The Future - AM + Streaming only (no FM & HD)

[kevtronics]

The U.S. government did think of something like this during the Cold War, when they planned a network of longwave (160-190 kHz) transmitters to distribute emergency information to the public in the event of a nuclear attack. All new receivers would be required to include this longwave band.

But only one station was built before these plans were scrapped and replaced with the Emergency Broadcast System: WGU-20 on 179 kHz in Maryland, which transmitted time announcements and was finally shut down in 1990:

WGU-20 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kent]

About my well understood comment - I was thinking about >100 years of experience with how AM tech works, what it can and can't do.

With more than 100 years of experience with AM radio, one thing it can't do is be relevant to most consumers. The greatest percentage of the population doesn't want it. Demand isn't going to be created. Plus, the greatest consumer demand in the cell phone industry is for a smaller cell phone. Apple is talking about making the iPhone thinner and would eventually like one that's about the thickness of a credit card. The consumer trend is toward lighter and thinner cell phones, and you can't give them that if you add an AM antenna to their devices.

I can appreciate that you want to find uses for AM as it continues its slide to obscurity. If every AM station were to go away, the FCC wouldn't likely be able to auction that spectrum. It just doesn't have any business use. It really doesn't have much practical use of any kind. If/When AM finally goes away, it will be time to just let it go.

 

[davideduardo]

The U.S. government did think of something like this during the Cold War, when they planned a network of longwave (160-190 kHz) transmitters to distribute emergency information to the public in the event of a nuclear attack. All new receivers would be required to include this longwave band.

But only one station was built before these plans were scrapped and replaced with the Emergency Broadcast System: WGU-20 on 179 kHz in Maryland, which transmitted time announcements and was finally shut down in 1990:

WGU-20 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I am trying to figure out if the horseman was Paul Revere or don Quixote.

 

[Miss Tuned]

This is a joke, surely?

Aside from the physical impossibility of putting an AM antenna inside a modern smartphone, the smartphone manufacturers are major global concerns. They make one model for sale across the world. The US is a large market, but it's not the largest market. The US Government has only limited sway over what phone manufacturers do with their phones.

In any case, if it was a choice between nuclear annihilation and listening to the audio from Fox News on AM, I'd take the bomb.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I can appreciate that you want to find uses for AM as it continues its slide to obscurity. If every AM station were to go away, the FCC wouldn't likely be able to auction that spectrum. It just doesn't have any business use. It really doesn't have much practical use of any kind. If/When AM finally goes away, it will be time to just let it go.

Trying to find a “new use” for AM radio is like trying to find a new use for 78 RPM records.

Too many of these proposals are based on nostalgia rather than any practical consideration going into the future. Shortwave has the same issue.

 

[Kelly A]

But that type of cell-based operation does not work in the event of hurricanes, which can be well over 100 miles wide in their path of destruction, earthquakes which also can be severe in a 100 mile or more radius zone and some other weather related events as well as large power outages that could affect entire smaller states or regions such as the case several years back in Texas.

Let's take a look at recent examples. During the Texas freeze, many cell sites that had backup power remained up. People charged their phones via their vehicles, or businesses that had backup power. In recent hurricane events like Harvey, the cell infrastructure held up also very well. One could argue with that example alone, that cell/PCS was more valuable and reliable than local broadcast stations: Hurricanes & Cell Towers – How did they fare? | TowerPoint

In such events, with no electricity, phones won't recharge, listening in a car off the battery is not a viable long-term solution, cells will lose battery backup, TVs won't work at all, leaving us with the most basic radio which is generally AM. In the Puerto Rico hurricane, only one station out of 120 radio operations remained on the air... a non-directional low-band AM.

But again you're assuming that average modern consumers have access to portable radios with charged batteries, let alone think about some forgotten media like AM radio. The reality is; they don't. Anymore it's like trying to convince the public that having a shortwave receiver around is somehow beneficial in an emergency, because propagation on SW is superior. 98% of consumers don't know, nor care about effects of propagation. That's a radio nerd topic.

 

[Kent]

Trying to find a “new use” for AM radio is like trying to find a new use for 78 RPM records.

Yes, indeed. Every technology eventually outlives its usefulness and dies. Some, like the horse and buggy, can still exist as a niche or novelty, but others, like the minicomputer, are long gone. AM is still like the former, but it will probably eventually be like the latter. When it's time to move on, it's time to move on.

 

[TheBigA]

I think it's more likely that you will see more interest in finding non-broadcast backups to cellular than you will see any interest in using AM for backup. If there are gaps in cellular, or loss of power for cellular, those issues will be addressed, rather than looking at a completely different system such as AM radio. People are more likely to have two phones with different cell contracts than have a phone and an AM radio with charged batteries.

 

[xmtrland]

Mini computers are not long gone. My smart phone is a mini computer and the raspberry Pie is still very popular.

 

[Kent]

Mini computers are not long gone. My smart phone is a mini computer and the raspberry Pie is still very popular.

No, your smartphone is a microcomputer. Minicomputers were desks with computers built-in.

