FCC Approves All-Digital Option for AM

[davideduardo]

I can see the lines forming as we speak at my local Best Buy with HD Radio customers. Just wondering how many Insignia HD Radios will be sold on Black Friday or should I say how many are on the shelf. Damn and I just donated two HD Radios to Salvation Army yesterday, my bad.

While I am negative on digital-only AM, I see the FM part being very viable.

For example, LA has several Persian and Armenian HD channels that are very, very profitable for the groups that lease the facilities.

And many markets have HD channels that are duplicated on an FM translator, and are... where the signal or geography is a good fit for market coverage... viable competitors. While this is an FCC construct, the owners are very happy and won't be giving up on the HD operations.

 

[Kevin]

While I am negative on digital-only AM, I see the FM part being very viable.

For example, LA has several Persian and Armenian HD channels that are very, very profitable for the groups that lease the facilities.

And many markets have HD channels that are duplicated on an FM translator, and are... where the signal or geography is a good fit for market coverage... viable competitors. While this is an FCC construct, the owners are very happy and won't be giving up on the HD operations.

The only way this can work is if the FCC mandates the broadcasting industry to go all digital and the radio manufacturers to include HD Radio in all receivers and last but not least an analog sunset date. There is no other answer to solve this situation and in the process of mandating the broadcasting industry to digital it could hurt the broadcasting business and consumers could go elsewhere for their radio like steaming. It’s really a Catch 22 situation. Now there is one another way for AM to go digital that is to move to the FM HD 2 and HD 3 subs most AM stations could lease on these HD subs from other broadcasters and eventually thin out the AM dial to just the 50 KW stations so that there would still be AM service in most rural areas of the country.

 

[davideduardo]

The only way this can work is if the FCC mandates the broadcasting industry to go all digital and the radio manufacturers to include HD Radio in all receivers and last but not least an analog sunset date. There is no other answer to solve this situation and in the process of mandating the broadcasting industry to digital it could hurt the broadcasting business and consumers could go elsewhere for their radio like steaming. It’s really a Catch 22 situation. Now there is one another way for AM to go digital that is to move to the FM HD 2 and HD 3 subs most AM stations could lease on these HD subs from other broadcasters and eventually thin out the AM dial to just the 50 KW stations so that there would still be AM service in most rural areas of the country.

I am not discussing the AM HD. I am discussing the FM HD which has created a lot of new options and is moderately to quite successful in many markets.

AM radio is dead. The few survivors are the big-signal stations that actually cover their markets day and night and a few more limited signal AMs with special interest group programming.

As to serving rural areas, most AMs don't cover extensively daytime and at night, radio is infrequently use so the skywave service is a dead issue. The real issue is that 80 years ago or more, the FCC limited the AM band in the US to low and medium-low power only, so extensive coverage is just not possible.

 

[Kevin]

I am not discussing the AM HD. I am discussing the FM HD which has created a lot of new options and is moderately to quite successful in many markets.

AM radio is dead. The few survivors are the big-signal stations that actually cover their markets day and night and a few more limited signal AMs with special interest group programming.

As to serving rural areas, most AMs don't cover extensively daytime and at night, radio is infrequently use so the skywave service is a dead issue. The real issue is that 80 years ago or more, the FCC limited the AM band in the US to low and medium-low power only, so extensive coverage is just not possible.

HD may be great in your area on FM and that’s good for the broadcasting business there. But here in Motown not so great. As far as the listeners most people don’t care how their radio is delivered as long as they get what they want and that’s where streaming comes in. Streaming is a lot easier to find than trying to find an HD Radio and there are more offerings on the internet radio landscape. Ask a 20 or even 30 year old where they get their radio from and most will tell you streaming, most don’t even own a radio or a car for that matter. The people behind HD Radio are pushing for HD Radio in vehicles but yet there will be less vehicles on the road in the next 10 years and possibly electrical vehicles could out number the gas vehicles. And forget about HD AM in electric cars and possibly FM radio could exit vehicles as well, As 5G technology advances will have more vehicles with internet radio capability.

 

[Kelly A]

I can see the lines forming as we speak at my local Best Buy with HD Radio customers. Just wondering how many Insignia HD Radios will be sold on Black Friday or should I say how many are on the shelf. Damn and I just donated two HD Radios to Salvation Army yesterday, my bad. But truly I get what you’re saying, it’s great for some broadcasters but on the consumer level no one cares about HD Radio most will stream their radio instead.

One could argue, that no average consumer under 50 'cares' about radio, period. HD or analog. They still use radio on a daily basis, but with the exception of some radio hobbyists, no one is making a trip to their local electronics store to buy a new radio. They haven't for over 20+ years.

The only portable consumer device people listen to audio with are via the app on their phones or Alexa. The majority of which are purchased on-line.

 

[MarioMania]

In MA3 Mode

On a Analog AM Radio, Do you hear the HD Sideband?

Like WWFD 820 -- Can you hear the HD Hiss on 810 & 830?

 

[Kevin]

In MA3 Mode

On a Analog AM Radio, Do you hear the HD Sideband?

Like WWFD 820 -- Can you hear the HD Hiss on 810 & 830?

The answer is yes. You will mainly hear it on 820 with the sidebands.

 

[fybush]

In MA3 Mode

On a Analog AM Radio, Do you hear the HD Sideband?

Like WWFD 820 -- Can you hear the HD Hiss on 810 & 830?

There's no "sideband." Unlike in MA1, where you have the analog signal and then digital carriers that ride outside, on adjacent-channel frequencies, the digital carriers for MA3 occupy the "main channel" where the analog audio would normally be.

 

[Groove1670]

HD (Huge Disappointment) Radio will continue to die a slow death both on AM and FM. A technology consumers never asked for. The true digital radio platform remains through our smartphones via an app or website. Regular radio will remain a good source for cheap (free) entertainment and information for decades to come. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Let's call it for what it is. HD gives analog translators an new signal option. If a group is under a station cap they can add translators for additional signals (translators are exempt). MA3 will allow AMs to shut off a noisy analog signal. I believe Radio One petitoned to split the MA3 signal into multi channels, but was denied because further studies are needed. It is only a matter of time before this allowed. The quality won't be that great however someone will create a codec to improve the quality.

 

[spt87]

Au contraire. HD radio is at its strongest now due to the FCC permitting translators to be allowed to simulcast HD-2 and beyond channels, effectively creating additional viable FM stations. Additionally, in many markets the HD channel has become an accessible and viable service for foreign language and religious broadcasters.

Even if true that means HD is becoming a behind the scenes technology like a studio to transmitter link. Most are listening to the translator not HD. This is all just a legal loophole. The FCC could decide to just let translators originate programming and the need for the HD 2,3 is gone. Not saying I think they should do that but they could.

 

[rbc]

Even if true that means HD is becoming a behind the scenes technology like a studio to transmitter link. Most are listening to the translator not HD. This is all just a legal loophole. The FCC could decide to just let translators originate programming and the need for the HD 2,3 is gone. Not saying I think they should do that but they could.

It seems to me that multiple low power analog stations would use more spectrum and cause more interference than a single HD station.

 

[spt87]

It seems to me that multiple low power analog stations would use more spectrum and cause more interference than a single HD station.

I agree - I'm just commenting on what is being done not necessarily how it should be done. But due to the lack of HD receivers/lack of consumer interest, the regulations and the ease of getting translators this is what we have.

Also - your mileage may vary - but I've found the HD sub channels to not be the most robust when in a moving car. FM's that are solid on analog I've had plenty of trouble with the HD 2 or 3 dropping out while driving around.