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State of Radio: Tonight on WBZ Radio " Nightside" With Dan Rea

Wimmmex said:
You might take interest in this recent post by David Eduardo
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I know that AM receivers in cars for the past 15-20 years have pretty much $ucked at high-frequency response, probably because it might have been the case there was too much adjacent-channel interference.

I have some older receivers at home that, in earlier days, sounded pretty darned good when tuned into AM. And they were still probably using analog phone lines for their STL links.

Gee, I wonder if they'll start rolling off the bandwidth of FM receivers, what with all the pirates and translators and LPFMs crowding the dial. And the FM capture effect being what it is, FM reception is only going to deteriorate.

Some AM stations in the 1960s and even into the early 70s - 630 WPRO in Prov., comes to mind - had clear, distortion-free, reasonable high-end (circa 8 KHz) audio. I suspect 'WMEX and WBZ did as well.

Sad.
 
David I support everything you said about Donna. She is one of the nicest persons I have met in the broadcast industry that is not known for nice people...Cf. Bob Fish....:) But I am still optimistic about AM Radio although there are no easy solutions.
 
nowradioguy said:
I
Gee, I wonder if they'll start rolling off the bandwidth of FM receivers, what with all the pirates and translators and LPFMs crowding the dial. And the FM capture effect being what it is, FM reception is only going to deteriorate.
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AM bandwidth is determined by the frequency range of the audio broadcast. AM can theoretically broadcast roughly 30 Hz to 15 kHz, but the occupied bandwidth would be +/- 15 kHz. NRSC defined AM as being +/- 10 kHz, or audio of up to 10 kHz with a sharp brick wall rolloff.

FM's band width is determined by the modulation level. A 20 Hz to 18 kHz dynamic range occupies the same bandwidth as 30 Hz to 10 kHz, which in the US is +/- 75 kHz at 100% modulation. Lower modulation reduces bandwidth, while higher bandwidth increases it, irrespective of the audio frequencies of the content used to modulate the transmitter.

The only way to narrow the bandwidth of FM would be to redefine 100% modulation to, let's say, +/- 50 kHz. No existing station will go along with that... particularly since the +/- 75 kHz is pretty much the world standard.
 
nowradioguy said:
Some AM stations in the 1960s and even into the early 70s - 630 WPRO in Prov., comes to mind - had clear, distortion-free, reasonable high-end (circa 8 KHz) audio. I suspect 'WMEX and WBZ did as well.
.
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Until the NRSC standard was imposed, many stations did reasonably flat broadcasting, + or - maybe 1.5 to 2 db, from about 100 Hz to around 12 kHz. And sometimes it was even higher.

I have seen AM "Proof of Performance" measurements of AM stations form decades ago where the system was within plus or minus 2 db from 50 Hz to 12 kHz.

For example, the late 50's model of Collins 5/10 kw AM transmitters was rated as "typical within +/- 1.5 db from 30 to 15,000 cps." Of course, it took a nice broadbanded antenna or antenna system to get that kind of performance out on the air.

For more on the current NRSC standard, now in its 31st year, look at http://www.radiomagonline.com/deep-dig/0005/am-nrsc-measurements/28226
 
I know we are not slightly off topic, but it is my opinion that manufacturers of car audio systems, and every portable device out there has cut every fraction of a cent they could from the design and manufacturing process and are selling radios that have crap AM sections.

If you are getting audio above 3K you'd be lucky.

Back in the day Ford ( or their manufacturer) made great radios, especially the AM Stereo ones from the late 80's into the 90's.

Even now the radio in my 2006 F150 sounds better than the "premium" radio in my 2016 Toyota. Sure I get XM, and HD, but the analog AM is just crap in the Toyota, and my 2013 Toyota is even worse with the base level radio.
 
"I don't know what your problem is, but I am guessing that at some point Donna's considerable knowledge of radio proved you wrong on something and you can't stand having that happen."

Dave I happen to think YOU are one of the more enlightened people on these boards, and I respect your opinion of Halper, but don't sell yourself short. She may write and teach better than most radio people (an admittedly low bar), but your insights are far more learned than anything she's preaching from a classroom podium, and that was my point. No one is suggesting there's a bright future for AM radio. Like pretty much everything--including you and me--it will die eventually. My point was there are AM (only) stations that are not on life support and quite viable. To have a discussion about AM radio and not balance her obvious point of view was in my mind pointless, especially since Halper hasn't set foot in a commercial radio station for decades.
 
Tilden said:
Was gavitup's comment deleted ? It must be. Why the personal attack. She is well respected by all who know her. I his/her comments disrespectful and reflect poorly on the poster. Poster, please consider deleting your post or I will ask the Administrator to do it for you.
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Technical note: the quoted post by gavitup wasn't deleted - its #10 on the first page of this thread.

I've no particular dog in this fight but have come to respect David well enough to honor his endorsements. Let's stick to facts, not suppositions and personalities.
 
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gaveitup said:
To have a discussion about AM radio and not balance her obvious point of view was in my mind pointless, especially since Halper hasn't set foot in a commercial radio station for decades.
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And you know this...how?

Actually, never mind. I happen to know for a fact that you're wrong.
 
Tilden said:
Tune in tonight at 10 on WBZ-Radio AM 1030. Dan Rea's guests radio historian Professor Donna Halper and former Executive Producer of the Jerry Williams Program, Paul Yovino
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Tilden said:
Do you think my mic volume and Dan Rea's were too low and or Donna's too hot?
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WOW! The man behind the mask has been revealed! :rolleyes:
 
Cap-n Spackle said:


WOW! The man behind the mask has been revealed!
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Bob, there was nothing to hide. "Hizzoner" is old news but Bob Fish is still dead. D-E-A-D. Sadly, Jerry Williams is too. Too early thanks to HLC. Just my opinion. If anyone knew Fish they would see an uncanny personality resemblance in looks, word and the actions to the moral leper to Trump.
 
Tilden said:
"Hizzoner" is old news but Bob Fish is still dead. D-E-A-D. Sadly, Jerry Williams is too. Too early thanks to HLC. Just my opinion. If anyone knew Fish they would see an uncanny personality resemblance in looks, word and the actions to the moral leper to Trump.
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And, ladies and gentlemen, for those of you that missed it...the parade comes by every day at this time.
 
Wimmmex said:
And, ladies and gentlemen, for those of you that missed it...the parade comes by every day at this time.
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You people.... love that phrase.... brought up the ID. As a result you opened the door. Well, if anyone wants the full story read my book...:)
 
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