AM moves to FM

The public spectrum is being auctioned away to high bidders.

When will these earnings arrive in the public pocket?

We can speak openly here. Are we being burgled?

Something to talk about at the meeting.  Im very unhappy.

Some things to consider about AM.

First, you'll get a lot more range legally, even with something like the Talking House transmitter.  And particularly if you can get the antenna outside in the open.

AM can sound pretty good as well.  Not as good as FM, but acceptable for most music.  And you can get stereo if you play around with CQUAM.

With the Talking House, and using the supplied power supply, you won't have to worry about being non compliant (you only have to worry about that if you use the ATU).

I've used both Talking Houses and Talking Signs - both were plagued with some hum, but I got rid of most of it by 1) using an audio ground isolator and 2) putting ferrite cores around the power cable.  I also had to experiment with different power outlets, and finally ended up using one that was on a different circuit than my computers and other equipment (lots of noise was generated by those devices).

I was able to get a mile plus range (noisy but listenable on my car radio) on my Talking Sign by ensuring that the antenna wire was run above my roofline (I actually installed the transmitter on the ceiling of my studio, and ran the wire outside up along a PVC pipe).  That was also in a mostly line of sight direction, across fields.  I used an ATU with my Talking House, so you really can't compare the two with my experience.

I think that going for more field strength for Part 15 FM is worthwhile, but we have to realize that the chances are slim in getting it passed, particularly with this stuff happening.

Just my thoughts on the whole AM or FM thing. 

First of all over the next few years FM is going to take on a lot more stations. There are already lots of AM stations planning on putting up FM translators, especially to fill in their night time patterns.  The station I work for is directional at night strongly favoring the NNW. So once the sun goes down the owner can't hear his own station as his house 20 miles south, but people 80 miles NNW hear it like they're sitting in the parking lot. So, he's been considering an FM translator.  Many other AM's are doing the same. As this process of analasis goes on, we've discovered there are a lot of translator licenses and building permits already out there many waiting to be built, many for sale, that are going to turn into FM signals. I think I've planted the idea into the bosses head to put our AM on an FM multicast HD channel (also owns a 100,000 watt FM).  So we'll see.  Clearly in my neck of the woods the FM band is far from crowded, but I was in Minneapolis/St.Paul a couple weeks back and the FM band is jammed. 

But what are the advantages of using Part 15 FM? Well, you can be in stereo. You can have superior frequency response, and a clearer signal.  The disadvantage I see is a teeny tiny coverage area. The legal coverage area for FM is clearly designed for people to broadcast to themselves in their homes, cars and yards.  When I started my station just over two years ago I considered FM first simply because of it's better audio potential. After looking at available transmitters and potential coverage it only took me about 15 minutes to completely rule out FM as an option. None of the high end transmitters looked to be anywhere near as solid or feature laden as the top end AM units. Most of the FM transmitters look like toys to me and many of them the specs, range, and features do not seem to add up in real life. At this point 250uV/m is just that, and the power of your transmitter means nothing as long as you reach that legal maximum. A .5 or 1 watt, or 7 watt transmitter can still only create the maximum 250 uV/m and be legal. So, a 7 watt Part 15 transmitter that runs hot is because it's burning up a ton of power in heat to get the signal down to legal.  The high end AM transmitters, Rangemaster, Procaster, etc are so far ahead of the legal FM units.  Of course they cost a LOT more. But in my case the ease of installation, built in outdoor durability and built in processing made my Procaster an obvious choice for me.  BTW, the Procaster and iMac runing Megaseg has now been on the air for two full years with ZERO downtime, in outdoor temps from 100 in the summer to -30 in the winter witout missing a beat. 

The goal of radio of course is to have listeners. You get listeners with coverage. Even if you manage to get a 4 block radius of solid coverage with a legal FM (which in reality isn't very likely) you have exponentially more listener potential with an AM with a 1 mile radius.  The more population you get to the more potential listeners you have.  I guess it boils down to if you want few listeners with a stereo signal and better fidelity, or hundreds more potential listeners with a solid mono signal. 

Now, I know the arguments for the better FM signal. And I know proponents of FM here insist their chosen formats practically require the FM audio advantages. I woujld imagine especially jazz, classical, and classic or album oriented rock would benefit most. And I would agree.  But to completely rule out AM for formats such as these, I think is wrong. Sure, Dave Brubeck and Black Sabbath are going to sound better on FM. And the New York Philharmonic, too. But they're going to sound better to very few people who can hear them.   But I grew up listening to what is now "classic rock" on AM radio and I didn't have any problems with it, and I was an audiophone maniac back when I was a teenager buying all kinds of audio gear.  But I still didn't have any issues hopping into my 1972 Pinto and cranking up Led Zeppelin and Foghat, and Deep Purple, on the AM radio. 

