Re: [PLUG] AM bye bye

[jeffv via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

On 7/8/22 15:48, Rich Freeman wrote:

> Yeah, my car lacks an AM receiver for this reason.

you can get an FM-only car radio?
In Europe you can get a shortwave car radio.


> That said, I am not sure I agree with one statement in that article:
> that AM is "cheaper" to transmit.  I guess that would depend on how
> you're measuring it,

Agreed.
Prob less signal 'massaging', if that counts.

it's kinda cool that you can pump 50kw into a huge antenna and be heard 
all over the place at night, due to the signal bouncing off an 
atmosphere layer. I listened to a Boston station from Phila to MD one 
night on I95.

We sometimes like WZZO in Allentown. Used to come in great. Past 3 car 
radios not so much. Might be the antennae.


> Then again, maybe the AM transmitters really are cheaper.  I couldn't

to purchase? That would be my guess too.
They use HUMONGOUS vacuum tubes and it's not a good idea to mess around 
inside.



> One area I haven't seen any talk of phasing out AM is in air traffic
> control,

*if* that were going to happen, it would have to be through the 
government (FCC, a formerly useful org). That would not move quickly.
Plus the modulation is chosen for best operation, even though there is 
some FM in some places. [scanner listener]


 but that operates in the VHF band so everything is much more
> compact (obviously useful on aircraft). 

Radios can be smaller than your car radio, and AM/FM is a matter of a 
switch. The old tube jobbies were large and really heavy (referred to as 
boatanchors - I'm sitting next to one). Both civilian and military.

airplanes use shortwave on overseas trips because AM/FM won't go that far.


 It is mainly used there
> because it is more obvious when multiple stations are stepping on each
> other which makes it more clear that somebody might not have heard an
> urgent instruction.

Thanks. Never knew that.


  I'd think that you could come up with a digital
> mode that would improve on that substantially but I guess AM is good
> enough and nobody wants to change it.

I vote for K.I.S.S.
Esp with the amount of failures lately.


> Oh, and I'll second the idea that broadcast radio is of limited use

To be clear (sorry), I was referring to broadcast radio content.
(unless you like to hear the same 10 HIT songs repeatedly)


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