“AM ONLY WORKS IN CARS ANYMORE”
Posted on March 27, 2014
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
