CBC Radio Vancouver needs your help to move to FM
I grew up on AM Radio. I had a Fisher Price turntable/AM radio combo. I would slip it under my pillow every night and listen to Jack Webster and Pat Burns on CJOR.
Burns used to place his horse bets with Hastings Racecourse live on air.
Somehow, it was endearing.
I lit a candle for Burns when he died.
Listening to AM radio as a kid convinced me. I had to go into radio. I wanted desperately to be one of those people.
Technically speaking, the AM signal is the true ambassador of radio. It can snake 
around buildings and hills (FM is primarily line-of-sight) and bounce off the ionosphere. I can still occasionally pick up San Fransisco superstation KGO just with a regular AM Radio. You could even rock the dial slightly off-frequency to improve the treble response of the signal.
Sadly, though, over the years AM radio has become the bastard child of, well, all broadcast media. It’s resigned to primarily talk formats — hard to argue considering music sounds awful on AM, and it’s mono only (unless you count the crazy-ass attempt at AM Stereo some years ago).
But even some AM stations, notably the ones past about AM 1000, sound okay. Everything below that sounds like it’s been scrubbed in mud before being aired.
And that’s where CBC Radio One in Vancouver languishes. We’ve been at AM 690 since the Stone Age. And, despite excellent work from our technicians and engineers, the transmitter’s signal just sounds… well, muddy. There’s no treble at all and for many people in apartment or condo building, they can’t even pick up much of the signal at all, owing to AM’s hate of cement and steel.
But now, CBC Radio in Vancouver is trying to change that. CBC Radio has asked the CRTC for permission to move its signal to the FM band. And we need your help.
We’ve asked the CRTC to broadcast at 88.1 FM in the Vancouver area. Like most other FM stations, we’d put our transmitter on Mt. Seymour. Hell, Radio One is currently available on FM in every major city in Canada except Vancouver. This transition to FM is loooong overdue.
Here’s why we want to do it:
- We asked Radio One listeners in Vancouver (Foundation Research, 2004) if they had problems picking up our AM signal — nearly 40% of respondents had problems picking up the signal at home, at work or in their car. Not cool.
- Tuning to the AM band is in decline and has been for years. Four out of ten Vancouver radio listeners do not listen to the AM band at all. Making the move to FM is an investment in Radio One’s future.
But we need your help to make this happen. We can’t just string up a transmitter. We have to get permission of the CRTC which regulates (for good reason) the public airwaves.
How You Can Help
Tell the CRTC you want to listen to CBC Radio Vancouver on the FM band. The easiest way to do this is through their web site.
1. Go here.
2. Click on the button that reads
3. Put a checkmark in the box at
then click “Next” at the bottom of the screen. Make sure you’re putting a checkmark beside 200714239. (Hey, they’re the CRTC’s rules, not ours! {grin} )
4. Pull down the menu and select “Support”:
5. Type your comments into the form below and click Next. You can click Next through the next three screens if you don’t want to appear before the CRTC.
If you want, you can also write a letter and fax it to the Secretary General at 819-994-0218, or mail it to CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2.
Whatever you do, please copy us on your intervention by email at REGULATORYAFFAIRS@CBC.CA.
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Irony: The ’70s-era woodgrain radio that sits on the table in the waiting area outside the CBC Vancouver studio where On the Coast and other CBC One shows originate gets TERRIBLE reception. People sitting there can hardly hear guests on-air mere steps away from where they are speaking into the mics.
The CBC needs my help?
Then why isn’t the CBC asking me for this help?
Show me where the CBC is asking the public to intervene with the CRTC.
You’re speaking on behalf of the CBC in asking people to write letters?
What’s going on here?
Colin here, editor and creator of dxer.ca – Canada’s original website for the radio dxer (dx being distance) and dxing being the hobby of listening to radio stations far, far away.
It is all well and good to put CBC 690 onto FM for the benefit of you scrubbed city dwellers. But what of those country people and travelers that depend on the far-reaching voice of CBC 690? In Europe they use long-wave for penetration into the countryside. Yes, it is not hi-fi. If you want that, buy a satellite radio for your car or home – I did that so I could pick up the CBC where their AM signal faltered.
Why not do both? CBC on AM and FM… In Victoria we have Radio-1 on 90.5, which is essentially CBU 690 with some local content and a fresher signal.
Just saying,
@Allan: You said “Show me where the CBC is asking the public to intervene with the CRTC?”
