AM and FM - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

4X4 · 03-27-2008, 10:27 AM

What's the deal? The two stations I listen to all day (QR and FAN) are both on AM radio and it's pretty annoying that in the downtown core, the stations are fuzzy as hell, as well as any time I drive under a bridge. Not to mention crappy reception inside almost every place I've lived.
Sometimes I like to just listen to Maher and surf the net but I have to accept a strange interference type noise in the background. When I grab the antenna to find better reception, it clears up, but as soon as I let go, the noise comes back.
In the truck, it's clear as a bell until I'm in the tall buildings of DT or even just driving under 9th. FM doesn't do this. Too bad my talk radio stations aren't on FM.

Is there a reason why AM is still in use? It seems antiquated. Does it cost more to broadcast over FM? How does that industry work?

Gozer · 03-27-2008, 10:31 AM

AM is lower quality, but much further range.

HotHotHeat · 03-27-2008, 10:31 AM

They're phasing out AM in the next few years. I read about it in the G&M. All the stations are moving to the FM dial. CBC 1010 AM has already done it, I think they're at 99.7 or something on FM.

I agree, it's completely outdated. The (only) good part about AM is it's ridiculous reach. I can pick it up FAN960 in Vancouver through a car stereo at night.

ken0042 · 03-27-2008, 10:32 AM

I know one of the advantages of AM is it travels greater distances, so I can listed to the Fan as far away as Swift Current or Edmonton.

I think part of the issue is the FM band is pretty full; not as much here in Calgary but in a major centre like Toronto you have Hamitlon and Buffalo mixing it up, and in the Bay Area (San Fran) there is really not much point in hitting seek, as it will just go up one or two places.

burn_baby_burn · 03-27-2008, 10:34 AM

Sirius!

The Goon · 03-27-2008, 10:35 AM

What freaks me out about AM - early in the morning and late at night, I can pick up KFBK 1530 on the radio, clear as if they were broadcasting right in the city. They broadcast out of Sacramento, California! It's some righ-wing talk radio station, so it's fascinating.

4X4 · 03-27-2008, 10:36 AM

Wow. I didn't know that about the reach. I used to listen to Warren on the Weekends (I miss that guy) and he would always talk about his 'favorite' listeners, truckers. I always wondered how those guys were picking up Chorus when in between towns.

HelloHockeyFans · 03-27-2008, 10:38 AM

The reason your signal craps out downtown is because of the ridiculous interference in highly condensed areas like downtown where you’ll get a crap load of interference from electrical noise like fluorescent lighting and other common sources.

I’m assuming AM’s survival is due to spectrum limitations in the FM band. Pay a premium to put your station there or slot yourself into the AM band.

4X4 · 03-27-2008, 10:38 AM

With that in mind, wouldn't it be cool if stations like QR and FAN could broadcast on both frequencies? That way, us city slickers would get better reception having it on FM, but we wouldn't be screwing over the rural people that can pick it up on AM.

ricoFlame · 03-27-2008, 10:38 AM

growing up in eastern alberta (in the middle of no where), we only picked up 660, 910 and 960. guess more people will be getting satellite radio if everything switches to FM.

MelBridgeman · 03-27-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

They're phasing out AM in the next few years. I read about it in the G&M. All the stations are moving to the FM dial. CBC 1010 AM has already done it, I think they're at 99.7 or something on FM.

I agree, it's completely outdated. The (only) good part about AM is it's ridiculous reach. I can pick it up FAN960 in Vancouver through a car stereo at night.

God do i love that!!! I am in Vancouver all the time...and enjoy the fact that i can pick up the FAN in the car while i am there.

the flip side you can pick up the Team 1040 in Calgary as well.

fredr123 · 03-27-2008, 10:50 AM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...echnology/home

Most of Canada's biggest radio broadcasters have either been approved to flip at least a few of their AM stations in certain markets, or are awaiting clearance to do so. Some other small Canadian cities, such as Thunder Bay, have also seen the AM dial fall silent.

Figures kept by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission indicate there were 178 commercial AM stations at the start of 2007. This is outside of the CBC, which is a public broadcaster. However, at least a dozen stations a year have been seeking to flip.

Were it not for limited space on the FM dial in major markets, coupled with restrictions on how many FM stations a company can own in any one market, AM stations in Canada would be dwindling even faster, several broadcasters say.

Ownership rules limiting broadcasters to a pair of English and French FM stations in any given market also stand in the way of such aspirations. Corus applied last year to simultaneously broadcast one of its AM formats in Winnipeg on FM to get a better signal in the city. It was turned down by the CRTC because the move would have given the company three FM stations there.

Resolute 14 · 03-27-2008, 10:52 AM

I've pulled in Fan960 as far away as Peace River on a cloudy day. I can always get Fan960 from Lloydminster to Swift Current to Cranbrook. Very nice when I'm on the road.

Nikki · 03-27-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Sirius!

Off topic but what station do you listen to Sirius on? Seems everytime I find a good channel it only lasts a few weeks before the static starts again. And the suggestions on their site aren't that great either.

troutman · 03-27-2008, 10:55 AM

We picked up Fan 960 in Southern Utah, on a road trip to Las Vegas. We were able to listen to a Flames game well past Salt Lake City.

ricoFlame · 03-27-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki

Off topic but what station do you listen to Sirius on? Seems everytime I find a good channel it only lasts a few weeks before the static starts again. And the suggestions on their site aren't that great either.

get a direct connection. crystal clear sound, good quality.

burn_baby_burn · 03-27-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki

Off topic but what station do you listen to Sirius on? Seems everytime I find a good channel it only lasts a few weeks before the static starts again. And the suggestions on their site aren't that great either.

I got sick of the FM transmitter and went with the direct connection. Crystal clear and I never lose signal. I have it in both my vehicles.

Azure · 03-27-2008, 11:57 AM

I picked up the Fan960 north of Winnipeg once.

Pretty cool.

Sad that I can't get it here in Southern Alberta though.

GoinAllTheWay · 03-27-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

We picked up Fan 960 in Southern Utah, on a road trip to Las Vegas. We were able to listen to a Flames game well past Salt Lake City.

That's insane. I knew AM reach was impressive but had no idea how impressive.

Robbob · 03-27-2008, 12:21 PM

I kind of wished fan960 broadcast in Fm as well because on the train AM is so hit and miss.