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State of AM Radio

Is anyboby listening? Being a fan of the am band I'm just wondering is there a future left for AM. I scan the dial everyday and notice the lack of good program material and the fact that people who run the stations are not even listening. Yesterday I punched in am 1190 the Salem owned Spanish outlet and could not pick them up and this was about 5:30pm and I was on Claimont road not that far from the transmitter site. Come to find out they were running the very low power of 39 watts for nightime and it had been that way all day. NO ONE NOTICED but me. Either they have no listeners or no one cares. AMAZING! Also I noticed AM 1310 runs their high power at night which is a NO NO. AM 1040 is back and using an I-POD to program the station. What about EAS for 1040. A sad state of affairs for the AM BAND!
 
I like AM Radio but the static can be highly annoying especially out in the boondocks of south Cherokee where I live. Especially this time of year with the reduced operations at full power.

I have found an awesome application for my iPhone. It is called WunderRadio and it cost me $5.99. It provides access to over 60,000 radio stations around the world. I have just started exploring it. I found seveal classic rock stations from Australia. They sound just like our Classic Rock stations with an Australian accent. The playlist seem to be more expansive and so far I have only heard one song I did not recognize. I even listened to an Australian Sports station broadcast a cricket match.

You can get almost any station in the U.S. with of course one exception. Clear Channel has asked them not to broadcast their stations because they have come out with their own application for their stations. Reviews so far is the Clear Chaannel app HeartRadio is not that good sound quality. AOLRadio is also another app that offers alot of satellite channels along with all the terestial CBS radio stations.

If I want to listen to 790 on the way to wrok prior to 7:45 I just put it on my phone. The reception no matter what the time though is always better on the iPhone than the radio. Someday all of us will listen to our stations through wifi.
 
amlover said:
Is anyboby listening? Being a fan of the am band I'm just wondering is there a future left for AM. I scan the dial everyday and notice the lack of good program material and the fact that people who run the stations are not even listening. Yesterday I punched in am 1190 the Salem owned Spanish outlet and could not pick them up and this was about 5:30pm and I was on Claimont road not that far from the transmitter site. Come to find out they were running the very low power of 39 watts for nightime and it had been that way all day. NO ONE NOTICED but me. Either they have no listeners or no one cares. AMAZING! Also I noticed AM 1310 runs their high power at night which is a NO NO. AM 1040 is back and using an I-POD to program the station. What about EAS for 1040. A sad state of affairs for the AM BAND!

How do you know there's no EAS for 1040? Just because the station is or supposedly is using an IPOD for programming, means nothing.. as the EAS is supposed to be last in the audio chain.

And of course we know running day power at night is a no no.. report them to the FCC if you'e so concerned ;)
 
I'd like to see some of these AM stations go back to community full service and HS sports...then again, most folks don't give a rat's fanny about what goes on with their local government and is content to complain after the fact...and the local pols probably like it that way...
 
jabba17 said:
I'd like to see some of these AM stations go back to community full service and HS sports...then again, most folks don't give a rat's fanny about what goes on with their local government and is content to complain after the fact...and the local pols probably like it that way...

But when some of these small AMs that line Metro Atlanta and alot of people go to Atlanta for shopping, etc.. could they REALLY support themselves when Metro Atlanta radio stations are already doing every format possible?
 
In regards to WAFS 1190, I live within 1.5 miles of the Clairmont sites. Signal level for WAFS is high even when they drop their power down for CH or PSSA/PSRA at my location. What I have noticed is that WAFS 1190 is running way past their authorized hours for PSSA (at least up to 11:30pm).

Also, yes it seems WPBC 1310 is running at probably daytime power well into the night for several weeks.
 
wbz1030 said:
Also, yes it seems WPBC 1310 is running at probably daytime power well into the night for several weeks.

Contact the FCC.. I have the email address for someone in the FCC's Atlanta Enforcement Division.... Private message me if you want it.
 
radioguybroadcasting said:
jabba17 said:
I'd like to see some of these AM stations go back to community full service and HS sports...then again, most folks don't give a rat's fanny about what goes on with their local government and is content to complain after the fact...and the local pols probably like it that way...

But when some of these small AMs that line Metro Atlanta and alot of people go to Atlanta for shopping, etc.. could they REALLY support themselves when Metro Atlanta radio stations are already doing every format possible?

