Poll of the Day > When do you think that AM and FM radio transmissions will finally cease?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Either for legal reasons or the number of listeners dwindle to nothing?

Asking because I was reminded radio exists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW2M6mFl2N4

I don't know anyone who listens (or really has ever listened) to AM radio. I think my parents used to, but that was in the 2000s. FM is still fairly popular I think. I like station surfing during my commutes and it's good for NPR also.

I used to listen to the local radio stations on my way to work back when I didn't have an unlimited data plan (like 2014-2015ih).

Since then though, nah.

Rush died so conservatives have nothing to listen to on the radio anymore

AM will be gone as soon as they have something else good to do with the frequency: that's been dead for years.

FM still has a place for people who don't pay for unlimited data or subscribe to some sort of music service...like me. Not that I drive anywhere anymore.

Zareth posted...

Rush died so conservatives have nothing to listen to on the radio anymore

Hannity

There'll always be radio.

I don't know why you think the FCC would ban AM and FM radios.

They'll both be around for several more decades at the very least. Especially FM.

No. Also check this out.

http://radio.garden/

Like physical copies of games and books, it may dwindle to a fraction of what it is today but it wont entirely cease.

There is an AM sports station that is really popular where I live. I think it is one of the most popular in the nation. They do have a FM broadcast now and an app you can listen on as well, which likely are used more than the AM feed.

shadowsword87 posted...

I don't know why you think the FCC would ban AM and FM radios.

I'm certainly no expert, but see articles from time to time about how they want to repurpose radio frequencies for other uses. The AM frequencies don't appear to be in as high of demand as FM frequencies, but it sounds like electric vehicles might use enough of the AM bandwidth to eventually get the FCC to decide that AM's time is over (which it is).

If there are 1-2 worthwhile AM stations per market (which I suspect is the maximum) they can be given FM slots/etc. The others can learn to podcast to their dozens of listeners.

FM is safe indefinitely as long as people keep listening.

wpot posted...

I'm certainly no expert, but see articles from time to time about how they want to repurpose radio frequencies for other uses. The AM frequencies don't appear to be in as high of demand as FM frequencies, but it sounds like electric vehicles might use enough of the AM bandwidth to eventually get the FCC to decide that AM's time is over (which it is).

If there are 1-2 worthwhile AM stations per market (which I suspect is the maximum) they can be given FM slots/etc. The others can learn to podcast to their dozens of listeners.

FM is safe indefinitely as long as people keep listening.

Uh, why would an EV need radio frequencies? Is there some secret communication thing I haven't heard about?

As I understand there's a lot of AM interference coming out of electric propulsion such that they can't offer AM radios in EVs. And if enough people use EVs on the roadways and it can't be shielded better nobody will be able to hear AM on busy roads.

...maybe the problem will go away, but given the minimal value of AM it seems it wouldn't take too much to end it.

There is a couple of AM stations around here, but yea they are dwindling. Main one I know of is used for 24 hour traffic reports, and I think there might be a sports one. The traffic one is convenient if I am driving and see a notification on a billboard I can just switch to the station rather than pull out my phone. But really, nothing preventing them from being on FM.

FM is never going away, at least not in our lifetimes. It is just too cheap and convenient not to include it compared to the alternatives.

Oh.
What.
No.
No if they're producing a fuckton of EMC because their motors and circuits are shittily designed, that's a completely different issue than wanting to let them go free with regulations.

That's completely not ok.

Having interference alone kill it is lame, sure, but I think the greater point is that the frequencies could be put to 21st century uses if repurposed and there's little reason to put effort into saving AM radio.

The bigger difference is that specific frequency is low enough of a level that it's not really all that super useful. You use higher frequencies to transport more data per second, which is what people want. AM is good for transmitting long ways over the airway, which isn't that useful with the internet.
It's good for localized areas transmitting to receivers not connected to the internet.
You know.
Radio.