Report: All-Digital AM Tests Called ‘Promising’

Positive results reported from all-digital AM tests of 50,000-watt blowtorch signal, according to InsideRadio.

Early results from the first-ever  significant tests of all-digital AM broadcasting on a class A station produced “remarkably robust” reception, according to an  engineer involved in the trials.

The tests were conducted on Greater Media’s news/talk WBT1110 AM in Charlotte, and focused on mobile and skywave signal reception. NAB Labs and iBiquity have been working with broadcasters to test all-digital AM  transmission on different station classes.

The most recent trials, which took place from 1am-5am on August 17 and August

18 on WBT’s 50,000-watt clear channel signal, follow earlier tests on a class B and an expanded band AM.

Five vehicles equipped with factory-installed HD radios and laptops running custom software to monitor  signal reception were used. While final results are still being analyzed by NAB Labs, Greater Media VP of radio engineering  Milford “Smitty” Smith says WBT’s all-digital AM signal was “remarkably robust” in the Charlotte metro. Smith says the signal coverage area was “quite good” but still requires further analysis and testing.

The tradeoff for going all-digital on AM is millions of analog receivers would become obsolete. But CBS Radio CEO Dan Mason sees an analog AM sunset as a viable solution, providing there is a long-term transition plan, similar to TV’s seven-year digital conversion.

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