IBOC - Redefining AM Radio Service As We Know It
I'm a database analyst by day and I know statistics can be made to say
anything you want them to say, especially if you ask the wrong questions
that reflect what the reviewer wants to hear and not what the public wants
to tell them.
As a typical listener with the typical radio found in Wal-Mart I could get a
single AM station with local sourced programming and as you can tell I am
not fond of that daytimers programming. There are currently no local FM
outlets in my immediate area that are not lights out satellite or microwave
feeds from remote studios.
When I moved to this area 25 years ago there were multiple AM and FM
stations with local sourced programming that served the public interest with
decent local news programs, local interest call in talk shows, lots of
different types of music programming and they alerted the public to local
emergencies and disasters that might impact their listeners. I did not like
all of what I heard but at least I had a choice.
Today the programming in my area is stale. The programming is repetitive and
redundant. The programming does not serve the public interest.
I know I am not going to get you to understand or respect my observations.
I do not expect anyone to agree with me.
The numbers you throw up do not reflect my areas reality.
So what is my solution ?
For AM I throw up a 150 foot wire antenna attached to my Kenwood TS-430S
to catch a few stations with programming I appreciate.
For FM its a deep fringe VHF/UHF roof antenna, mast mount preamp and rotor
to pull worthwhile stations out of the mud, or the XM radio feed provided
with my DirecTV subscription, or if I wish to go back in history I have
converted my entire record and tape collection to CD-R and MP3. This gives
me a collection of popular music that includes my Great Grandfathers Jazz
78's from the 1920's (lateral and vertical cut), my Grandfathers Swing
record collection, my Fathers 1950's record collection and early reel to
reel tapes of variety TV shows of the late 1950s and early 60s, tapes of
early FM Stereo programming, and my own 60's thru 80's record and tape
collection. So I have other choices. Probably more than most of the general
public.
73
Steve
N2UBP
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