Hey Mark,
I've been reading Radio World. Looks like Michelle Bradley, Larry Wilkins, and the NAB want to push this AM Digital thing.
What makes feel down is I spent all this money on a Chez Procaster, decided a permanent place to put it, which is outside next to my storage building, that is on a upper part of my property.
They claim the car radio manufacturers have the HD Radios ready for it. So sad. This will most likely impact Canada too.
Don't worry....YET!
It sucks I know and it could mean the end of this hobby on AM at least if the band is scrapped. So far it's voluntary.
I am surprised that Michelle Bradley is for this because she has the Facebook part 15 group and should be sympathetic to us.
I replied to one of her posts where she seemed to be pushing digital and said to her but what about our hobby? I got no post back commenting on that!
But it's not happening yet and it's voluntary as of now and there would be a 10 year transition time if the plan was to go like TV and make it manditory and scrap the band.
They could do this with TV as it would have impacted very few as most were on cable and the ones with over the air could get a converter and still keep their old TV but with radio you can't do that.
Nothing heard about any of this here in Canada but all regular radios are still being made, check out sangean, Sony and Panasonic. I just got a new Kia Forte and it's a regular AM FM radio.
Rest easy! I still have my Decade MS-100 FM that is certified with BETS-1 Canada and we here have more allowed field strength than FCC part 15.
Meanwhile set up your AM with the Procaster. It's not happening yet.
I would think Michelle Bradley would be on our side as she has her part 15 group. Wonder why she is pushing digital?
Why digital? Everything digital...digital....digital!! Why?
Do you really think people will flock back to radio just because it is digital? I don't.
Follow up to my above post, Don't feel bad that you just got the Procaster! I just spent $450 on the Schlockwood AM 200 processor for my AM station that works great with the Procaster by the way.
I don't like the digital talk either but enjoy! It's not happening overnight.
Hi Mark,,
Go to the link below at the end of this post. It's from the Radio World Article that came out this morning. Maybe the reason why you did hear back from Michelle is because in the United States, she is a huge LPFM Avocate. I'm for LPFM too, but not at the expense of killing the AM Band. I'm surprised the CRTC in Canada has not even brought this up at all! It seems anything the U.S. does, Canada follows it or what Canada does, the U.S. follows as the two Countries on Government Regulations like this must work together.
Off Radio for a moment, look what our great President, Joe Biden has done. He shut down building the Keystone Pipeline through Canada, which benefits the United States and Canada. People have forgot, the U.S. has a state above Canada, called Alaska. Also Joe Biden put many out of work. I'm sure you heard all about the Colonial Pipeline on the east coast of the U.S getting hacked by "so called" Russian Hackers called "DarkSide". It has made life miserable here over the past few weeks, No Gas at the Pumps. Well let me get off that because I'm sure you know all about that.
<p style="text-align: left;">Oh, those little Schlockwood AM 200 Processors are FANTASTIC! I happen to know Jim Wood, who builds those AM Audio Processors. Jim Wood is from my state, Tennessee! Today he is out in California where he built Inovonics. My Consultant Engineer, Jim Turvaville is great friends with Jim Woid and they have had lunch together in the past. Jim Wood helped me out so much when my Licensed 1,000 Watt, Commercial AM Station was on. If I am right, Jim Wood built the Schlockwood AM 200 kind of around how the Inovonics 235 was built. I made a suggestion to Jim Wood on the Inovonics 235 and he has used it in the Schlockwood AM 200. You'll love that Processor! It is a Commercial Grade AM Processor! If my Licensed 1,000 Watt, Commercial AM Station was still in operation, no hesitation to buy and use a Schlockwood AM 200 for a main audio processor!</p>
Jim Wood said he knew this AM Digital mess was going to come, sooner or later, he's not happy about it like the rest of us are. I'm going to post a link to this mornings Radio World Article for you and all to read. This involves Larry Langford, Michele Bradley, and the NAB, National Association of Broadcasters. While Michele may think this *might* be a win for LPFM in the United States, we all mayne getting cheated on Part 15 and LPFMs in my opinion. I'm posting the link below from RW.
