Upside Down Under: Creating a better product...

For the past several months, and even going back a couple of years, I’ve noticed some interesting changes in radio across North Dakota.

I researched and found the official answer to this, but there’s all kinds of speculation surrounding these changes on a national scale.

In any event, there have been a number of AM radio stations that have started broadcasting their signals from FM translators. These are most often low power signals that reach only a few miles.

The official answer to this is that since most AM stations have to cut their power at night, the FM broad-casts will help listeners stay tuned.

I’m not sure I believe that because even low powered AM stations will reach a few miles after their power is cut, usually at sundown.

Other speculation out there is that radio frequency interference from electric cars causes so much noise that you can’t listen to AM, even local AM stations. Another rumor is that AM radio is going away completely.

Right now, there are 4,275 AM radio stations in the united States and roughly another 250 in Canada. They employ tens of thousands of people. Can you imagine if those jobs were suddenly cut?

Here in North Dakota, there are 34 AM radio stations and 19 of them are now operating FM translators.

They include KSJB and KQDJ in Jamestown, KDKT in Beulah, KQLX in Lisbon, KGFK and KNOX in Grand Forks, KFYR in Bismarck, KDIX in Dickinson, KNDK in Langdon, KZZJ in Rugby, KHND in Harvey, KOVC in Valley City, KDLR in Devils Lake and WZFG, KQWB, WDAY, KFGO, KFNW and KNFL, all in Fargo.

One example I can give you as to why this is happening is in regard to KHND in Harvey. I live 99 miles from Harvey and during the day I can listen to the station on 1470 AM. At night, it’s completely gone. However, because KHND is now broadcasting on 99.5 FM and is not subject to the same FCC rules as the AM parent, I’ll often pick it up at night on 99.5 FM.

There are also a lot of Christian and public radio stations using translators, but those are all FM stations to begin with such as Prairie Public Radio.

For example, Prairie Public operates low-power FM translators in Beach, Bowman, Hettinger and Plentywood, Mont. K220FG in Hettinger is the highest-powered Prairie Public translator at 9 watts.

Prairie Public also set the stage 20 years ago for high definition radio. HD-1 and HD-2 became the norm for PPR, but nobody else in commercial radio picked up on the much better sounding signal, until recently.

There’s been an explosion in radio stations switching from analog to high definition in Fargo led by KPFX of 107.9 FM. It has two subcarriers on HD-2 and HD-3. According to Radio Locator, there are 13 high definition radio stations in Fargo and several more on the Minnesota side.

Wahpeton has one and Valley City has one. There are no other HD commercial stations in North Dakota, yet. It’s only a matter of time before others follow. It provides CD quality sound and since 2016, auto companies have been equipping their new vehicles with HD receivers.

It’s even more rare in AM, but that tide is beginning to turn. KSL, 1060-AM in Salt Lake City has been operating it’s AM station in high definition for several years. The only other one I can identify in this region is KOJM, 610 in Havre, Mont.

One other example doesn’t yet exist, but has actually been announced. That’s CBC Radio 1 on 990 AM in Winnipeg, whose legal identification is CBW. The radio station had undisclosed trouble and power has been reduced. When it’s back to full strength, it will be only the second AM station in Canada broadcasting in high definition.

And, at full power, CBW can be heard across two-thirds of North Dakota.

(Marvin Baker is a news writer for the Kenmare News and formerly Foster County Independent.)