Saving AM Radio

[wadio]

I tried to present the crank radio idea in a light hearted way, but seriously, why isn't it the best answer? A few reasons:

- It's cost-effective
- In a flood, if your car is submerged, you can take it with you when you seek higher ground
- If your car is outside in the freezing cold but you have a generator in the house it's more accessible
- It's much simpler than trying to make the AM band noise-free in a car
- It calls attention to AM as a an emergency measure -- the country would be full of AM radios!

I can't think of any negatives. Anyone?

 

[kwthom]

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And from what I see of her friends, I would wager that she's more typical than not of a 79-year-old suburban widow these days.

It's not hard to learn how all these things work, IF you're motivated to do so. There are plenty of how-to guides all over YouTube, and once you start getting the hang of it, it opens the way to lots of entertainment and information options that many of us find more useful than the traditional terrestrial options.

It all boils down to comfort with technology. One hundred year old technology is about where some folks draw the line.

I've spent the better part of a decade getting my octogenarian parents reasonably adept in using their smartphone and computer. Mom can send a text, and dad's fairly adept at clipping his coupons using the store's web pages *and* app on the phone.

When it comes to television, no way. Can't get them to break free of the reliability of mom's soap opera, the news, then Gunsmoke reruns for the 47th time from the antenna on the roof.

 

[Mark Roberts]

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Well, you joke, but you know how there are "Share the Road" signs for cyclists? In northern Missouri, there are "Share the Road" signs for horses and buggies on the road. As that region has depopulated, the Amish have moved in. There have been some nasty, fatal crashes from time to time between buggies and motor vehicles.

 

[wadio]

It depends on where you live. Here in Arizona, one cannot touch a cellphone while the vehicle is in motion, either to answer a phone call or for anything else. At a stoplight, it's OK if you have the time. Otherwise, one must pull off the road and stop to do anything with a cellphone, including changing stations on TuneIn or another streaming service. Given the amount of distracted driving in this state, I agree with it 100%.

Is it legal in Arizona (and/or California) to use a vent bracket to hold a cellphone? I do that when using Google Maps. I think it's actually safer than glancing away the car's screen because it's more in my line of sight.

 

[KeithE4]

Is it legal in Arizona (and/or California) to use a vent bracket to hold a cellphone? I do that when using Google Maps. I think it's actually safer than glancing away the car's screen because it's more in my line of sight.

Yes. I have one myself. But operation of a phone while moving must still be hands-free.

 

[cc333]

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I'm sure something like this actually would be a big hit in Amish country, which as @Mark Roberts has pointed out, is expanding as non-Amish people move out of economically-challenged areas in search of better incomes.

The optional reflective triangle would be particularly popular, I think. Especially on busy roadways carrying modern vehicular traffic.

And to think, this sub-sub-sub-sub (is that enough?) topic started as a joke!!

c

 

[BruceB]

It is so simple to plug your phone into your car and receive nearly every AM station in the WORLD in full fidelity. Everyone knows this, don't they?? What are we talking about here?? This thread is getting so stupid. Sure, the band must continue for emergency use, of course.

You are presuming that all new cars have Apple Car Play and Android Auto. My 2025 Honda does but it does not have Bluetooth access to those features. I have to plug the phone in physically with a Jack under the dash. That's just a nuisance and not worth the trouble.
So I listen to Am and FM stations available over the air.
Also older cars dont have a way to interface the phone to the car audio at all.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I've spent the better part of a decade getting my octogenarian parents reasonably adept in using their smartphone and computer. Mom can send a text, and dad's fairly adept at clipping his coupons using the store's web pages *and* app on the phone.

I learned to order food online at a restaurant when the company, after I had a bad experience, insisted on giving me a digital coupon and told me I had to go to the web site to use it. It took numerous tries including emails to the company to figure out what to do, and I did it wrong and didn't get my good, so I had to contact the company to do it again and with someone's help right there on the computer, somehow I got it right. Then I got an email saying to redeem my points. After numerous problems I did not get the points redeemed but I got six more months to do it. With an order. Which they couldn't find. Now that I'm home my receipt has the amount and the restaurant's address but there was nothing I could do at the restaurant. So I'm waiting on someone to give me my money back.

You still want me to learn to use technology to listen to music in the car?

 

[BruceB]

I learned to order food online at a restaurant when the company, after I had a bad experience, insisted on giving me a digital coupon and told me I had to go to the web site to use it. It took numerous tries including emails to the company to figure out what to do, and I did it wrong and didn't get my good, so I had to contact the company to do it again and with someone's help right there on the computer, somehow I got it right. Then I got an email saying to redeem my points. After numerous problems I did not get the points redeemed but I got six more months to do it. With an order. Which they couldn't find. Now that I'm home my receipt has the amount and the restaurant's address but there was nothing I could do at the restaurant. So I'm waiting on someone to give me my money back.

You still want me to learn to use technology to listen to music in the car?

And your not the least bit embarrassed to admit this on a forum?
How about an electric toothbrush? Tackled that yet?

 

[fybush]

And your not the least bit embarrassed to admit this on a forum?
How about an electric toothbrush? Tackled that yet?

