station interferring with itself. Finally, WTOP was 
wiping out 1490 and 1510 through most of the trip.  I did not listen 
to 1480 for more than a few seconds, but assume it also suffers from 
the IBOC interference hiss.

The receiver was a standard stock radio which came with my 2002 Dodge 
Stratus, so it is impossible to blame the radio.

The noise on WTRI sounded like a high pitched hiss.  My son said it 
sounded like the 17-year cicadas which invaded the east coast last 
year.  

I realize my reception report is not scientific in that I measured 
field strengths etc, and for some it might be easy to dismiss, but I 
was listening in real life and found the interference to be annoying.

IMO, IBOC is fatally flaw.  No matter how much someone may say it 
sounds wonderful, no matter how much someone may say that the 
interference is tolerable, no matter how much someone may say that 
the system is wonderful for broadcasting digital signal, it is 
flawed.  Saying that IBOC on AM is not flawed is being intellectually 
dishonest.  I will challenge anyone who states otherwise. 

And, I have not even addressed issues such as nighttime skip 
interference or the possibility that implementing may be against 
international treaties (or at the very least show that we (the USA) 
are not good neighbors.

For the record, I have no financial interest in any radio station, 
radio network, or radio equipment manufacturer.  I am a pure listener 
of the radio bands.

Bill Harms
Elkridge, Maryland


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