There have been numerous responses to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking’ in regard of how to help the AM band issues.
“..individuals and companies offered suggestions ranging from moving stations off the AM band entirely, to giving owners more flexibility in terms of signal coverage, antenna equipment and interference protections…”
I came across the following comment in the midst of those responses and kind of got a kick out of it:
AM ONLY WORKS IN CARS ANYMORE
RF manufacturing engineer Dave Hershberger filed these comments as an individual:
The main problem with AM radio is that it only works in cars anymore. It is mostly unusable in residences. Speaking from my own experience, I am 6.4 miles from my local 5 kW AM station (KNCO, Grass Valley, Calif.). My daytime signal strength is predicted to be 47 mV/M. This is a good strong signal. Yet on common radios in my house the signal is unlistenable. … I bought a Pixel Technologies active broadband loop antenna, poured concrete for a mounting post, and trenched in coax in conduit. The Pixel loop antenna is 130 feet from my house. At last, I can receive AM radio in my house again. …
In relation to the above, one of the user comments at Radio world (Ken) said: Dave has a recording of his reception, with and without the outdoor, directional antenna, at: http://www.w9gr.com/clips/KNCO-loop-test.mp3 Sounds like something arcing in his house, or a nearby Plasma TV set. I’d be interested in what an FCC Inspector, or the local power company RFI investigator, could find. And, I applaud Dave for his initiative.
Another user (Randy) commented in response: Ken, I’ve heard that exact sound before, and YES it’s something in his HOUSE doing it. I just don’t remember WHAT. I’ve heard it before. He might try tripping circuit breakers, one at a time, until it goes away. Then pull plugs. etc on things one at a time to find it. I’ll bet it’s something that ‘Can’t POSSIBLY have anything to do with it!’
– See more at: http://www.radioworld.com/article/am-ideas-fill-the-fcc-inbox/269465#sthash.oibzHOQh.dpuf
Pricey AM Antenna
I got currious about his reception antenna.. and Wow, it cost $499.00! http://www.pixelsatradio.com/product/shortwave-magnetic-loop-antenna/
Further Comment
I agree with the two reaction comment and suspect something very close to home for the disturbance of that one man’s AM reception.
But I fault the author, we presents himself as an authoritative AM critic, for not realizing his distinct and atypical situation.
I have and have always had normal, usable AM reception in many houses, and suspect the article is a hit piece aimed at tarnishing the perception of AM radio in general.
AM works well in cars, as usual, and we hope auto makers keep AM as standard, but listening in cars can be at odds with highway racket which can also give FM a destructive noise surround.
Sound proof cars are unsafe because one cannot hear oncoming sirens.
…suspect the article is a
…suspect the article is a hit piece aimed at tarnishing the perception of AM radio in general.
Carl, the above wasn’t an article (though it was mentioned in the Radio World article). More than 160 initial comments were filed to the FCCs MB Docket 13-249 and that was just one of those comments.
As for the article itself, I don’t think its some kind of smear piece at all, it’s just a report on the submitted suggestions to remedy the problems AM now faces due to increased interferrences and such.
I don’t know if you actually went to the link it or not, but the way it starts out explains the entire jist – and it doesn’t indicate to me that it’s aim is to tarnish perception of the AM band, but rather to improve it:
AM Ideas Fill the FCC Inbox
by Leslie Stimson
WASHINGTON — Ever since Commissioner Ajit Pai brought the plight of U.S. AM radio owners into the forefront a year and a half ago, broadcast engineers, owners, consultants and public interest groups have been prepared to give the FCC ideas about how to help.
Now they’ve done so. Responding to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, individuals and companies offered suggestions ranging from moving stations off the AM band entirely, to giving owners more flexibility in terms of signal coverage, antenna equipment and interference protections.
etc…
http://www.radioworld.com/article/am-ideas-fill-the-fcc-inbox/269465
Ever since Commissioner Ajit Pai brought the plight of U.S. AM radio owners into the forefront a year and a half ago, broadcast engineers, owners, consultants and public interest groups have been prepared to give the FCC ideas about how to help.
Now they’ve done so. Responding to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, individuals and companies offered suggestions ranging from moving stations off the AM band entirely, to giving owners more flexibility in terms of signal coverage, antenna equipment and interference protections.
– See more at: http://www.radioworld.com/article/am-ideas-fill-the-fcc-inbox/269465#sthash.oibzHOQh.TSeTY3Ht.dpuf
That’s so weird.. When I try
That’s so weird.. When I try to copy and paste it won’t show up unless I paste it into notepad first then into here..
The direct paste does not show while posting -but then shows after, resulting is a double post.
Even when I go into edit it out it’s not there!
crazy
David Hershberger
David Hershberger is a highly qualified, multi-degreed engineer, designer and analyst of r-f transmission systems.
I was privileged to work with him at Harris Broadcast Products Division before he left Harris for the west coast back in the 1980s.
Since then he has become a senior scientist at Continental Electronics, a prominent manufacturer of MF/HF/VHF broadcast transmitters, worldwide.
Here is a link to more information about his current status:
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Dave-Hershberger/44375664
Doesn’t add up.
A lot of things don’t add up in Mr. Hershberger’s story. He lives 6 miles from a 5kW station producing a huge 47 mV/m signal at his location, but says it is unlistenable on most common radios in his house, and this is in the midst of a very sparsely populated rural area. He should be getting a huge signal. The only certain conclusion is that he has a SEVERE local electrical noise problem that is not at all typical of the average home.
He advocates such solutions as FM repeaters for AM stations and opening the old TV band frequencies for AM stations to migrate to. He also happens to work for Continental Electronics who are suppliers of transmitters for FM, shortwave, LF/VLF, but not for MW AM.
His loop antenna story is not worthy of the attention it is getting.
Did you see the two user post
Did you see the two user post about it above?
…http://www.w9gr.com/clips/KNCO-loop-test.mp3 Sounds like something arcing in his house, …
.. I’ve heard that exact sound before, and YES it’s something in his HOUSE doing it….
I get it.
OK Rich, I get it. I missed your comment “… and kind of got a kick out of it”.
Just add my response as a third and add one more word: absurd.