Medium Waves Broadcasting in Italy
ID: 112931
Medium Waves Broadcasting in Italy
23.May.06 12:55
0
Let me use some of the space offered by this forum for a lamentation: two years ago (May, 15, 1994), the public Radiotelevision Agency in Italy (RAI Radio Televisione Italiana) took the drastic decision to stop the radio broadcasting in Medium Wave. Before that date, there were three public channels: Radio1, Radio2 and Radio3, transmitted both in MW and in FM. From that date on, only Radio1 remains in MW, with reduced power. The consequence is that a minority of people are no more able to listen to public radio, because FM signal doesn't reach every part of the territory, and a lot of antique radios are condamned to silence.
The reasons for that switch-off were of three types: one, the reduction of the so-called electromagnetic pollution; two, the kick-off of new technologies, digital terrestrial broadcasting and so on; three, economical reasons.
I wonder if other Nations have arrived to so drastical reduction of the public radio service, and where is the point in throwing away years and years of radio history, simply in the name of the progress and the trading economy.
I know that big efforts are undergoing in France, Germany, other Eurpean Countries and the U.S.A. to put new technologies in the old medium and long waves, such as DRM, multicasting and so on. Is it possible that only in Italy there is no need of this?
I will be grateful to anyone who would give me some information about the broadcasting policy in his Country, and about the governative plans for the future. The aim is to present to our Government a petition, in order to reconsiderate the problem and to reactivate the public service.
Many thanks to everyone.
Leonardo Mureddu
The reasons for that switch-off were of three types: one, the reduction of the so-called electromagnetic pollution; two, the kick-off of new technologies, digital terrestrial broadcasting and so on; three, economical reasons.
I wonder if other Nations have arrived to so drastical reduction of the public radio service, and where is the point in throwing away years and years of radio history, simply in the name of the progress and the trading economy.
I know that big efforts are undergoing in France, Germany, other Eurpean Countries and the U.S.A. to put new technologies in the old medium and long waves, such as DRM, multicasting and so on. Is it possible that only in Italy there is no need of this?
I will be grateful to anyone who would give me some information about the broadcasting policy in his Country, and about the governative plans for the future. The aim is to present to our Government a petition, in order to reconsiderate the problem and to reactivate the public service.
Many thanks to everyone.
Leonardo Mureddu
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Respectful correction
23.May.06 15:24
Dear Leonardo,
You are referring to a decision in May 2004! - or was the decision actually made in May 1994 - 12 years ago).
It will occur in all countries eventually - time and technology waits for no one.
Respectfully,
Robert Sarbell
You are referring to a decision in May 2004! - or was the decision actually made in May 1994 - 12 years ago).
It will occur in all countries eventually - time and technology waits for no one.
Respectfully,
Robert Sarbell
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Switzerland - Beromuenster Transmitter closedown in 2008
23.May.06 17:33
Hallo Leonardo
here in Switzerland, we are quite advanced in this subject...
There are two separate official enterprises, the Swisscom running the transmitters and SRG / SSR / SRI providing the radio programmes, they have contact, but the programme makers cannot discuss transmitter facility problems and vice versa.
After a lightning strike, the Beromunster transmitter runs on reduced power. There are many complaints of people living near the transmitter site complaning about problems referred to "electrosmog" (the same carry their cellular phones around every minute, the high signal strengths of these do not cause any problems...).
So by 2008 the transmitter should be renewed or will completely close down. The canton of Luzern, where the Beromunster transmitter is located, did not agree to have the site renewed and the Swiss Radio Corporation didn't oppose to this decision.
The Swiss Shortwave Services "Swiss Radio International" already had to close down due to the same complaints about high field strength and physical problems of people living near the transmitters. The old Schwarzenburg site run on reduced power for some years and has been dismantled.
Swiss Radio International has closed down finally, Swiss people living abroad should rely on their Website, the Satellite transmissions (I usually take a satellity dish to the beach in my summer holidays ;-( ) or can rely on Swiss German language programme on the Beromunster transmitter until 2008.