It would definitely be a different business model...a shoestring staff that's wearing a rackful of hats, selling dollar-a-holler type ads to small businesses, remotes galore, and probably a love for the community to make up for the shorter pay.

No, it would not be a goldmine. But when you're talking about these stations going dark as the alternative...I could see someone stepping in to make a buck or two...at least until everything goes online and IP radio over WiMAX becomes a reality and people listen to high school play-by-plays on their iPhones...
 
radioguybroadcasting said:
amlover said:
Is anyboby listening? Being a fan of the am band I'm just wondering is there a future left for AM. I scan the dial everyday and notice the lack of good program material and the fact that people who run the stations are not even listening. Yesterday I punched in am 1190 the Salem owned Spanish outlet and could not pick them up and this was about 5:30pm and I was on Claimont road not that far from the transmitter site. Come to find out they were running the very low power of 39 watts for nightime and it had been that way all day. NO ONE NOTICED but me. Either they have no listeners or no one cares. AMAZING! Also I noticed AM 1310 runs their high power at night which is a NO NO. AM 1040 is back and using an I-POD to program the station. What about EAS for 1040. A sad state of affairs for the AM BAND!

How do you know there's no EAS for 1040? Just because the station is or supposedly is using an IPOD for programming, means nothing.. as the EAS is supposed to be last in the audio chain.

And of course we know running day power at night is a no no.. report them to the FCC if you'e so concerned ;)

The i-pod for 1040 was located in the transmitter shack because they do not have any sorta studio's yet. NO EAS equipment in the shack from what I heard.
 
What's the programming on 1040, I can't hear them. I'm in Bama.
 
jabba17 said:
ALRocker said:
What's the programming on 1040, I can't hear them. I'm in Bama.

1040 WPBS: Indian (as in Patel, not Pocahontas) programming. Power, coverage, etc. is at the following link. Site seems to be down. Isn't this the station that up and went dark a couple weeks back because they couldn't pay their bills?

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=WPBS&service=AM

1310 WPBC is Korean.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=wpbc

Yes, WPBS went dark.. because the people leasing the facility went broke, not the licensee..... so now the licensee is just waitnig till some sucker can pony up enough bucks to lease it.
 
I think it has been re-leased to another bunch who thinks they have the knowledge to run a radio station and make money. I know they contacted some friends of mine to build studios but don't seem to have the money. It will be dark again soon.
 
amlover said:
I think it has been re-leased to another bunch who thinks they have the knowledge to run a radio station and make money. I know they contacted some friends of mine to build studios but don't seem to have the money. It will be dark again soon.

There's always someone out there who thinks they can do it better!:)
 
And of course we know running day power at night is a no no.. report them to the FCC if you'e so concerned ;)


[/quote]

You know, That is really a crappy way to respond to someone who probably has more radio talent in his little finger, than most of us on here.. I really think you may want to either try and answer with some class, or just dont answer at all.
The way the Am band has been treated of late you would think that no one cares. But in any event your answer was extremely rude.. EXTREMELY...!
 
lilburncommunityradio said:
And of course we know running day power at night is a no no.. report them to the FCC if you'e so concerned ;)

You know, That is really a crappy way to respond to someone who probably has more radio talent in his little finger, than most of us on here.. I really think you may want to either try and answer with some class, or just dont answer at all.
The way the Am band has been treated of late you would think that no one cares. But in any event your answer was extremely rude.. EXTREMELY...!
[/quote]

I know exactly who amlover is and I know he's got plenty of talent....

My reply wasn't meant to be rude, but I know he's got contacts in Atlanta radio and I've got friends at the FCC....if he was so concerned about them running overpower, he should report it.. plain and simply.. my reply was meant as nothing more then a suggestion.
 
lilburncommunityradio said:
What can I say, amlover is one hellava broadcaster, and I am proud to know him.. Sorry just wanted to make sure that no one was throwing dirt where it didnt belong... ;D

Naw, no worries lilburn.. I respect the man.. didn't mean to imply anything otherwise.
 
BarryATL said:
It is nice to know that everybody is playing nice in the sandbox. :)

Oh goody... Can we play in the sandbox with our pales and shovels? lol... Atanta radio is truly a unique radio market with many talented professionals. I am curious, however, what's going on over at WSB? Cox has let so many people go over there... They've also done the cost cutting "thing" here in Florida, too.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
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