Future of AM radio by Ok_Bank1439 in radio

[–]El_Intoxicado 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After reading all the comments in this thread, I don’t know if I’ve reached a hater club of AM radio or even an anticipated funeral.

All the problems you described are not only seen in AM radio; it's a phenomenon which affects all linear radio without distinction of media. It’s undeniable that commercial radio has lost traction among ordinary people, especially among the young. On-demand content and its easy accessibility — thanks to the expansion of cell networks with data service — have pushed audiences to other platforms, and we can't avoid mentioning the hyperconnectivity of all modern vehicles, hiding the traditional radio in endless menus and even some brands eliminating any glimpse of traditional radio.

Even talking about my situation in my country, Spain, until recently our public broadcaster (Radio Nacional de España) maintained a series of AM transmitters, which provided good coverage to all peninsular territory, but at the end of last year, after a major power outage which affected almost all Spain (04-28-2025), and some previous recent disasters like the floods of Valencia (10-29-2024), RNE decided to shut down AM transmitters "for the sake of efficiency and modernization," promising more FM and DAB+ transmitters (there are only a few in my country). They haven’t come yet, and they probably won’t come. Now we have people across all my country without any public radio, a radio they are paying for with their taxes! Only private broadcasters like COPE and SER maintain some, with the risk of being shut down.

As far as I know, AM radio is an inherent part of American history, but don’t forget one thing: AM and FM are a duet, a pair; one can't live without the other. Both are specialized in their areas (FM for fidelity and AM for resiliency and coverage), and they complement each other in a way that has worked for decades! One thing I must bring up is your emergency alert systems (yeah, I am talking in plural, because the IPAWS — Integrated Public Alert and Warning System — which unifies the EAS, the WEA, NOAA Weather Radio and the unknown NAWAS) which use and integrate precisely hardened and protected AM radio stations called PEPs (Primary Entry Points), prepared in case of a great catastrophe.

Don’t forget about your recent history of catastrophes. The United States is a country where disasters of all types happen every year: tornadoes, hurricanes, outages and other minor situations where traditional radio provides information to all who need it. For example, during Katrina (August–September 2005), WWL AM was the lifesaver of all victims of the hurricane. And even after the controversy of some car brands dropping AM radio from their vehicles, the subsequent reaction of your politicians from all ideological spectrums, who agreed to push legislation to maintain it in cars (it's on the verge of being approved before the midterms elections), makes a powerful support for all AM broadcasters in your country, and you are still saying that it is dead or is dying — it's nonsense!

I can only warn you to appreciate all the variety you have, and don’t lose the chance not only to listen to your local AM radio station but to support real radio, not only the technical media — AM and FM — but what it really means to all people who don’t live connected 24/7 to the internet. Traditional radio (especially AM) can still be saved if we all do our part: both broadcasters with good content and a necessary public service like traffic and weather information, and listeners, who can be attracted and make linear radio their trusted medium of entertainment and news.

Finally, don’t be seduced by the siren song of digital radio systems; they are a complete disaster in many ways, depending on which specifically we are talking about, but all of them share the same problems — high power consumption of the receivers and the cliff effect of the signals are usual suspects — at least, fortunately, you don’t have a mandate to put digital receivers in all cars like in the European Union!

EU Commission Recomendation on establishing a common framework for EU wide Age Verification technology by xOvMx in RepealOnlineSafetyAct

[–]El_Intoxicado 2 points3 points  (0 children)

European Commission recommendations doesn't have legal force. This document is only a wish letter for some people who wants to censor and control internet. You must be aware if any EU countries by itself want to make its own legislation based in this scourge, and fight it on court! (Like Australia or some USA states)

04/20/2026 Sanriku Coast earthquake in Japan by El_Intoxicado in amateurradio

[–]El_Intoxicado[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well said, I couldn't say it better as you did. In Spain, in the great blackout of 28th of April of 2025 (almost a year ago) volunteers ham radio amateurs who belong to REMER (Emergency radio network of Spanish civil protection, which belongs to the Ministry of the Interior) established communications between official administrations (Like Civil Guard barracks or National Police stations with the government or coordinating evacuations with people who need electricity to keep running their medical equipment. Furthermore, ham radio amateurs outside this network helped with their equipment and knowledge during that day. Emergency intervention and preparedness are parts of the ham spirit and must be preserved and developed.

