105.1 HD2 "KOOL-FM" gone?

[Terry]

KUDD 105.1 is not broadcasting an HD signal today; therefore KOOL-FM on their HD2 is missing.

[amanuensis]

Just my luck. One of our cars was in an accident, so we have a rental car that actually has HD radio. I was looking forward to listening to KUDD HD2 when I went shopping later today.

[oldiesfunhouse]

Their internet stream is still on.

        

[christopherjohn]

They were doing inspections on the towers up on Farnsworth, most stations were at reduced power or on their aux antennas.

[kenglish]

I remember those days 😀 .
(Hope everyone checked their de-icers.)

[oldiesfunhouse]

I checked last night, I think around 10, and the HD signal was on and KOOL was on the air. Yay! I still keep checking 92.1 to see if CAwaninNj's theory was right but, as of a couple of days ago, it's still transmitting KALL's AM signal. And I do mean its AM signal. It sounds like they have an AM radio hooked up to it including the little hiss at night. I really wish if that's what 92.1 will continue to be, that they could figure out a way to get the signal right from the board like their internet stream gets. It would sound a lot better.

[amanuensis]

The HD2 feed of 1370's classic country sounded great yesterday on the rental car's radio. MUCH better than the AM OTA signal. Too bad that country music is not my thing. KRSP HD2 did not sound good then (very quiet, I had to turn up the volume) but perhaps that signal was powered down right then for the Farnsworth work.

[David]

Something is definitely going on up at Farnsworth Peak. At my location in NE Ogden, the main channel for KSOP-FM is extremely scratchy and weak, and 104.3 HD2 is missing entirely. As for 105.1, the main channel is so weak today that I can only pick up the signal on one or two of my most sensitive radios. Of course, 105.1 HD2 is still MIA. I wonder if they're doing some work on the Ogden boosters for 104.3 and 105.1?

EDIT: I just did an FM band scan with my Sangean HDR-16, and NONE of the stations that usually broadcast in HD are transmitting an HD signal, not even KSL-FM. It's like every FM station in Salt Lake City turned off their HD en masse. Very strange indeed!

[Terry]

Listening here in Murray, several stations seem to have no HD today: KUER 90.1, KXRX 96.3, KZHT 97.1, KUDD 105.1 and KKLV 107.5.

[christopherjohn]

More work on the towers. We are at full hybrid power on our backup antenna. Shouldn’t be much of a difference from our main antenna. As for the other stations, some are at very reduced power which will affect HD. Other stations that are not hybrid usually use their aux for digital and the main for analog which will explain the HD going away. Gotta be careful not to hurt the tower climbing crews.

[CAwasinNJ]

christopherjohn, thank you for the information. I really do appreciate it.

I knew something was up Monday morning when many of the lesser TV stations were off the air, but I didn't have a chance to check the radio until later. As for today, KUDD's HD was up earlier but is down now. Quite a few stations are definitely weaker than normal and a weak signal would keep the digital sideburn from being picked up. Remember that digital signals are always much weaker than the analog component. The logical conclusion is that the inspections are continuing today, so nothing strange there, and thanks again christopherjohn for jumping in with an update. Sometimes we tend to forget just how dangerous tower climbing can be, even without the RF component.


In general one station having something odd happen is one thing, but if multiple stations have the same issue (particularly non co-owned ones) that's something different.

[christopherjohn]

True on the HD power. My analog is 7.64kw into the antenna, my HD is 170 watts. Craziness!

Oct 5, 2022 16:43:09 GMT -6 CAwasinNJ said:

christopherjohn, thank you for the information. I really do appreciate it.

I knew something was up Monday morning when many of the lesser TV stations were off the air, but I didn't have a chance to check the radio until later. As for today, KUDD's HD was up earlier but is down now. Quite a few stations are definitely weaker than normal and a weak signal would keep the digital sideburn from being picked up. Remember that digital signals are always much weaker than the analog component. The logical conclusion is that the inspections are continuing today, so nothing strange there, and thanks again christopherjohn for jumping in with an update. Sometimes we tend to forget just how dangerous tower climbing can be, even without the RF component.


In general one station having something odd happen is one thing, but if multiple stations have the same issue (particularly non co-owned ones) that's something different.

[David]

Just did another band scan at 5:30 PM, and most stations except the iHeart FM's and KUER have their HD sub channels back on. 100.7 Bob FM and 105.1 are still very weak, and KOOL-FM is still off the air. On the other hand, KSOP-FM HD2 is sounding better than ever.🙂 Thanks, CJ! 👍

EDIT: As of 11:00 PM Wednesday, almost all of the HD sub channels are back on the air, including KOOL-FM 105.1 HD2. KSL-FM has also added an HD3 sub channel, which is a simulcast of The Zone. Is there really that many gaps in the coverage area of 1280 & 97.5 that putting The Zone simulcast on 102.7 HD3 would be helpful?

[David]

There must be more tower work taking place at Farnsworth Peak today. 104.3 HD2 has been in and out this morning, and 105.1 HD2 is MIA again. Anyone know how much longer it's going to take to complete the tower work at Farnsworth so we can listen to the HD channels again? christopherjohn (CJ KSOP)?

[christopherjohn]

Most work is done. Just some minor power adjustments tomorrow from what I understand. David, our HD2 was in and out? We went on our Aux at full power around 7:20 this morning and the backup should put a great signal up north.