950 WWJ - HD Radio FAIL! Analog signal now sounds faint.

[Ben Zonia]

WIDG needs a translator again.

I can't imagine any benefit except the callsign display from running IBOC.

[Colonel Flagg]

I assumed WWJ was operating at reduced power. Sounds like a very distant, noisy signal at my Quarton//Telegraph location.

Not that it's a great loss, mind you. I only enjoy listening when veteran broadcasters like Mike Campbell, Pat Vitale, Greg Bowman, Dennis Neubacher, and Sandra McNeill are on.

[billmich88888]

terrible news - any idea why it was off for so long?. I was hoping it was a permanent elimination of HD

[Marcus]

I'd rather see them make AM 1270 a 100% digital simulcast of 950 WWJ. I think WXYT (AM) has something like a 0.1 share right now.

[Ben Zonia]

I assumed WWJ was operating at reduced power. Sounds like a very distant, noisy signal at my Quarton//Telegraph location.

Not that it's a great loss, mind you. I only enjoy listening when veteran broadcasters like Mike Campbell, Pat Vitale, Greg Bowman, Dennis Neubacher, and Sandra McNeill are on.

In Northern Michgan about an hour before Sunset tonight, WWJ IBOC sidebands were blasting in on 940 and 960, obliterating anything else on the frequencies.

Was hearing a lot of Southeast and Southern Michigan stations about the same time. WJMK 1250, WOOD 1300, WILS 1320, WPHM 1380, WLCM 1390, WFNT 1470, WMLM 1520, WLCO 1530, CBEF 1550, and WAAM 1600 were some.

[ZenithCKLW]

My car radio was unable to fully decode the HD signal WWJ is now pumping out.

The display said "Acquiring HD signal..." for five straight minutes without ever successfully obtaining it.

Nice job, Audacy engineers!

Same here. The radio apparently knew there was an HD signal, as the display turned from “950 AM” to “950 WWJ HD” and the HD icon was there, but it wasn’t “lit.” It also definitely didn’t sound like HD.

I like the HD novelty, but is HD on 950 actually necessary if WXYT-FM HD2 simulcasts WWJ?

[Scooter]

...as a result, the analog signal sounds like shit. The bandwidth is squeezed, and there is a subtle "swoosh" in the background I cannot eliminate.

Loudness of the analog signal is also negatively affected.

Agreed, the AM HD is a joke. It keeps cutting in and out and sounds like shortwave radio. If you want WWJ in HD just tune into 97.1 HD2 or use Audacy.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Mega Hertz]

Pro: it is nice for the couple of AM stations worth listening to are available on an FM HD signal.

Con: everything else.

The jig is up. It had its few seconds. Turn it off. Decent idea 15 years ago but no longer worth it. It was never gonna be utilized properly.

[SolarMax]

Well, that explains why WWJ on my bedroom clock radio again sounds like mushy crap, and with The Buzz. I have not heard a TOH ID in a while. Are they IDing as "WWJ and HD" or "WWJ and WWJ HD" Detroit, and the musical "Audacy" tag still stepping on the CBS News sounder?

[SolidGoldDancers]

910 and 1200 both have their HD exciters turned on, and both stations' analog signals & audio levels sound perfectly fine to my ears.

The people at Audacy Detroit evidently have no idea how to implement the technology properly.

It isn't going to get any better. Radio and TV used to pull from decent community and four-year colleges with BSET programs. Those graduating from such programs today get pulled into industrial firms for way more pay than radio stations are willing to offer. Specs is done pumping under-qualified but eager to get on-the-job trained technicians, so who is left to fiddle the knobs?

Anyone willing to warm the seat for as little money as possible. And willing to do it at six stations, set up remote broadcasts and take the general manager's car out for a wash and fill.

[Mega Hertz]

910 and 1200 both have their HD exciters turned on, and both stations' analog signals & audio levels sound perfectly fine to my ears.

The people at Audacy Detroit evidently have no idea how to implement the technology properly.

It isn't going to get any better. Radio and TV used to pull from decent community and four-year colleges with BSET programs. Those graduating from such programs today get pulled into industrial firms for way more pay than radio stations are willing to offer. Specs is done pumping under-qualified but eager to get on-the-job trained technicians, so who is left to fiddle the knobs?

Anyone willing to warm the seat for as little money as possible. And willing to do it at six stations, set up remote broadcasts and take the general manager's car out for a wash and fill.

And apparently also get a prime air shift

[mikemach]

I noticed the terrible quality this weekend listening to 950 in my car in the South Lyon area. Now I know why!