I do not have great expectations on DRM (digital radio mondiale). Many german transmitters switched to digital mode and cannot be heard with ordinary radios or even worldband receivers. You need special radios with integrated computer software to decode (around 800 Euro..., 20 of the sold in Europe...) or an expensive shortwave receiver with 12 kHz IF out and a personal computer to decode. It will be much easier to rely on web based radio.
DRM does work in tests, but I guess, there will be problems when signals on adjacent channels in DRM mode will be mixed. The DRM consortium opposed to the idea to move on new frequency bands outside the classic shortwave boradcast bands (there would be enough space for them in the former marine shortwave bands).
Sorry, I have not much courage in the idea to keep AM transmitters on the air, when listeners demand drops, as the heads of the Radio Companies have perceived it. If You want to listen to Swiss radio, travel to Switzerland, if I want to listen to RAI due, I would have to drive down to Italy.
It might be a good idea, to get a RMorg modulator kit, I already have got one, to keep my mediumwave radios playing.
Greetings from Switzerland
Martin Boesch
here in Switzerland, we are quite advanced in this subject...
There are two separate official enterprises, the Swisscom running the transmitters and SRG / SSR / SRI providing the radio programmes, they have contact, but the programme makers cannot discuss transmitter facility problems and vice versa.
After a lightning strike, the Beromunster transmitter runs on reduced power. There are many complaints of people living near the transmitter site complaning about problems referred to "electrosmog" (the same carry their cellular phones around every minute, the high signal strengths of these do not cause any problems...).
So by 2008 the transmitter should be renewed or will completely close down. The canton of Luzern, where the Beromunster transmitter is located, did not agree to have the site renewed and the Swiss Radio Corporation didn't oppose to this decision.
The Swiss Shortwave Services "Swiss Radio International" already had to close down due to the same complaints about high field strength and physical problems of people living near the transmitters. The old Schwarzenburg site run on reduced power for some years and has been dismantled.
Swiss Radio International has closed down finally, Swiss people living abroad should rely on their Website, the Satellite transmissions (I usually take a satellity dish to the beach in my summer holidays ;-( ) or can rely on Swiss German language programme on the Beromunster transmitter until 2008.
I do not have great expectations on DRM (digital radio mondiale). Many german transmitters switched to digital mode and cannot be heard with ordinary radios or even worldband receivers. You need special radios with integrated computer software to decode (around 800 Euro..., 20 of the sold in Europe...) or an expensive shortwave receiver with 12 kHz IF out and a personal computer to decode. It will be much easier to rely on web based radio.
DRM does work in tests, but I guess, there will be problems when signals on adjacent channels in DRM mode will be mixed. The DRM consortium opposed to the idea to move on new frequency bands outside the classic shortwave boradcast bands (there would be enough space for them in the former marine shortwave bands).
Sorry, I have not much courage in the idea to keep AM transmitters on the air, when listeners demand drops, as the heads of the Radio Companies have perceived it. If You want to listen to Swiss radio, travel to Switzerland, if I want to listen to RAI due, I would have to drive down to Italy.
It might be a good idea, to get a RMorg modulator kit, I already have got one, to keep my mediumwave radios playing.
Greetings from Switzerland
Martin Boesch
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Reduction in AM broadcasts and change to digital in the UK.
23.May.06 23:08
Hello, Leonardo,
In the UK, the BBC have been reducing their broadcasts on MW for some time now. The main BBC stations now only broadcast on FM and digital (DAB, satellite, cable and Freeview). Only a few local BBC stations remain on MW along with a number of commercial stations. The analogue television service will also be gradually phased out between now and 2012, with everyone having to go digital by then. What is going to happen with the empty slots in MW remains to be seen, but I suppose we will all need modulators to keep our vintage MW radios supplied with a signal. I myself have a SSTRAN AMT3000 kit in hand (not built yet) for this purpose. I don't think too many of us are very enthusiastic about digital radio transmissions in the UK due to the low bit rates used. There is also a problem with DAB radios in cars and I think the few sales of them have stopped due to the signals breaking up too much. I expect FM will continue for some time yet and most agree that it sounds better than the present DAB system.
