The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Why Was AM640 Off The Air For Almost An Hour On Tuesday?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** October 8, 2024 4:12 pm

I took the dog out for a walk just before 3PM Tuesday afternoon and turned on AM640. Kelly Cutratra had just signed off, and I assume they were doing the usual Oakley promo, since I was listening to another station for the moment.

But when I turned on 640 a minute later, all I heard was static.

Uh oh.

When most stations have a technical glitch, you know it's only a matter of time before the engineers fix whatever is wrong, and it comes back on. But this is a Corus outlet and as the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but think of CHML, suddenly signed off last month after 97 years on the air with no warning. Was this a repeat performance?

I kept checking the station as our hour-long walk continued and heard nothing. (Only a radio person listens to static of a station that's gone off the air just to see if it's coming back. If I'd been home, I would have tried it online, just to see.)

By 3:30 PM, they were still gone and I was beginning to wonder if it was permanent.

At 3:50, I tried it one more time as we headed home. To my great relief, it was back and the afternoon show was well underway. I have no idea if they referred on air to their mysterious absence, which was almost 50 minutes long at the beginning of the afternoon rush.

There's lots to complain about regarding AM640, but I do like some of their programming and it helps give CFRB a run for its money. I'd miss it if it wasn't there, as I did in the hour it was gone.

That's a very long time to be off air in a key time period. Does anyone know what happened?

**Posted by newsguy1** October 8, 2024 6:18 pm

I was in my car and tuned to 640 and heard the static.
I thought it would come back on in a few moments, but nothing.
I thought maybe my car sound system had glitched, but all other stations came in OK.
I did some shopping and came back to the car and tried 640 again, and no show.
How long was it out for?
I did not hear any explanation or any emergency announcement either.

**Posted by Saul** October 8, 2024 6:29 pm

A little later in the afternoon or into evening and it would have been interesting to see what DX would be underneath. My guess is Cuba, a station near Chigago, and maybe Akron OH as the three easiest. 900 has been active - Mexico City the highlight. Also had Mexico City on 1380 last night. 1540 with CHIN daytime only, have been hearing Bahamas. CJBK 1290's absence yielded Alabama. As for 640, hearing KFI Los Angeles in the mid 70s (before the station here signed on in Richmond hill) sealed the deal on DX being something to do...

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** October 8, 2024 8:22 pm

newsguy1 wrote:
How long was it out for?
I did not hear any explanation or any emergency announcement either.

At least 50 minutes or more between 3 and 4 PM. No reason given.

**Posted by Chrisphen** October 8, 2024 9:12 pm

RadioActive wrote:
newsguy1 wrote:
How long was it out for?
I did not hear any explanation or any emergency announcement either.

At least 50 minutes or more between 3 and 4 PM. No reason given.

Mercy.

**Posted by Evuguy** October 9, 2024 8:05 pm

Thought I heard the signal drop out briefly this morning. I assumed their Tx experienced a brief power interuption but perhaps they are having transmitter or antenna problems if they were out that long yesterday.

**Posted by Saul** October 9, 2024 8:34 pm

820 and 1150 were off the air for much longer than that today, from at least 0010 today until mid afternoon, with CKOC back first. Actually, I think the signals were there and they were on open carrier. But hard to tell. There was a hum most notably on 820 that had that wobbly fan sound. Highlights: On 820, WBAP in the clear, Radio Reloj from Cuba (obvious time pips) and Columbus OH area Catholic station; on 1150 my slam-dunk fave was KSAL Salina KS (new catch), two stations from NC (one new), and others from DE PA WI OH. Overnight unattended recording yet to review on 1150 aimed south. 900 continues to entertain, with Basset VA (new), Mexico City, others from NC PA WI etc. 1380 with no CKPC also yielded Mexico City, which is a new catch, and stuff closer in. 1540 at night is a mix, with Richmond VA easy on south antenna which pushes powerful 50kw'er KXEL aside.