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The Fat Man
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Local Radio Discussion

[Technology]  AM Radio in Digital Only

On the other site that discusses solely radio, some posts are going up about AM stations going digital only. In my home market (Boston), we have one such station who recently went digital only.

What's your take on AM digital? As an outsider, I look at it hypothetically. We make AM digital only, so now we need to get people to buy equipment that picks up digital stations. Ok, we achieve that. Now, what do the owners then program on AM? Many AM listeners are older, where the coveted audiences have long forgotten AM.

News, Oldies, talk (political or national/local sports), religious, and various foreign language broadcasts will not push listeners to buy equipment to listen in digital. Considering that SiriusXM, streaming services, iTunes, and Podcasts can get listeners what they want, and is even beating a dent into FM's audience, what chance does AM have?

That's just my take. The other site is mostly filled with insiders, who give their professional perspectives. Where I see that as highly valuable, I do like to see what the average outsider (fan/listener) thinks.
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harshness
Given the issues with interference on the AM band, I'm not at all convinced that digital streaming on an AM carrier makes sense.

I'm forced to stream my favorite AM station as I can't pick it up on my radio just eight miles from the tower unless conditions are ideal.
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The Fat Man
Given the issues with interference on the AM band, I'm not at all convinced that digital streaming on an AM carrier makes sense.

I'm forced to stream my favorite AM station as I can't pick it up on my radio just eight miles from the tower unless conditions are ideal.

If I'm correct, digital is more compressed within the signal, which is why an analog radios can't pick it up.

Here's the statement that I lifted from Fybush in one of the threads of the Boston board of radiodiscussions.com
On an analog radio, you'll just hear that rush of noise.

The MA3 all-digital signal is pretty tightly contained within the normal +/- 5 kHz of the center frequency. If you have a selective enough receiver and you're not sitting right next to the tower, you can still hear adjacent-channel analog stations.

With that tight compression, I'm not sure if the interference is as much of an issue as it is on analog AM.
cp2k
AM radio is essentially unlistenable in my area so honestly I'd welcome a change to digital. I listen to several local stations on the FM band that broadcast in HD radio and it sounds pretty good. It's kind of like HDTV, it depends on whether they get "carried away" and try to add too many subchannels or not too.
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The Fat Man
AM radio is essentially unlistenable in my area so honestly I'd welcome a change to digital. I listen to several local stations on the FM band that broadcast in HD radio and it sounds pretty good. It's kind of like HDTV, it depends on whether they get "carried away" and try to add too many subchannels or not too.
I'm not sure if AM can hold substations. Many AM stations dropped HD Radio. When they were pushing HD AM stations, it was just (Call Letters)-HD. All the HD-2/3/4 substations have only been on FM. I don't think Digital AM can handle multiple substations on the same on its frequencies as FM stations do.
FTA4PA
I'd be interested in hearing comments from radio on this topic.
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harshness
AM radio is essentially unlistenable in my area so honestly I'd welcome a change to digital.
How can digital survive where analog is overrun by interference? Its like trying to hold a phone conversation and use a dial-up modem at the same time.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
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osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
2 Replies · 52 views
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Howard Simmons

Another Tulsa King spin off.🙄
dishstaller
Another Tulsa King spin off.🙄
But.....if you like Tulsa King....looks like you would probably like this as well. I don't mind spin-offs as long as they don't involve a sassy niece who moves from the big city :rolleyes:
T
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
3 Replies · 45 views
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Juan
Not alot of dish customers any more
Foxbat
I'm not a big fan of the new layout, especially on my Apple TV. It used to look like the old Guide layout on the Hopper 3, but they changed parts of that, too.
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dishstaller
I really dislike change for the sake of change
TheRatPatrol
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
Anyone else watch this show? Any guesses as to what was in the box Gibbs gave to Abby that was on her desk? It look liked it was glowing.