In the UK, the BBC have been reducing their broadcasts on MW for some time now. The main BBC stations now only broadcast on FM and digital (DAB, satellite, cable and Freeview). Only a few local BBC stations remain on MW along with a number of commercial stations. The analogue television service will also be gradually phased out between now and 2012, with everyone having to go digital by then. What is going to happen with the empty slots in MW remains to be seen, but I suppose we will all need modulators to keep our vintage MW radios supplied with a signal. I myself have a SSTRAN AMT3000 kit in hand (not built yet) for this purpose. I don't think too many of us are very enthusiastic about digital radio transmissions in the UK due to the low bit rates used. There is also a problem with DAB radios in cars and I think the few sales of them have stopped due to the signals breaking up too much. I expect FM will continue for some time yet and most agree that it sounds better than the present DAB system.
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24.May.06 04:34
If AM or "Medium Wave" transmissions were stopped, it would bring American politics to a stand still!
Politicians and their handlers live and breath off of AM and cable television, but more from AM.
Many have talked about DAB in the U.S., and there is satellite via XM and Sirus, but the great thing about AM, is that it can be listened to at long distances and it is free!
It is really sad that Europe has such a high collection pseudo eco experts that thwart medium wave broadcasts, but spend all day talking on a cell phone next to their brain(maybe this is why they can't think clearly).
One of the joys of living in Europe for me in the eighties, was turning my radio on at night and the whole continent of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, would come alive!
There was Radio Luxembourg, Vatican Radio, Radio Montecarlo, AFRTS, and the late Willis Conover on VOA to name a few. I vividly remember the actual first broadcast of Michael Jackson's Thriller album that was broadcast on RTL in '82, and I will never forget the soothing classical music broadcast from Vatican Radio on the great Telefunken antennas out of Rome at midnight!
If Europe lets go of medium wave, it will lose an irreplaceable cultural treasure!
Politicians and their handlers live and breath off of AM and cable television, but more from AM.
Many have talked about DAB in the U.S., and there is satellite via XM and Sirus, but the great thing about AM, is that it can be listened to at long distances and it is free!
It is really sad that Europe has such a high collection pseudo eco experts that thwart medium wave broadcasts, but spend all day talking on a cell phone next to their brain(maybe this is why they can't think clearly).
One of the joys of living in Europe for me in the eighties, was turning my radio on at night and the whole continent of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, would come alive!
There was Radio Luxembourg, Vatican Radio, Radio Montecarlo, AFRTS, and the late Willis Conover on VOA to name a few. I vividly remember the actual first broadcast of Michael Jackson's Thriller album that was broadcast on RTL in '82, and I will never forget the soothing classical music broadcast from Vatican Radio on the great Telefunken antennas out of Rome at midnight!
If Europe lets go of medium wave, it will lose an irreplaceable cultural treasure!
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Re: correction
24.May.06 11:07
Dear Robert, thanks for the correction. Obviously it was 2004, not 1994. I also apologize for my English, not very good, but I'm sure you all can understend my sadness for an epoch that ends, the epoch of poor technology. In the next future noone will be able to listen to radio by means of a simple crystal set. It is a pity.
Leo
Leo
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The situation in EIRE
24.May.06 11:18
I have just received in my private e-mail a message from EIRE, by a friend which asked me to forward his message to the forum. Here it is:
" bon journo leonardo, our public service broadcastor ,is rte , radio televis eireann,
we had three stations on medium ,dublin cork and athlone ,now we only have one -dublin ,
there are numerous other rte radio stations on fm , including lyric fm , which caters mainly for classical music, rte 1 fm and rte 2 fm , 2 caters for pop music , they have however bought out a station on longwave it was known as atlantic 252 , beamed at the uk , broadcasting now on a reduced wattage output, but at least their maintaining the service on the am bands ,and splitting broadcasts when theres football matches on .
it would be a terrible pity for those of us who love restoring old radios if everything was to go dead ,
leonardo would u oblige me by forwarding this email to radiomuseum .org ,because for some inexplicable reason i cant enter their forum and i need them to know that i replied to ur message , arab ederchi senor ,
regards from maitiu standun."
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I agree completely with you!
24.May.06 21:27
Dear Leonardo,
I totally agree with you (and also with Omer), that there are several advantages to reducing the rate of obsolescence of some technologies. I would, however, respectfully differ with Omer regarding the number of "pseudo eco experts" in Europe - there are also MANY in this country!!
