"R J Carpenter" wrote in message
...


One could assume that they turned off the stereo in order to get better
coverage. RDS could have been turned off to get back the few-percent of
modulation it consumes.

WWZZ is a WAY-out rimshot, and has coverage problems in DC and northern
suburbs. Turning off the stereo gives them quite a few more dB signal to
noise ratio in poor signal areas.

WWVZ is only Class A, and was bought to try to help in the northwestern DC
suburbs. But it's way out on the hill west of Frederick, MD, so every
little bit of signal improvement helps - thus turn off stereo.


Hmm...I know that the "reception issue" has plagued WWZZ for a long time and
I knew that improved reception is what drove Bonneville to turn off the
stereo on the 107.7 signal for WTOP-FM. I guess I just didn't realize that
the signal improvements were *that* significant. I hope they haven't
deluded themselves into blaming the signal rather than the format for their
current ratings situation...

I keep hearing rumors that Bonneville is looking for a broadcast signal for
their Federal News Radio brand and I suppose I was speculating that they
were tweaking "104" in preparation. It was just a thought.

- Jeremy Powell