 

[xmtrland]

Hmm, I never saw a desk with a computer built in. I see computers of all sizes. Large, small, mini and micro. Could argue that the Nautel NX50 has a mini computer in it.

If your talking about something like the Timex/Sinclair type computer that came out. Yes that type of "Mini" computer is no longer around. But other more powerful mini computers are out there.

I know we are splitting hairs.

I could see the AM radio being used for emergency information to distribute info to local emergency centers that could have an AM radio, like a CERT team leader. Evacuation center and such. It would be a one way channel but could provide some useful information.

 

[Kelly A]

I could see the AM radio being used for emergency information to distribute info to local emergency centers that could have an AM radio, like a CERT team leader. Evacuation center and such. It would be a one way channel but could provide some useful information.

So AM radio used for one way coordination to local emergency centers? May as well use amateur or CB radio. At least those forms are two-way. Not that I need to point this out to you of all people, but AM and FM is broadcasting. As in, to a larger/broad audience. What you're proposing is narrow-casting.

 

[Kent]

Hmm, I never saw a desk with a computer built in. I see computers of all sizes. Large, small, mini and micro. Could argue that the Nautel NX50 has a mini computer in it.

You can find a minicomputer here: http://static.righto.com/images/lssm/burroughs.jpg. My dad's office had them in the early 1980's. I used to play a primitive bowling game on one of them while he worked in his office next door. I can't remember the last time I saw one, but I'm thinking it was before 1986. There were other versions of minicomputers that looked more like mainframes in the 1960's and 70's, but that's roughly what the final versions of them looked like. I can't promise you that there aren't a few of them still floating around. Businesses with outdated technology might still have one in a corner office somewhere, but they'd be so rare and highly specialized you'd really have to seek out the parts for one if it went down.

(Edited to remove copy/paste of minicomputer at link in case of copyright issues.)

 

[TheBigA]

AM and FM is broadcasting. As in, to a larger/broad audience. What you're proposing is narrow-casting.

It's only broadcasting if a lot of people have receivers. We're seeing a decline in the number of AM receivers, so that means the content can only be received by those who have those receivers. In a way HD Radio is limited to those who have those receivers.

 

[xmtrland]

Kent, I think where we see things differently is how you and I see the term "minicomputer" I go to Amazon and type in Minicomputer in the search bar and alot of manufactures that call there products minicomputers, pop up.

I feel the term "minicomputer" has evolved over time and what it represents. In the early 80's the TRS 80 came out. I feel that was a mini computer. Or was that a Microcomputer in your view. I would call what pop's up in your link above, was a main frame computer and not a Minicomputer. The TRS-80 was a mini computer. Timex/Sinclair was a minicomputer.

 

[Miss Tuned]

Sinclairs e.g. the ZX Spectrum were microcomputers, they were commonly informally referred to as "Micros" at the time. I recall the BBC running educational programs with names like "Making the Most of the Micro":

Making the Most of the Micro - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[xmtrland]

Would this be classified as a mini-rabbit hole or a micro-rabbit we have gone down?

 

[michael hagerty]

We need a good five-cent movie, while we're at it!

 

[Kent]

Kent, I think where we see things differently is how you and I see the term "minicomputer" I go to Amazon and type in Minicomputer in the search bar and alot of manufactures that call there products minicomputers, pop up.

Those also come up as "microcomputer" if you punch them in on Amazon. I realize terms evolve over time, but those of us in IT would not recognize those devices as minicomputers. We might understand what you were referring to if you mentioned it in casual conversation, but I suspect we'd need a moment or two before it registered. That you had to search it out to know what I was talking about it should tell you how uncommon the term is in today's technology.

I feel the term "minicomputer" has evolved over time and what it represents. In the early 80's the TRS 80 came out. I feel that was a mini computer. Or was that a Microcomputer in your view. I would call what pop's up in your link above, was a main frame computer and not a Minicomputer. The TRS-80 was a mini computer. Timex/Sinclair was a minicomputer.

The TRS-80 was a microcomputer. A good rule of thumb is, if you can put it on a desk, it's a microcomputer.

 

[kfbkfb]

Thanks to the way radio proliferated (in the USA), we have haphazard redundancy/backup of radio signals now.

I'm not trying to "save" AM radio broadcasting, my idea could be implemented after the AM band is cleared out (all the current USA AM stations would have gone off the air, all AM frequencies could be (re)used for my proposal).

If the AM antenna issue could be resolved, Smartphones w/AM would explain to the user that the phones was receiving emergency info from a radio signal and that the Smartphone couldn't make or receive call at that time.

AFAIK, only the CBC/Canada & the BBC are making some long range (a decade or three) plans for all wireless broadband distribution of their content (when no AM/FM/HD/DAB/TV stations would be on the air).

I guess DHS and FEMA could have an "army" of drones that would fly over the affected (natural disaster/hacker "attack") areas and drop leaflets that say in part "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help you" if this AM radio based system wasn't implemented.


Kirk Bayne