Your use of the english language is much greater than my use of the Italian language, but I fully understand your feelings - I had a very direct and personal experience as a result of an exponential rise in technology. I experienced and made great use of several various forms of radio aids to air navigation (and mariners also used those same or similar aids such as DECCA, CONSOL/CONSOLAN, LORAN, and Radio beacons), but there were technological changes that did not necessarily lead to "extinction of professions".
My profession has become virtually "extinct" - Air Navigation! With the advent of satellites, and the present use of GPS receivers, there is no need for aerial or even maritime navigation principles to be understood or taught. . . . .
But for large portions of the world today, the broadcast communications industry does not need to rush headlong into rapid desertion of some communications technologies - except that many individuals demand instant worldwide communications - and in many instances strictly for pleasure and not for any great civic or social development.
Respectfully,
Robert
I totally agree with you (and also with Omer), that there are several advantages to reducing the rate of obsolescence of some technologies. I would, however, respectfully differ with Omer regarding the number of "pseudo eco experts" in Europe - there are also MANY in this country!!
Your use of the english language is much greater than my use of the Italian language, but I fully understand your feelings - I had a very direct and personal experience as a result of an exponential rise in technology. I experienced and made great use of several various forms of radio aids to air navigation (and mariners also used those same or similar aids such as DECCA, CONSOL/CONSOLAN, LORAN, and Radio beacons), but there were technological changes that did not necessarily lead to "extinction of professions".
My profession has become virtually "extinct" - Air Navigation! With the advent of satellites, and the present use of GPS receivers, there is no need for aerial or even maritime navigation principles to be understood or taught. . . . .
But for large portions of the world today, the broadcast communications industry does not need to rush headlong into rapid desertion of some communications technologies - except that many individuals demand instant worldwide communications - and in many instances strictly for pleasure and not for any great civic or social development.
Respectfully,
Robert
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Positive experiences, please!
25.May.06 11:05
Good morning gentlemen, and thank you very much for your replies. Thanks as well to Leonardo for having brought the problem to this board.
As he said, we are trying to put down a petition to be sent to the new Government (the last one had too much personal interests in the matter as you most probably know) and the Radio Italiana C.E.O., and we're currently trying to get the help of some Consumer's Association in order to give some resonance and officiality to the message.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. One of the strong point of the message is the fact that MW and SW transmissions were listened throughout all Europe and brought european citizens closer to each other, thus turning their disappearance in a great damage to the EU community as a whole. If you would like to hear RAI transmissions still (or again), PLEASE JOIN IN, we need your signature!
For the same reasons, we're looking for present applications of new technologies to AM trasnmissions in other countries, to be given as an example. PLEASE BE POSITIVE: we all know that digital is always worse than the analog counterpart, but this of course won't fit the message. CDs are worse than LPs but people think they're OK. Mp3s are unlistenable but everybody's buying an iPOD. It takes 20 seconds to switch channel on digital TV and dark scenes look like a cubist painting, but nonetheless analog TV will be switched off. Nobody will complain about digital AM being less good than FM, as people today are eyeless earless and brainless. And after all we have the card of wider audience range to play: it's a good chance to have an analog AM signal still on the air on the background. PLEASE REPORT EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL AM APPLICATIONS.
Of course the message would be strengthened if other people in other countries would write similar petitions to their respective radios and Governments. I strongly encourage you to group together and do so. I can anticipate that you'll have my signature, and Leonardo's.
We'll keep you posted on what's going on. Thanks a lot - Marco.
As he said, we are trying to put down a petition to be sent to the new Government (the last one had too much personal interests in the matter as you most probably know) and the Radio Italiana C.E.O., and we're currently trying to get the help of some Consumer's Association in order to give some resonance and officiality to the message.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. One of the strong point of the message is the fact that MW and SW transmissions were listened throughout all Europe and brought european citizens closer to each other, thus turning their disappearance in a great damage to the EU community as a whole. If you would like to hear RAI transmissions still (or again), PLEASE JOIN IN, we need your signature!
