{"id":60138,"date":"2024-07-06T01:23:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T05:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=60138"},"modified":"2024-07-05T07:30:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T11:30:01","slug":"radio-waves-switzerland-to-end-analog-radio-am-for-every-vehicle-act-am-v-safety-and-electromechanical-radio-transmitters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/radio-waves-switzerland-to-end-analog-radio-am-for-every-vehicle-act-am-v-safety-and-electromechanical-radio-transmitters\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Switzerland to End Analog Radio, AM For Every Vehicle Act, AM v Safety, and Electromechanical Radio Transmitters"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio<\/h2>\n

Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s<\/em> Radio Waves<\/em>, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0<\/strong>Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributors Paul and Dennis Dura for the following tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Switzerland to end 2024 with an analog FM broadcast-killing bang (The Register)<\/a><\/h2>\n

Time to upgrade that receiver if you’re one of the few Swiss that still don’t have one able to receive DAB+ signals<\/em><\/p>\n

Swiss radio listeners will soon have to toss out their old sets, as the country plans to end analog FM broadcasting on December 31, 2024, in favor of a total conversion to digital.<\/p>\n

The move has been a long time coming in Switzerland, which has largely already transitioned to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+, an evolution of standard DAB that was designed to address early issues). More than 99 percent of the country have access to a DAB+-compatible receiver and fewer than 10 percent of radio signals in the country still being broadcasted in analog FM, according to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. [Continue reading…<\/a>]<\/p>\n

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to Receive Minor Technical Update (Radio World)<\/a><\/h2>\n

There will be no substantive changes to the legislation<\/em><\/p>\n

A bill in the House of Representatives that would mandate AM capability in new vehicles is about to be revised, according to a person familiar with the developments.<\/p>\n

New information indicates that one of the original co-sponsors of the bill, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), plans to introduce an amendment to the bill (H.R. 8449). Changes would only include minor technical updates.<\/p>\n

The planned amendment to the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act comes on the heels of last week\u2019s last-minute cancellation of a planned vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which could have advanced the legislation to the full House for a vote. [Continue reading…<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Would AM Mandate Force Carmakers to Scrap Safety Features?<\/a><\/h2>\n

Opponents play up the possibility that carmakers would have to choose<\/em><\/p>\n

If Congress requires AM radio in new cars, vehicle manufacturers might have to drop safety features instead.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the message from opponents of the proposed law in Congress. A guest commentary published by Automotive News restates the key points that opponents have been making since the legislation was introduced; but their blunt emphasis on a possible tradeoff with important safety features seems notable.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo accommodate analog AM radio as a primary design requirement, certain carmakers may need to scrap advanced safety features, with engineers having to prioritize outdated technology over current or future safety innovations,\u201d they wrote. [Continue reading…<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Did you know that 100 years ago there were electromechanical<\/em> radio transmitters?<\/h2>\n

Many thanks to Paul who shared a link to this Mastodon thread discussing the technology behind the SAQ\/Grimeton broadcast station: https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@tubetime\/110970146022678448<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s is a video<\/a> (we’ve posted in the past) that gives even more detail about the design and operation:<\/p>\n