{"id":38428,"date":"2019-07-08T07:05:55","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T11:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38428"},"modified":"2019-07-08T07:05:55","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T11:05:55","slug":"one-possible-version-of-am-radios-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/one-possible-version-of-am-radios-future\/","title":{"rendered":"“One possible version of AM radio\u2019s future”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: LA Daily News<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\n

Radio: Is that an AM digital signal I hear? No, but it could be.<\/h2>\n

by Richard Wagoner<\/p>\n

One possible version of AM radio\u2019s future was posted on a Facebook group called \u201cI Love AM Radio.\u201d It came from group member Steve West and was a recording of WWFD\/Frederick, MD as received on a radio in Beacon Falls, CT. This is a driving distance of about 320 miles via I-95; as the crow flies it\u2019s probably closer to 275. Still very impressive.<\/p>\n

Of course, long-distance AM radio reception is not new \u2026 people have been listening to distant stations since radio broadcasting began in the 1920s. In my case, when I was young and before I even knew what phenomenon I was really experiencing, I remember picking up stations at night from great distances on my tube table radio, then wondering why I could not hear them during the day.<\/p>\n

I also wondered why I picked up a buzz sometimes \u2026 turned out that was due to my Dad using a fluorescent light in his office down the hallway from my bedroom. But I digress.<\/p>\n

What makes this recording intriguing is that WWFD doesn\u2019t transmit analog audio like most stations. Instead, they are all digital, under special permission of the FCC. Only those with HD radios can hear them. West is demonstrating that long distance digital AM radio reception is indeed possible, and \u2014 perhaps (though it may be wishful thinking) \u2014 AM radio could be better than FM from a practical standpoint.<\/p>\n

All-digital is a mode of the HD Radio system that uses the space formerly used for analog broadcasting and puts the digital signal there instead of sandwiching the digital around the analog as with the hybrid system currently in use on all other AM HD stations, which locally includes KNX (1070 AM), KSUR (\u201cK-Surf\u201d 1260 AM), KFWB (980 AM), and KBRT (740 AM).<\/p>\n

The problem with the hybrid mode is that the digital portion of the signal extends out far enough from the main frequency of a station and thus can cause interference to other stations nearby. Hybrid mode thus limits the digital signal to a fraction of a station\u2019s broadcast power.<\/p>\n

All-digital, being centered on the frequency, allows a station to broadcast the digital signal at a station\u2019s full power, permitting better coverage, less interference, and better sound quality.<\/p>\n

At least that\u2019s the theory. Right now more testing is needed, primarily to see what happens when more stations are using the system. The problem is the all-digital system is not yet authorized without special permission, and of course, many stations would be reluctant to try it, as doing so means losing every listener without an HD radio \u2026 most of the potential audience.<\/p>\n

West\u2019s recording is not perfect. The signal is like any digital signal \u2014 as on your computer or your digital television, the signal is either there \u2026 or it is not. Being received at such a great distance the reception is not perfect and cuts out, but as I said, it does show some great potential.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at the Los Angeles Daily News.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: LA Daily News) Radio: Is that an AM digital signal I hear? No, but it could be. by Richard Wagoner One possible version of AM radio\u2019s future was posted on a Facebook group called \u201cI Love AM Radio.\u201d It came from group member Steve West and was a recording of WWFD\/Frederick, MD as received […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,1114,6647,3],"tags":[7168,2477,4195,7881,7167],"class_list":["post-38428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-digital-modes","category-hd-radio","category-news","tag-am-hd","tag-hd-radio","tag-iboc","tag-los-angeles-daily-news","tag-wwfd"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-9ZO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":34316,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/all-digital-am-hd-wwfds-experiment-is-attracting-attention\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":0},"title":"All-digital AM HD: WWFD’s experiment is attracting attention","author":"Thomas","date":"October 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: InsideRadio via Ulis K3LU) All-Digital AM Grabs Automakers\u2019 Interest. The fate of AM radio in the car dashboard may pass through Frederick, MD. That\u2019s where the latest experiment on an all-digital AM signal is taking place, on Hubbard Radio\u2019s adult alternative \u201cThe Gamut\u201d WWFD (820). The project, in conjunction\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33264,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/bill-tunes-to-wwfd-in-am-hd\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":1},"title":"Bill tunes to WWFD in AM HD","author":"Thomas","date":"July 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Bill Mead, who writes: Thomas, I'm sending you a short clip from WWFD 820 kHz in Frederick, MD. It's America's only all-digital station, apparently. They are HD only with a relatively eclectic music format. I'm hearing them at my QTH in Harrisburg, PA, about 80\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/The-Gamut-FM-WWFD.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/The-Gamut-FM-WWFD.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/The-Gamut-FM-WWFD.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40738,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/fcc-approves-am-stations-to-go-all-digital\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":2},"title":"FCC proposes allowing AM stations to go all-digital","author":"Thomas","date":"November 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Insight) The FCC approved today the adoption of a rulemaking allowing AM stations to transition to all-digital operation. Hubbard Radio\u2019s \u201cThe Gamut\u201d 820 WWFD Frederick MD has been operating in all digital mode since July 16, 2018 in collaboration with HD Radio owner Xperi. The new rulemaking will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58011,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/radio-waves-wwfd-all-digital-end-of-cbc-long-dash-hd-aviation-interference-nc-broadcast-history-museum-plans-and-ukrainian-radio-resistant-to-jamming\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":3},"title":"Radio Waves: WWFD All Digital, End of CBC Long Dash, HD Aviation Interference, NC Broadcast History Museum Plans, and Ukrainian Radio Resistant to Jamming","author":"Thomas","date":"October 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, Mark Koskinen, Stuart Smolkin, and Ron Chester for the following tips: AM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36692,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/radio-world-bryan-broadcasting-asks-fcc-to-allow-all-digital-am\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":4},"title":"Radio World: Bryan Broadcasting Asks FCC to Allow All-Digital AM","author":"Thomas","date":"March 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Ulis K3LU) A prominent advocate for the AM band is petitioning the FCC to allow stations to use all-digital transmissions in the United States. Bryan Broadcasting Corp. on Monday filed a petition for rulemaking asking the commission to initiate a proceeding to authorize the MA3 all-digital\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40411,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/fcc-to-consider-allowing-am-broadcasters-to-transition-to-digital\/","url_meta":{"origin":38428,"position":5},"title":"FCC to consider allowing AM broadcasters to transition to digital","author":"Thomas","date":"October 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World) All-Digital on the AM Band? The FCC Might Allow It Soon AM radio station operators in the United States may soon have the option of switching their transmissions to all-digital. It\u2019s not a done deal; but the concept is about to take a step closer to reality,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38428\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}