For the same reasons, we're looking for present applications of new technologies to AM trasnmissions in other countries, to be given as an example. PLEASE BE POSITIVE: we all know that digital is always worse than the analog counterpart, but this of course won't fit the message. CDs are worse than LPs but people think they're OK. Mp3s are unlistenable but everybody's buying an iPOD. It takes 20 seconds to switch channel on digital TV and dark scenes look like a cubist painting, but nonetheless analog TV will be switched off. Nobody will complain about digital AM being less good than FM, as people today are eyeless earless and brainless. And after all we have the card of wider audience range to play: it's a good chance to have an analog AM signal still on the air on the background. PLEASE REPORT EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL AM APPLICATIONS.
Of course the message would be strengthened if other people in other countries would write similar petitions to their respective radios and Governments. I strongly encourage you to group together and do so. I can anticipate that you'll have my signature, and Leonardo's.
We'll keep you posted on what's going on. Thanks a lot - Marco.
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26.May.06 08:13
Believe it or not, here in the West Coast of the United States, we have a station, KGO, that broadcasts "clear channel" seven days a week, at 50,000 watts from San Francisco, CA( I listen to these broadcasts at night time in Los Angeles). The format is talk radio, but what is interesting here, is Dr Bill Wattenburg, a Renaissance man who broadcasts from 20:00 to 01:00 every Saturday and Sunday. That man has two phD's and is a nuclear scientist. I urge all of you to listen to his web cast at that time, and at your convenience call him on the phone or email him about Europe's dilemma concerning middle wave broadcasting. With his extensive contacts of prominent politicians in the European Union, I can assure you he will say something to them!
When you tell him what is going on in Europe, it will definately put this man in to a state of shock!
His web sites are: http://www.kgoam810.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.pushback.com
and http://www.pushback.com/
When you tell him what is going on in Europe, it will definately put this man in to a state of shock!
His web sites are: http://www.kgoam810.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.pushback.com
and http://www.pushback.com/
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26.May.06 17:00
Thank you Omer, I forwarded him a message.
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AM for Italian minorities - Northern Adriatic
06.Jun.06 23:25
Italian minorities in former Jugoslavia (Slovenia, Istria and Dalmatia) have their own Radio stations which is luckly still broadcasting in AM.
Therefore in North-Eastern Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto), Slovenia and Croatia we can receive Radio Koper - Capodistria (www.radiocapodistria.net) in medium waves.
Radio Capodistria was established during the allied control of Trieste after the Second World War, meant for the city, and (later) for the Italian language minorities in former Yugoslavia.
Current Italian communication minister (Paolo Gentiloni) can be contacted through his blog: www.paologentiloni.it
It might be a good idea to underline our interest in keeping AM broadcasting, as there are some worries related to plans to re-design the frequencies which can be a risk to the last public AM broadcasting (Radio 1).
Therefore in North-Eastern Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto), Slovenia and Croatia we can receive Radio Koper - Capodistria (www.radiocapodistria.net) in medium waves.
Radio Capodistria was established during the allied control of Trieste after the Second World War, meant for the city, and (later) for the Italian language minorities in former Yugoslavia.
Current Italian communication minister (Paolo Gentiloni) can be contacted through his blog: www.paologentiloni.it
It might be a good idea to underline our interest in keeping AM broadcasting, as there are some worries related to plans to re-design the frequencies which can be a risk to the last public AM broadcasting (Radio 1).
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07.Jun.06 10:39
As a side note to Omer, my letter to Dr. Wattemburg gave absolutely NO EFFECT, not even an automated reply.
Alessandro, thanks a lot for the link. As you know, while waiting for a common action, I immediately wrote to him. I invite everyone who cares about MW broadcasting to do the same, a short letter will be more than sufficient.
I am astonished at how this argument raises little or no interest and even less ACTION. Do I have to think that collectors don't care at all about radio broadcasts? Do you simply collect an OBJECT, a GOOD? Is it only a piece of hardware to you? Only 4-5 radio listeners (who replied above) here? Is that it?
Alessandro, thanks a lot for the link. As you know, while waiting for a common action, I immediately wrote to him. I invite everyone who cares about MW broadcasting to do the same, a short letter will be more than sufficient.
