I couldnt tell you what am radio channels are available near me. I expect that's pretty true for the majority of people.
I consider, is it really essential anymore? I suppose I own an emergency solar powered radio but if a hurricane happened. does that reallyt change anything?
Instead, we should deregulate AM radio. Make it free to use. Government is squashing it into non-existence most likely to free it up for other usage.
schiffern•1h ago
>I suppose I own an emergency solar powered radio but if a hurricane happened. does that reallyt change anything?
The article gives several examples of doing just that.
"Essential" can mean essential like oxygen, or essential like having some candles for when the power goes out. I consider a good AM/FM/NOAA radio[0] "essential" in the second sense, but obviously it's no good if there's no stations.
> I suppose I own an emergency solar powered radio but if a hurricane happened. does that reallyt change anything?
When everything else is down, your cell phone doesn't work anymore, there is no internet, etc., then AM radio is going to be the next-to-last means available to get essential information about what's happening, where you should go, where you should avoid, what help is where, etc.
The last channel of information is going to be ham radio.
> Instead, we should deregulate AM radio. Make it free to use.
That would just mean that it wouldn't be very useful to anybody because the airwaves will be full of people trying to shout over each other.
incomingpain•1h ago
I consider, is it really essential anymore? I suppose I own an emergency solar powered radio but if a hurricane happened. does that reallyt change anything?
Instead, we should deregulate AM radio. Make it free to use. Government is squashing it into non-existence most likely to free it up for other usage.
schiffern•1h ago
"Essential" can mean essential like oxygen, or essential like having some candles for when the power goes out. I consider a good AM/FM/NOAA radio[0] "essential" in the second sense, but obviously it's no good if there's no stations.
[0] Eg under $50 on eBay, but check that the printed label on it says "Weather": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiW0p9TTbXg
JohnFen•15m ago
When everything else is down, your cell phone doesn't work anymore, there is no internet, etc., then AM radio is going to be the next-to-last means available to get essential information about what's happening, where you should go, where you should avoid, what help is where, etc.
The last channel of information is going to be ham radio.
> Instead, we should deregulate AM radio. Make it free to use.
That would just mean that it wouldn't be very useful to anybody because the airwaves will be full of people trying to shout over each other.