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New WQXR

207.38.253.157
Posted on October 13, 2009 at 12:55:34
Bill of Greater NY
Audiophile

Posts: 113
Location: New York
Joined: April 1, 2008
 Now that its all over and done with, anybody in the NYC area like to make comments on the new stations signal strength & sound quality versus the old station? I am not in a optimum signal receiving situation but was wondering what others are hearing....

A rhombic pinned to a ceiling or up in the loft?, posted on November 15, 2009 at 23:10:56
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 11394
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 SS meters are notorious for misleading the public.

Want to read the article? It's one alternative - to grumbling, ;-)!
Warmest

Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
I have moved to Q2., posted on November 15, 2009 at 19:30:30
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 7158
Joined: June 5, 2002
 More interesting music.
Less inane blather.
Adequate, variable sound quality.

Kal

RE: I have moved to Q2., posted on November 17, 2009 at 08:38:38
3Fates
Audiophile

Posts: 822
Joined: December 8, 2000
 Yes, I love Q2 (HD2 in my home) but often I do not know what I am listening to and there is no way to even find out. Hope they somehow can fix that.

Overall, I am liking the new WQXR more and more - primarily because there just seems to be much more music and less commercials.

On screen:, posted on November 17, 2009 at 09:12:24
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 7158
Joined: June 5, 2002
 Currently listening to

"Jacob Ter Veldhuis (Jacob TV)
String Quartet No. 2, "Postnuclear Winterscenario"
The Netherlands Quartet."

I do not know anything about HD2.

Kal

RE: New WQXR, posted on November 14, 2009 at 19:13:39
plavcan
 Sounded great to me -- even on a clock radio in a Times Square hotel!

Lousy in Washington Heights, posted on October 24, 2009 at 13:19:08
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 841
Location: New York, NY
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: September 2, 2002
 My Modaferri-modded MR77 and intenna used to bring it in just fine. Now, stereo is out of the question and mono is noisy.

The programming has taken a dive as well.

Yuk foo.

WW


There is NO substitute for the live performance.
Technically..............................., posted on October 17, 2009 at 08:02:07
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 7158
Joined: June 5, 2002
 ...it is as good as it was at 96.3 at my apartment and at my office, both in Manhattan.

It is still my default audible wallpaper but, unfortunately, the programming has become even more soft-core. As a result, I find that I turn it off every day to listen to web-radio (in the office) or CDs (at home). Too bad.

Kal

RE: New WQXR, posted on October 14, 2009 at 09:15:07
Bill of Greater NY
Audiophile

Posts: 113
Location: New York
Joined: April 1, 2008
 These are very interesting responses. I am in Forest Hills facing east, 21 stories up with no ability do use anything outside (building rules). The signal strength is the same as old QXR about 8 1/4 out of 10, multipath meter sez zero. The sound is compressed & fuzzy and no longer is able to enjoy anymore. I hope that one of the responses here that say they may tweak signal is true. it's a shame that one of the great stations has fallen to the main stream like so many before it...

RE: New WQXR, posted on October 14, 2009 at 09:54:46
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 6155
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 Bill,

Prior to moving to Plainsboro, I lived in Forest Hills. A very irritating problem in listening to WQXR (96.3) was the variable multi-path problem associated with flights into and out of La Guardia Airport. At times the signal would be nulled. Perhaps you are being afflicted in a similar manner.

Can you hang a Yagi aimed directly at the Empire State Building from a ceiling in the apt.?

Eli D.
RE: New WQXR, posted on October 14, 2009 at 12:15:33
Bill of Greater NY
Audiophile

Posts: 113
Location: New York
Joined: April 1, 2008
 Thanx for the response, I have friends at the west side of the building and reception is good. One RF guy told me to point a shotgun type antenna at a building that faces the city & see a bounced signal from (Kennedy House). Can you hang a Yagi aimed directly at the Empire State Building from a ceiling in the apt.? Sure I can but the ole Lady would probably Kill me. Tried a few DIY types that worked good for awhile till(I guess) some atmospheric condition kicked in. Opening a patio door creates a lousey signal too....