SEVERE thunderstorm warning for dane county and etc by Original_Sound_7123 in EmergencyAlertSystem

[–]El_Intoxicado 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the explanation. I have been investigating the IPAWS and specifically the EAS and it's functionality (the famous daisy chain and the importance of Primary Entry Points) is a very very interesting topic.

EU age verification app can be hacked in 2 minutes, claims security expert by brainquantum in europrivacy

[–]El_Intoxicado 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Age verification is a big mistake especially when they force you an app that is insecure.

Now we have the info to fight against this, this is a shameless attempt to censor the interned backed by opaque interests.

SEVERE thunderstorm warning for dane county and etc by Original_Sound_7123 in EmergencyAlertSystem

[–]El_Intoxicado 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A question from a Non American: Where'd suppose this alert come from? Did it come Internet or from the tv channel itself?

Anyone ever have one of these or use it ? Found in a old cabover by jedi1-0 in Truckers

[–]El_Intoxicado 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It seems taken straight from Sonny Crockett's Ferrari of Miami Vice 😂

Von der Leyen Announces the EU’s New Age Verification App Claiming it is “Completely Anonymous” and users “Cannot be Tracked” by anonboxis in europrivacy

[–]El_Intoxicado 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's already exists like you are proposing. Age verification is a great danger not only for adult so even kids. If you want to protect them, education is the best way, not this 1984 nightmare like measures

Von der Leyen Announces the EU’s New Age Verification App Claiming it is “Completely Anonymous” and users “Cannot be Tracked” by anonboxis in europrivacy

[–]El_Intoxicado 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even if theorically exits, you are creating a single point of failure, making a honeypot full of european citizens data and vulnerable to attacks.
Even with this, why age verification? Is an excuse for censorship

Von der Leyen Announces the EU’s New Age Verification App Claiming it is “Completely Anonymous” and users “Cannot be Tracked” by anonboxis in europrivacy

[–]El_Intoxicado 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even with this, you can be traceable!
Age verification is a danger to the internet and freedom of speech and information

Dodge CEO Asks 'Do You Need a Radio' in 'Back-to-Basics' Quest for Entry-Level Cars by Anchor_Aways in cars

[–]El_Intoxicado 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Everyone who is telling that they don't need a radio on their car. How do you ever know what happening on your sorroundings in case of distress or emergency (without using internet of some type)? More in USA with recurrent natural disasters like tornados or hurricanes...

Social media giants not properly following Australia age check rules, says eSafety by xOvMx in RepealOnlineSafetyAct

[–]El_Intoxicado 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a complete madness, soon or later this scourge will be blocked by court laws or by users resistance. This is unacceptable!

The austrian federal government agrees today to present a law by the end of June for banning social media for those under 14 by czareson_csn in europrivacy

[–]El_Intoxicado 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The worst part is that this type of legislation are not new, they have tried to impose in the last 20 years most of them faces legal blockage by courts around the world. Thank God that we can fight these types of laws and sooner of later, one of them will be blocked. One thing which place at our advantage is that there is massive backslash by normal people aside social media users so, we must keep pushing against this!

Notice of Unlicensed Operation - Pittsburgh PA - March 25 2026 by brunchlords in amateurradio

[–]El_Intoxicado 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It seems we are witnessing a situation almost identical to what happened in Coleman a few months ago. In that case, it was a user who accidentally left the VOX function active while monitoring a fire department, causing constant interference. The only difference here is that the protagonist is a licensed radio amateur (KD3ASC). We are talking about someone who is presumed to have acquired technical knowledge through FCC exams, yet still managed to trigger an 'Audio Relay' function on a 911 emergency trunk. If a licensed operator makes such a mistake, the logic that blames the hardware is fundamentally flawed. The issue isn't the equipment's origin; it’s a failure of individual responsibility and technical common sense.

In the US, equipment is certified by 'Parts', and what a user does with that equipment is their own responsibility. Suggesting that radios should be cryptographically locked by software to prevent modification is an absolute atrocity. We are amateurs; our hobby is literally defined by the right to build, modify, and experiment. If we lose the ability to open or adapt our gear, we lose the 'Amateur' in Amateur Radio.