As we enter a new year, let's try to show some kindness to other users on this site we all share, please.

It's no secret that the radio hobby attracts people from all over the neuro-spectrum, present company included.

You never know how other people experience the world (and the technology) around them. Try to err on the side of grace, if you can.

 

[KilowattKat]

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Seriously, you can't really compare the Titanic sinking to AM radio. That ship sank quickly in 2 hours and 40 minutes after hitting an iceberg. AM radio is still alive, and very slowly has been taking on water for over 45 years now. it's still seaworthy, but with fewer passengers still on it.

So for now, AM radio will still be floating around for awhile, with no definite date of finally submerging under water.

 

[MarkW]

I agree with BigA and Mr. Simpson. AM and FM grew because of the marketplace. Let the marketplace decide whether it's time to stay or go, not the government. If auto manufacturers don't want to put AM in cars, but some tiny minority insist on AM in their new vehicle, they can always buy a different brand—again; marketplace decision.

The only reason this issue has become a political football for Republican Congress members is because of right-wing talk media carried on AM stations.
If AM weren't the main delivery method for right-wing talk, AM would have been a distant memory and politicians would care less.

100% agreed. Kelly hit the nail on the head, in my opinion.

 

[wadio]

Seriously, you can't really compare the Titanic sinking to AM radio. That ship sank quickly in 2 hours and 40 minutes after hitting an iceberg. AM radio is still alive, and very slowly has been taking on water for over 45 years now. it's still seaworthy, but with fewer passengers still on it.

So for now, AM radio will still be floating around for awhile, with no definite date of finally submerging under water.

That's what happens before a paradigm shift. There's a slow, steady decline, then an inflection point.

The inflection point for AM will happen sooner than we expect, IMO. I remember being shocked when the CD store in my area was suddenly gone.

 

[b-turner]

As long as the FCC requires licensees to pay an annual spectrum use fee, the FCC should support AM radio. Simply put, if you're running an AM and the FCC makes you pay annually for that right, then that agency needs to support what they tax.

 

[TheBigA]

As long as the FCC requires licensees to pay an annual spectrum use fee, the FCC should support AM radio. Simply put, if you're running an AM and the FCC makes you pay annually for that right, then that agency needs to support what they tax.

I agree 100%. A person can't be selective about the role of government with regards to radio. The government owns radio. The whole point of the government requiring a "public interest, convenience, and necessity" is so they can co-op the station's signal for emergency notification. If that no longer matters, and the government has other ways to convey that information, then the government should repeal these unnecessary regulations imposed on broadcasters. Put a group of actual broadcasters in charge of licensing instead of politicians. Then you'd see some actual change.

 

[BruceB]

I agree 100%. A person can't be selective about the role of government with regards to radio. The government owns radio. The whole point of the government requiring a "public interest, convenience, and necessity" is so they can co-op the station's signal for emergency notification. If that no longer matters, and the government has other ways to convey that information, then the government should repeal these unnecessary regulations imposed on broadcasters. Put a group of actual broadcasters in charge of licensing instead of politicians. Then you'd see some actual change.

BigA: Do you think that the US president should continue to have the authority to pick the chairman and the members of the FCC or should that be taken over by congress?
Just asking your opinion.

 

[TheBigA]

BigA: Do you think that the US president should continue to have the authority to pick the chairman and the members of the FCC or should that be taken over by congress?
Just asking your opinion.

No. That makes it political. The only necessary role for an FCC is to oversee licensing. That can be handled by the industry. We're talking about a free market system, where the marketplace determines everything. It's unrealistic for this to happen. But since we're talking about the marketplace determining the future of AM, then we should be honest about it and remove all government regulation and intrusion.

 

[wadio]

I agree 100%. A person can't be selective about the role of government with regards to radio. The government owns radio. The whole point of the government requiring a "public interest, convenience, and necessity" is so they can co-op the station's signal for emergency notification. If that no longer matters, and the government has other ways to convey that information, then the government should repeal these unnecessary regulations imposed on broadcasters. Put a group of actual broadcasters in charge of licensing instead of politicians. Then you'd see some actual change.

Good point. Might the new administration do that? I'd hope so but we'll see.

 

[radiofan2023]

As long as the FCC requires licensees to pay an annual spectrum use fee, the FCC should support AM radio. Simply put, if you're running an AM and the FCC makes you pay annually for that right, then that agency needs to support what they tax.

What do you mean by "support"?

No. That makes it political. The only necessary role for an FCC is to oversee licensing. That can be handled by the industry. We're talking about a free market system, where the marketplace determines everything. It's unrealistic for this to happen. But since we're talking about the marketplace determining the future of AM, then we should be honest about it and remove all government regulation and intrusion.

Would Congress still fund the FCC or not?

 

[TheBigA]

Good point. Might the new administration do that? I'd hope so but we'll see.

Very doubtful. The incoming chairman says he wants to enforce the FCC rules and regulations. Wrong approach if he was truly in favor of the free marketplace.

Would Congress still fund the FCC or not?

That's an interesting question. While the congress provides an appropriation, that money is supposed to be covered by licensee fees and spectrum sales. That could easily be handled by a for-profit company.