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The beginning of the end for FM?

108.216.110.56

Posted on January 8, 2017 at 08:13:12
M3 lover
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I certainly hope not. I still have a couple of FM stations I listen to regularly. But then I'm known to be a bit of a luddite. ;^)

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

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RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 16, 2017 at 19:38:31
Mushroom Soup
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Location: Western New York State
Joined: November 1, 2003
Here in Hooterville, people don't get FM radio at all. The big talk station is on FM so you have to hear ranting complete with high frequency squirshes and hashiness for as long as you can stand that. And the Classical station plays mp3s, which are awful. Remember when classical FM was the hi-fi standard of broadcasting?

On the positive side, you're going to die. So as things progressively get worse, you won't be here for them.

 

Sold my Accuphase T100 about a year ago, posted on January 14, 2017 at 15:14:03
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
We have one great FM station in the Boston area, and I was hardly ever listening to it. And I figured that beautiful piece of engineering and manufacturing would be worth about NOTHING if I waited too long. I ended up getting a bit more than I'd paid for it about 10 years ago, which ain't nothing.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 10, 2017 at 22:40:24
russ69
Audiophile

Posts: 951
Joined: December 13, 2009
Yes radio will die. The question is when. Remember when we thought that the LP was dead?

 

I would HATE to lose my wonderful local classical station. nt., posted on January 10, 2017 at 16:10:17
MWE
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nt.
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

 

Perfect Sound Forever?, posted on January 9, 2017 at 19:44:39
Justlisten2
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Posts: 1266
Location: SE PA
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"By the end of the year, all FM broadcasts in Norway will have ended, replaced by Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) transmissions that generally offer better sound quality."



Sorry, been there, done that. ;^)

 

RE: Perfect Sound Forever?, posted on January 10, 2017 at 04:40:54
MannyE
Audiophile

Posts: 2088
Location: Miami Beach
Joined: March 4, 2001
Using the free subscription to XM Radio that came with my new car I was amazed at how shitty the music sounded. Compressed to death, undynamic.

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 9, 2017 at 05:48:10
fantja
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Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
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In most markets (read all including NPR) FM Radio went corporate a long time ago. Liberal as well. Our best hope is that "College" radio is alive and well in 2017.

 

If you're all the way to the right,..., posted on January 10, 2017 at 16:08:42
MWE
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the center looks like the left.

Mark in NC
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

 

corporate and liberal?!?, posted on January 9, 2017 at 09:24:08
M3 lover
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"FM Radio went corporate a long time ago. Liberal as well." Isn't that an oxymoron?

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: corporate and liberal?!?, posted on January 10, 2017 at 15:34:36
fantja
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Moronic, yes!

 

No worries - probably one of those fake news stories from the Washinton Compost [nt] ;-), posted on January 8, 2017 at 17:15:14
Posts: 26347
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RE: No worries - probably one of those fake news stories from the Washinton Compost [nt] ;-), posted on January 8, 2017 at 20:25:34
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
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...unfortunately there are people here who believe that so don't encourage them.

 

The WaPo's recent track record isn't that good, posted on January 9, 2017 at 00:41:27
Posts: 26347
Location: SF Bay Area
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  Since:
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Didn't you know that the Russians have hacked into our electrical system and that that bloodthirsty Putin is stealing electricity from the people of Vermont!!!

Oops!. . . Never mind! (Except that the retraction never gets a tenth of the coverage or distribution that the original fake news gets - And then the WaPo has the temerity to COMPLAIN and warn about fake news. One thing's for sure: the paper doesn't deserve the level of confidence given to it by its readers that it used to deserve in years past.)

 

RE: No worries - probably one of those fake news stories from the Washinton Compost [nt] ;-), posted on January 8, 2017 at 23:57:35
JURB
Audiophile

Posts: 2056
Location: North Ohio
Joined: May 29, 2016
I'll post this, you decide the relevance.

I remember the old days. We only had a few TV channels. Of course we did not spend all day in front of the thing. There were a few givens, even the adults watched Saturday morning cartoons sometimes, and the road runner and coyote did not talk. The background music and effects were orchestral in nature.

Another thing that came along was Star Trek. Kids had choice, shut up or get out. There were no VCRs back then.

Other TV times like Friday night for example, usually it was Big Chuck and Hoolihan, movie hosts and they got the worst movies. And they were great. No culture, cheesy special effects. Remember the firs Outer Limits series ? They literally cranked out an episode every week. It was pretty terrible as well.

But it was entertainment.

Originally we had three channels, then UHF came along. So far so good.

