Dead carriers coming from modern lights, wall warts , cable tv boxes, satellite equipment, appliances...just name it and very strong across the FM band and Above. Even when I operating at higher power seven watts ,wiped out as soon as I walked into someone's house a half mile away. Very strong outside,dead carrier inside , especially around the tv area. Then there's the problem with the lack of open frequencies, especially along the east coast. The cheap junk radios that are sold now in stores also doesn't help either. It you live in a flat area with homes close by then FM is worth the effort but not when the nearest home is hundreds of feet away. It's all comes down to where your station is located. A place like Toronto, New York City or something large FM is the way to go . In a location like this ,no one will hear it . Due west of my place ,there isn't one home for three miles. I don't broadcast in that direction on AM , it's a waste of signal. How flat the area is also makes a major difference. This place is full of steep hills and mountains . There's 200 feet elevation difference between the lowest part of our property and the highest area.
@1620am-w9xaz You are also fortunate to have your own home and land in the country for the elaborate set up needed for best AM with all the radials, wires through trees, the whole outdoor 9 yards so to speak. I would still be worried about lightning. But yes I agree that whether to go AM or FM is location based also.