BA HD Radio - Any sales figures available?

[BruceS8852]

Does anyone know how many Boston Acoustics HD radios have been sold and are in use in the USA?

 

[SUPERCASTER]

I understand Boston Acoustics so far has sold 2.They keep getting them returned and recycle.

 

[autopaint-1]

"I understand Boston Acoustics so far has sold 2.They keep getting them returned and recycle."I take it from this comment and other posts I've read from you that you are not a fan of HD Radio. Can you explain why that is? My B.A. about 25 miles from Manhattan receives all the HD stations in the market and I'm only using a pair of horizontally mounted (On the floor under a bed) rabbit ears. I can't tell you what others experience but I love my radio and it's selectivity is amazing.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

I'm glad you are getting such unusually good results with your Boston Acoustics HD Radio using rabbit ears under the bed. Perhaps the bedsprings are acting as a reflector giving you the extra antenna gain you seem to be getting. Unfortunately other HD Radio owners are not getting such good results, and you might not get acceptable results with the antenna or HD radio at another location.Since you have a computer and internet connection, you can listen to the hundreds of HD radio streams from the internet, in addition to tens of thousands of podcasts, internet streaming stations, XM internet streams, all over your property, on your current analog FM radios, just by adding a small, inexpensive FM stereo transmitter.Here's how:See -Buying HD radio receivers-What for? (Also below).http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,37245.msg256156.html#msg256156There are inexpensive computers (with CD burners), iPods, MP3 players, multimedia capable cell phones, and many other devices, all allowing you to play or record all these available media streams, plus make up your own custom playlists, and hear all this from wherever you go in the world. Most music is recorded anyway, and no HD Radio will get you all this.For immediacy, most talk and news formats are available on analog radio, or on webstreams, with very good fidelity.In short, it seems no one has a practical need for an HD Radio, other then a broadcast engineer, to check the HD radio signal. HD radio audio plus MUCH MORE is all available without the HD radio.Now if we could just convince the broadcast stations to stop transmitting all that HD Radio digital noise and interference, the fidelity and coverage of analog stations would also dramatically improve.Here is a link for more information:http://worldsupercaster.blogspot.comTry these internet radios. They will pick up virtually all the HD Radio streams, plus over 15,000 other internet stations anywhere there is a wireless internet connection, without a computer or HD Radio.http://www.rokulabs.com/products/ht.../acoustic-energy-wi-fi-internet-radio.aspxYou already have a computer, so virtually all the hundreds of HD Radio streams are available from the internet (see station websites and HD Radio listings). Plus many XM satellite stations, 15,000 webstreaming stations, innumerable podcasts, and probably the Serius and other satellite stations (although I havent checked the net for Sirius yet).If you want HD stations around your house and yard, just get a small FM stereo transmitter, connect it to the audio output of your computer, and listen to them on any of your FM radios.Here is an inexpensive FM stereo transmitter that goes in your computer and can transmit all around your property:http://www.progressive-concepts.com/info/item.html?id=288There are also small, inexpensive FM stereo transmitters from Belkin, CCrane, and dozens of others, that can do the same:http://www.ccrane.com/radios/fm-transmitters/fm-transmitter.aspx

 

[autopaint-1]

