AM decline....

[buster2]

This goes beyond the usual-suspects thinking behind the decline of AM.

Be forewarned that it uses Bill Heywood's death as something of an anology. It may be too clever for some.

http://spectator.org/archives/2013/08/05/am-radio-signing-off

 

[michael hagerty]

This goes beyond the usual-suspects thinking behind the decline of AM.

Be forewarned that it uses Bill Heywood's death as something of an anology. It may be too clever for some.

http://spectator.org/archives/2013/08/05/am-radio-signing-off

Clever? No.

Tasteless and gratuitous, yes.

A lazy writer using a sensationalistic device, yes.

But not clever.

 

[Sammi Brie]

On the topic it covers, I think AM could be cleared out very well by one of two major changes:

#1. Add multiples of even (e.g. 92.8 or 104.4) to the system between 87.7 and 107.9.

That would almost double the amount of FM frequencies; by phasing out AM and moving to FM, all stations would be cleared out of AM. Such a channel spacing is possible (and used in other countries). It would improve the quality of the remaining AM services. Skywave is lost and frequency is conserved. This expansion would open up a whopping 101 frequencies.

#2. (The FCC opened a public comment on this as part of the DTV transition!) Turn over channels 5 and 6 to FM, basically adding the Japanese band to ours. (We currently have 101 FM frequencies; this would add 65* FM frequencies of odd numbers.) That's enough to comfortably pack the 25 AM stations in the Valley, or up to 32 stations in general (and there's probably room in the upper FM band as well in most of those markets).

*64, excluding 87.9 which would probably be opened up further with non-commercial stations getting the remaining 87 range.

 

[99KTKT]

Interesting article. I am surprised that "Coast to Coast" wasn't mentioned as an overnight AM success. The writer is correct that AM and night time go together.

 

[microbob]

AM Radio is becoming a dinosaur.

 

[w9wi]

#1. Add multiples of even (e.g. 92.8 or 104.4) to the system between 87.7 and 107.9.

That would almost double the amount of FM frequencies; by phasing out AM and moving to FM, all stations would be cleared out of AM. Such a channel spacing is possible (and used in other countries). It would improve the quality of the remaining AM services. Skywave is lost and frequency is conserved. This expansion would open up a whopping 101 frequencies.

It doesn't work that way You still need the same amount of space -- 0.8MHz -- between full-power stations at the same site. Having a 92.3 on South Mountain leaves everything between 91.7 and 92.9 off-limits. The odd frequencies in this range -- 91.7, 91.9, 92.1, 92.5, 92.7, 92.9 -- are all off limits -- and if you opened up the even frequencies in general, the even frequencies in this 91.7-92.9 range would still be off-limits. (91.8, 92.0, 92.2, 92.4, 92.6, 92.8. 91.6 and 93.0 as well.)

You could double the number of FM channels by cutting the peak deviation in half and putting an end to stereo. (or adopting the single-sideband L-R scheme I've seen bandied about) It would reduce FM's noise immunity and, more important, immediately obsolete all radios.

#2. (The FCC opened a public comment on this as part of the DTV transition!) Turn over channels 5 and 6 to FM, basically adding the Japanese band to ours. (We currently have 101 FM frequencies; this would add 65* FM frequencies of odd numbers.) That's enough to comfortably pack the 25 AM stations in the Valley, or up to 32 stations in general (and there's probably room in the upper FM band as well in most of those markets).

There are still TV stations in these channels -- in small markets like Hastings, Nebraska -- and in not-so-small markets like Birmingham, Memphis, and Philadelphia.

 

[davideduardo]

But not clever.

Nor totally factual.

The most significant error is in not recognizing that...

• AM doesn't sound as good as AM.
• Most sprawling cities and metros outgrew all but a very few signals by around 1960, leaving many people with few strong choices
• AM noise levels started a climb even NASA would be envious of somewhere in the early days of dimmers in the following decade or so
• The growth of FM brought on by the forced end of simulcasting generally increased the viable signals in each market by three to four times, meaning the audience was further fragmented.

