General Discussion

hunter

(40,741 posts)

4. Radio is obsolete in many ways.

Mon Apr 20, 2015, 11:00 AM

Apr 2015

It's possible with modern technology to create a broadcasting system where anyone could open a radio station with minimal investment, a few hundred dollars maybe, for a local station with a range of a hundred square miles with optimal placement, maybe more in extremely rural areas.

We could return the airways to the people.

It would use sophisticated digital transmitters that would scan the airways for an empty and uncrowded spot, and would then negotiate a radio "homestead" and power levels with nearby stations as soon as it was activated.

National and international broadcasting, major commercial broadcasters, would be exiled to satellites. Local ownership and 2/3 local content would be required for all terestrial broadcasting.

It's also possible using modern technology to build a national wireless internet and cell phone system that's open to everyone, in the same manner as public streets, roads, and highways are.

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Norway to Become First Country to Switch Off FM Radio in 2017 [View all] n2doc Apr 2015 OP

I remember listening to FM radio by the blue glow of my Marantz receiver in the 70s. onehandle Apr 2015 #1

I had a monster Marantz in those days, too. A 2270. hifiguy Apr 2015 #16

I had a... Still have a 2252, including the add-on walnut cabinet. onehandle Apr 2015 #26

My 2270 didn't have the wood case, but I didn't care. hifiguy Apr 2015 #27

I loved the weighed radio tuning wheel and the meters. onehandle Apr 2015 #28

The look of them, and the feel of the controls hifiguy Apr 2015 #32

Will digital receivers cost the same as FM radios? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #2

My brother, who installs & maintains DATs, bought and installed a receiver for his pickup... Eleanors38 Apr 2015 #9

I suppose that's not too bad of a price based on a more limited set of purchasers. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #10

The transmitter bldg is about 30 x 40 feet. He pointed to the DAT under a bench... Eleanors38 Apr 2015 #12

Three-inch nitrogen-dielectric hardline, correct? jmowreader Apr 2015 #22

Wouldn't know. He did say that the ground for the 100k transmitter is a huge sheet of copper Eleanors38 Apr 2015 #23

And what frequency will this new digital radio be broadcast on and what of the 88 to 108 FM band? -none Apr 2015 #3

Before FM we had only AM, and GummyBearz Apr 2015 #14

The difference is now they are replacing the FM with something else. -none Apr 2015 #15

the AM sound quality is much less than it should be.... Eleanors38 Apr 2015 #24

Actually, in the early days FM was a welcome substitute for AM Art_from_Ark Apr 2015 #35

Radio is obsolete in many ways. hunter Apr 2015 #4

I wouldn't trade my radio for anything. News and views you just don't get anywhere else. nt kelliekat44 Apr 2015 #7

I'm talking about MORE news and views... hunter Apr 2015 #8

"We could return the airways to the people. " Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #11

I wouldn't "auction" the spectrum at all. hunter Apr 2015 #18

Yep. There is great potential here. And it shouldn't be expensive. Eleanors38 Apr 2015 #25

Yep, just like me... the Onkyo reciever I bought in 1972 still works...having survived Vietnam HereSince1628 Apr 2015 #33

Not a promotion for... DAMANgoldberg Apr 2015 #34

I went satellite several years ago liberal N proud Apr 2015 #5

Well, there's a lot of useless shit on Sirius XM, too Blue_Tires Apr 2015 #19

Guess I'll have to buy the White album again. bluesbassman Apr 2015 #6

Yeesh, and I remember when it was all AM radio... joeybee12 Apr 2015 #13

As long as the mood is right seveneyes Apr 2015 #17

oh great now we are supposed to pay for radio too? dembotoz Apr 2015 #20

My thought too. We already pay for the privilege sufrommich Apr 2015 #31

Is there not much free-to-air broadcast digital in the US? muriel_volestrangler Apr 2015 #36

"55 percent of Norwegian households have at least one DAB-equipped radio" muriel_volestrangler Apr 2015 #21

"There is a bottle mama. It's grapefruit wine". Yavin4 Apr 2015 #29

Going ALL-digital concerns me jmowreader Apr 2015 #30

It's sad to see it start to fade away davidpdx Apr 2015 #37