OT New ESPN Radio

[UCFBfan]

So I thought it would be great having ESPN Radio on a FM station because I'd be able to get it clearer. 1410 broke up really easy. However, I'm finding that once I get past the 84/72 interchange heading west, I start to lose 97.9. Anyone else notice this? I find it rather annoying since I live in Southington and can't even get the station from my house! It might be my crappy car stereo but I was curious if others found this as well.

 

[BUHusky]

Funny, I was thinking about making this same post a few days back. I am also in Southington and the quality of 97.9 is absoutely terrible here. I don't have any issues with 1410 so I've switched over to Fox Sports radio.

ESPN needs to boost the signal strength of 97.9 (which broadcasts from Windsor Locks I believe) or risk losing more than half the state's market to Fox Sports radio and/or WFAN. Though based on ESPN radio's past track record, they don't seem to mind losing an entire market because of a crappy signal (see Boston in the mid-2000's).

The best part about this whole thing is I was driving past ESPN headquarters in Bristol the other day and the signal for 97.9 was going in and out. I expect nothing less from the geniuses at ESPN...

 

[UCFBfan]

Funny, I was thinking about making this same post a few days back. I am also in Southington and the quality of 97.9 is absoutely terrible here. I don't have any issues with 1410 so I've switched over to Fox Sports radio.

ESPN needs to boost the signal strength of 97.9 (which broadcasts from Windsor Locks I believe) or risk losing more than half the state's market to Fox Sports radio and/or WFAN. Though based on ESPN radio's past track record, they don't seem to mind losing an entire market because of a crappy signal (see Boston in the mid-2000's).

The best part about this whole thing is I was driving past ESPN headquarters in Bristol the other day and the signal for 97.9 was going in and out. I expect nothing less from the geniuses at ESPN...

That's the funniest part! You'd think the closer you are to Bristol the stronger the signal! Clearly not. I live in Plantsville so I gotta drive by the West St exit which the exit you'd take to get to ESPN and that's where the signal really starts to crap the bed!

That sucks to here that it's not just me though. I prefer ESPN radio plus they carry Monday Night Football and I usually listen to it on my drive home from work. Hopefully it improves.

 

[Fishy]

The only thing worse than ESPN Radio's signal breaking up is ESPN Radio's signal not breaking up.

 

[alexd]

Guys....it's not where the broadcast studios are that determines how the signal travels, it's where the antenna is located. 97.9 FM's antenna is in downtown Hartford. It's now part of the 850 station Clear Channel Media family...

 

[UCFBfan]

Guys....it's not where the broadcast studios are that determines how the signal travels, it's where the antenna is located. 97.9 FM's antenna is in downtown Hartford. It's now part of the 850 station Clear Channel Media family...

If it's in downtown Hartford why the hell can't it reach Southington?!? LoL! Not disagreeing with your statement just find it ridiculous. I get every other FM station from Hartford just fine.

 

[UConn5]

I enjoy WFAN farrrrr more than ESPN radio. ESPN's radio quality has always been crap and has been a major reason why I have never really listened consistently. That, and the fact that there are a ridiculous amount of commercial breaks.

 

[alexd]

I enjoy WFAN farrrrr more than ESPN radio. ESPN's radio quality has always been crap and has been a major reason why I have never really listened consistently. That, and the fact that there are a ridiculous amount of commercial breaks.

I hate their habit of using "the teaser" before almost every commercial break..."so, someone had a unbelievable day and then did something totally stupid...we'll talk about that when we come back".....after 6 minutes of commercials...

 

[TRest]

If it's in downtown Hartford why the hell can't it reach Southington?!? LoL! Not disagreeing with your statement just find it ridiculous. I get every other FM station from Hartford just fine.

It has something to do with the wattage power the station is broadcast with. I don't remember what station used to be on that number, but it is a relatively weak signal. I lose it going up 84 entering Waterbury. But I can get some Hartford FM in Danbury.

It's a 3,400 watt signal, per attached, which would be pretty weak. If am signal is measured the same way, wtic 1080 constantly brags about its 50,000 watt signal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WUCS

 

[UCFBfan]

It has something to do with the wattage power the station is broadcast with. I don't remember what station used to be on that number, but it is a relatively weak signal. I lose it going up 84 entering Waterbury. But I can get some Hartford FM in Danbury.

It's a 3,400 watt signal, per attached, which would be pretty weak. If am signal is measured the same way, wtic 1080 constantly brags about its 50,000 watt signal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WUCS

I'd believe it from 1080. I've gotten it from as far out as the exit for 684 in NY before it totally craps the bed. You'd think that ESPN would want a stronger frequency when it moved to FM. Guess it doesn't matter. From what I hear radio is dying and giving way to Sirius....

 

[Ts5034]

I hate their habit of using "the teaser" before almost every commercial break..."so, someone had a unbelievable day and then did something totally stupid...we'll talk about that when we come back".....after 6 minutes of commercials...

HAHA. I have noticed this too and its pretty stupid. If the information is really that important then they wouldnt wait until after a commercial to break the news. Thats why i dont even pay attention to those. WFAN is way better anyway...cant stand Colin Cowherd or the Rucco/Lundberg mid-day show. Mike and Mike are good but Its a national show. Im a Yankee and Giant fan so id rather listen to Boomer and Carton where its all local for the most part

 

[dsturdy5]

Can't stand ESPN Radio. I love their slogan, "All the Angles". What it really should be is, "Since we don't take phone calls, all the angles we wish to drive into your head."

Here is 97.9's coverage map.

I am extremely disappointed in 1080's coverage as well. I live in northeastern MA and can usually get a signal for games at night. However, when I am making the trip up from my in-law's house, I get nothing along the 395 corridor, day or night. It is so frustrating.

If you want quality sports radio, I suggest Sirius/XM. Stations dedicated to college sports, NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. NASCAR if that is your thing. Soccer. You name it, it is on there. They do carry ESPN radio as well, and either Sporting News or Fox Sports Radio have been on there in the past.

 

[benjordan]

Download the ESPN radio app

 

[zls44]

AM broadcasts at much, much higher wattage, sometimes 10x higher. The FCC won't even approve 50,000 watt stations anymore. There's 95 left in the country, including WTIC. Back in the day, a bunch of these (WLW, WTIC had the capability but never got the power up there) to transmit at 500,000 watts. WTIC's signal is so powerful they need to change the direction of it at night to not interfere with the country's other major 1080 transmitter.

In Dallas.

 

[August_West]

[quote="zls44, post: 206303, ][/B] WTIC's signal is so powerful they need to change the direction of it at night to not interfere with the country's other major 1080 transmitter.

In Dallas.[/quote]
yup, that was the old bob steele patented "antenna switch".... Used to do very early every morning. He made a schtick out of it. I used to drive alot on grateful dead tour and have picked up tic as far south as Virginia and as far west as the Ohio/ penn boarder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pepband99]

AM broadcasts at much, much higher wattage, sometimes 10x higher. The FCC won't even approve 50,000 watt stations anymore. There's 95 left in the country, including WTIC. Back in the day, a bunch of these (WLW, WTIC had the capability but never got the power up there) to transmit at 500,000 watts. WTIC's signal is so powerful they need to change the direction of it at night to not interfere with the country's other major 1080 transmitter.

In Dallas.

Erm, ok, but this is totally irrelevant to what's being discussed. WTIC's signal, while strong in wattage, sucks in a good portion of CT. http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WTIC&service=AM&status=L&hours=D That's the daytime map, the night one is worse.