2015 Chevrolet Silverado dumps HD

[KB1OKL]

Among the changes highlighted for the 2015 Silverado courtesy of GM:

"HD radio feature removed from all radios"

I guess that would mean that they still have the chip in the radios but have wisely decided to not activate it?

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08...pdates-and-changes-made-official-rpo-central/

 

[KB1OKL]

Chevrolet Traverse is also deleting HD radio:


http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08/2015-chevy-traverse-changes-updates-detailed-rpo-central/

I have an 09 GM car which if it were available would have had HD so this seems to insinuate that GM has had a very short affair with HD.

 

[Chuck]

My 2014 Chrysler Town & Country, equipped with their most expensive "info-tainment" system is conspicuously missing any HD feature. It sounds pretty darned good on a well processed analog station though....

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Chevrolet Traverse is also deleting HD radio:


http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08/2015-chevy-traverse-changes-updates-detailed-rpo-central/

I have an 09 GM car which if it were available would have had HD so this seems to insinuate that GM has had a very short affair with HD.

Pioneer aftermarket radios still have HD, but I notice the number of models that feature it are reduced to just 3. Heavy on bluetooth, pandora, satellite and other whistles and bells - but HD is becoming less available.

 

[JoshTheRadioDude]

Gee, I guess forcing an already outdated technology on a marketplace that doesn't want anything to do with it DOESN'T work. Who knew?

 

[joebtsflk1]

iBiquity HD = C-Quam? Will this equation be true in the next couple of years...it may be there already for AM.

 

[kenglish]

Says they put in a "bigger antenna"....maybe the HD Radio would have worked with the new antenna?
Those one-inch "paper-clip" antennas they use on new cars are pretty worthless on AM/MW, and not much better on FM either.

 

[KB1OKL]

My 2014 Chrysler Town & Country, equipped with their most expensive "info-tainment" system is conspicuously missing any HD feature. It sounds pretty darned good on a well processed analog station though....

Yes my G8 has a good Blaupunkt radio in it and everything sounds good except for the AM which of course has no highs. XM has even changed something lately, it is starting to sparkle, it sounds really good.

 

[Chuck]

Gee, XM only sounds decent on a few channels on my Chrysler radio. Some are jsut horrible, loaded with artifacts that drive me crazy. No XM channels sound as good as a well processed FM signal on my radio. YMMV....

 

[tomservo]

And no FM signal sounds as good as a lossless FLAC played from my own music player.

 

[radioskeptic]

It’s not just the Silverado. GM is dropping “HD” in at least six different vehicles in the 2015 model year. And who knows? There may be more!

Here are the ones I’ve found so far:

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08...-eco-model-removes-and-gains-colors-features/

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08...ors-wheels-heated-steering-wheel-rpo-central/

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08...color-onstar-4g-lte-with-wi-fi-other-changes/

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08...pdates-and-changes-made-official-rpo-central/

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08/2015-gmc-sierra-changes-and-updates-detailed-rpo-central/

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/08/2015-chevy-traverse-changes-updates-detailed-rpo-central/

 

[radioskeptic]

I didn't know those URL's would be shortened. They are, respectively, Chevrolet Impala, Buick Enclave, Buick Regal, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Chevrolet Traverse.

 

[KB1OKL]

Jeez, I wonder how Strooby's going to spin this?

 

[DaveBayArea]

Harris (now Gates Air) has a conversion kit to take a Z-series transmitter from hybrid to analog-only for stations that want to reduce their electric bill. Wonder how Ibiquity will spin that.

Dave B.

 

[JoshTheRadioDude]

This is all so delicious, I don't think I'm going to have to eat for week.

 

[TheBigA]

Gee, I guess forcing an already outdated technology on a marketplace that doesn't want anything to do with it DOESN'T work. Who knew?

If outdated technology was the reason, they'd also drop AM...which they have considered.

 

[JoshTheRadioDude]

If outdated technology was the reason, they'd also drop AM...which they have considered.

I should clarify: the technology was outdated before it even came to market, which is part of why nobody wants it, which is why they've dropped it. AM at least still has a teensy-weensy fraction of listeners. HD never got any.

 

[TheBigA]

I should clarify: the technology was outdated before it even came to market, which is part of why nobody wants it, which is why they've dropped it. AM at least still has a teensy-weensy fraction of listeners. HD never got any.

I would bet the issue is getting money from the manufacturer. They get a payment from Sirius. Nothing from iBiquity. Makes the decision pretty easy.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I guess you could cruise junkyards for earlier model years of those cars and snag a radio with HD capability. The junkyards here allow you to go pull the radios out and save yourself some money they would otherwise charge for pulling one. Several years ago - I equipped all my cars with C-Quam AM stereo that way. The worst problem I had was a blown amplifier in one radio - fixed with a replacement power amplifier IC. Now C-Quam is not used anywhere here that matters. WLS at night would be worth it if they still played music. I wonder, though, how many HD enthusiasts will bother cruising junkyards for OEM HD radios?

 

[tomservo]

Beyond the reception issues and user frustration, HD has become irrelevant to potential listeners because in many markets, the HD feed is being relayed on analog translators, negating the need for an HD capable receiver. Across Alabama there are dozens of translators being fed by HD channels, in both big cities and even some smaller communities.