Now we got 300 channels and there is nothing to watch. I am seriously considering that everything that can be written has been written. If you listen to pop/rock, half of it is remakes, and that is the good half.

In other words, more choices does not mean better choices.

In the old days we had locally generated programming. We had local businesses that could afford to advertise on TV.

When the TV station signed off for the night there was a notice that you could write to the FCC if you believe the station had not acted in the public interest and that letter would be reviewed at license renewal time.

I don't run a tuner in the house. In the garage yes, but I do burn CDs for out there. Put on the hillbilly station and the commercials have rap themes. WTF is wrong with them ? Don't they realize their listeners do not want to hear that shit ? It is almost like negative advertising. And another thing I would like to strap them down and do like they did in The Clockwork Orange - Rascal Flats is not country music.

for the classical stations you need a program. The pieces are longer and if you just tune in at random you get the last half of something and the first half of something else.

The local flavor is lost forever, and honestly, looking at this locale these days, it is no big loss.

Rant over.

They want to go all digital because of control. One day I'll have to post about Radio Solidarity. (not here) a group of guys who built a transmitter and overrode the TV sound in Poland in support of the solidarity movement. With digital, such things are impossible and if the TV stations say you can't buy any airtime, you are successfully muted.

Controlled.

As such I have pretty much given up on all of it. I do not have a TV, at least connected.

Ad Norway eliminated cash a long time ago, even checks. Take a check to the bank there and the teller might not know what it is. Now how the hell do they buy a bag of weed there ? How do they have a garage sale ? Oh, the government disapproves because they are not getting their cut. Fukum, the sales tax was paid when it was bought new.

It is all a matter of control. Cars, noone in the US has owned a car in a long time, you own a certificate of title which you but for the price of the car. So they charge sales tax on the new certificate of title they issue you when you buy a used car.

It is all a matter of control. They can give you a million stations but you can only listen to one. But then you'll spend a lifetime finding that one.

That's progress.

 

Brings back Friday night memories from the 70s: Sonny and Cher, Donny and Marie, then Benny Hill, (if Mom was , posted on January 10, 2017 at 09:09:45
at Church Bingo. Every once and awhile Benny Hill showed a Booby!!!!

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 15:17:27
Trouser Trout
Audiophile

Posts: 286
Location: New England
Joined: August 25, 2010
Forget FM. Get over it, you're stuck in the past man..like Bozo the clown!

Seriously, I cannot take radio any more, streaming is where it's at. The free playlists via Amazon Prime cover all my driving music.

We have a 2012 and 2010 vehicles and luckily they both have a usb input. The 2012 also has a very musical Bluetooth connection.

 

I like being stuck in the past ..., posted on January 8, 2017 at 15:49:39
reelsmith.
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...and plan on being stuck there as long as possible.

On road trips I enjoy tuning to local stations and listening to the DJs. A Bostonian DJ, New York DJ, a DJ from Philly and one from Tennessee (recent trip) sound nothing alike. I enjoy that. Local color can't be beat.

Its a big country. Streaming on the road is like being at home on the road. I like to be on the road when I'm on the road.

Yours truly,

Bozo the clown.




reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

+1! nt., posted on January 10, 2017 at 16:14:49
MWE
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nt.
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

 

Road trips and radio, posted on January 9, 2017 at 09:19:46
M3 lover
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Since I retired I've driven about 25,000 miles in a few trips around America. I brought along a selection of CDs (no satellite connection) but also relied on local radio stations for companionship as I traveled.

As a young teenager in the '50s I listened to AM radio at night when I could find stations from Boston, Pittsburgh, Gallatin (TN), and New Orleans, all from my central MI home. At that time music was more localized and each area had their own Top Ten.

And so, even decades later I held out small hope for some local or regional programming for my travels. However I was disappointed to find now that meant the further east and south I drove the more that religious stations dominated the airwaves. Country preachers can be entertaining only so long. Even the low end of the FM dial (once the exclusive home to non-commercial broadcasting) offered little relief.

Had it not been for a good variety of CDs I would have longed for a Serious connection. ;^)



"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

If it happens it happens., posted on January 8, 2017 at 15:05:10
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7717
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
All 3 of my vehicles ('04, '07, '10) are old enough to be CD/FM/AM (no digital radio, etc.) only, so to some degree I hope this takes some time to happen in Canada. That said, if it happens I'll change with the times and figure out something for the one vehicle that may be an issue (my wife's vehicle which we use for taking the kids around, to school, family driver, etc..).