I am astonished at how this argument raises little or no interest and even less ACTION. Do I have to think that collectors don't care at all about radio broadcasts? Do you simply collect an OBJECT, a GOOD? Is it only a piece of hardware to you? Only 4-5 radio listeners (who replied above) here? Is that it?
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has AM Broadcast a future ?
07.Jun.06 13:53
Well, it is a pity, but I am pessimistic. Once Government has adopted environmentalists arguments about electrosmog, common sense has lost its right. And Industry cannot resist to open and use a new market, where people are forced to buy by making their equipment obsolete. It is almost kind of a plot!
I am going to establish my own independent program supply, where I can listen in to my favorite contempory recordings - even using Crystal Sets, which are of little use for distant stations.
Nevertheless:
Good Luck!
I am going to establish my own independent program supply, where I can listen in to my favorite contempory recordings - even using Crystal Sets, which are of little use for distant stations.
Nevertheless:
Good Luck!
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AM is still reasonably popular in the U.S.
08.Jun.06 09:05
Although AM is not what it used to be, it is still popular as a medium for "talk radio" here in the U.S. Talk radio includes stations specializing in sports, news, and political call-in shows.
Stations with all-news format are among the most popular on radio. For example, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, one all-news station, KCBS (740 kHz, 50,000 watt) is the more popular than any other station on AM or FM.
Another niche that AM has found is minority language stations. Here in San Jose we have two AM Spanish stations, and two AM Vietnamese stations (San Jose is home to the U.S.'s largest Vietnamese community, with 50,000 members, or about 5% of the city's population).
There is some experimentation with digital on AM using the so-called IBOC ("in-band on-channel) system, which creates nasty interference sidebands. I don't really expect digital AM to succeed. People looking for digital can find it on satellite and FM (where there is enough bandwidth so that no interference is caused).
Here in the U.S. we simply have far more AM stations than in Europe. When I lived in Switzerland for a few years, I noticed there was only one station that I could receive during the day -- the Swiss station at Beromuenster. Not even two stations available to check dial calibration on an antique radio!
Due to its current popularity, I'd expect AM in the U.S. to survive at least another 10 years, maybe much longer. Satellite looms as the biggest threat, but unless free broadcasting by satellite takes hold, AM will survive. We have a long tradition of free radio reception in the U.S., and I don't think subscription service will ever have 100% acceptance here.
Tom AE6XD
Stations with all-news format are among the most popular on radio. For example, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, one all-news station, KCBS (740 kHz, 50,000 watt) is the more popular than any other station on AM or FM.
Another niche that AM has found is minority language stations. Here in San Jose we have two AM Spanish stations, and two AM Vietnamese stations (San Jose is home to the U.S.'s largest Vietnamese community, with 50,000 members, or about 5% of the city's population).
There is some experimentation with digital on AM using the so-called IBOC ("in-band on-channel) system, which creates nasty interference sidebands. I don't really expect digital AM to succeed. People looking for digital can find it on satellite and FM (where there is enough bandwidth so that no interference is caused).
Here in the U.S. we simply have far more AM stations than in Europe. When I lived in Switzerland for a few years, I noticed there was only one station that I could receive during the day -- the Swiss station at Beromuenster. Not even two stations available to check dial calibration on an antique radio!
Due to its current popularity, I'd expect AM in the U.S. to survive at least another 10 years, maybe much longer. Satellite looms as the biggest threat, but unless free broadcasting by satellite takes hold, AM will survive. We have a long tradition of free radio reception in the U.S., and I don't think subscription service will ever have 100% acceptance here.
Tom AE6XD
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08.Jun.06 12:37
Thanks Thomas. As a matter of fact, you described the situation I've found when traveling through the States in 2004.
The Italian situation, as you guessed, is and was very different because so far only the State Radio had the licence to broadcast. That means only 3 channels even in the golden days.
One (partial) solution would be to free the broadcast licences to private radios, though of course the decrease of quality would leave us breathless. Commercials after commercials after commercials. GROAN.
Thanks for your support. Enjoy your AM broadcasts!
The Italian situation, as you guessed, is and was very different because so far only the State Radio had the licence to broadcast. That means only 3 channels even in the golden days.
