I have seen several stations switch to non directional operation and in so doing, have dropped nighttime power down to almost nil! It's probably far more widespread. These are just the stations I know.
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When and how will AM die?
- Thread starter Miguelito
- Start date
I have seen several stations switch to non directional operation and in so doing, have dropped nighttime power down to almost nil! It's probably far more widespread. These are just the stations I know.
I think we will see many more AMs drop the directional arrays for non-directional. Directional takes a much greater investment, more upkeep and obviously more land for towers and ground systems. With land prices rising to prime status in what had been the sticks a few decades earlier, many stations find themselves sitting on a gold mine and unable to make ends meet. Too many counties try to tax these properties at the same rate as cell towers as well. I know of a few that are fighting that right now.
This is what I was talking about regarding the expense of AM vs LPFM. Or even Part 15. You can put an LPFM antenna on top of a telephone pole or a church steeple. But not an AM. You need ground wave conductivity and other fun stuff. That runs into a lot of money.
I agree. Doing away with what's left of night coverage is like injecting poison into an already sick business model. As David has mentioned in prior discussions, with the increase in terrestrial noise from consumer devices and other forms of electronic interference, AM stations have enough trouble covering even 60% of their markets at night. Going to flea power at night to save money? May has well shut it down and turn in the license. This is especially true come October when sunset is around 5:00PM and lasts until 7:00AM.
Why would you want to eliminate AM capability in a car? The main reason there are FM only devices is because they can squeeze an FM antenna into the device (or use the earbud wires). Not possible for AM BUT there is no such restriction on a vehicle. Plenty of room and locations. Sometime when you are way out in the boonies (yes, there are still big boonies in the USA) try tuning in an FM - not gonna happen but there will be AM's available. Could come in handy if for nothing more than keeping you awake.
Also, most car radios the last few years have done away with the FM stereo pilot light. Given most listeners don't care if the music is in stereo, or if they need to know or the fact, most stations are in stereo. There are a few FM signals that are still in mono, and I thought it was neat to see the light or icon show up. I am old and remember in the 60's radios with the stereo pilot and that was really cool.
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I have a 2008 VW and have noticed there is no stereo light or even an "ST" indicator, as the radio in my last car had. The only mono station I can think of locally is WIHS, a Christian station in Middletown, which is mostly preaching and teaching but does play some music.
The last car I had with the stereo indicator was my 2013 Taurus, the new Taurus has none. A few other mono signals are LP's 98.5, 106.5, 94.9, 95.3 and 99.9, also 94.9, the high school station in delco is mono. 96.1 and 103.7 are in stereo and WRDV went stereo in the Spring, but they are on and off. I have a question, can a signal be in HD and not in stereo, I am sure WIP/WYSP HD3 is in mono.
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"Sometime when you are way out in the boonies (yes, there are still big boonies in the USA) try tuning in an FM - not gonna happen but there will be AM's available." I live in the MON (Middle of Nowhere). I can get an FM in most places here. But not necessarily worth listening too. Same is true (more so) for AM. AM is tough at night. I am 26 miles from a 50kW flamethrower. Not listenable at night. Sirius/XM is made for this application.
Obviously, it's a matter of whether a given AM station offers anything you want to hear. If I want to hear sports talk or other talk, there are plenty of stations to choose from -- anywhere in the NW section of the US. But that isn't obviously everyone's cup of tea. FM has pretty good coverage in most places, so long as you're not in a terrain shadow.
I think a lot of the cost of running an AM is related to directional nighttime signals.
If everyone is running 500 watts ND off a single stick and just lives with the fringe interference,
the costs come way down.
If everyone is running 500 watts ND off a single stick and just lives with the fringe interference,
the costs come way down.
Ford announced last year that in their 2018 model year Ford Sync(tm) equipped vehicles, that AM tuners would be replaced with connective-friendly services such as integrated Pandora and alike. Hyundai is quietly doing away with AM in higher end cars like their Genesis lines. Once manufacturers start doing this, I suspect others will follow.
The AM radio in my Kia performs so badly it may as well have FM only.
I have one of the finest car radios in my Genesis but trying to listen to AM is torture. It isn't the radio however but all the electrical hash that fills our airwaves these days. Driving into a shopping center at night when all the neon lights are on almost completely wipes out whatever is being broadcast. Same is true if I pull up to a storefront with neon lights in the window. The only time I have ever used the AM side is during my coast to coast trip way out west. No interference and I could pull stations in from hundreds of miles away - if I wanted to listen to religious quacks or junk sellers (or in a language I could not understand).
I remember the Good Old Days when I could fire up my little crystal set and get AM's from all over the spectrum cleanly. Those days are long gone.
AM has already died in most places.
Except for small towns, 500 watts is inadequate to overcome man-made interference in larger towns and metro areas.
The cost of the technical operation of AM directionals, once built, is not extreme. There is, though, the issue of whether the large pieces of land used for such purposes makes the station worth more dead than alive.
J
Jul
Guest
I wonder what will happen to the other full power 24/7 Philly AM's: 560, 610, 950, 990, 1060, 1210? Will they get sold off or will those stations be shut down?
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