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“HD” in “HD Radio” stands for “highly disappointing"

K

KB1OKL

This is a piece from 3/11/13 in Radio World by James O’Neal who is technology editor of TV Technology magazine and a contributor to Radio World. Some some of you may have read it but it is an interesting "real world" attempt to do more than "light" the HD light on the AM band with a consumer grade HD receiver. This openminded writer has come to the same conclusion as most of us here:
"While it may have some* benefit to the handful of FM listeners who have equipped themselves with “HD” radios, I have to conclude that as concerns AM, it serves as nothing more than legalized jamming."


* Italics are mine.

Read this interesting article at:

http://www.radioworld.com/article/iboc-at-night-five-years-later/218209
 
Three years ago I had authored a piece in Radio World (HD Radio Faces Rocky Road)on how HD Radio missed the mark from everything from market acceptance to design features (flaws?) to programming content. I think others have hit the mark and pointed out even more of its shortcomings. The thing that stymies me is why the FCC continues to allow this on the AM band, let alone the FM band as well. It causes/creates interference on both bands ... PEROID! I don't think many will dispute that.

I think if they want to save the AM band they better shut this stuff off and re-consider something like AM Stereo.
 
I'd be OK with AM Stereo, but you still need an outdoor antenna to get it cleanly.
Sure wish (FCC) OTARD included radio antennas...and we had some good outside loop antennas that are remote-controlled, and don't cost $700. :)
 
kenglish said:
I'd be OK with AM Stereo, but you still need an outdoor antenna to get it cleanly.
Click to expand...

I never had a problem - I had C-Quam in my car, the old WFAA 570 AM Stereo made it nicely to Conroe, and was only unlistenable after that point due to KLVI Beaumont's 10 kHz hetereodyne. I spent many hours listening to WFAA and WLS AM stereo music at night from Houston - WLS is close to 1000 miles from Houston - never a problem. As late as the early 00's, KMKI 620 Dallas and KAAM 770 Dallas were broadcasting C-Quam, and I could easily hear both 290 miles away during the daytime as I travelled West. I stopped at a canyon out there to do some testing with a portable Sony SRF-A1 - one of the posters on here alleged that mountains caused platform motion - after avoiding rattlesnakes walking all over that canyon I didn't get even a hint of platform motion. The only problem on either station was KKOB 770 underneath KAAM. By the time I reached Lubbock, I needed a loop to get clear reception on KMKI, but its C-Quam was still there even without a loop. KAAM, however, was platform motion - probably the carrier of KKOB which by Lubbock is much stronger.

Point is that C-Quam has no range issues - but HD AM sure does. The best I ever did on KMKI HD was 35 miles, and never got KAAM HD only 10 miles from their towers. That is a 10:1 range reduction in KMKI, and more than a 30:1 range reduction with KAAM if you wanted stereo from them. I'll leave it to you to determine which system has range problems compared to the other.
 
WBT in Charlotte recently did a test, broadcasting 100% digital one night. My friend was able to get it locked in HD all night in Massachusetts.

He usually is never able to get any AM stations in HD at night. Not even a local 50kw 20 miles away. But the IBUZ can be heard.
 
I have a nice tuner the Sangean HDT-1 and trying to listen to an HD2 channel with a strong signal (the transmitter is just a few miles away from me) tonight it keeps popping in and out and at one point went back to the main channel which I was not listening too. I saw this same thing at a Car Stereo store near me, different station, different radio, same problem. Stations don't stay locked....FAIL! Nobody is going to put up with that.
 
I heard that digital test from WBT at night; it displayed the WBT calls on my XDR-F1HD with a loop AM antenna. On an analog radio, it was nothing but noise.

HD also stands for "Highly Deceptive" or "Highly Destructive."
 
ddsparxx said:
I heard that digital test from WBT at night; it displayed the WBT calls on my XDR-F1HD with a loop AM antenna. On an analog radio, it was nothing but noise.

HD also stands for "Highly Deceptive" or "Highly Destructive."
Click to expand...

IBOC: It Bothers Other Channels.
 
TheRover said:
My next audio purchase for the automobile will **not** include an HD Receiver.

HD has failed me on content.

They had their chance to please me, and they blew it.

NO second chances for them.
Click to expand...

You may not have a choice if you also want the Nav. package, Bluetooth, On-Star, or just a decent FM radio.
 
Chuck said:
You may not have a choice if you also want the Nav. package, Bluetooth, On-Star, or just a decent FM radio.
Click to expand...

That's exactly right. The manufacturers load up the most desirable models with all manner of crap that cannot be deleted such as XM, HD, CD/DVD, nav, moon/sun roof, auto wipers, heated seats etc., etc. I could have easily knocked off $5K off the purchase price by eliminating equipment or features I didn't want or need but had to buy them to get the car I wanted.
 
TheRover said:
My next audio purchase for the automobile will **not** include an HD Receiver.
Click to expand...