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 11:58:59
Steve O
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Posts: 12323
Location: SE MI
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I find it mildly surprising that the Norwegian govt would proceed with this even though most Norwegians don't support it. I suspect something besides raw economics is the real driver.

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 10:20:04
used-hifi
Audiophile

Posts: 1100
Location: Surprise AZ
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Better Start dumping your very expensive tuners! before everybody gets wind

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:57:00
Norway?

Let them eat lutefisk ;-)

All radio in my area really sucks anyway. I guess I was spoiled by the (mostly) commercial free independent FM stations that even played entire albums (the only interruptions when they flipped sides) and had DJ's who sounded like they were perpetually stoned in the DC area back in the mid sixties through the mid seventies. Oh well :-(

Cheers,
SB

 

All Things Must Pass... first heard on KSAN..., posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:46:01
musetap
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What a GREAT station, what a great time.

Haven't listened to ANY radio (at least by choice) in some 25 years.











"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:45:36
Mike B.
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The best stations in my area are public funded. Two are also training grounds for secondary school and university students. Most of the regular announcers are volunteers. A third has suffered lack of local financial support and cut back on full time staffing. There are also a large number of ad heavy stations that serve up pop, country, and talk. I don't see it going away anytime soon thankfully.


 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:41:15
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 13966
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
I listen to radio only in my car. I have satellite radio, so have my
choice of about 75 different music channels, commercial free. Costs me
$150 per year. I get a LOT of music genres not available anywhere
locally, FM or AM. I do listen to the local sports talk station on
local FM, but that's it. I can't stand the commercials. Absolutely
abhor them, except for one local BBQ place, whose commercials are
pretty funny.

So, AFAIAC, FM and AM both can go away. I don't care.

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

The big conglomerates like Clear Channel are killing it., posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:01:46
Formula radio like "Classic Rock" has taken away any originality from the programming. What made FM so successful in the 60's and 70's was independent and local control of what was being played.

 

RE: The big conglomerates like Clear Channel are killing it., posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:24:36
Alpha Al
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Agreed.

I primarily listen to independent college stations. There are several good ones in this area. One plays mostly blues and blues/rock, another plays a variety, and another is strictly classical.

You don't have to listen to Stairway to Heaven 10 times daily.

 

RE: The beginning of the end for FM?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:00:37
Posts: 754
Location: illinois
Joined: November 19, 2005
Nahhh.. Still plenty of stations in the Chicago metropolitan area to justify my Magnum Dynalab 102 triode tuner. Love live broadcasts and public radio stations with uncommon music in place of tiresome classic rock redundancy. 😨
Regards,
/// Tim W. ///

 

Pick ten of the most overplayed songs in history. That's what's on constant rotation in DC. Nt, posted on January 8, 2017 at 08:49:28
Nt

 

Fortunately, posted on January 8, 2017 at 08:40:38
E-Stat
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we don't have state run broadcasting where the government determines such.

FM will live on here as long as it is commercially viable.

 

And we don't have all them damn fjords! , posted on January 14, 2017 at 15:18:13
JoshT
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Except in Maine, which is kind of like Norway. ;-)
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

Does the FM spectrum have other commercial uses?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:01:23
volunteer
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The US doesn't have state run television but the analog spectrum was replaced with digital. The government does regulate the air waves.




-Wendell

 

RE: Does the FM spectrum have other commercial uses?, posted on January 8, 2017 at 11:14:41
E-Stat
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The government does regulate the air waves.

True, but there's no concept of "it's not cost effective to maintain both" as was reported is the case with a Scandinavian country with a small population.

 

Apparently not yet..., posted on January 8, 2017 at 09:29:04
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12323
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
...but the big influencer is the telecom business, not the govt. The govt generates income by (repeatedly) auctioning off spectrum to big business/telecoms. Recently the FCC permitted (encouraged?) digital over-the-air TV broadcasters to allow their spectrum allocations to be put up for auction as supervised by FCC. By going dark the broadcaster gets some $$$ as does the govt. A couple local stations plan to do this soon. The driver is the wireless industry that covets the portion of the UHF spectrum currently occupied by digital TV. Apparently this range of frequencies is better able to penetrate walls and buildings than current wireless allocations. Perfect for the coming revolution of the "Internet of things".

The net result of the current alliance of the wireless industry with the FCC is that any particular range of spectrum can and will be reallocated if the wireless industry has a need for it. At the present time, the US FM band appears to be uninteresting to the wireless industry but things could easily and rapidly change. US AM band is probably safe from a wireless perspective but faces other survival challenges.

 

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