By contrast, AM signals only extend up to 100 miles or so from the broadcast center, while FM signals are even shorter, reaching up to 30 or 40 miles from where they originate. Shortwave: These frequencies bounce off a layer of charged atoms (ions) in the atmosphere, and depending on the angle of the waves can travel thousands of miles. If you camp, boat, or live in an area with frequent severe weather, it’s worth spending extra for a pocket radio with NOAA bands. If you want to be able to hear weather reports – including emergency broadcasts – you need a radio that includes the NOAA weather bands. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Weather stations use a different frequency than the regular FM band on your radio. Most talk radio stations are on the AM dial. While AM signals travel much farther than FM signals, they have poorer sound quality. Amplitude, simply put, is the size of a sound wave. FM is standard on pretty much every pocket radio.Īmplitude modulation (AM): AM uses changes in amplitude to transmit signals. While FM signals don’t travel as far as AM signals, they do have better sound quality, which is why the vast majority of radio stations that play music are on the FM dial. On the most basic level, frequency is the speed of a sound wave’s vibration. There are four major types of radio waves you’ll encounter when shopping for your pocket radio: FM, AM, NOAA, and shortwave.įrequency modulation (FM): FM uses changes in sound-wave frequency to transmit signals. The radio’s speaker converts these waves into mechanical vibrations, which in turn create the sound waves that travel to your ears and then to your brain, where the sound waves are translated into music, speech, or some other recognizable sound. The sound you hear coming out of your radio is produced by radio waves, a type of electromagnetic wave. They’re also useful in emergency situations when you might not have electricity to power your television or other news-gathering devices. Since they’re small, pocket radios are excellent for the beach, hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities. A pocket radio is a handy way to listen to music or talk radio inside or outside your home or when out of range of streaming music services. What is a pocket radio?Ī pocket radio, as the name suggests, is a portable radio that is often – although not always – small enough to fit in a pocket. Radios are manufactured by a wide range of companies and come in numerous colors.A pocket radio lets you enjoy music or your favorite radio talk shows while on the go, camping, or even relaxing in your backyard. They often include a power cord, an antenna, and, importantly, a speaker. Radios are often rectangular and box-like in structure but not always. They are usually designed to sit flat on a desk, counter, or tabletop. They are often attached to a hand crank and sometimes include solar panels, giving users a method to power the radio when the power goes out. Portable, emergency radios are also a popular device in modern times. Car radios are often present in automobiles, providing users with broadcasting entertainment on the go. Radios can provide users with access to numerous different radio stations, including news stations, music stations, talk shows, etc. Radios themselves are devices that detect radio waves with antennas and convert the radio wave signal to an audible message. Radio technology is used for television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, two-way voice communication (like cell phones), one-way voice communication (like baby monitors), space communication, radar, radiolocation, remote control, and more. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that, when used with a transmitter and receiver, can wirelessly transmit messages. Radio technology refers to using radio waves for communication and signaling.
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