Okay. It’s on this page on cbc.ca/bc.
Specifically: “The public has the opportunity to comment on these applications and we need your support.” Later on that page, it asks people to follow the instructions on the CRTC web site in order to file their “letter of support.”
Yep, there it is – “we need your support”, and apparently it doesn’t matter where it comes from.
So people in Quebec and The Maritimes are free to intervene for whatever reason in the broadcasting activities of Vancouver and Victoria.
How is that justified?
Get a hobby, Allan.
You’re looking at it.
What’s yours?
That providing Radio One service to Metro Vancouver on FM is long overdue is obvious. But. The AM medium wave signal is virtually clear channel, booming up and down the west coast and beyond, offering a CBC voice, a Canadian voice, to a large number of people who might not otherwise be able to hear it. Will the current AM signal (690 kHz) be shut down? I think the AM frequency should continue for some years as a supplement to the better FM channel.
You mean they’d take away the AM signal? I’d only go for it if the AM signal was also available.
Yep, apparently this would replace the signal, not be an adjunct to it.
Colin here again (from dxer.ca) – were any of you aware that there is a parallel transmitter on 690khz located in Nanaimo – that is frequency locked to the Vancouver transmitter? If the Vancouver 690 leaves the air, what of the Nanaimo Syncro?
Just asking…
Given the odd-ball geography in “Metro Vancouver”, the Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast and the Island I would vote that the CRTC allow CBC Radio 1 to be broadcast on both AM and FM. Why can’t we have the best of both worlds? It’s a bit annoying that I can listen to 690 on parts of the Island but I can’t listen to it in my office in Burnaby due to the concrete and metal factor.
As a commuter my non-iPod mp3 player that holds my audiobooks has an FM tuner. It’s basically useless since I don’t really listen to the rock FM stations while commuting (I can hear those on the headphones of the jerk sitting next to me). Since mobile AM receivers formerly knows as the pocket transistor are rather few and far between it would serve me as a listener to have the FM band.
I don’t understand what the big deal would be with a simulbroadcast on AM and FM. CBC is on Sirius now (with a TO feed.. C of the U, you know) so why the restriction on broadcast bands? This is the national radio station and not some for-profit .. sorry… endeavour.
I’d only go for it if the AM signal was also available. outside the vancouver cma, this is an effective discontinuation of the cbc service. all the research and discussion in support of the application is very urban biased and ignores non urban users completely. I know that cbc has a simulcast on sw at 6160, but the low power of the service and high cost of the required equipment to receive it makes it a poor substitute.
Replacing the MW signal is not a good idea, for the reasons I gave previously. To give up a 50 kW virtual clear channel, even in an age where many select FM first, is a terrible mistake. The CBC hasn’t shut down CBK Saskatchewan’s 540 kHz even though it adds FM signals around the province. Letting 690 go dark would be, a terrible mistake, and I will oppose it.
I would also object to replacing the AM service with an FM feed. I live in Edmonton, which recently acquired an FM frequency for it’s Radio 1 service. They retained their AM frequency.
- I drive to the Lower Mainland about once per year and can pick up 690 from well up the Coquihalla and Hope-Princeton highways. Given the increasing sprawl of the Lower Mainland, it seems to me short-sighted to give up the reach of your AM frequency.
- The CBC also cited reception problems in introducing their FM service in Edmonton. I only had a problem picking up 740 AM with my car when entering a parkad. However, I DO have problems picking up 90.9 Radio 2 and some other FM stations through small transister radios and walk-man style radios while out for walks or out in my garden. Other stations bleed in on the transmission (Mr. Maffin, feel free to recommend a good personal radio to overcome this). The CBC appears to be ignoring on-foot and bicycle audiences with this application.
– I fear a trend by the CBC to retire their AM service. If we lost Edmonton and Calgary AM, large chunks of Alberta would be lost to the CBC. Therefore, I think it is valid for people outside the Lower Mainland to intervene with the CRTC.
in southwestern Ontario, when Radio One started broadcasting on an FM frequency, the AM one became occupied by another station.
I live in Nanaimo, and really enjoy that I can receive both CBC 1 Vancouver and CBC 1 Victoria from my home – it gives me the option of listening to local news (Victoria) or better programming (Vancouver). I never have a problem getting 690 anywhere on the island. That being said, I don’t live in downtown Vancouver, so here is the rough intervention that I’ll be sending to the CRTC:
1) To give up a clear channel frequency like 690 is short sighted. When CBC gave up 740 in Ontario it led to a major reduction in service for rural areas of the province.