I think I saw that article and it was on facebook and I responded asking what about part 15 seeing you support MA3 digital transition and I like I said I got no comment.
Seems she supports NAB not the hobbyists even though she runs a part 15 group on Facebook.
In Canada nothing is heard about this even though you are right that the two countries are usually harmonized with regards to this. Except with FM as we are allowed much more power on FM than 250 uV/meter@ 3 meters FCC allows for unlicensed use.
Yeah the Schlockwood is fantastic! Loving it. Jim Wood is very helpful with any questions on operation.
But like I said it's not happening yet and I don't believe that just because AM goes digital everyone is going to go out and get a digital radio and the people that don't listen now are going to if it is digital.
I'll have to somehow find out what Canada's position is on this as you never hear about this here.
The writer of the article is right about one thing.....advertisers care about the 18-54 year age group and that determines station formats and what they play and if you are older radio doesn't care about you.
Younger people don't listen to AM true and they are growing up...true also but do you think if it goes digital they are going to buy a new radio and listen?
I don't think so. Won't solve anything. For now enjoy the hobby!
By the way, put a rap station on AM as it is now and you'd be surprised how many mellenials or "younger people" will listen.
Hi Mark,
It's 11:00 PM here and I just got your reply, so I'll make this one kinda of quick because I didn't sleep good last night.
It so bothers me that Michelle says she supported Part 15 AM and FM. I take it she went to FCC Head Commissioner Ajit Pai, under the President Donald Trump Administration during the Lockdown of the Pandemic and met with them on this. In the U.S., you are correct on FM. I think the CRTC is a bit more liberal on Part 15 FM in Canada. Heck, this is getting so bad that maybe I should think about moving to Toronto.
You saw my fears of Larry Langford and what he is proposing. Now I take it Larry Langford is just a Commentator. He maybe a Ham Operator as well, but does this give him any clout with the FCC or CRTC? Automobile manufacturers like Elon Musk with Tesla will not mostly listen to someone like Larry Langford. Remember Tesla removed AM Radio from the dashboard. I think they had to put it back.
Automobile manufacturers like GM may take and hide AM Digital in the dashboard thinking, who cares. They want to push this ad mandatory, not a option. That will never fly, I think.
Also, there is the "Skywave Issues". Does WSM, WABC, WLS CKLW, CHUM all these Hot Powerful AMs are going to bow down to restrict thier signals to the markets they serve? We know when there is a National Emergency, AM covers more territory than FM can in Analog.
Maybe this could happen. Like you said, the 18-34 demo doesn't even listen to radio, not even FM. iHeart, the biggest radio broadcaster in the United States knows this as they are taking bad hits on the stock market. Streaming Services keep growing by leaps and bounds and iHeart is investing money into Streaming and Podcasts. I have the iHeart Radio App on my phone. I keep up on what they do.
Maybe MA3 will be a disaster as MA1 was. It was going to cost me $28,000.00 to do a IBOC/Analog Conversion in 2004-2005. I didn't have the money to spend with Harris (Now Gates Air) to do this, in fact at NAB 2006 in Los Vegas, NV, I told Jim Wood this on the exhibit floor! Jim Wood look at me and my wife, Leslie, and wasn't sure what to tell us.
Let me wrap up. I'll get you a picture of where the Chez Procaster is going. I will get good coverage from my house to the town square. If this got successful, I told Leslie we can buy another Chez Procaster from Gerry in Ontario and sinc the two for a bit more coverage, and it will be legal under Part 15. FCC Rules. I have a BW (Broadcast Warehouse) DSPXmini-AM Processor that we bought brand new for 1,400.00. Bought it back when our Commercial Station was on. It's clean, loud, but maybe overkill. Not sure. The Schlockwood AM 200 is smaller, and for a Chez Procaster, it will do the same thing the BW mini AM Processor will do, just a opinion for now.