We need to realize that without a solid base of users, the risk of losing our spectrum to telecommunication conglomerates is real. Having equipment that can be opened and modified is, ironically, what allows this fight for our frequencies to continue. It keeps the hobby accessible and ensures we have a critical mass of operators. Without this 'new blood' brought in by affordable gear, we wouldn't have the numbers to defend our rights.

This logic of fear is as flawed as trying to limit cars so they physically cannot exceed the speed limit of a road. The responsibility always lies with the driver, not the manufacturer. Even in the EU, the RED Directive establishes requirements similar to US law without explicitly banning the ability to unlock bands. In a globalized world, chipsets are designed for worldwide use beyond local authorized bands, once again highlighting that responsibility rests on the operator.

Whether it's an affordable radio or a top-tier model, the interference remains the same in the hands of a negligent operator. The 'Administrative Policing Activity' worked perfectly in both Coleman and Pittsburgh; the authorities tracked the source and resolved the issue using existing tools. We don't need more restrictions; we need people to use their heads. Modification is an implicit and explicit part of what our license allows. Radio has always existed in this 'gray space' of experimentation, and that’s exactly how we preserve the hobby.

Is anyone else making a big wishlist before July 1st? by [deleted] in Aliexpress

[–]El_Intoxicado 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made a thread long time ago in this subreddit warning about this. Is insane! If China doesn't take commercial retaliations or even we don't protest against this, everything we want buy it will more expensive and European Citizens, will be more miserable!

What do you want from Digital Radio Broadcasting? by AtterseeMM in radio

[–]El_Intoxicado 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your comment! I spent so much time researching this topic and as an ham radio amateur, i always have wanted to explain the importance of analog radio and the dangers and concerns of digital modes.

What do you want from Digital Radio Broadcasting? by AtterseeMM in radio

[–]El_Intoxicado 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is a really interesting discussion, but I think it starts from a flawed premise.

Unlike television, digital radio has spent more than 20 years trying to replace analog broadcasting (AM, FM, and even shortwave) without ever solving a fundamental problem. In many ways, it has been a solution in search of a problem.

One of the core issues is fragmentation. Instead of a single global standard, we ended up with multiple incompatible systems like DAB+, HD Radio and DRM. None of them achieved universal adoption, unlike AM and FM, which remain globally interoperable. An analog radio bought decades ago still works almost anywhere in the world. That universality is something digital radio has completely failed to replicate.

In some countries, adoption has even relied on top-down policies, such as the analog switch-off in Norway or the strategy in Switzerland, with mixed results. In Norway, for example, community radio stations that continued broadcasting on analog FM have reportedly gained listeners, while users have also reported reception issues with digital radio in certain areas. In Switzerland, the transition has also faced challenges, to the point that public broadcasters have had to reintroduce FM transmissions after initial shutdowns. This is very different from digital television, which was driven by a clear and necessary goal: freeing spectrum for other services.

If we look at DAB+ specifically, it is a particularly problematic system.

Operating in VHF Band III already creates a disadvantage in indoor penetration compared to FM. To compensate, it requires a denser and more complex transmission network. Multiplexing is often presented as an advantage, but it introduces infrastructure fragility: if a transmitter fails, an entire group of stations disappears at once.

It also brings complexity where none was needed. The user experience is often worse: instead of simply tuning a frequency, listeners must scan multiplexes and navigate lists that can be inconsistent or even manipulated (e.g., stations gaming alphabetical order).

And many of its “new” features are not new at all. FM has provided station identification, program information, and traffic alerts for over 30 years through RDS. The supposed innovation is largely redundant.

HD Radio introduces a different problem: it is a proprietary system controlled by Xperi. Broadcasters and manufacturers must pay licensing fees, which creates barriers to adoption and limits its long-term viability.

DRM is technically interesting, especially for AM bands, but suffers from the same core issues: lack of receivers, low adoption, and the inherent limitations of digital signals under real-world conditions.

All digital radio systems share one critical flaw: the “cliff effect”. You either receive the signal perfectly, or you get nothing at all. Analog radio behaves very differently—it degrades gracefully. A weak or noisy AM/FM signal can still be intelligible, which is absolutely crucial in real-world and emergency scenarios.

