Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For me there is a great fascination with large radio antennas. Medium wave broadcast antennas in particular.
Some medium wave broadcast antennas use wires between the tall masts: often a “T” antenna system, while others use the masts themselves. These vertical masts are normally mounted on a large insulator, and fed near the base.
Often, especially in the USA, two, three and occasionally four masts are used to give a directional pattern so that all the power is beamed in the required direction, and interference is minimised.
But with other mediums like VHF FM, and streaming becoming more commonplace, the usage of medium wave amplitude modulation broadcasts is falling, and the antennas are being removed.
In Europe, particularly, the medium wave broadcast band is falling silent.
Will you miss these AM broadcast stations?
This video was an experiment to see what I could do with only an iPhone and the images and capabilities on it. I was in hospital and thought I would learn how to use iMovie and use what I had available. As I wasn’t allowed to take video or photos in the hospital, I don’t appear in the video although I was able to record the narrative.
Visit my online shop: electronics-notes-shop.fourthwall.com
More about the rise and fall of AM broadcasting: electronics-notes.com/articles/history/broadcasting/am-broadcasting-history-rise-fall-legacy.php
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
For me there is a great fascination with large radio antennas. Medium wave broadcast antennas in particular.
Some medium wave broadcast antennas use wires between the tall masts: often a “T” antenna system, while others use the masts themselves. These vertical masts are normally mounted on a large insulator, and fed near the base.
Often, especially in the USA, two, three and occasionally four masts are used to give a directional pattern so that all the power is beamed in the required direction, and interference is minimised.
But with other mediums like VHF FM, and streaming becoming more commonplace, the usage of medium wave amplitude modulation broadcasts is falling, and the antennas are being removed.
In Europe, particularly, the medium wave broadcast band is falling silent.
Will you miss these AM broadcast stations?
This video was an experiment to see what I could do with only an iPhone and the images and capabilities on it. I was in hospital and thought I would learn how to use iMovie and use what I had available. As I wasn’t allowed to take video or photos in the hospital, I don’t appear in the video although I was able to record the narrative.
Visit my online shop: electronics-notes-shop.fourthwall.com
More about the rise and fall of AM broadcasting: electronics-notes.com/articles/history/broadcasting/am-broadcasting-history-rise-fall-legacy.php
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
