It's called WSHE and it's located in Frederick, Maryland at 820 on the AM dial. It stands out because it's apparently the only all digital AM station in the world. There is no analogue version and normal radios can't get it. 

So what does it sound like? According to one of my favourite radio writers, in the brief exposure he had to it, he was very impressed with the MA3 standard it uses. 

As he outlines in a column published Monday, he liked what he heard. 

"While faster to decode the digital signal than the the hybrid system currently used by all other HD stations, AM or FM, the lack of an analog component meant that it took a second or so to start hearing music.

The result was worth the wait, however — the sound was every bit as good as FM, perhaps even better, though it was hard to discern in such a small space in a limited time."

You can read the rest of his comments here, although you'll need to scroll down to the final section of the article.

So how does a station almost no one can get make any money? It doesn't. It's an experiment by Hubbard Broadcasting and it carries no ads. 

(Edit: This story isn't exactly correct. Turns out this station is also broadcast on three HD signals in the Washington and Baltimore area - 103.5 FM HD3 Washington, DC, 107.7 FM HD3 Manassas, VA, and 103.9 FM HD3,  Frederick, MD.)

Last edited by RadioActive (October 6, 2025 5:18 pm)