Tag Archives: Dennis Dura

How Removing AM and FM from Cars Impacts the 12-Volt Ecosystem

Photo by Brock Wegner on Unsplash

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this CE Outlook article examining the trend of major automakers removing AM/FM radios from new vehicles and what it means for the 12-volt ecosystem. With AM/FM being increasingly omitted in favor of digital monthly subscriptions and mobile-connected audio services, this article explores the implications for listeners, aftermarket options, and the broader impact on radio accessibility in cars. Read more here: https://www.ceoutlook.com/2026/01/15/car-makers-remove-am-fm-what-it-means-for-12-volt/

VOA Funds Included in Spending Bill

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View of the Capitol Building from the roof of the Voice of America on 330 Independence Ave., S.W.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this Radio World report on a proposed U.S. congressional spending bill that would include continued funding for the Voice of America and its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The bipartisan proposal would allocate roughly $653 million to support VOA’s international broadcasting mission and related services, signaling congressional backing for global news and information distribution even as the bill still must clear final approval: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/proposed-congress-spending-bill-includes-voa-funding

Hackaday: The Cold War-Era Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS)

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Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility Minuteman ICBM Launch Control (Wikimedia Commons)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article about Cold War–era low-frequency communications, from Hackaday:

During the Cold War, the U.S. developed the Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS) — a radio network designed to function even after a nuclear attack. Using long-wavelength LF and VLF signals that can travel vast distances through ground and ionospheric waveguides, SLFCS provided a way to deliver emergency launch orders when all else failed. The system’s immense towers and buried loop antennas reflect an era when reliability was paramount — even under atomic conditions.

Read the full article on Hackaday by clicking here.

“NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura for sharing an article from Radio World that highlights recent NOAA Weather Radio outages and the broader implications for emergency alerting systems. A timely reminder of the vital role EAS backups play in public safety infrastructure.

Read the full article here: NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups

“Helene, Milton exposed need to protect AM radio”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this article from the Ponte Vedra Recorder highlighting how Hurricane Helene has exposed the critical need to protect AM radio as a vital emergency communication tool: https://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/helene-milton-exposed-need-to-protect-am-radio,129870

Radio World: NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dure, who shares the following item from Radio World:

NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types (Radio World)

Radio World asked Cris Alexander to read the report and comment

The National Radio Systems Committee recently published the results of a study on AM band noise.

The report, principally authored by John Kean, is titled NRSC-R102, “Measurement of AM Band RF Noise Levels and Station Signal Attenuation.” It was released in January.

The study consisted of several measurement series conducted along roadways both in urban and rural areas, measuring the signal strength of three different Baltimore/Washington 50 kW AM stations as well as the RF noise on three different unoccupied AM band frequencies.

Measurements were made across five environments: rural, rural-suburban, suburban, urban and dense urban. The results were mostly as one would expect, but there were a few surprises. [Continue reading…]

Click here to download the NRSC PDF report.