Even after improving AM radio in the mid-1930s, Armstrong still realized that their were many limitations involved with AM radio. Some of these limitations included static interference, limited auto quality, and nighttime interference. Since Armstrong was technologically gifted, he decided that by changing the frequency, there would be much better quality. The difference between AM and FM radio is that for AM radio, the amplitude, or overall strength, of the signal is varied to incorporate the sound information. With FM, the frequency (the number of times each second that the current changes direction) of the carrier signal is varied. Therefore, slight changes in amplitude would cause AM radio to become very static; wheras FM radio would be unaffected. This technological breakthrough revolutionized the radio industry, and by 1980, there were almost as many FM stations as there were AM.
The real effect of Armstrong's invention wasn't noticed until years later due to the legal battle Armstrong had with the RCA.
David Sarnof, the head of the RCA, was out to protect the existing AM radio empire and the RCA didn't want the competition from a new, and better form of radio. In 1937, Armstrong financed construction of the first FM radio station, W2XMN, a 40 kilowatt broadcaster in Alpine, New Jersey. The signal could be heard clearly 100 miles away, despite the use of less power than an AM radio station. Years of costly legal battles ensued and unfortunately Armstrong could not afford to keep fighting. After the RCA shut down the FM radio station, Armstrong continued to sell the rights to manufacture FM radio to several companies. By 1941, there were 50 FM stations on air. However, with the growth of the television and constant pressure by the RCA, these stations all shut down by 1949.
Due to the impact of the media, many people were reluctant to go out and buy FM radio transmitters. Since the RCA constantly criticized FM radio, people decided to believe them and stick with AM radio. Following Armstrong's suicide in 1954, many other inventors continued to work on the model he created in the 1930s. This led to the rebirth of FM radio, and by 1970, there were more listeners of FM radio than there were of AM radio. The popularity of FM radio in the 1970s was, in part, due to the inclusion of an FM dial in most automobile radio receivers. There were also less regulations on FM radio, so it began to thrive.
Armstrong's invention of the FM radio proved to be a major devlopment in the radio industry. With clearer transmission, this allowed for radio broadcasts to be heard from even further away. This, of course, changed the way in which people communicated and recieved their everyday news.
The invention of FM transmission technology had a huge impact on radio broadcasting. Edwin Howard Armstrong revolutionized the radio industry with his invention. Eric provides great background and further insight on this historical invention with this blog post. Eric explains how the FM technology was an improvement over AM and how the legal battle with RCA hindered its early success. A very interesting part of this post is the automobile industry’s impact. It wasn’t until the auto industry began to use FM radios in their cars that the technology began to take off. When the FM radio technology was improved enough for picking up signals while driving, FM radio technology took off. FM radio technology became so popular in cars that radio stations often had to reinvent themselves. With the backing of the powerful audio industry, FM radios were standard in all new cars and FM technology became the new norm.
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