Ford to drop AM radio in new vehicles

[telstar_1]

Automotive News has reported on the progress of the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” (AMRFEVA) through the House:

But do they set any performance standards?

 

[harshness]

But do they set any performance standards?

The House bill (H.R.8449) doesn't contain the words "performance", "minimum", "standards", "reception", "sensitivity" or "quality".

Thus far, the only requirement is that an AM radio must be present.

 

[TRG]

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been going on since last Saturday. Today a hot air Balloon hit the guy wires of a local AM antenna causing it to collapse. Radio station KKOB transmits on 770 and 96.3. The tower collapse took 770 AM off the air.

I listen to this station a lot for news, weather and talk. Today I drove just South of Taos, NM. About 130 miles from Albuquerque to meet with some friends for a day hike. Normally I can receive the AM signal all the way there. I lost the FM signal about 20 miles outside of town. So yes, AM signals travel further, a lot further. Especially in mountainous areas where line of sight can can be lost due to terrain.

When I lived in Colorado Springs for 2 years I was able to receive the KKOB AM signal reliability at night. That's more than 400 miles "as the crow flies."

Tower collapses after balloon strike near Balloon Fiesta Park

 

[harshness]

I listen to my favorite AM station via streaming so I don't need to worry about tower problems. It also gives significantly superior AQ.

At eight ALM, even my most sensitive radio has severe difficulties picking the station up so I was forced to visit streaming and I won't go back.

 

[navychop]

Maybe plug a transistor radio into a USB, so the customer can easily toss it.

What’s that I hear? Someone from WION heading my way?

 

[TRG]

I listen to my favorite AM station via streaming so I don't need to worry about tower problems. It also gives significantly superior AQ.

At eight ALM, even my most sensitive radio has severe difficulties picking the station up so I was forced to visit streaming and I won't go back.

Until there is a hurricane or other natural disaster that knocks out cell towers and ISP's. No, it doesn't happen often but when it does it's nice to have options.

 

[navychop]

How many AM stations can actually provide local service? How many are little more than repeaters?

 

[harshness]

Maybe plug a transistor radio into a USB, so the customer can easily toss it.

The solution is going to have to be more invasive than that.

How you gonna provide an AM signal to the USB dongle?

 

[harshness]

How many AM stations can actually provide local service? How many are little more than repeaters?

They all can (it is required as part of their license). The question is if they're sufficiently prepared to do go full time on an extended basis.

One of my local stations has a single "personality" that works the morning and evening drives and the rest is automated.

 

[TRG]

How you gonna provide an AM signal to the USB dongle?

Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Airspy HF+ Discovery - AIRSPY

 

[harshness]

Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Airspy HF+ Discovery - AIRSPY

That device doesn't address my question at all. Providing for an antenna is probably a show-stopper in the proposed configuration.

Surely a less costly tuner option is required and probably one that doesn't require so much external processing. The premise was that the dongle was essentially disposable.

 

[N5XZS]

You know you can hook up your SDR to your cell phone provided that you install SDR app!

 

[harshness]

You know you can hook up your SDR to your cell phone provided that you install SDR app!

The wireless phone doesn't address the antenna problem either. It really is a show-stopper for using a tuner dongle.

 

[N5XZS]

Harshness,

That's true thanks to the wavelength AM being on MW is way too long, unless you use mini coils wrapped around to make up the difference.

Fair trade off, I use SDR with the phone are decoding ADB-S 1090.00 GHz aircraft monitoring with a tiny little whip antenna, now that's portable wise to go with!

 

[Mister B]

The situation with the loss of KKOB's AM signal in New Mexico is similar to the state of KNX news radio in the Los Angeles area. About a year ago, the 50,000 watt powerhouse on 1070 obtained a full power FM station and began promoting themselves as FM only. At the top of the hour they only state that "this is KNX AM and 97.1 KNX news radio".
In the daytime the AM signal is usable in all of the surrounding valleys and deserts almost to the Nevada and Arizona borders. My friends in Santa Clarita (about 40 miles north of downtown LA) and San Juan Capistrano (southern tip if Orange County) report that the FM signal is not usable at home.
At least the AM signal is still active but at some times the program is not the same as on FM. I also doubt that tourists and new residents will ever discover the stronger AM signal.

 

[harshness]

I also doubt that tourists and new residents will ever discover the stronger AM signal.

It isn't so much that the signal is "stronger" -- it is just that AM typically travels better. This is both a blessing and a curse as AM stations must often take steps to limit their reach.