Re: [IRCA] [ABDX] Re: [NRC-AM] WBT IBOC test

[Barry McLarnon <bdm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been avoiding the IRCA list since the listmom took it upon herself some 
months ago to reject one of my posts, even though it was on-topic, did not 
contain personal attacks, and was, IMHO, important.  I subsequently posted it 
on the NRC list, where nobody seemed to object to its content.  Go figure.

However, I feel compelled to break my silence on this list, because I think 
the posting below is off-base, and deserves a response.  So, here goes...

On Tuesday 14 August 2007 11:21, kevin redding wrote:
> > I have to weigh in on this one. Calling a station to bitch on the
> > air to them about running IBOC (at night or any other time) serves
> > no useful purpose.
>
> If you are going to complain, do  not say you are a DXer. Do  not
> complain to the engineer, he has no power to do anything but run the
> station as he is told by the owner/GM. Complaints should be sent to
> the owner or GM. If you hold stock in one of the large groups,
> complain at the stockholders meeting. The best way to complain is to
> the station that is being interfered with. The FCC will not listen to
> one individual but they will listen to a station that says they are
> receiving interference.

No argument from me on that.

> Its way too late to stop IBAC. Its going to happen because not enough
> people complained and told the FCC when they were asking for comments
> on 99-325. I begged and begged lots of you to comment. Back in the
> day, the most comments that were against IBAC were from ABDX when it
> had less than 75 members.

Wrong.  The industry (i.e., the NAB) was telling the FCC that it had to have 
IBOC, and they were willing to live with its warts.  If each and every member 
of every club or DX-related mailing list had filed comments, it would not 
have made one iota of difference at that point.  I was one of those who filed 
(four times, in fact), and my filings contained substantive technical 
arguments concerning occupied bandwidth, protection rules, and the like.  In 
their subsequent Report & Order a few months ago, the FCC did not address 
these comments at all - they simply ignored them (except for some comments I 
made about the violation of international agreements).  Like I said, the fix 
was in.

> The train has left the station. The time for complaining is over.
> Best thing you can do is get an HD radio if you are going to DX the
> MW or VHF BCB. Sorry, hate to say it, but thats about the size of it.

Wrong again.  On the contrary, the time for complaining is about to begin - in 
30 days, to be exact, when 24/7 AM IBOC begins.  This will be the time to let 
the stations being interfered with know what is happening.  They can choose 
to ignore the complaints, but they really need to see how IBOC interference 
(which, in some cases, may be self-inflicted) is affecting their bottom line.  
Measuring that against the ho hum reception that HD radio is receiving in the 
marketplace, they might just decide that it's not worth it.  Add that to the 
flak that the FCC is getting from other countries, and it could push AM IBOC 
past the tipping point, into oblivion.

So, if you love radio, whether you're a DXer or just a casual listener, please 
ignore Kevin's advice and complain, complain, complain.  And don't bother 
buying an HD radio if you want to DX MW - you'll be terribly disappointed if 
you do.

Barry

ps: I'm not on the ABDX list, but if someone wants to repost this message 
there, feel free...

-- 
Barry McLarnon  VE3JF  Ottawa, ON
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