I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
2132 Replies · 214680 views
Jimbo

Howard ...
You don't like Tony, or Tony as the Director (he's only been there for 30 seconds now) or you don't like NCIS ?
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Howard Simmons
Howard ...
You don't like Tony, or Tony as the Director (he's only been there for 30 seconds now) or you don't like NCIS ?
Tony as the director.🙄
Jimbo
Tony as the director.🙄
Would you rather have LaRoche ???
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dfergie
I liked this episode and a toned down Tony...
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Howard Simmons
Would you rather have LaRoche ???
No. Bring in someone new.🤔 Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
Jimbo
No. Bring in someone new.🤔 Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
I don't think Tim and Tony are that far apart in Age ...

Remember what Tony said to Tim when they first got back together ...
Tony said: I am the New Tony, Tim .... (something to that effect)

Tony has changed, he's been running his Security Business ... I'm sure he has grown up.

Give it time ... your judging the New Tony from the old Tony.

It sounds like Tim won't be around the Team much longer either.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
Might be worth a watch when it comes out. Looks like typical big corp against the little guy movie BUT....there is a reason this plot type is so oft repeated, it draws audiences.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f9OGsKHd4
1 Replies · 7 views
dishstaller
BTW, I noticed right after I posted this that someone else had already mentioned it....sorry for the duplicate thread. Still looking forward to seeing the movie.
meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
If you're going try to read / listen to the book (can't recommend the audio book enough) before this comes out, I'd avoid trailers.

Trailer below, spoiling it to make sure you read the above bold message first. The book / audio book are fantastic. Go into this blind if you can IMO!




Kind of disappointed at how much they show. A lot still to see, but man, some good reveals in the book that are just served up here.
21 Replies · 713 views
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meStevo
I've seen it twice. Can't recommend the audio book enough, Ray Porter's performance is amazing and there's so much more in the book than the movie.
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Foxbat
"Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
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K
Forgot to comment. I did watch when it first came out on MGM. I enjoyed it a lot. I think reading the book made it easier to watch. Several friends commented it was a little hard to follow.
TRG
TRG
"astrophage". I read the book but didn't see the film yet.
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Howard Simmons
"Project Hail Mary" should be on Prime Video starting Friday, July 3.
That's what I will be watching this weekend.🤗
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K
Kindle book on sale for $2.99 today at Amazon.
dishstaller
.........there's so much more in the book than the movie.
I agree. That can go for pretty much any book vs movie. Back when I was single I would read any Stephen King or John Grisham book I could get my hands on. When you read a book you make up the scenes and characters in your mind.....the movie version always disappoints.
meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Sports Section
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
110 Replies · 1610 views
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Y
Selfish Drake Maye holds back on giving the ball to Bills unlike Jags game, gets the win on the road.
Y
Selfish Drake Maye holds back on giving the ball to Bills unlike Jags game, gets the win on the road.
A big win for the Patriots, and they are now 3-2.

Browns lose a close one with... The Jets. That is a classic Browns loss (granted, any loss is a classic one it seems). 49'ers, Vikings, and Chiefs remain undefeated. The AFC north have a three way tie at 3-2 for second place. :eek:
osu1991
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M
Hopefully nowhere near a microphone.
Y
Hopefully nowhere near a microphone.
After having experienced Gus Ferguson trying to call soccer games, I'm uncertain why NFL football analysts get hate. Even the "worst" of them are pretty good.
meStevo
Jalen Hurts out indefinitely as they treat and monitor a superficial blood clot in his leg.


View: https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2111074303185989663?s=20
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dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in TV Shows
I had quit watching this show years ago because I ended up more annoyed than entertained. Well......I'm STILL more annoyed than entertained. I DO find it interesting to see how things work behind the scenes at many businesses. What annoys me is how utterly out of touch CEOs are with the companies they run. At the end of almost every episode the head of the company is amazed at how hard the employees have to work and many times have to work around impossible guidelines set forth from headquarters.

I found this one interesting because the new CEO had big plans for this company, Muscle Maker Grill, and it looked like the stores were all pretty busy. Recent history hasn't been good to this company however. I bet the covid lockdowns were the real killer.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhZm0qkz0o
0 Replies · 5 views
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68500 Replies · 2670802 views
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ClarkGable
White Wedding - Billy Idol
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M
White Christmas - Elvis Presley
dishstaller
Dirty White Boy - Foreigner
Bobby
Tickle Me (Dirty, Dirty Feeling) - Elvis Presley
dishstaller
Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson