should we get rid of AM radio and use the bandwidth to expand the FM spectrum?

Question

Technology has made AM radio an ear-sore, so why not get rid of it?

Answer 1

FM is the most popular and I do not think anybody listen
to AM and MW radio anymore. Yes we must use the
bandwidth for FM.

Answer 2

Yes and no..

We should get rid of the the of AM (Amplitude Modulation) and replace it with a more efficient form of modulation.

Compared with the modulation schemes available today, AM is horribly inefficient in its use of spectrum, and worse, it uses up spectrum that is 'prime' in the sense that there is a limited amount of it and the parts of the spectrum it occupies has some of the best propagation characteristics (it goes a long way). This spectrum could be better used.

Replacing it with FM is not the solution since FM is old and inefficient also. The solution is already in place, the switch over has not completed though. The solution in the US is a digital radio scheme for AM bands called DRM (Digital Radio Monidale) and the marketing wonks call it HDRadio. You can buy them in the US.

In place of AM or FM, DRM uses OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex), as does DAB, 802.11a, 802.11g and many other digital radio types.

In other places, most notably the UK, you have DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) but this is aimed at FM bands, not AM.

Answer 3

There is not enough bandwidth in the AM part of the spectrum to usefully add FM signals. With the channel spacing now used for FM, at most six channels could be placed in the present AM band.

Answer 4

Why is AM an eyesore ? You'll still need the unwieldy sized antennas for the frequencies you would put FM on where AM is now. You'd also have to cut the number of stations since the bandwidth is wider. There's enough junk on both bands now.

Answer 5

The USA already has HD radio on the AM band. I have heard it and sounds pretty good. distortion and noise free. once enough people buy the HD radios, which also work on the FM band, the FCC may allow analog carriers in both bands to be eliminated.

Answer 6

i should say just put all the fm station on am (because what would be the point when we are using higher frequency when there is alot of unused space in the lower frequecys it just seems Unnecessary)

Answer 7

Try to separate the programming from the technology...there is still a place for AM. Longer propagation for starters..