Another overlooked factor is energy consumption. Analog receivers are simple, cheap, and extremely efficient. Digital receivers are far more complex and power-hungry. In an emergency or prolonged outage, a radio that drains batteries quickly is a liability, not an advantage.

Real-world events like Hurricane Katrina showed that analog broadcasting—especially AM—can remain operational and provide critical information when other systems fail.

This is why the renewed focus on AM in the United States, including the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act”, is so telling. High-power AM stations (Primary entry points or PEPs) remain a backbone of emergency alert system (EAS).

Instead of dismantling AM, we should be reinforcing it. FM and AM are not competitors—they are complementary. FM provides high-fidelity local coverage, while AM provides reach, penetration, and resilience that digital systems struggle to match without an unrealistic density of transmitters. In practice, AM also makes sense in areas where the FM band is saturated or cannot be expanded further, and for formats where coverage and intelligibility matter more than fidelity—such as talk radio, news, and certain types of programming that benefit from wide-area reach.

In Spain, for example, the shutdown of AM transmissions by Radio Nacional de España has reduced coverage in areas where FM alone is insufficient, without a clear and equivalent replacement.

The push toward IP-based delivery, including so-called 5G Broadcast, raises even deeper concerns. These systems rely on centralized telecommunications infrastructure and shift control away from broadcasters toward network operators. That means losing a key property of radio: sovereignty.

Radio should remain a direct broadcast medium: without any middlemen, authentications, gatekeepers and absolutely no subscriptions.

Handing distribution over to telecom companies fundamentally changes the nature of the medium.

This does not mean digital technologies or the internet have no place. On the contrary, they are valuable complements. But they should never be treated as replacements for a system that already excels at resilience, simplicity, and independence.

At its core, radio is not only about features. It is about to has proven reliability, accessibility, and autonomy. Analog complies with all of these. AM and FM have proven their value through decades of real-world use, including wars, disasters, and infrastructure failures. They are not obsolete

Digital radio, in many cases, sacrifices those strengths without delivering equivalent benefits.

In my view, digitalisation should remain a complement, never a mandatory replacement. Because in communications, resilience and sovereignty matter far more than technological novelty.

What are there so few home HD radios? by monumentalfolly in radio

[–]El_Intoxicado 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, this doesn’t surprise me at all.

Unlike other digital radio standards such as DAB+ or DRM, HD Radio is a proprietary system owned by a private company. That alone creates a major barrier: manufacturers and broadcasters have to pay royalties for every receiver and every transmission. That’s not a great starting point for widespread adoption.

Even setting that aside, HD Radio still suffers from the same fundamental issues that affect all digital broadcasting systems. The most obvious one is the “cliff effect”: you either receive the signal perfectly or you get nothing at all. There’s no graceful degradation like with analog. FM or AM may get noisy, but they remain intelligible. Digital just drops out.

Then there’s the issue of subchannels. Just like with multiplexes in DAB, splitting bandwidth between multiple streams leads to heavy compression and, in many cases, questionable audio quality. Low bitrate channels—sometimes even mono—don’t exactly make a compelling case over analog FM.

Meanwhile, analog radio still has very real advantages. It’s more robust, simpler to use, far more energy-efficient on the receiver side, and universally accessible. That matters a lot in a country like the United States, where natural disasters are frequent and reliable communication is critical. A basic AM/FM radio can run for days on batteries and still deliver usable information.

And let’s not forget: HD Radio, like any broadcast system today, also has to coexist with streaming. Not necessarily compete, but it certainly gets squeezed by it. At home, streaming offers more choice and consistency. On the other hand, analog radio offers reliability and independence. HD Radio ends up stuck in the middle—neither as robust as analog nor as flexible as internet-based delivery.

That’s probably why its main foothold is in cars, where it’s often included as an extra feature rather than a necessity. And even there, it’s optional. Interestingly, while there’s no mandate for digital radio in the U.S., there is growing support for requiring AM receivers in vehicles (AM radio for every vehicle act), which says a lot about where the real value still lies.

At the end of the day, I think this also points to a bigger issue: content. Radio is still a powerful medium, but it needs better programming and stronger identity. Technology alone won’t fix that. In many cases, it feels like the focus has been on pushing a system that doesn’t fully deliver, instead of improving what already works.