[BC] WPRB

[Robert Meuser]

Bernie:

Try it again without the editorial comments.  Where is WPRB unlistenable??? This 
would be based technical considerations only. Then, where is WKTU unlistenable 
based on the same criteria?  I will work out the RF contours based on your 
observations and report to Chicken Little whether she still has a job.

R

Bernie Courtney wrote:
> I saw this earlier and did just that on my way back from the gym a little
> while ago.  That trip takes me from Piscataway, through New Brunswick, and
> ending up in East Brunswick- then back again.  For those not familiar with
> the area Piscataway is about 5mi south of Edison since thats one of the
> references on the coverage maps (http://nyclubkid.com/WKTU-WPRBCoverage.gif)
> 
> I really didnt see any *major* difference between the two stations -- KTU's
> signal takes hits driving around down here sometimes, although I will say
> WPRB seems to be somewhat worse. At least part of that could be the fact
> that because of KTU's format and heavy processing imperfections in their
> signal dont stand out as much, and surely would go unnoticed to most casual
> listeners.
> 
> WPRB sounds like they are running next to nothing in their airchain so you
> hear every little imperfection in their signal as your driving around.  The
> fact that half the time I spent listening the DJ was doing a 10 min recap of
> reading the last half hours playlist because for some reason (automation
> crashed?) they coulnt play any music and according to the DJ "it wouldnt be
> another day here at WPRB without some technical glitches" made it even worse
> since with just a dry voice talking you REALLY heard everything, since you
> rarely  get such moments on KTU its tuff to make a fair comparison.
> 
> Bottom line is that WPRB's signal overall seems to be slightly worse, but
> since I've never listened to them before this afternoon its really hard to
> say if IBOC has anything to do with this, or if there signal around here
> (this area is right on the edge of their 'local' contour) has always been
> like this.
> 
> And after about a half hour of listening I now must say I'm even more
> appalled at Bob Orban's take that KTU should just sign off to give them
> better coverage.  To the contrary PRB should just sign off for the sake of
> being a waste of natural resources in all the energy they are using to
> broadcast their crappy programming.  Maybe it was just this one daypart, but
> the 200w @ 2m HAAT station that's shared between Rutgers and Piscataway HS
> has better programming on it, and that's sad because for years i thought
> that station was a waste of spectrum.  :-)
> 
> bern
> 
> On 1/23/06, Robert Meuser <Robertm at broadcast.net> wrote:
> 
>>I dont see a problem since WKTU is IBOC someone could easily drive out and
>>listen WPRB. I suspect Chicken Little will be disappointed.
>>
>>R
>>
>>DANA PUOPOLO wrote:
>>
>>>Yeah.
>>>
>>>Until each lights up IBAC on the other's frequency that is.
>>>
>>>-D
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>It bears noting, also, that the overlap between WPRB and WKTU, while
>>>
>>>very real, is less obtrusive to listeners than one would expect, for
>>>two reasons. First, WKTU's aggressive processing causes it to
>>>dominate the channel pretty quickly once you're inside the I-287
>>>beltway that serves as a sort of psychological barrier between the
>>>"New York" part of New Jersey and the Philadelphia-centric South
>>>Jersey that starts roughly at Princeton. I've never had any trouble
>>>hearing WKTU as close to Princeton as the Edison/Metuchen area.
>>>Second, WKTU's format fits its signal limitations - its dance-heavy
>>>music is aimed largely at the five boroughs and the close-in suburbs,
>>>so if reception suffers in New Brunswick or Flemington, it's no great
>>>loss to WKTU.
>>>
>>>
>>>
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> This is the BROADCAST mailing list
> To send to the list, email: broadcast at radiolists.net
> For sub changes, archives and info on this other lists: http://www.radiolists.net/
>