RE: New WQXR, posted on October 14, 2009 at 15:40:28
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 6155
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 Bill,

Perhaps the LGA flight patterns disrupted your reception, as they did so often to mine.

OK, she who must be obeyed will not tolerate a Yagi. Perhaps she will tolerate a double rhombic made from clear insulation 300 Ω twin lead. That stuff is certainly less of an eyesore than multiple Aluminum parts hanging from the ceiling, in the middle of the room. You need a rhombus just under 10 ft. as side to work well at 105.9 MHz.

Use AA EMail to contact me and I'll send you the relevant magazine article pdf so kindly provided to me by Timbo in Oz.

Eli D.
RE: New WQXR, posted on October 14, 2009 at 08:35:37
paddeo
 I've been listening to there programming since the switch to 105.9 and I must say I am impressed. But it depends on the receiver you are using. For the past year I had been using a Dynaco FM-3 which I refurbished and modified, and it was great for 96.3, but for 105.9 the old girl just couldn't hack it. Low signal combined with the FM-3 sensitivity and selectivity problems. Then I switched to a Fisher KM-60 which had been sitting around waiting to be used, and it was another ball game. It pulled that station in like it was around the corner and I am about 20 miles southwest of NYC. Great sound, just like the WQXR of old.

ciao

What antenna are you using?! You can get, it but it's noisy?, posted on October 13, 2009 at 19:54:37
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 11394
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 Is it possible you could put a rhombic pointed at it in your loft?Could be that it's the only possible solution, for you.

Depends on your house' orientation etc.





Warmest

Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
RE: New WQXR, posted on October 13, 2009 at 17:51:09
Listens2tubes
Audiophile

Posts: 132
Location: New Jersey
Joined: January 14, 2006
 The station comes in at a 3.5 out of 5 on my main system tuner's strength meter but am hearing a low static that is annoying. Hear the same in the car as well. Hoping this is a fine tuning of the transmitter or sun spots that will not always be present.
Have you tweaked today?
RE: New WQXR, posted on October 13, 2009 at 16:59:45
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 6155
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 Sadly, signal strength SUCKS. :>(( This is not surprising, given the reduction to 400 W. from 4 KW. of radiated power.

I'm in the general vicinity of Princeton, NJ. "Picket fencing" from power lines makes the station UNLISTENABLE, when riding along US 1.

I, like many other people, do the bulk of my radio listening in the car. I can't think of a good reason to contribute to WQXR's finance drives, given the current unsatisfactory state of affairs.

Eli D.
Not sure what their bit rate is, but ..., posted on October 13, 2009 at 14:45:20
SamA
Audiophile

Posts: 954
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Joined: February 12, 2004
 they sound GREAT on the Internet. I'm bookmarking them for keeps. And, BTW, making a donation.

Sam

What planet do you guys live on?, posted on November 10, 2009 at 20:34:04
The Duke
Audiophile

Posts: 302
Joined: March 6, 2001
 Great reception out here in Northern New Jersey! And I live in a ground floor apt. using a CCrane Reflektor indoor antenna into my Onyko T-9090 Mk.ll tuner.

WQXR is now an NPR station under the WNYC umbrella.

What gets me are the complaints about their programming. The old QXR was the most boring, conservative, old warhorse, classical station. It was truly for blue-haired old ladies. The new QXR has a wider range of programming which means playing modern classical as well as the established masters. Also, there is David Garland with his "Spinning On Air" show which goes into musical adventures that challange the listener. Also, his movie music programming is enlightening.

Give it a listen. Give it a chance! Is all you want to hear is Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"?
Performanc eof FM antennas is notoriously dependent on your own reception conditions!, posted on November 15, 2009 at 23:21:59
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 11394
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 Yep, truly. Our homes contain several sources of RFI these days, to boot!

I can have no opinion on the old or new WQXR. But I'd guess that a broadening of the play-list can't have hurt! ;-)! Because I live down-under where we have this network. ......

http://www.abc.net.au/classic/daily/stories/s2720977.htm

You can only listen on line at pretty low bit rates, but give it a go. Love to have your opinion.





Warmest

Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm

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