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Could This Help Rescue Small AM Stations?

B

Barry

InsideRadio has an article concerning a newly developed vertical AM broadcasting antenna that can be mounted on rooftops. It can handle up to 1000 watts, and is undergoing FCC authorized testing.
No one is claiming it is as effective as the traditional towers. But it could be a cost-effective solution for small stations that have various issues with them, such as the loss of a lease for the land they occupy, or major repairs being needed. Even if the signal is modest, it may be adequate to feed FM translators, or serve a small town.

Magnum K1 Antenna
 
There is no need to save a low power AM service that no one wants or cares about. I live four miles from an AM antenna that puts out an unlistenable signal. No one cares. There is no need to save that signal. If the purpose is to feed a translator, get legislation changed to allow translators without the electricity wasting AM feed. Then there will be no need for this modern 1920s type longwire antenna.
 
And think of the marketing opportunities to sell radios which pick up those super low frequencies. Every high school drop out from the 70s still living in their mom's basement will have to have one. Nothing says nostalgia like a scratchy 45 played through the static of a poorly maintained AM radio station. Hit the jingle...."Cousin Brucie"!
 
Barry said:
InsideRadio has an article concerning a newly developed vertical AM broadcasting antenna that can be mounted on rooftops. It can handle up to 1000 watts, and is undergoing FCC authorized testing.
No one is claiming it is as effective as the traditional towers. But it could be a cost-effective solution for small stations that have various issues with them, such as the loss of a lease for the land they occupy, or major repairs being needed. Even if the signal is modest, it may be adequate to feed FM translators, or serve a small town.

Magnum K1 Antenna
Click to expand...
When AM radio began, nearly all antennas were on rooftops. Through the. 70’s, in fact, a large percentage of Latin American stations uses horizontal “T” or “L” antennas on roofs or between two masts or poles.

There is nothing new in rooftop AM antennas. What is sorta’ new is using short vertical radiators with circuitry and design that makes them more efficient. .
 
Hyrum said:
There is no need to save a low power AM service that no one wants or cares about.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Loss of tower site -- which is the only circumstance that calls for implementation of an alternative transmitting antenna like this -- is the primary factor only a small percent of the time. More often, that is a secondary (or even tertiary) factor where the audience has effectively already voted with their tuning buttons and the potential influx of cash from selling the tower site becomes the deciding factor under the rationale that "if no one is listening anyway, let's get rid of the expense and take a one time addition to the bottom line."
 
K.M. Richards said:
I agree with this. Loss of tower site -- which is the only circumstance that calls for implementation of an alternative transmitting antenna like this -- is the primary factor only a small percent of the time. More often, that is a secondary (or even tertiary) factor where the audience has effectively already voted with their tuning buttons and the potential influx of cash from selling the tower site becomes the deciding factor under the rationale that "if no one is listening anyway, let's get rid of the expense and take a one time addition to the bottom line."
Click to expand...
Of course, probably around half of all the existing AM stations would be turned off within a few days if the FCC allowed translators to be independent stations and guaranteed them their license at existing power and height levels.
 
davideduardo said:
Of course, probably around half of all the existing AM stations would be turned off within a few days if the FCC allowed translators to be independent stations and guaranteed them their license at existing power and height levels.
Click to expand...

As you know all too well, mi amigo David, I have been a proponent of that idea for several years now. I even figured out the process of migrating everything, which I posted in another thread a while back (and will probably never be able to find again to link to).
 
PTBoardOp93 said:
I think it could work, but I doubt there would be any takers. The antenna is only rated for 1kW, and pretty much any station with 1kW or less is operating non-directionally.
Click to expand...
There are hundreds of 1kw or less directional stations. But my point is that AMs that are being sustained in order to justify a translator could reduce power to 1kW or less with a simple directional system if going non-directional was not a reasonable option.
 


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