Re: [IRCA] WWFD 820 Becomes First All-Digital AM Station

[Brett Saylor <bds2@xxxxxxx>]

Looking at their pattern WWFD's "local" coverage spans the I-270 corridor
from Frederick to Germantown; inside the beltway would be "distant." I
presume the digital signal will only be effective on that ~20 mile stretch
of interstate and that they are targeting the morning and evening drive
commuters as opposed to the city itself. Having made that drive many times,
one can spend a lot of time in the car on that stretch (esp in the
evening). Now that I'm retired I avoid that route like the plague.

Brett

On Tue, Jul 17, 2018 at 12:43 PM, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Russ,
>
> Not at all. I get all that.
>
> My point is that if an all HD format on AM is viable economically anywhere
> in the US, then Washington, DC is that market.
>
> Itâs highly affluent, highly mobile, and populated by an older than
> average, more educated than average audience. News format stations in the
> District still do very well.
>
> Unfortunately for Ibuitity, âphysics donât give a damnâ and the laws wonât
> change to fit their business model. IBOC HD doesnât work technically. And
> the strong arm lobbying of the FCC to change the rules to fit it have only
> hastened the move to streaming audio services by millennials.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
> EM63nf
>
> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
>
> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy
> Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner
> 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum
> Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
>
> âNothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody elseâs favorite songââ
>
>
> > On Jul 17, 2018, at 11:39 AM, Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Les, I think the point you miss here is that this station was a rimshot
> as an analog for the DC market and the HD signal won't hold in DC anyway
> >
> >
> >
> > Russ Edmunds
> >
> > WB2BJH
> >
> > Blue Bell, PA
> >
> > Grid FN20id
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: IRCA <irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Paul B. Walker,
> Jr. <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 12:34:35 PM
> > To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
> > Subject: Re: [IRCA] WWFD 820 Becomes First All-Digital AM Station
> >
> > I think, as a DX'er and broadcaster.. HD would've been a bit more viable
> if
> > you could've gotten HD locking without needing such robust signals and
> find
> > a way to have it not interfere with other stations.  I've heard HD on AM,
> > I've heard DRM on Shortwave.... I used to listen to Radio Kuwait 15540kzh
> > english DRM.. and the thing needed a paint peeling banging barrel of
> brick
> > signal to lock and stay locked. It sounds great though.
> >
> > I don't particularly find any use for it on AM, except the sound quality.
> > Where HD has... i dont wanna use the word flourished.. but done better is
> > on FM, and even moreso tv.. where you can offer sub/side channels. Many
> > broadcasters, with pretty decent financial success have put translators
> on
> > their HD channels (look at Saga communications) and offered formats that
> > may not make financial sense on full powered signals.
> >
> > Where HD i think really works, is TV.. with the multiple specialist
> > channels.
> >
> > Anyways, I digress. I don't dislike HD as much as some here do, but I'm
> > huge a fan of it in general.. it has proved interesting while FM DXing
> > though
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 17, 2018 at 12:29 PM, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Russ,
> >>
> >> I agree with your prediction, but do want to play Devilâs Advocate. (Why
> >> the devil needs an advocate since his fan base is huge is beyond me,
> but I
> >> digress.)
> >>
> >> AM listenership within the DC market is high compared to most others.
> >> Traffic, news, and specialized political news formats dominate the
> market
> >> on both AM/FM.
> >>
> >> The metro area is very small geographically, and even with the reduced
> >> range, WWFD probably remains viable.
> >>
> >> HD radio remains in the majority of new cars (my wifeâs 2018 Ford F-150
> >> came with one as standard equipment) and DC is one of the most mobile
> >> markets in the country. Most people are listening in their cars. And
> most
> >> people in DC are driving newer cars, and making the payments.
> >>
> >> If it will work anywhere, it will work in DC.
> >>
> >> All that being said, itâs doomed.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >>
> >> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >> 121 Mayfair Park
> >> Maylene, AL 35114
> >> EM63nf
> >>
> >> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
> >>
> >> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy
> >> Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders,
> Korner
> >> 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum
> >> Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active
> Whip.
> >>
> >> âNothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody elseâs favorite songââ
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Jul 17, 2018, at 7:35 AM, Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> There will now be just digital hash where the AM signal would have
> been..
> >>> But the rush into this ignores some important points -
> >>>
> >>> 1. How many car radios are capable of receiving these transmissions ?
> My
> >>> understanding was that carmakers were reducing, not increasing the HD
> >>> capability as standard equipment because it hadn't caught on.
> >>> 2. How many listeners are driven off by the low range AM signal - which
> >>> will continue and perhaps be worse - and not by analog
> >>> 3. How many people actually listen on AM anyway and would this change
> >> them ?
> >>>
> >>> I predict this adventure will fail.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Russ Edmunds
> >>> 15 mi NW Phila
> >>> Grid FN20id
> >>> <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
> >>>
> >>> AM: Modified Sony ICF2010's (3) barefoot w/whip
> >>> FM: Yamaha T-80 & T-85, each w/ Conrad RDS Decoder;
> >>> Onkyo T-450RDS; Tecsun PL-310 ( 4); Sony XDRS3HD;
> >>> modified Sony ICF2010's (2) w/APS9B @ 15';
> >>> modified Sony ICF2010 w/whip
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, Jul 16, 2018 at 9:37 PM, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hereâs some news that Iâm not sure how to feel about:
> >>>>
> >>>> https://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n35675
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> 73,
> >>>>
> >>>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >>>> 121 Mayfair Park
> >>>> Maylene, AL 35114
> >>>> EM63nf
> >>>>
> >>>> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
> >>>>
> >>>> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR
> Guy
> >>>> Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders,
> >> Korner
> >>>> 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum
> >>>> Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active
> >> Whip.
> >>>>
> >>>> âNothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody elseâs favorite songââ
> >>>>
> >>>>
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