One (partial) solution would be to free the broadcast licences to private radios, though of course the decrease of quality would leave us breathless. Commercials after commercials after commercials. GROAN.
Thanks for your support. Enjoy your AM broadcasts!
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09.Jun.06 05:09
Thank you for contacting Dr. Bill Wattenburg by email. I will be calling his talk show to open a forum discussion this Saturday , on the plight of medium wave in Europe. You can webcast his program from Europe.
It is not so much a problem of governments ceasing the transmission of programming, but the insidious involvement of ecologists thinking that they are accomplishing something by killing a piece of European culture, medium wave radio!
Many of these eco losers are completely oblivious to the fact , that the very cell phone they use all day, may do more harm to their body than an any AM transmission tower perched up a hill.
My suggestion for Europe, is to allow commercial broadcasting on medium wave and not tax medium wave radios. Personally, I try to support all the sponsors on the programs I like here in the States.
BTW The C Crane company contracted out to Sangean, to actually produce a radio that can receive KGO at long distances, http://www.ccrane.com/radios/am-fm-radios/ccradio-plus/index.aspx
It is not so much a problem of governments ceasing the transmission of programming, but the insidious involvement of ecologists thinking that they are accomplishing something by killing a piece of European culture, medium wave radio!
Many of these eco losers are completely oblivious to the fact , that the very cell phone they use all day, may do more harm to their body than an any AM transmission tower perched up a hill.
My suggestion for Europe, is to allow commercial broadcasting on medium wave and not tax medium wave radios. Personally, I try to support all the sponsors on the programs I like here in the States.
BTW The C Crane company contracted out to Sangean, to actually produce a radio that can receive KGO at long distances, http://www.ccrane.com/radios/am-fm-radios/ccradio-plus/index.aspx
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10.Jun.06 04:09
Please read this thread on antiqueradios.com, it's a real eye opener!
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56472
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56472
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Beromunster transmitter to close
15.Jun.06 17:45
Hello
AM is now an old medium,not to talk of the megawatts of power needed.Here in Australia because of the distances,it is not tennable to have everywhere tv and radio stations.Thus the medium of satellite broadcasting is used.When for medium wave kilowatts bis megawatts of power were used ,25 watt is enough to send a signal to a satellite 36000KM away.Also the received signal is digital and all in stereo.Here in Perth,I can receive 93 tv and radio stations from allover the world,all in pure stereo.No need to have large wire antennas to pick up a signal that keeps fading.I still use my old FM radios ,I feed them with the audio signal that comes from the satellite receiver via a stereo mini audio transmitter.Here in Australia legal.
In prehistorical times ,I would have spend hourd trying to receive a signal from europe using different antennas,pre amplifiers and even with the Kilowatts that DW or Swiss radio pomped out ,it would be difficult to get a good signal.The signal I receive from the Optus B3 satellite has covered a distance of more than 39000KM.
Thats why most broadcasters are leaving the AM medium.
Have a look at www.lyngsat.com and see the proliferation od broadcasting satellites.I still keep my old valve radios as I think i get a better sound than the present transistor radios.
Maurice De Wilde
AM is now an old medium,not to talk of the megawatts of power needed.Here in Australia because of the distances,it is not tennable to have everywhere tv and radio stations.Thus the medium of satellite broadcasting is used.When for medium wave kilowatts bis megawatts of power were used ,25 watt is enough to send a signal to a satellite 36000KM away.Also the received signal is digital and all in stereo.Here in Perth,I can receive 93 tv and radio stations from allover the world,all in pure stereo.No need to have large wire antennas to pick up a signal that keeps fading.I still use my old FM radios ,I feed them with the audio signal that comes from the satellite receiver via a stereo mini audio transmitter.Here in Australia legal.
In prehistorical times ,I would have spend hourd trying to receive a signal from europe using different antennas,pre amplifiers and even with the Kilowatts that DW or Swiss radio pomped out ,it would be difficult to get a good signal.The signal I receive from the Optus B3 satellite has covered a distance of more than 39000KM.
Thats why most broadcasters are leaving the AM medium.
Have a look at www.lyngsat.com and see the proliferation od broadcasting satellites.I still keep my old valve radios as I think i get a better sound than the present transistor radios.
Maurice De Wilde
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