I am hearing rumors that the gov't is doing another mandated switch to digital... RADIO. I am hearing they shut off the analog radio and switch to all HD. Is this true or false....?
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Analog Radio soon to be dead?
- Thread starter eskipper411
- Start date
eskipper411 said:
(This probably belongs on the Coast-to-Coast Radio Board)
My guess is "False." Analog transmissions won't go away, but fewer will be listening.
Analog (especially Ancient Modulation) radio will either die or reinvent itself in the next 20 years, but digital radio will have nothing to do with it. AM's audience is dying of old age, and those stations that are still listened to by younger & middle-aged folks are gradually moving to FM. But even FM might die in the future once universal WiFi or other mass-market internet scheme takes off (read: becomes profitable).
Pab Sungenis said:
The British version is known as "DAB", Digital Audio Broadcasting". While IBOC was still in the laboratory, Canada adopted DAB for its own digital radio endeavor, which, I think, was mainly rebroadcasts of existing AM/FM stations, with one original station, for the Indian community, exists in Toronto. While DAB is still available, it was largely a failure, due to satellite radio, as well as competing systems such as IBOC, which the CRTC gave the go-ahead to explore.
Unless there is a federal mandate similar to what's taking place in the DTV transition, I don't see analog radio leaving anytime soon.
For that matter, I don't think you'll see AM Radio die all that easily either, even if it is the most vulnerable. I think AM will ultimately become more of a medium for local business operators, municipalities, and community broadcasters. Perhaps it won't be the 1000 watt class Cs that bite the dust, but the 50kw regional Bs and As.
For that matter, I don't think you'll see AM Radio die all that easily either, even if it is the most vulnerable. I think AM will ultimately become more of a medium for local business operators, municipalities, and community broadcasters. Perhaps it won't be the 1000 watt class Cs that bite the dust, but the 50kw regional Bs and As.
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
yes, all AM talk stations have been ordered to drop analog broadcasting and go
exclusively digital as of 6AM on Wed., Jan. 21, 2009.
Just kidding! ;D
I would agree that likely there will be a shift away from 50kW AM stations, as it becomes harder and
harder to operate them profitably, and towards lower powered community stations. It will become
more of a community activity/service and less of a business. Even now, stations like KDKA are a
huge waste of valuable electricity. The fact that you can buy a receiver for under five bucks will
keep analog radio from outright extinction for a long time.
exclusively digital as of 6AM on Wed., Jan. 21, 2009.
Just kidding! ;D
I would agree that likely there will be a shift away from 50kW AM stations, as it becomes harder and
harder to operate them profitably, and towards lower powered community stations. It will become
more of a community activity/service and less of a business. Even now, stations like KDKA are a
huge waste of valuable electricity. The fact that you can buy a receiver for under five bucks will
keep analog radio from outright extinction for a long time.
tripinva said:
I wasn't familiar with this technology at all, and had to look it up.
I'm baffled that more stations aren't using this system over iBiquity.
I think what should happen is this AM SHOULD JUST SHRIVEL UP AND DIE!!!! I don't like its quality and it deserves to die.
I don't see much happening to radio, because of it's ability to function in emergency situations. If I recall correctly, it was the big communication medium of the masses during Hurricane Katrina. It was also invaluable for getting information out during the great blackout of 2003. It can quickly and easily reach people in a large area, and it still functions long after TV and Internet are gone during a disruption such as a natural disaster or power outage. It's also a lot cheaper than whatever XM-iPhone-WiFi devices come on the market and get replaced every week. It can operate on batteries and it doesn't need a subscription.
Analog FM radio signals are of a better quality than any Internet signal can hope to be, and the Internet is too unreliable. AM signals aren't perfect, but not as much power is needed to cover a larger area, and it is well suited to news and talk programming.
Analog FM radio signals are of a better quality than any Internet signal can hope to be, and the Internet is too unreliable. AM signals aren't perfect, but not as much power is needed to cover a larger area, and it is well suited to news and talk programming.
what do you mean well-engineered? I mean I heard 820 before and it sounds pretty good. And I have been to OKC and it comes in strong up there.tripinva said:
eskipper411 said:
You just complained about the quality and how AM should "shrivel up and die," and now suggest that it sounds "pretty good"?
This is what AM can sound like if done properly. I wish I could hear an AM station actually sounded like that...
- Trip
(I know some people will criticize the source of the link, but it doesn't make the point any less relevant)
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