2) FM for FM’s sake in not worthwhile – with a modern receiver, I find that AM and FM sound virtually the same for talk radio (the majority of CBC Radio 1′s programming) and “good enough for DNTO.”
3) To apply for a license to serve Nanaimo, Gabriola Island and Vancouver at the same time, with different transmitters placed less than 40 kms apart is, at the worst lunacy, and, at the best, greedy – these are the last remaining frequencies in the area.
A far better plan would be to move 690 to Nanaimo and simulcast Victoria with it and apply for 88.1 and 98.7 to cover Vancouver, Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast.
“Since mobile AM receivers formerly knows as the pocket transistor are rather few and far between it would serve me as a listener to have the FM band.”
The Sony SRF-59 (often on sale at London Drugs for $22) is an absurdly sensitive little portable – smaller than a cassette tape – comes with headphones and tunes from 530-1710khz and 88Mhz – 108Mhz. I can hear 810khz KGO San Francisco anywhere I go, as well as 540 Regina, Provincial CBC on 740, 860, 990, 1010, etc and a myriad of others. The FM reception is amazing as well. No, I do not work for Sony or London Drugs – I am the editor of the radio hobbyist website – dxer.ca located in Victoria B.C.
Kateb…
Actually, the Sirius 137 verison of Radio One isn’t the Toronto feed at all.
It’s a unique schedule which, for example, includes both the Atlantic and Pacific editions of some shows (The Current, Word at Six, As it Happens among them) and also features programs NOT heard on terrestrial Radio One at all.
There’s a handy program grid at cbc.ca/sirius
Uh, there is no parallel 690 transmitter in Nanaimo. What you’re picking up is the signal from the Richmond transmitter site.
I disagree with the comment about the CBC (90.5) Victoria station. My wife and I have been CBC Radio 1 Vancouver fans for over 30 years. We were listening long before someone decided that Victoria should have it’s own CBC radio station. (the only apparent reason was that every other Provincial capital happened to have one). Even though we live on Vancouver Island we still prefer the local content on the Vancouver station.
AM reception was “kind of” ok before we got computers. Now we get all kinds of noise from electronic devices in our house that makes AM signals unacceptable. I’m sure most people must have similar problems. AM might have some nostalgia value but these days it has little value as a broadcast medium.
I sympathize (somewhat) with you dx folk. Heck, though, if distance is an issue, anyone in the world with computer access can listen to
CBC Vancouver over the internet. In a perfect world, I agree both AM and FM would be the ideal solution. If we can have only one give me FM.
The two things that bring canadians together are Hockey and the CBC radio. Why change that. Why make it so only a few can recieve the *Broadcast*. The CBC should use the system or systems that allow the most Canadians possiple to hear about Canada anywhere in Canada or the World, not just the most populated areas. A fisherman off any of our coasts, a cabin nestled in a Rocky Mountain valley or a Inuit in the middle of the great white north have the right to listen to the CBC.
CBC means Canadian Broadcasting Coporation, not the City Broadcasting Corporation.
Tod, I’m not sure why we’re discussing this idea. CBC Radio One’s content does not merit a valuable FM spot on the dial. Most of the programming is of the most tedious sort. The local content is dominated by long-winded interviews with victims of society, cute Gen Y fluff, and for the most part union-friendly political messaging.
The music content, which would obviously benefit from an FM signal, is at best a very minor part of the morning and afternoon shows. Rick Cluff won’t tolerate any music with a modern edge, and the whole show is linked digital beats and riffs with no melody.
CBC Radio One Vancouver is the most sleep-inducing radio I’ve heard in 30 years as a local listener. You don’t need a snooze button with this stuff. Our household stopped listening with any regularity during the 2006 strike and haven’t turned the dial back.
If the Mothercorp can revitalize its programming, and make it worth paying attention to, I’ll support your license application. For now, you guys can hold tight on AM.
I’ll be writing a letter to this effect to the CRTC application.
I know 690 broadcasts well over the straight, but here in Surrey it can be difficult to pick up! My house is in a “dead zone”, and I get 690 with a fair amount of background noise and static, and I end up having to listen to it over the internet. 690 is NOT a “clear channel frequency” for us in Metro Vancouver.
