Invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong, FM radio is among the most significant breakthroughs recorded in history.
FM stands for Frequency Modulation, and it has been around since 1928. If it weren’t for FM, people wouldn’t have been able to broadcast important messages during the great depression and the war.
The radio brought a revolution in the transmission field. It served as a stepping stone in discovering microwaves and many new technologies, including smartphones and laptops.
My husband is very engrossed in all this tech stuff, and he always shares his newfound knowledge with me. I was really impressed by the history of FM radio and decided to pass on whatever I learned to you all.
Hey guys, it’s me, Stacy Smith, and I am gonna dedicate today’s guide to FM radio. It’s going to be really interesting, trust me.
The Discovery of FM
FM was engineered with a band of high-fidelity frequencies that enables it to reproduce the entire range of sound that is audible to a human ear.
Now, AM was invented earlier than FM, but engineers struggled to eliminate the disruptive static, clicking and grinding sounds from the broadcast. That’s why there was a revolutionary change in the market after Armstrong introduced the FM.
The story goes all the way back to the 1930s when the world was hit hard by the great depression. Businesses were brutally failing, people were losing their jobs, struggling to make both ends meet but amongst all, radio was prevailing, with slow yet steady steps.
It was a golden age for the FM, with roughly around twelve million American household users listening to their radios. This figure bloomed to a total of twenty-eight million by the end of the decade. Popularly known as “talking telegram,” FM radio became the most prized possession in the living room of the average family.
Undoubtedly, it brought families together, providing hours of entertainment and recreation. Children and adults alike, used to crowd around the device and listen to music or wait for the new segment of their much-admired shows.
These days people are so engrossed in separate screens and devices most of the time that it is surreal to imagine that kind of solidarity, don’t you agree?
- SIMPLE, EASY-TO-USE FM/AM RADIO WITH HIGH QUALITY SOUND: Portable handheld radio with digital tuner has a simple, easy-to-use interface, with antennas that pick up both AM and FM signals
- EASY-TO-SEE DESIGN: Large dial with fluorescent pointer allows for easy viewing, even in the dark
- SMOOTH TUNING: Digital tuner with AFC (Auto Frequency Control) enables easy and stable tuning
- Simple To Operate: Byronstatics Radio Worked Out Of The Box, Three Pattern Anti-Skid Knobs: Am/Fm/Off Knob, Volume Knob And Big Tuning Knob. Large Round Tuning Dial Easy To Read.
- Portable Radio: Lightweight With Large Handle, Support The Detachable Back Input Ac 120V~/60Hz Or 4 Aa Batteries (Not Included), Enjoy The Convenience For Home, Trips, Hunting Or Fishing.
- Excellent Reception: Am / Fm With Good Sensitivity And Audio, The Tuning Is So Simple And Finding Stations Is Very Easy, The Tuner Is Able To Lock Onto A Station And Not Drift Off.
Popular Music And Shows
FM radio became an excellent medium for bringing together people of different communities. Even while racism prevailed in the country, FM was the most significant source of communication for African Americans in the mid-twentieth century.
Filled with promises and entertainment, FM radio appealed to the audience with a wide variety of broadcasts. Hilarious comedians like Fred Allen and Jack Benny made millions of people laugh and made a name for themselves through the wireless.
These days audiences have Netflix, Amazon Prime, and whatnot at the tips of their fingers for conveniently watching their favorite shows on streaming platforms. But back in the twentieth century, people used the radio for this very purpose.
Soap operas became the star attraction and had people glued to their radios. With a continued story broadcasted in segments and characters that everyone could love and sympathize with, “Painted Dreams” was the first-ever soap opera that aired on the FM. Another one called “Our Gal Sunday” gained a lot of popularity, especially among young girls.
Hurdles In The Way
Despite all the benefits of FM over AM, Edwin struggled to gain the support of the broadcast regulatory industries at the time. He faced a rivalry from his supposed friend, David Sarnoff, who wanted to work towards the evolution of television and drive the public attention towards his endeavor.
He tried to prevent the FM radio from coming into the mainstream media and lobbied the FCC to eliminate Edwin’s radio frequency from its spectrum. Honestly, it was a treacherous move, especially coming from a “friend.”
This downgrade of the frequency to the band 88 - 108 megahertz (used to date) was ominous and consequently forced Edwin’s radio network to become archaic. Eventually, decade-long legal clashes and financial troubles got to him. Overwhelmed by all the complications, the inventor of the FM radio committed suicide by jumping from his New York apartment building in 1954.
Didn’t see that one coming, right? Yes, the tale ended on a sullen note, but consumers still have his precious gift and continue to appreciate his contribution to the media industry to date.
FM vs. AM
I’ve mentioned multiple times by now that FM has an upper hand over AM. Do you want to know the reasons behind that? Let’s get at it then.
AM (amplitude modulation) had a number of glitches and problems that were overcome by FM. While AM was better in terms of reach, the potential of FM radio was much more promising.
The latter provided much better sound quality and didn’t have crackling disturbances like the former. Furthermore, it could transmit over large distances without any additional cost.
The Future Of FM
In the ever-developing era of Spotify, Apple Music, and many more digital platforms, you might assume that analog radio is dead. But surprisingly, that is not entirely true.
When the government of Norway decided to shut off its radio stations in 2017 in an attempt to go hundred percent digital, a whopping 66 percent of people voted against it. The decision did not gain much support in Britain, Denmark, and Switzerland either.
It turns out that the situation isn’t as grim as you might think, and people still like the old-school ways in certain aspects.
Final Words
Woah, what a ride! It’s good to reflect back on these discoveries from time to time.
What seems like an insignificant device and camouflages in our everyday life, in reality, has a vast history, coloring the lives of millions for a century.
People often feel like they are the center of everything, but things as nominal as FM radio have their own interesting stories to tell. So, feel free to share your radio experience with me in the comment section below.
I’ll see you next time, bye!