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24.17.18.217
What is the future of FM radio?
Europe is slowly going away from FM I read today Norway has none now.
It seems to me there is a large market here in the States or am I wrong? I listen to the local news in the car but mostly we listen to XM for music. We do listen to FM at home often.
The last time I remember tuning in an AM station was back in the 90's?
Follow Ups:
This is going to sound NUTTY, but broadcast radio with high-power transmitters is going away.
Why? Waste of power.
Network / low power / small dish is the obvious way to go.
Now the nutty part
This is why SETI gets no response. We are emitting a huge amount of RF which can be heard or detected for an ever-larger range. We're now up to maybe a 100 light year radius.
I think if there are (must be, right?) advanced civilizations, they have almost NO high power transmitters and might even try to keep a low profile.
So for those reasons I'd say FM / AM have NO future. at least long term being > 50 years.
Too much is never enough
Lots of receivers.
Lots of listeners.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
With CBC, Universities and local stations to access from I really can't complain. I just wish they play better music besides the usual suspects such as jazz, folk, classic rock and live classical broadcasts.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
A centrally controlled digital future or a live, locally based, high SQ, future?? Choices, choices.
I'm hoping for the second outcome. Right now, both directions are possible.
Going even further in the future, locally controlled FM radio is really the way. No hunger games in my future, please.
For quite a while on Ebay, bunches of little FM "broadcast capable" stereo transmitters (and accessories) have been available for little money.
I'm wondering now many "bootleg DJ's" are out there right now? Also believe it's pretty easy to get a non-commercial FCC license for the low end of the band - as witnessed by all the religious stations I hear "along the way"
Charles
Here in the bay area there are a few 'pirate' radio stations - one in Berkeley 104.1 - probably only about 10 watts - and a bit hit or miss-
we can take the airwaves back - it is a public commons.
Happy Listening
In the US, I think that AM, being commercially successful (talk /news), will continue for quite a while (defined as: as long as I'm alive - then who gives a s...).Don't know about the commercial viability of FM however. Fortunately, the RF spectrum it occupies is relatively small and I don't (yet) see a clamor from other potential users to "take it away". Even if something does come along, I can see the non-commercial (college) stations "bootlegging" into posterity! Yea! Don't throw out your FM tuners just yet.
HOWEVER - current personal devices DON'T have either RF capability and youth probably don't care (AM /FM; what's that?)- so the longer-term future is "cloudy" - but as I said above - I won't be around to give a s...
CHEERS
Charles
Edits: 05/12/15 05/12/15
.
I still say the most hilarious music I've ever heard was polkas with the singing en Espanol............
Later Gator,
Dave
I think that the broadcast landscape in Europe is very different from that here in the USA/North America-
First, most of the broadcasters in North America are Private - ie Not State owned/operated - additionally the car culture keeps a certain audience 'with-in reach'. Couple that with the geological features of North America, and I think that the outlook for FM is fairly decent - for at least another 25 + years.
There are still many remote - either physically, or isolated behind ridges/mountains - areas that are served by modestly powered FM stations that help to keep the community connected.
The two examples I would offer are Western MA and Northern CA; however I am certain that there are many others-
I will admit I am biased - with a number of tuners set up and running, and being pleasantly re-united with an excellent offering at home in the SF Bay Area-
I will also add to the mix that there are some wonderful New programs being developed and put out on the radio - I realize that many do double duty as Pod-Casts also-
So - in short, I am optomistic
Happy Listening
I wish I could share you enthusiasm for Bay Area radio. I think KDFC is good and I'm a member. I am saddened about the changes at KCSM. I have let my membership lapse after more than 20 years. To me now it is scarce more than a smooth jazz station.
Phil
I have to confess- Having been unable to get KCSM/KJAZ for so many years- '90s - I don't really look for it - my Jazz station is KPFA - the programming changes - but there was a time where Monday or Tuesday PM - two great back to back shows - and Saturday from Noon till about 4:00 PM it is usually great!
KPFA also has some of the BEST sound quality...
I also spend a lot of time with KALW and KALX...
Happy Listening
Hi 6BQ5,
I used to listen to both KJAZ and KCSM until KJAZ went down in the '90s.
I tended to like the music on KJAZ better but KCSM had the stronger signal.
KCSM inherited the KJAZ library and I think their programming became more to my taste. All was well with them until a few years ago when some SF soothjazzy thing went down. It seems KCSM now is trying to pick up refugees from that station.
They do have a fairly strong signal now at 91.1 MHz so you might give them a try and see what you think.
Thanks for the reminder of KPFA. When I lived in the the Bay Area I did listen to them. I now live near Placerville so I'll have to see if they stream.
Phil
I know they have a bunch of frequencies, but I always thought that was such a shame that Sacramento could not get a frequency for this station.
Sacramento had a great public station - till KQED took it over....
Happy Listening
I listen to listen to all 3 quite a bit. AM for news and sports , FM for fresh music(the bay area is awash in College radio)and XM in the car.Hard to imagine a time without live radio.
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