RE: Tech question (Was Re: WBZ stereo?)

["Hakim Madjid" <HMadjid@mindspring.com>]

Marc Lemay wrote:

>Does an FM mono signal travel better than an FM Stereo signal?  If so -
why?

Well it's more that an FM-mono signal will *appear* to travel better. For
various complicated information theory reasons, an FM-stereo signal, results
in about a 10db signal to noise degradation at the radio receiver when
compared to mono. That's a lot (10 times worse for stereo). So yea, an
FM-mono signal will 'travel better'.

I just mentioned on this list that WBUR-FM spends a lot of time brodacasting
a mono signal. The above is the reason why. 90.9 listeners will get a
significantly quieter signal - espcially those with inexpensive receivers.

73, de Hakim (N1ZFF)