Curious to see how "ordinary listeners" (not DXers) might hear the IBOC Effect on an "ordinary radio," I sat in my Honda Fit in the driveway at 0130 on 9/15 and did a bandscan on its "ordinary radio" (it ain't no Drake). I'm about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh. A few channels were useless, as expected: 690, 1130, 1200. But other channels were evidence of "no child left unharmed," varying from faint hiss in the background (you wouldn't notice it driving) to really obnoxious hiss that would make me give up listening, or call the station to ask, "What's wrong with your station?" And the normal continual variations in signal strength made some channels vary from okay to unlistenable over just a few minutes: 700, 710, 720, 750, 760, 770, 780, 830, 850, 880, 1060, 1080, 1170, 1190, 1220, 1520. I was particularly surprised/dismayed that 710, 720, 750, 760, 880, 1170 were so bad. These normally are quite listenable, but not now. What was really perplexing is that 1170 is a local for me, WWVA-Wheeling -- at 30 miles, I'm in their NE-directional 50kw grade-A hot blue flame. You shoulda heard the hiss. Jeez! I guess it comes down to whether AM broadcasters are interested in their nighttime audiences beyond 25 miles or not. Evidently they are not.
Fred Schroyer Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air mis S of Pittsburgh - 20 air mis N of Morgantown, WV) [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