Good Night Mark, hope you sleep good tonight as well!
Mark,
Another thing, you may know about it, 770 WABC in New York, NY. has brought back music back on, Saturday Nights. Cousin Bruce is on with Old Rock-n-Roll from 6 to 10 pm, and Tony Orlando is on 10 pm to 12 am. Tony plays 70s music, my era as a kid into my teen years. I love that.
I hope WABC can keep "MusicRadio 77" on Saturday Nights and maybe expand it some. I can get 770 WABC at night on Skywave, very strong here. Sad thing is with all the AM Digital Talk, it will blow the nostalgia away from what 770 WABC is doing. I guess we can enjoy it for now.
I know about WABC and that's the real AM revitalization. Comes in great here in Toronto. They have it right. Get back to it's hey day with what it was playing then along with radio dramas, good DJs.
Their ratings go up 3X during Cousin Brucie's Show.
Problem is the advertisers don't want people over 55!
Mark,
Isn't it a "Rip Off" that the ad agencies don't want us? We still too buy goods and services too!
WABC makes it across North America with a 50,000 Watt, Non Directional Signal that can make it to Los Angeles, California, providing no interference is on 770. I'm in the east part of the Country, and I remember when WABC and WLS in Chicago were controlled by ABC Radio, WABC was Musicradio 77, and WLS was Musicradio 89. I have a WLS Musicradio 89 T Shirt! I listened to both WABC and WLS back in the 70s, because in the Rural Areas, that's about all we could get for Top 40/Rock Radio. I know Cumulus sold WABC and that is why Cousin Brucie and Tony Orlando are now on Saturday Nights. They are giving our generation what we want, what we heard on AM, and I 100% agree, that's Real AM Revitalization!
Hey Mark,
Take a look at this. Some Part 15 AM Operator (Daniel Brown) siding with AM Digital and wants his "Hobby AM Station" to become null and void? That's the way I see what he wants, perhaps? This came in my Radio World Email this morning. Do you know what I'm thinking? Link is below:
I don't understand why a hobbyist like ourselves would side with scrapping the AM band and "shooting himself in the foot" so to speak.
As for Canada you never hear of this here. I will email the CRTC or OSED(Industry Canada's old name) or call them and see if I can find out what is in the plans for us here. Nothing ever in the news or anything. The paper you get is an American magazine. Nothing like that here.
My Consultant Engineer is a Commentator for Radio World's Competition. At first when this all got started, I told him I thought it would take atleast 15 to 20 years for the majority of AM Stations to go Digital.
There are many, many AM Stations that do not have FM Translators in the United States. The could may go into the thousands of AMs without Translators in the U.S. I can't tell if they are jumping the gun here, and the way the article read, once Jessica Rosenworcel takes full control and the Democrats have control of the FCC, they may slow down this AM Digital Conversion because too many minorities own AM Only stations. There is a Hispanic Church near me that has a AM Station, no FM Translator. If the went Digital, it may cut their signal down, and with their poor audirnce not having the radios to get the Digital Signal because these people are migrants that are poor, it won't work.
Hubbard Broadcasting that owns WFED in Washington, D.C. started all of this. They have poured millions of dollars into this that is a risk. Also, Bob Crane of C. Crane Radio in California may not like this as his Company relies on the sales of Analog Only AM/Shortwave Radios. I wonder what Bob and his Daughter thinks about all this?
It's like the Daniel Brown is wanting to shoot himself in the foot with his Part 15 AM Station, let his hobby roll over and die because he's retired, and I take it he wants a date to sunset AM Radio in the U.S. It would be interesting to see what the CRTC has to say about all this, and there is any talk of of Digital Radio coming to Canada. As you said, your Government hasn't brought it up.
This digital subject affects us all here. It will mean the sun setting on our hobby as most "part 15" is done on AM, and FM in the USA at least is so restrictive you can't get a hobby station off the ground. It's better in Canada but still not like AM is.