My AM, with a Procaster, utilizing the built in processing, sounds easily as good (when I'm within a mile) as the station I work for that has a new Nautel 5000 watt transmitter and a new Orban processor.  From what I can tell FM Part 15 people tend to buy the transmitters than diddle around with outboard processing to get the sound they want. Odd to me that many insist on needing FM to present the format to sound as it should, then screw up how the record producers and artists meant it to sound by processing it to make it louder, using compression and limiting to remove dynamic range, and then cranking in more bass, etc. What you should be doing is using an audio analyzer to see if you can get what comes out at the signal end is the same as what comes out of the audio source in the studio (BEFORE you add any processing).  THEN you've created a transmission system that gets the format to the people the way it was meant to sound, and let the listeners use their own tone controls to adjust to their taste if they want to. 

As for the concept of AM stereo, I don't know about you, but I've never actually seen, in real life, an AM stereo receiver. I've never sought one out either, however. And I've bought so much audio crap over the years you would think I would.  Never owned a car with AM stereo radio in it. But EVERY car I've ever owned (including current new models) has an AM RADIO in it. EVERY radio I've EVER owned has AM band on it. The only thing I've EVER seen with ONLY FM on it were some nice FM tuners for a component stereo system, and some portable walkman radio type deelies, and a few toy promotional giveaway radios.  Why would you not want to broadcast to the most available, commonly owned radios in the country?  Is it really worth cutting potential listeners by ten times or more just to have FM?  And if so, what is the chance that among those few FM listeners enough are listening on a quality system that will even appreciate the difference?

I'm all for an increase in Part 15 FM signal strength, something similar to what can be done with AM.  Give me a mile radius on FM (that's a two mile diameter) and I'm in.  As someone else mentioned, with the current additional demands on the FM band I just don't see the FCC granting more power to radio hobbiests on the band. 

One thing about AM, you won't see a bunch of new AM stations popping up.  Although -- oddly enough, there is someone building a NEW directional AM station about 150 miles from  me.  That means a ton of real estate for towers and ground radials, tone of engineering costs, and if I remember right, the cost of putting up FOUR towers for the directional array.  The builders are folks well versed in broadcasting in the area and clearly is another indication that AM RADIO IS NOT DEAD, nor even dying.  The AM I work for has been growing in listenership and sales consistently over the past 10 years or so.  Maybe people can't resist my entertaining morning show (LOL) maybe it's our very intense involvement in our community, I don't know.  It's a 5,000 watt AM mono station originally on the air in 1948. I've been here as engineer and morning show host for 27 years. I see listenership and income growing every year. so THIS AM certainly isn't dead or dying. 

For Part 15 you really have to balance potential listenership vs audio.  AM can sound mighty darn good. You have to balance the potential of your audience to enjoy your technically enhanced signal.  How many AM stereo receivers are in your potential coverage?  How many FM listeners are in your (smaller) potential audience really care or will notice the enhanced sound of FM? 

No matter what you do, at this point legal FM is limited to 250 uV/m, no matter what kind of transmitter you buy, and a given field strength will only go so far.  Like on AM your particular environment has a big effect on range.  I get easily to 7100 feet out with a certified AM unit.  But I live in the boonies with virtually no manmade interference -- the band is pretty much silent during the day between stations, where as in a city it's noisy.  So my signal can easily be heard simply because it's not covered up by the noise floor.  Same with FM.  Depending on the terrain, buildings, etc your coverage is going to vary. But under virtually NO conditions is FM even going to approach 1/4 of what legal AM can do. Not without a change in the rules. 

Tim in Bovey

Well written and well thought out there Tim! Two Thumbs UP!

Bruce.

A known reason why many modern radios produce poor sound from AM stations isn't the fault of the station, it's because the audio response in radios rolls-off the high frequencies.

Acknowledging this problem the FCC wrote NRSC Pre-Emphasis into the rules for AM transmission, which puts back the high-frequency audio sounds and lowers the noise factor at the same time.

http://www.part15.us/forum/part15-forums/brain-power-and-ss-trans-ex-antenna?page=1

The AMT3000 and AMT5000 from sstran.com feature built-in jumper for NRSC Pre-Emphasis, and with other transmitters NRSC can be added by a hardware processing device that includes NRSC or with Stereo Tool for computer sound processing.

Gets you into FM-like sound quality on AM.

