why did FM become the most popular radio frequency and what difference did it have over AM?
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The difference between AM and FM is in the how the waves are modulated. (with AM it is the amplitude that is modulated to carry the sound information, with FM it is the frequency that is modulated.) AM has poorer sound quality as compared to FM, but it is cheaper to transmit, and can be transmitted over longer distances. Plus it is low bandwidth so you can have more stations available. (It is still more popular in rural areas where FM is hard to receive unless you are close to the station broadcasting it.) FM has better sound quality than AM, and is less prone to interference because it doesn’t carry as far. But it is more expensive to broadcast and takes up more bandwidth. It is more cost effective to broadcast FM in more populous areas where the transmission doesn’t have to travel far to reach a large enough audience to justify the extra cost. Which is why it became popular in cities and suburban areas.
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