[cma-l] AM for CR

Wed Feb 17 12:23:47 GMT 2016

Good points of course Tony.There are undoubtedly certain audience sectors that continue to benefit from an AM service, but the point I am making is the deception of suggesting that AM is a feasible alternative to FM for a conventional Community Radio application.James clearly agrees.

Ian Hickling
Partner

Office: 01635 578435  (7am-11pm UK time)Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:48:57 +0000
From: ravensound at pilgrimsound.co.uk
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] AM for CR

    MF/AM (medium/long wave) is a legacy
      system with older listeners predominantly, but we, the Aussies and
      Americans still find it useful.  It is possible to listen to it on
      a battery powered radio which will run for days on a couple of
      AA's.  In the US they even extended the medium wave band, which
      could be done here now as many receivers cover up to 1700 kHz.
      It's ability to cross boundaries has sometimes been useful
      although less cost effective now. As always, given relatively free
      access to broadcasting excess demand has driven the need to
      exploit any available waveband and this will continue until cheap
      mobile internet radio takes over. 

      There are a couple of ways I would look at AM community
      applications: Low power AM as a way to get a better deal on music
      licensing (fingers crossed!) for an essentially web only radio; or
      higher power AM coupled with an online (decent quality) receiver
      selling promotion to the served community.  As with FM the
      transmission site is critical.  Keep away from domestic housing
      and look for high ground conductivity, this is particularly
      important with short aerials (less than 1/4 wave).  To save costs,
      you could reduce power overnight as audience numbers will often be
      low and incoming interference high (the permitted power would not
      overcome it anyway).  There are still quite a few car radios with
      AM for the dedicated listeners.

      Tony Bailey

          On Wed, 17 Feb 2016, 12:36 AM Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>
            wrote:

              We have been trying for over 8 months now
                to together a reliable and predictable  AM transmission
                system together for a Client (sadly not a CMA Member)
                who insists on taking an AM frequency rather than
                pushing Ofcom for FM.
                We're now looking at a 600W transmitter from
                  Bulgaria.

                  Can I ask for some views please?
                  Does anyone have anything positive to say
                      about Ofcom's policies of:

                      Offering AM as an equivalental platform to FM?
                      Offering only AM if an Applicant wants greater
                        coverage than a 5km radius
                      Offering AM licences on a countrywide basis in
                        the second half of 2016

                    Thanks for whatever you can contribute

                      Ian Hickling

                      Partner

                      Office: 01635 578435  (7am-11pm UK time)
                      Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when
                          driving)
                      6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

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