[BC] AM Fidelity vs FM fidelity

[Robert Meuser]

The statement is delusional. The only way it can be valid is in an anechoic chamber with an infinitely wide band transmitter driving a dummy load. Real world issues of noise an interference not to mention the limitations of real transmitters and antenna make wide band AM impossible.

A long time ago I built a station to be the highest possible fidelity. We bought a very expensive professional receiver as an air monitor connected to a commercial AM loop antenna. We quickly learned that even10 kilohertz audio response from a 50 Kw station on a clear channel was not practical even though the studio was within the 100 MV/m contour.

There is more than just the simple physics of creating an AM signal involved when a systems approach. Although Shannon applies to digital transmission, there are similar physics involved with the trade offs involved in analog transmission.

But then there are those who are afflicted a a genius similar to Leonard's who will never agree with any of the above.

On 6/21/12 8:18 AM, RichardBJohnson at comcast.net wrote:
>There is no limitation to the fidelity of AM radio.
>> From a mathematical standpoint, AM does better in frequency response than FM."
>         - Leonard Kahn
>
>I stand by my original statement in spite of those editing it out of context.