Fortunately in Canada the FM is less restrictive but here's the other problem with AM....To get the coverage potential it's more complicated then FM, which can be done simply from any location. To get a mile coverage you need to own your own property, house etc to install the outdoor set up which not everyone has and then there's the problem of people tampering with your stuff or stealing the antenna and transmitter.

Also the FM signal can get to people that AM can't....into buildings and peoples houses without it being unlistenable if the radio is working from A/C. If you go into a store in a mall see if you get any AM reception....but you still get FM. Also if you go into a steel building like a moterhome or those trailers that are cottages on wheels you will still get FM inside but no AM.

In my neck of the woods my FM coverage has potential of over a hundred listeners....all the houses around the block on both sides of the street. BETS was designed to get to a neighbouhood.

If I move to a  less populated area in the country maybe AM would be the option but like I said you need to have the means for the outdoor install. Just the indoor set up with the 10 foot wire won't get much better even if the wire is hanging from a window.

Mark

I think a very good friend/member of the ALPB has convienced me to try a Talking House AM transmitter and he is gonna help me so I can meet Album Rock standards on AM.  I think 96.3 FM will not be available for long.  Someone was throwing carriers on my frequency DEAD ones AFTER I went OFF at 6:00. I dont know if it was another Sainsonic AX 05B or what.  They done it for 1/2 hour then went to 87.9 and threw dead carriers.  NOT GOOD.  I assume its a pissed person trying to kill part 15 FM.  Why throw dead carriers on 96.3?  Well ill just go AM and no one will bother me.  I just need a good Digital AM receiver to find clear frequencies.   I hear the Talking House will go over a mile.  The dude is willing to help maybe I should try before crying about how bad AM is.  I dont need this toilet wipe throwing carriers on me just to block my signal.  Next the FCC will come cuz now someone is being stupid.  Why just now on Sunday?  I never had that before.  I just hope they dont do it on used frequencies.

Have had this happen here too...every once in a while, not always on my frequency(sometimes is) but on other parts of the band also when I check around in the car I sometimes come accross what you are describing. Sometimes it's something broadcasting and I know it's someone's doing this....not a legit station, but the next day it's gone.

Mark

Could this be an anti micro broadcaster on FM movement? I mean this dude who ever he was decided to send blank carriers on 96.3. They would transmit for 20-60 seconds and then stop and then while I was holding my boombox over my head outside as I suddenly noticed I heard a faint station coming in all of a sudden a loud full quieting carrier came in. I mean no static no hum this person had a very clean transmitter. I thought it could be a member of the NAB being a vigilantist and thinking Hey I don't like his Album Rock station on the air, so instead of calling the FCC and they won't do anything I'll transmit on top of him, but not so strong that he'd notice. But again after a while after I was no longer on air it was gone. What gives I don't like this because this means trouble. I'm saving for the new AM transmitter for next month. Already told my Wife and told her someone was trying to jam my station and that I'm getting a good deal on a transmitter that would otherwise cost $200 so Johnny Punk can't afford an AM Transmitter. But is this a little Johnny Punk or is it an over zealous Ham that took a 2 meter rig and modified it for FM and is now throwing carriers trying to keep my listeners away from my station. I'm really paranoid about this because it was on a Sunday. I'm looking at 1640 AM. Is there a radio locator for blank AM frequencies in your area as well? I'll probably be up most of the night and my mind racing as to why my station is being transmitted on top of. Any help would be appreciated.

Thats one advantage of AM.....lots of space on the dial to go. I would only go on AM as a last resort...if the FM band gets so full that there's no space at all which is very close to happening. Here in Toronto where I am there are 2 spaces only(others have strong station right beside) and I've been lucky to have 90.7 for a long time... no commercial station has yet come on this frequency.

Check this out http://www.ebay.com/itm/AM-Radio-Transmitter-/131567898592?hash=item1ea20ecfe0

Thinking about getting this(haven't decided) just to have just in case I can't go on FM. No kit, and front display of frequency like the talking house.

This has Mosfet output and hand wound torrid coil supposed to get all the100mW to the antenna.

Alot less than the sstran which you have to build and a lot less than the I AM radio(talking house) The designer demonstrates using this on youtube.

Mark

There is no need to know what's really going on when the imagination can short-cut to a conspiracy theory.

Unexplained blank carriers on the FM dial. Why should they be unexplained when the imagination can leap to the conclusion that it's obviously anti-FM wing-nuts deliberately trying to keep ME from using that frequency?

Ya, bet it's HAMs trying to send a message.

OR, could there be other possible explanations? Not that I know of. And that proves my suspicion.

Hams will contact you directly. The are often accompanied by 2 large eggs.

No one would want those two large eggs to hatch.