I don't believe HD is an option in most, if not all, sound systems. If you want the particular system's other features, the HD comes with it.
 
landtuna said:


That's exactly right. The manufacturers load up the most desirable models with all manner of crap that cannot be deleted such as XM, HD, CD/DVD, nav, moon/sun roof, auto wipers, heated seats etc., etc. I could have easily knocked off $5K off the purchase price by eliminating equipment or features I didn't want or need but had to buy them to get the car I wanted.
Click to expand...

XM / Sirius is an exception. The module / components for satellite are subsidized by XM, the manufacturer benefits from subscription fee revenue sharing, etc. It comes "free" with all the other stuff.
 
So far it seems like a bunch of secondary, niche, trendy auto companies have adopted HD. But Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler - the brands most people buy - no HD. At least not as standard equipment. They aren't stupid. They aren't going to put something in that costs money for no reason. So - yes if you want to pay a lot of extra money for a German / French / Italian / English / Japanese high end import that - by the way, breaks down as much as less expensive cars - then you can get HD standard. Maybe all that stuff accounts for the 2%.
 
InsideRadio reported today that Toyota will be offering HD radio on many of their models, including the Corolla. That is very mainstream.
In addition, Toyota will be incorporating Total Traffic, which is broadcast on HD by Clear Channel, into their navigation systems and digital displays. Total Traffic also offers weather information.
The article states that the Toyota vehicles will also be capable of receiving the HD radio Artist Experience feature. But I believe that at this time very few HD stations actually transmit Artist Experience data.

InsideRadio Article: http://www.insideradio.com//Article.asp?id=2696241#.UinqLRF8N1s
 
The last Ford I rented (In June - from Avis) had HD.

A lot of times they bundle this stuff in weird ways. For instance if you want a power driver's seat, they you have to buy it in a package with power windows, key-less entry, and leather seats. If you want a power passenger's seat, you have to buy the premium sound system with remote rear seat controls, DVD player, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and sometimes HD. Apparently it is the "new" way of marketing cars. Long gone are the days when you could go to the dealer and order a car with exactly the features you want.
 
Barry said:
InsideRadio reported today that Toyota will be offering HD radio on many of their models, including the Corolla. That is very mainstream.
In addition, Toyota will be incorporating Total Traffic, which is broadcast on HD by Clear Channel, into their navigation systems and digital displays. Total Traffic also offers weather information.
The article states that the Toyota vehicles will also be capable of receiving the HD radio Artist Experience feature. But I believe that at this time very few HD stations actually transmit Artist Experience data.

InsideRadio Article: http://www.insideradio.com//Article.asp?id=2696241#.UinqLRF8N1s
Click to expand...

Around this time last year, Struble stated that only 400 stations had added Artist Experience, and that they were slow to "upgrade". Now, Struble claims that over 900 stations have AE. The implementation of AE is flawed, as images don't show up consistently, if at all. With all the dropouts, the Total Traffic must be next to useless. Makes one wonder what Toyota is getting out of all of this?
 
PantsOnFire said:
Around this time last year, Struble stated that only 400 stations had added Artist Experience, and that they were slow to "upgrade". Now, Struble claims that over 900 stations have AE. The implementation of AE is flawed, as images don't show up consistently, if at all. With all the dropouts, the Total Traffic must be next to useless. Makes one wonder what Toyota is getting out of all of this?
Click to expand...

I can't imagine driving into Boston during rush hour with a traffic system based on HD. All these imbedded HD radios are going to be as useless as 8 track players in these cars in a few years.

The whole HD debacle just goes to show you that if you're smart and have enough money and know the right people you can market just about anything and be half successful with it in this country. Consumer ignorance and apathy (same thing?) are probably playing a big part in the spread of this non-working technology.
 
rbrucecarter5 said:
So far it seems like a bunch of secondary, niche, trendy auto companies have adopted HD. But Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler - the brands most people buy - no HD. At least not as standard equipment. They aren't stupid. They aren't going to put something in that costs money for no reason. So - yes if you want to pay a lot of extra money for a German / French / Italian / English / Japanese high end import that - by the way, breaks down as much as less expensive cars - then you can get HD standard. Maybe all that stuff accounts for the 2%.
Click to expand...

You obviously are not subscribed to any of the industry-standard car evaluation reports. Since the early 70's a whole host of foreign marques have outdistanced domestic car makers in reliability, innovation and value. Detroit has done some catch-up recently but isn't there yet.

Of the top 20 selling light vehicles in 2013 (so far) 10 are "foreign" marques and 4 are domestic pickups. The foreign marques are outselling domestics (with the exception of pickup trucks) by a considerable number of units. And some of the industry's best selling units are actually Made in the USA so to call them "foreign" is somewhat of a misnomer (which also might apply to Chrysler since it is now owned by Fiat).

You are uninformed.
 
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