Closure of analogue TV gives space for more radio
A migration of medium wave (AM) stations to FM is on its way. In metropolitan areas as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Curitiba the present FM band is congested and will be extended. Jovem Pan AM 620 in São Paulo has received a permit from the Ministry of Communications to be able to start testing the signal on "extended FM" (which will range from 75,2 MHz up to 87,5 MHz and receive the AMs in major centers). The test on 84,7 MHz will be conducted by Jovem Pan will play an important role in the process of migrating AMs for extended FM radios.
Through this procedure will be possible to follow the spread of the station's signal in this range, a structure that is not properly targeted to generate interference to TV stations in Greater São Paulo, Campinas Grande and Santos. The band called "extended FM" is the same one used by analogue TV, which is near the system shutdown due to complete migration to digital tuning.
Who has a radio with FM extended (some receivers already include this. FMs present in MP3 Players and cell phones also extended by selecting "Japanese band") can hear the tests that will be performed by Jovem Pan AM. Two elements were installed in the structure that is already home to 100.9 FM, but with a different orientation relative to Jovem Pan FM to avoid interference with other communications services. As Jovem Pan carry out testing information will be relayed to the market and determining the next steps of the migration to the extended FM.
Several regions will not have the need for migration of AMs to the extended FM band. Broadcasters already requested the move to FM and, after testing, are indicated sites that use the extended FM band. In places the current FM dial is not congested migrating AMs should occur more quickly, with operation between 88.1 FM and 107.9 FM.
Advantages of Extended FM is the expanding of the number of stations available to the public. Also much of the population is used to radio in FM receivers present in phone handsets, those who already have the extended bandwidth and a simple reprogramming of the FM radio of smartphones facilitate access to the new "FM". Most cell phones with radio that are on the market do not provide reception on the AM band radios.
Migration is not mandatory and AM radios that have local resources to vary their licenses for regional coverage, thus increasing the uptake of its signal. Starting now, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) examine the frequencies set by broadcasters to raise technical feasibility. If the dial the area is considered "loaded", the radio will have to wait for the opening of the "extended dial" 75,2-87,5 MHz according to tudorádio.com
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