There was a time when AM was the norm when it came to radio. Most radio stations were AM, while FM broadcasting was seen as a relatively little-known alternative. These days, the opposite is true. Most well-known mainstream radio stations are broadcast in FM while relatively few stations come in on AM frequencies.
Despite this fact, AM radio is still popular among radio hobbyists and micro-broadcasters, and there is a certain satisfaction in having a great AM radio station that gains a following.
Basic AM broadcasting equipment and custom antenna units are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, but they still come with their fair share of problems. Bad weather frequently interfered with AM radio signals in the past, but now AM radio has to contend with things such as electrified farm fences, power transformers and even signals from cell phones and computers.
It is very possible to have a strong AM radio frequency that will come in loud and clear to your listeners, but you may need to do some troubleshooting to get things just right.
Keep Your Station at the Original Specs
As tempting as it is to tinker sometimes, you’re almost always better off keeping your AM radio broadcasting equipment at its original specs as per FCC regulations. Your equipment was almost certainly built to the best possible specifications, and messing with these specs to find something “better” could just make you sound like you’re shouting into a tin can.
Use a GPS to Stay On Frequency
Most AM radio stations have a fluttering noise at night due to being just slightly off-frequency. Fortunately, this problem can be fixed with a regular GPS. Coordinate your licensed frequency using a GPS to ensure that your station comes in clearly even when you’re broadcasting late into the night.
Filter Out Radio Frequency Interference
Radio frequency interference, or RFI, is a common headache when it comes to AM broadcasting. This interference can come from just about anywhere, and it’s more common now that there are so many signals from so many devices out there. Filtering out much of this interference isn’t all that difficult if you have the right equipment. Ceramic disc capacitors soldered into your system is the easiest and most inexpensive way to go about this.
If you want to go with something more elaborate, you can use a capacitor substitution box instead. Just make sure that you’re filtering out RFI that is actually there as opposed to covering up a flaw in your broadcasting equipment.
Remember, good radio equipment and antenna units will be built to the best possible specifications, so you should only need to make minor adjustments to get the best sound quality out of your AM station.