I heard on the radio yesterday that this would put CBC Radio One broadcast retransmission from Gabriola Island for both Vancouver and Victoria stations (2 different, new frequencies for Gabriola, this CRTC application covers 3 new FM stations in all). It sounds like the island and the Sunshine Coast are well covered by this application. I’m originally from Nanaimo and am happy the island will get even better coverage from Radio One.
Apart from the annoyance of having to filter through other FM stations to find the new CBC frequency, I can’t see a negative to losing AM and gaining FM.
Someone wrote: “AM reception was ‘kind of’ ok before we got computers. Now we get all kinds of noise from electronic devices in our house that makes AM signals unacceptable. I’m sure most people must have similar problems. AM might have some nostalgia value but these days it has little value as a broadcast medium.
I live in a 16 story tower of concrete and steel (with TV, FM and CELL towers on the roof) and my AM reception is fabulous.
I think you should be more concerned about how you are polluting your RF environment.
Little value as a broadcast medium? I beg to disagree.
KGO – 810khz in San Francisco reaches a potential audience of over 50 million people for the cost of a 50kw transmitter.
CBC 690 and its shortwave parallel on 6160khz reaches several million easily in B.C. – with no drop-outs, re-boots or hassles and no need for high-speed wireless connections.
So. Wake up and smell the lo-tech!
Colin Newell – editor/creator http://www.dxer.ca
What’s a cassette tape?
I second the recommendation for the Sony SRF-59: an amazing receiver! For portable, personal use, it’s the ultimate pocket transistor radio.
One of the rationales or the switch to FM is that some listeners are experiencing poor reception of the AM 690 transmission. I’m not sure that moving to FM will improve reception. FM has less ability to penetrate and bounce. Where I can’t pick up the FM transmission then I’ll switch the car radio to AM for the 690 broadcast. In the "dell" where we live in greater Vancouver, we get poor reception of CBUF (French) but AM 690 comes in just fine (are they both transmitted from Mt Seymour?). I’m not sure the other question was asked on the survey "do you have problems picking up FM signals?" So before switching to FM, be sure we’re comparing apples to apples.
I’ll also echo what’s been said previously, there are listeners of the AM broadcast outside the lower mainland. AM has a wonderful characteristic of bouncing long distances especially in the evening. Perhaps a very small proportion of listeners are in the boondocks compared to the metro area, but lets hear from people living in isolated areas who aren’t on grid power much less have high speed Internet.
Ummm, hello! It’s the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Not the Vancouver Broadcasting Corp.
I just moved from Vancouver to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, we get zero FM coverage here. The AM 690 signal gives us coverage until early evening and then we’re in the dark.
I will be writing the CRTC to voice my concern that moving to the FM band will represent a degradation of service to my community.
I agree with the comments made by others that this change does not reflect the needs of communities outside the GVRD/CRD.
I was horrified to hear of the plans to replace AM with FM in Vancouver. That effectively eliminates 90% of the geographical coverage, and appears to violate CBC’s commitment to serve the country. I have depended on the CBC my entire adult life. We were once lightkeepers, and at Chatham Point on Vancouver Island (N of Campbell River and Seymour Narrows) we could rely on CBC 690 200 km (125 miles) away as the crow flies, from Vancouver. Now on bustling Saltspring Island, CBC2 (FM) is fuzzy and scratchy in downtown Ganges, OK if you’ve got a bit of elevation AND face Vancouver. Which we do (it’s about 75 km (36 miles) unobstructed. But, we CANNOT get Victoria’s FM station, max. 53 km (33mi.) (wherever the transmitter is). And I’d love to, tired of relentless Lower Mainland traffic reports). Whoever came up with this Vancouver-centric plan, do they know we have impressive mountains around this province? I suppose its $ and the ever-increasing blind power of the cities — at the very least keep the AM going (perhaps a higher bandwidth?), or boost the power of the Victoria and Vancouver Island repeaters. I’ll be making a submission to the CRTC. And whoever started this blog ( a devout CBC employee?), while apparently "knowing" about FM’s inability to go around obstacles, had the GALL to encourage everyone to support this ‘wonderful’ new FM. I recall with great fondness Bob Sharples and his terrific show Daybreak which covered the entire province EXCEPT the Lower Mainland (what a concept!). I intend to send a submission to the CRTC — thanks for the forum.