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2 Smooth Jazz stations on HD-2?
- Thread starter jras20
- Start date
jras20 said:Is it just me or is Mix and Sunny both now have Smooth Jazz on HD-2?
I don't intend to be snide, but it's not just you. It's you and the half dozen other Houston area people who actually listen to HD radio.
Seriously, I know it's been said before, but until the stations start concentrating on turning out the best product they can on their main channels, anything on their HD channels really doesn't matter. The coverage of HD is limited, much of the content is either repetitive or generally not compelling and keeping the signal on the air isn't a top priority at most stations. Couple all that with the botched promotion of HD and you have a technology that few people understand and few desire to try.
Personally, I prefer the "Spec's Mix," www.radiofreecruze.com/SpecsPlayer.html online from Houston (and available as an I-Phone app) to anything I'm hearing on the HD channels. Also note that song and artist info is displayed.
I'm thinking of just going back to analog. I think my old receiver bit the dust. Its not sensitive as it use to be. I wish HD Radio was like HDTV. I can't get Houston DTV any more, but Victoria has 7 channels which is more than I use to get in analog TV. Of course I still have direct TV.
jd said:jras20 said:Is it just me or is Mix and Sunny both now have Smooth Jazz on HD-2?
I don't intend to be snide, but it's not just you. It's you and the half dozen other Houston area people who actually listen to HD radio.
Seriously, I know it's been said before, but until the stations start concentrating on turning out the best product they can on their main channels, anything on their HD channels really doesn't matter. The coverage of HD is limited, much of the content is either repetitive or generally not compelling and keeping the signal on the air isn't a top priority at most stations. Couple all that with the botched promotion of HD and you have a technology that few people understand and few desire to try.
Personally, I prefer the "Spec's Mix," www.radiofreecruze.com/SpecsPlayer.html online from Houston (and available as an I-Phone app) to anything I'm hearing on the HD channels. Also note that song and artist info is displayed.
The song and artist info is showing up on most HD channels now. Building penetration, on the other hand, sucks rocks through a straw except for KUHF who is already at high power. That power increase should make a big difference.
johndavis said:jd said:jras20 said:Is it just me or is Mix and Sunny both now have Smooth Jazz on HD-2?
I don't intend to be snide, but it's not just you. It's you and the half dozen other Houston area people who actually listen to HD radio.
Seriously, I know it's been said before, but until the stations start concentrating on turning out the best product they can on their main channels, anything on their HD channels really doesn't matter. The coverage of HD is limited, much of the content is either repetitive or generally not compelling and keeping the signal on the air isn't a top priority at most stations. Couple all that with the botched promotion of HD and you have a technology that few people understand and few desire to try.
Personally, I prefer the "Spec's Mix," www.radiofreecruze.com/SpecsPlayer.html online from Houston (and available as an I-Phone app) to anything I'm hearing on the HD channels. Also note that song and artist info is displayed.
The song and artist info is showing up on most HD channels now. Building penetration, on the other hand, sucks rocks through a straw except for KUHF who is already at high power. That power increase should make a big difference.
John,
Do you know if/when the other stations will increase power? I'd especially like to see it on KHPT & KGLK since they are out-of-town and among my most listened to stations.
StevenNOLA said:John,
Do you know if/when the other stations will increase power? I'd especially like to see it on KHPT & KGLK since they are out-of-town and among my most listened to stations.
Hard to say. I think a lot of stations would like to bump it up tomorrow, but it takes time to purchase and install new transmitters.
If the analog signal isn't reliable where you live, don't get your hopes up with a digital one. Digital is less forgiving.
I think the HD2s and 3s will always be a supplement to the main channel for most stations. Don't expect much originality on them, though. I haven't seen a PD come up with anything original in a long, long time. The creativity just isn't there anymore. Still, it will give them a place to try out other formats before they decide whether they want them on one of their main channels. When they aren't experimenting, they'll either let them run idle or duplicate one of their other stations on them; much the same way as CC is doing with some of their FMs. They're running KTRH programming on one of the FM HD2s. Not a bad deal if you're in an area where KTRH is noisy at night. So, now, you can listen to Coast-To-Coast on HD. What a deal, boy! Ah say, what a deal!
Testing KUHF's signal 84 miles out, I see a BIG differents KUHF comes in as 1 bar on my Sony HD Radio, and I can get the HD signal with hardly any drops. 2-3 on 95.7 And that drops even some. I'm hoping this will really help HD and save it. I like more choices expecially having a Dance station on HD-2!
johndavis said:StevenNOLA said:John,
Do you know if/when the other stations will increase power? I'd especially like to see it on KHPT & KGLK since they are out-of-town and among my most listened to stations.
Hard to say. I think a lot of stations would like to bump it up tomorrow, but it takes time to purchase and install new transmitters.
If the analog signal isn't reliable where you live, don't get your hopes up with a digital one. Digital is less forgiving.
Thanks for the info, John. I realize that it is expensive to upgrade this equipment, especially in times where cash flow is being watched with a magnifying glass. I just hope that the rimshots get the upgrade soon.
I live in Katy and work downtown. At home in Katy, I have good luck with all of the Missouri City 100kw stations in HD with an indoor dipole. I have a bit more of a challenge getting a stable lock on KGLK and no lock on KHPT.
Downtown: Same story with all of the Missouri City sticks and rock solid on KGLK. I get an occasional digital lock on KHPT but when it drops, it fades to silence instead of blending back to analog. This issue is very frustrating and does not allow me to listen in the office as my radio (Accurian desktop) does not allow me to switch off HD.
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