- #1
DaveC426913
Gold Member
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Correct me if I'm wrong.
I've always taken it on faith that the switch to frequency modulation from amplitude modulation resulted in the much better quality signal and listening experience we have today. Modulation of the frequency is likely less susceptible to distortion than is modulation of the amplitude, meaning that, all other things being equal, FM will prodice a more faithful signal with less degradation.
But ...
I speculate that modulation is not the largest component of why FM is so much better quality radio. Surely a much larger component is the absolute frequency i.e. FM is in the Megahertz range whereas AM is merely the kilohertz range. MHz will penetrate better, support more more subtlety in the signal, have better redundancy (thousands of carrier cycles per signal cycle as opposed to dozens) and a host of other improved properties.
So: It seems to me that AM radio in the Megahertz range would be much more nearly comparable to FM radio.
True?
I've always taken it on faith that the switch to frequency modulation from amplitude modulation resulted in the much better quality signal and listening experience we have today. Modulation of the frequency is likely less susceptible to distortion than is modulation of the amplitude, meaning that, all other things being equal, FM will prodice a more faithful signal with less degradation.
But ...
I speculate that modulation is not the largest component of why FM is so much better quality radio. Surely a much larger component is the absolute frequency i.e. FM is in the Megahertz range whereas AM is merely the kilohertz range. MHz will penetrate better, support more more subtlety in the signal, have better redundancy (thousands of carrier cycles per signal cycle as opposed to dozens) and a host of other improved properties.
So: It seems to me that AM radio in the Megahertz range would be much more nearly comparable to FM radio.
True?