[BC] ABC/Citadel To Suspend IBOC on AM Stations?

[Dave Dunsmoor]

> HOWEVER, I also believe that something needs to be done to give AM
stations
> something more.

The "something more" that's needed has been hashed up and turned over and
over here many times would be INTERESTING, intelligent content. I cite the
CBC as one example of programming that is usually interesting to listen to.
For me anyway. There the programs are well thought out and produced. They
actually provide entertainment or education (or both) that's worth listening
to.

> And IBOC as a technology is showing that AM can have audio
> sounding something closer to FM in terms of  perceived "quality"

And if the quality of the recovered audio is the primary issue here (and I
submit that it is not), then it seems obvious (to me, anyway) that IBOC is
not the way to go about it, especially if it's going to be switched off
every night. The logic of implementing this wideband (no "in-band" about it)
method in a crowded spectrum the first place escapes me.

> ...The codec in place today is lightyears better
> than the codecs previously employed.

It might be, it might be absolutely terrific, but the end result is what's
judged, and so far, I don't see much the positive column.

> So it is possible to have good
> sounding AM.

That was possible years ago. I ran a proof on an old beatup BC5P out to
13khz (a LONG time ago), was quite surprised at that. At the time, I could
hear well beyond that, but even now that would transmit about anything
anyone would want to hear (other than critical listening to classical). My
old 1940's era Zenith would play it nicely as well.

Ok, yeah, I know, we're beyond that now. We're in the digital age, and that
in and of itself seems to make it better. Not so. I see the infatuation with
anything digital every day. Digital isn't a silver bullet, thoughtful
reasoning is. That seems to be in short supply these days. I wish I could
mine it and market it - I'd be a ka-jillionaire.

> DRM also provides the same experience within the same 10Khz
> channel, albeit with the loss of analog reception.

This, logically, seems to be the correct path to start on if we're going to
go there. Separate the band into two camps, and "git-r-done". Better yet,
use some other spectrum for digital. Small receivers can be built (are being
bult) to cover wide ranges of spectrum. Look at the availability of handheld
amateur receivers. HF through UHF in one small box.

> I commend Tom Ray and
> others who have specifically worked towards improving the band...even if
> the effort in the end may prove fruitless.

I'll go along with this. And if there was not the interference issues
associated with IBOC, then we'd most likely all be in the "rah rah ree" mode
happily selling this to anyone who'd listen.

> Maybe some elimination of carriers might get rid of the 2nd adjacent
> issue.  Sure, it would result in a loss of high end and maybe some QoS
> reliability.  But we all know the 2nd adjacent IX is where the REAL
problem
> lays....

Interesting idea. How do we implement it? Is Ibiquity going to go along with
us and run an experiment? Who knows?

> But lets stop calling people liars and throwing provocative adjectives
> around.....and realize the gain being made here.

We don't have any liars here. Just people who are holding firm to their
opinions, based upon their experience and observations. Maybe they're
"overlooking" other opinions or facts, maybe not. This medium is an easy one
to allow oneself to become carried away with. The face-to-face method is a
far better (in my opinion) way to discuss these kind of topics, but usually
unrealistic due to time and money concerns.

> Many old legacy AM plants
> long in need of cleaning up are being cleaned up.  That is good not only
> from a band standpoint, but from a business standpoint.

> MM

Yes, this is a good step, very good. And from there, it's a small leap to
move into improved programming, then to increased listener numbers..... and
there we are again...

And that's my opinion of the state of things AM today.

Dave Dunsmoor