This subject should get more of us weighing in on this!
Hobbyists unite! Keep the AM band as it is!
The FCC should mandate better quality AM receivers, and enforce their own rules about devices not causing interference. If all chargers are noise generators as one FCC spokesman put it why is that? Why aren't these things shielded? Made to a better standard?
I am at a loss for understanding when a part 15 hobbyist like the one that wrote that article in the Radioworld magazine is pushing for digital and putting the AM band "to sleep"
How Michelle Bradley who has a part 15 group herself is pushing for this?
Mellenials, the people in the 18-40 year old age group are in LOVE with smart phones and will not all buy radios if it goes digital. How the writer of this article thinks digital will revitalize radio, and the AM band, I don't know. IT WILL KILL OUR HOBBY. Not happening yet but something to think about.
OK my rant is over.
Let's hear what others think!
Mark,
Here is one fact here in the United States that me and my wife were talking about that could slow down the roll out of AM Digital Radio. As you have read in the Radio World Articles, AM Digital is not available yet in cars.
****Our point is this, since President Joe Biden has taken office, the American Lower to Middle Class cannot afford to buy new cars or trucks! We are seeing Interest Rates going up, and going even back before the 2020 Pandemic Lockdown under Former President Donald Trump, the United States Economy was improving, but not to the point to stop Inflation. Now the U.S. is going more in debt. I'm sure you saw it this year on the news.
We realize your in Toronto, Ontario. That has nothing to do with the United States Economy directly, if you reall Michelle Bradley and Larry Langford are banking on the Car Manufacturers to get those AM Digital Receivers in the Automobiles, Trucks, Cars, etc. No cars are sell off car lots! Especially here!
If you have seen what is going on here in the United States since 2020, and I don't want to get too political here, it just seems in 2021, the United States Government's Economy is taking a turn for the worst! It's not so much the Pandemic fault, but the Democrats have taken over Congress who passes these economic laws that effect the consumer. As me and my wife we going to dinner last night, new fleet, cars and truck are not selling at all, car dealers can't move them on the lots.
This perhaps will slow down, or even kill the idea of AM Digital Radio. I brought up your name to my wife and told her about this grand idea of pushing AM Digital Radio on the masses in the United States. Most time spent listening to the radio is in the car. People right now are just holding on to what they have. Personally we are. I have a 1996 GM, Pontiac Sunfire, not driven much, staying parked, and we also have a 2006, Ford Mustang, we have been using, but just on small trips to Walmart for groceries, Kroger, another Grocery Chain that is in our town, and to the Drug Store, Walgreens for our Prescriptions.
I have rethought this and there is now way in Hell that AM Digital in the United States is going to make it. People here, the masses, no matter the demographic, are not going to just rush to Amazon in the United States to buy a new portable radio, just to try AM Digital. They don't have the money to blow on that. With new car sales almost at a hault, nobody will care.
General Motors and Ford are not selling anything. Elon Musk of Tesla has "0" Zero Interest in AM Radio. Do you remember his company was under fire by the FCC, and the U.S. Federal Government for taking AM Radio out several years ago, but he isn't selling new cars. I rethought this over. This maybe some crazy, stupid second attempt to kill AM Analog that won't fly. Also there too many Analog AM Emergency Radios being made by Bob Crane and his Daughter of C. Crane Radio, in California, as a example. We won't see Walmart or Best Buys in America try to sell them in stores. This AM Digital MA3 Conversion has a good chance of dying. Too many factors up against it in America Economics.
To wrap up, The American Economy will kill AM Digital itself. Sorry for my "New Rant" on the American Economy and how it ties in to this grand idea of AM Digital that you and I may not see happen in our lifetime. Is Michelle Bradley and Larry Langford looking at the American Economy at all? Do they see the American Consumer, and the mess the United States is in? Good question?
Can you see our point? Remember, I'm pushing near 60 years old.