The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CFRB Taking Horrendous Audio Hits Over 1010

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 1:33 pm

Could be the weather, could be something in my area or it could be something else. But for the last half hour or more, there are frequent audio hits coming out of CFRB. It started as just a few interference noises, but has escalated to non-stop on-air noise. I've tested it on two different radios and it's the same on each of them.

It's a shame because I like Vassy Kapelos' show, but the on air signal is completely unlistenable as I post this. Not sure what the source may be, but I'd hate to have to be the engineer who heads out to the transmitter in this weather. Whatever it is, they can't let it continue.

Anyone else hearing this?

**Posted by splunge** April 2, 2025 1:43 pm

i noticed it on 680 in the car an hour ago ....

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 1:44 pm

Well, whatever it was has stopped, so they appear to have fixed it. But that was certainly one of the worst audio interruptions I've ever heard on 1010, which - whatever you think of their programming- generally does not have such issues.

**Posted by Skywave** April 2, 2025 2:01 pm

Both stations have high towers - CFTR has eight at 400 feet, and CFRB four at 550 feet. With the weather we are having right now, snow flurries plus wind, there is likely a static buildup which results in discharges. The transmitters will momentarily throttle back, with the duration dependent on the magnitude of the static discharge.

**Posted by torontostan** April 2, 2025 2:01 pm

So much for AM radio being perfect for emergencies.....

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 7:22 pm

torontostan wrote:
So much for AM radio being perfect for emergencies.....

Even a noisy AM signal with needed information is better than days of silence in the dark.

**Posted by torontostan** April 2, 2025 11:20 pm

RadioActive wrote:
torontostan wrote:
So much for AM radio being perfect for emergencies.....
Even a noisy AM signal with needed information is better than days of silence in the dark.

There's no such instance in which AM would be the best option in an emergency... you may not be aware but we also have a thing called AlertReady which uses multiple means of communication when necessary... I'm afraid to inform you that you've drank the AM kool-aid

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 11:30 pm

And I still find it very sweet!

**Posted by Jody Thornton** April 3, 2025 1:52 am

RadioActive wrote:
And I still find it very sweet!

This is where you should bust through a wall, with a big portable AM radio, and say, "ooooooooh yeaaaaah!"

**Posted by RadioActive** April 3, 2025 2:23 am

I'm not naïve enough to believe AM will be around forever. It's just where most of the kind of programming I like currently resides. If they were to transfer some of those formats to FM, I would definitely tune to that band. For the moment, at least, that's not the case. (Unless I'm in the car, where I tune in the HD version of the signals because, yes, it sounds better.)

So unlike others here, I really don't care where I'm tuned band-wise or the lesser audio quality, as long as it provides what I want to hear. For the moment, that's on AM. Hopefully that changes one day. For now, it's the only real choice if you're not really into music.

I'm really not sure why this bothers so many here. Live and let live, I say. (Or perhaps that should be listen and let listen...)

**Posted by Jody Thornton** April 3, 2025 4:25 am

Honestly RA, I was initially just making a joke about you being the Kool-Aid guy, but I did want to explain my thoughts. I hate sounding like I'm running you down, but I do feel genuinely about what I just posted

**Posted by RadioActive** April 3, 2025 7:27 am

My comments were not aimed at you Jody, just critics of AM in general. I know you're not into it anymore, but I wish you were still on air (AM or FM!). Do you ever miss it?

**Posted by Binson Echorec** April 3, 2025 11:29 am

Jody Thornton wrote:
So I miss what radio was; not what it is.

Church.

**Posted by torontostan** April 3, 2025 11:35 am

RadioActive wrote:
I'm not naïve enough to believe AM will be around forever. It's just where most of the kind of programming I like currently resides. If they were to transfer some of those formats to FM, I would definitely tune to that band. For the moment, at least, that's not the case. (Unless I'm in the car, where I tune in the HD version of the signals because, yes, it sounds better.)

So unlike others here, I really don't care where I'm tuned band-wise or the lesser audio quality, as long as it provides what I want to hear. For the moment, that's on AM. Hopefully that changes one day. For now, it's the only real choice if you're not really into music.

I'm really not sure why this bothers so many here. Live and let live, I say. (Or perhaps that should be listen and let listen...)

The problem is that this perspective has nothing to do with an emergency. Any FM station could pivot to broadcast anything if a true emergency was unfolding.... it doesn't need to be the news station covering it. Besides, we have CBC radio in this country with a vast network of FM stations that could broadcast in both official languages if needed