The author also misses the boat... but walks off the dock anyway... by blaming the ASCAP / BMI disputes for a much more significant impediment to the playing of recorded music... Petrillo's AFM and its incredibly onerous requirements about trading what the British call "needle time" for live music hours.

All in all, it is totally revisionist history with just enough fact to make it seem credible to those who don't study the industry's past; it has the intellectual honesty of Putin.

 

[davideduardo]

The writer is correct that AM and night time go together.

Not really... Night AM listening was pretty much destroyed by the rise to television following the lift of the Freeze 60 years ago.

And, of course, as your user name should illustrate, most AMs have much smaller coverage areas at night due to co-channel interference. As time has gone by, this has gotten worse.

 

[indieradioguy]

Interesting article. I am surprised that "Coast to Coast" wasn't mentioned as an overnight AM success....

That's because it *wasn't* an overnight success. Beer Baron-era KFYI originally led into "Dreamland" (as it was called way back when) with local programming, as did stations in other markets (IIRC.) Of course, the "Coast to Coast AM" of today is much more mainstream than it used to be. Not enough tin foil and little green men anymore and yet plenty of Oprah/Dr. Oz-type guests.

 

[MC]

Coast to Coast is a success but they do not get that many listeners compared to daytime radio. Interesting, I am surprised they did not mention Barry Young and interview him for the article.

 

[DrAkbar]

The most significant error is in not recognizing that...

• AM doesn't sound as good as AM.

.......

hmmmm....didn't you mean Short Wave doesn't sound as good as AM?

Shirley, we're just yankin' the Old Gringo's chain as Los Buckeye Boyz are just as guilty of screwing up. Perhaps more.

Not only does FM sound better than AM, but during the first wave of migration young listeners really appreciated the lack of commercials (remember 18+ minutes an hour), obnoxious DJs talking over the music, and the same crappy songs over and over. Plus FM could get into college dorms where listening to Ancient Modulation resulted in a lot of buzz and static. (or was the buzz and static caused by inhaled substances?) It was a cultural revolution as the young had something their dorky parents knew nothing about.

But none of this will matter in the next couple of years as streaming audio dismantles all the AM & FM Towers of Pow-Pow-Power from sea to shining sea. As Phil Yarbrough famously said...and the beat goes on.

 

[jim wilkinson]

And R. W. M. once famously said, "Where was I? ... Oh, Fresno." It all happened (famously) on AM Radio!!

 

[davideduardo]

hmmmm....didn't you mean Short Wave doesn't sound as good as AM?

My microwave oven sounds better than Short Wave!

 

[DrAkbar]

hmmmm....didn't you mean Short Wave doesn't sound as good as AM?

My microwave oven sounds better than Short Wave!

Is this a new thread?

AM Sounds better than....

a microwave

a Gremlin at idle

a short wave

a female cat in heat

a telegraph

any Boy George song

 

[ironbear]

As Phil Yarbrough famously said...and the beat goes on.

Well then, Baby, the Rain Must Fall!





(Note: poster is really confused)

 

[desertv]

AM is still king in isolated areas (eg KTNN in Northern AZ)

 

[99KTKT]

Interesting article. I am surprised that "Coast to Coast" wasn't mentioned as an overnight AM success....

That's because it *wasn't* an overnight success. Beer Baron-era KFYI originally led into "Dreamland" (as it was called way back when) with local programming, as did stations in other markets (IIRC.) Of course, the "Coast to Coast AM" of today is much more mainstream than it used to be. Not enough tin foil and little green men anymore and yet plenty of Oprah/Dr. Oz-type guests.

I meant "overnight" as in on the air during the wee hours, not "overnight" as in very quickly.

 

[davideduardo]

...any Boy George song

You really want to hurt me! (by forcing me to remember that song)

 

[DrAkbar]

...any Boy George song

You really want to hurt me! (by forcing me to remember that song)

...see, even AM (and short wave, your microwave, etc) sounds better than that!

 

[indieradioguy]

hmmmm....didn't you mean Short Wave doesn't sound as good as AM?

My microwave oven sounds better than Short Wave!

Missed that, gotta comment: SWR actually sounds better than FM on a good receiver. (Not an entry-level POS you'll find at retail.)

Source: My QSL card collection, incl. from some pirates