The ozone layer does not reflect radio signals. You are confusing it with the ionosphere, which is at a much greater altitude and is divided into several reflective layers.
WBBM could not possibly care less about nighttime reception in those states. Their relevant market is the greater Chicago metro area, which is where the audience, and therefore, advertisers are.
Precisely why the rules need to be changed. Is there still, in today's hyper-local radio business, is there even one station out there that would see its bottom line affected by one penny because DXers hundreds of miles away have a hard time hearing the commercials it airs?
Again, the issue is not, today, with skywave coverage. It is with skywave interference. That nice local signal you have today will be impaired if other stations on the same channel are allowed to relax their directional pattern or increase power.
What “nice local signal”? David, you yourself have noted countless times on these boards the inadequate local coverage of a large majority of nighttime AM signals. The suggestion is to open up nighttime coverage so that the entire relevant market has a good signal that also overcomes any skywave interference.
Today's AM signals, day or night, usually isn't enough to overcome RFI interference, which is harder to put up with than skywave. Although skywave absolutely can kill local signals at times, it usually is sporadic enough that less power can be sufficient. I have a local station, KRAE, that goes to 72 watts at night. It generally dominates the frequency unless I null it off to the south-east, and then KQAM will roll in some days. My other three true locals, KGAB, KFBC, and KVAM, generally does not fall to skywave, although WSM has gotten the best of KGAB (500 watts nights) at times. By the way, KCOL shoots 500 watts in this direction, but I usually do hear something underneath it at night, consistently, but it generally doesn't overtake KCOL.
I was referring to those AMs that have respectable signals, not the ones that can't even cover their own markets. If you allow another station several states away to go non-directional at night, it will destroy your good local signal station even in its current primary ground wave signal area.
I stand corrected. I should have waited another day after my prescribed pain killers wore off. IIRC ozone protects us from some nasty rays from the sun. Ionosphere reflects AM signals and is 30 to 500+ miles up depending in weather. But still if the night time protections were did away with the whole AM band would sound like the local "C" channels. IMHO the only reason to have a class C or D AM station is to "power" a translator. The class D AM's under 1KW daytime might be more economical than a 24 hour class C. power bill wise.
That's exactly how I see it. I'd imagine if WJAG Norfolk (presently a Day-Timer) accidently stayed on at night, it would cause some interference to WBBM, even in the groundwave area.
It's all good
. Here's the single most important reason why we need to pay attention to skywave. Although I would imagine that would just make people switch over to FM in a hurry if such a nightmare ever did happen.
Similarly, WBBM's skywave would probably trash some of the closer 780's. However, if you was right within about 5 miles of WBBM, you probably wouldn't notice as much.
Yup. FM sounds better, but AM wins the distance war time and time again.
That's interesting. Sort of clear up the AM band in order to allow some stations to relax their patterns! The thing is, that's what clear channels were supposed to do. I think a return of the Day-Timer could be good for this purpose.
Tell me about it! Even in the 2020's, I've been on road trips where cell-service has dropped out for a while, but the AM's were still hanging in strong, and the FM's were a bit on the weak side. Quite frankly, even Sirius-XM has dropout zones (but it's less likely).
Nearly $30 for radio is a bit absurd, especially considering that some stations still have advertising on them. However, considering most of SXM is commercial free, I would think $10-15 per month would be good.
Why does any one this matter in this age of streaming? A station probably still needs either an AM or FM frequency as sort of an "anchor" in the local community, but after that streaming is a much better sounding and more reliable way to listen. Most "unlimited" cell phone services provide enough bandwidth to listen 24/7.That's exactly how I see it. I'd imagine if WJAG Norfolk (presently a Day-Timer) accidently stayed on at night, it would cause some interference to WBBM, even in the groundwave area.
It's all good
Here's the single most important reason why we need to pay attention to skywave. Although I would imagine that would just make people switch over to FM in a hurry if such a nightmare ever did happen.
Similarly, WBBM's skywave would probably trash some of the closer 780's. However, if you was right within about 5 miles of WBBM, you probably wouldn't notice as much.
Yup. FM sounds better, but AM wins the distance war time and time again.
That's interesting. Sort of clear up the AM band in order to allow some stations to relax their patterns! The thing is, that's what clear channels were supposed to do. I think a return of the Day-Timer could be good for this purpose.
Tell me about it! Even in the 2020's, I've been on road trips where cell-service has dropped out for a while, but the AM's were still hanging in strong, and the FM's were a bit on the weak side. Quite frankly, even Sirius-XM has dropout zones (but it's less likely).
Nearly $30 for radio is a bit absurd, especially considering that some stations still have advertising on them. However, considering most of SXM is commercial free, I would think $10-15 per month would be good.
When I'm at home, or in a city, or on the interstate, I will (and do) stream. However, spotty coverage is sadly a common problem in my state. It's always good to have an alternative in that case.
Thanks, I will have to remember this one.
Especially those stations with translators, which are allowed to continue on FM after signing the AM off at sunset.
Oh, so 1560 is actually STILL TRANSMITTING? My SDR here in West Haven CT, picks up not even a HINT of a signal on that frequency! (I get all of the other NY stations just fine.) At night, there's a barely discernible signal there. Being a "Clear" channel frequency, I would imagine that it should have a fair bit of value, no? I can see a format geared toward Seniors could work well... especially if it accepts donations from the listeners! I suspect not many ad agencies want to reach Seniors.
1560 is a US clear channel, with NYC sharing with Bakersfield.