"I'm glad you are getting such unusually good results with your Boston Acoustics HD Radio using rabbit ears under the bed. Perhaps the bedsprings are acting as a reflector giving you the extra antenna gain you seem to be getting. Unfortunately other HD Radio owners are not getting such good results, and you might not get acceptable results with the antenna or HD radio at another location.Since you have a computer and internet connection, you can listen to the hundreds of HD radio streams from the internet, in addition to tens of thousands of podcasts, internet streaming stations, XM internet streams, all over your property, on your current analog FM radios, just by adding a small, inexpensive FM stereo transmitter.Here's how:"These arguments are so silly in my opinion. First let's start with some facts concerning my B.A. Bedsprings have nothing to do with how well it receives. The radio works as well no matter what room in my home I place the antenna. I find myself listening to WNYC 2 all night and never once lose lock (I get out of bed in the middle of the night to do the middle age male run to the bathroom at 3 AM so I know the radio hasn't lost lock) and when I get up in the morning WNYC 2 is still loud and clear. It being a HD 2 channel means that it's either there or it isn't. There is no analogue equivalent to fall back on. The extra channels, at least at this time have some very interesting programming on them and it's nice having a bedside radio capable of receiving this product. The IBOC Codec is quite good as well and at least at this time when I buy a new car I would consider installing an IBOC capable radio. While I have a very good computer it doesn't work all that well in the car. I know of a few reasons that there are anti IBOC opponents. One; the DXer who thinks we're living in 1923 when people would sit in front of their Crosley listening for distant stations. I've done so myself and still do occasionally. I've heard stations from California to Africa and Europe on the broadcast bands from my location near NYC. Since the age of deregulation, the disappearance of true clear channels and allowing daytimers to operate 24 hours a day at reduced power the BCB has become an RF toilet. Sorry to say the broadcast band has more issues than IBOC to concern itself with. I've heard a few Long Wave stations from Europe as well, notably Atlantic 252 and a German BC long wave station. As much as I enjoyed the challenge of LW DXing in many instances those stations are disappearing. That's the way it goes as our technology evolves. You talk of being able to hear stations on the Internet and that's true. I can listen to Perth Australia all day every day on my computer but that doesn't, at least at time replace radios purpose. I could go on but now to argument #2; AM stereo is the way to go. AM Stereo like the old RCA video, needle in groove video disc is a technology whose time has passed. There is no way for a analogue stereo AM station no matter how well engineered to achieve the noise floor levels of a digital signal. Maybe the answer for AM is to have IBOC run during the daylight hours and C-Quam to be the method of operating after dark. Technically speaking though and I have both radios, IBOC kills C-Quam when it comes to fidelity. Another point which killed AM Stereo that there was no defacto winner of the Stereo wars, which brings us to argument 3; Leonard Khan has a better system. Mr. Khan was one of the people responsible for the downfall of AM stereo in this country. I don't care if his system was better or cheaper or anything. He, like Ralph Nader in a previous election allowed his ego to get in the way of improving the overall technical landscape of AM broadcast radio. In my opinion his alternate system only served to muddy the waters and cause an already confused public to lose any interest they might have had in bettering the audio quality of the AM broadcast band. IBOC is seen as a way of renewing interest in a band who's life like that of the Long Wave broadcaster elsewhere is slowly coming to an end unless some radical steps are taken. Young people do not listen to AM radio for the most part. As for FM IBOCs, in NYC at least we are so overloaded with broadcasters that every available channel has been taken already and since the IBOC generators have been turned on I have noticed no diminution of receivable signals here on any radio I own. By the way I am an engineer for one of the major radio networks and hold an Amateur Extra license so I have some kind of idea about what is going on. We are early in the rollout of this technology. People have to be patient so that some bugs can be worked out. As for me, If I can hear a format on the radio which interests me with perfect reception and I don't have to tune in some station via skywave with all the phase issues associated with that, I'm satisfied. I'd say that 99.99% of the public agrees with me. Fringe reception and DXing are not issues for the vast majority of listeners. By the way, I get some of the XM channels on my DirecTV receivers. I know I'm in the minority but there's nothing they are playing that interests me that I don't already have. My I-Pod has over 4500 songs on it. What do I need another monthly expense for?

 

[Len14043]

Autopaint-1,I am in total agreement in your assessment of HD radio. The only disagreement I have with you is your comment about Ralph Nadir. I am extremely thankful he ran in 2000.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

autopaint-1If your reply was mostly addressed to me, most of your assumptions about me are way off base.I am for digital broadcasting, but against the defective iBiquity adjacent channel system. It is not what was promised, and causes a great deal of interference to both AM and FM analog reception. It should not get final FCC approval.The FCC should not be in the business of creating more interference on the AM and FM public airwaves to benefit a few listeners and broadcast conglomerates.I rarely DX.Here is an on channel digital FM system, that works well, and does not cause adjacent channel interference:www.dreinc.comI am against the Mororola C-Quam system. Since the Kahn-Hazletine system preceded C-Quam, the C-quam should be considered the alternate system. Both are probably past their prime.I know that HD Radio digital buzz interferes with my local and suburban AM and FM reception here in the heavily populated northeast corridor. The iBiquity HD Radio system is a defective system that creates more digital buzz and interference then any small benefit, or few "extra" channels it might provide to a very few HD Radio listeners. Projections are that less then 1% of the radios in North America will be HD Radios in the next 4 or 5 years, but a much greater percentage of radio listeners will suffer from the additional interference. It benefits the few HD Radio listeners and stations at the expense of the many analog listeners, and provides fewer stations, not more as claimed.Many listeners and broadcasters seem to be reporting reception problems, both analog and digital, AM and FM, caused by the iBiquity HD Radio system.Most of the rest of what you say comes from your beliefs, not mine, as you assert.

 

[1q2w3e]

AMEN Autopaint-1!!! Nice to see someone that has KNOWLEDGE and an understanding of how the system works. Also knowing the rules is quite helpful isn't?In the long run, the truth will come out. And those just trying to promote their web sites will fall by the way side.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

To 1q2w3e, and autopaint-1,Just more personal attacks, name calling, and unfounded accusations?Nothing to say about HD radio?After all, that is what this section is about.Yes, the truth does have a way of coming out, and that is wonderful!The truth about HD Radio is being told, and you won't find it on the HD Radio promotional websites, that are bound to fall by the wayside, along with HD Radio.Sunshine is the best disinfectant.If you were honest, you would welcome discussion of HD Radio's problems, and shortcomings, and not attack the messenger.Why resort to such disreputable tactics, unless there is plenty to hide?

 

[autopaint]

"To 1q2w3e, and autopaint-1,Just more personal attacks, name calling, and unfounded accusations?Nothing to say about HD radio?"What personal atacks are you refering to from me? I've made no accusations. I have however shown that you have an agenda which shows a oposition to the success of IBOC. I live in a NYC suburb and have none of the problems you claim. My radio (a B.A. HD Recptor) is extremely selective and has none of the problems with reception you claim to have. I am 25 miles north of the FM transmitter sites in midtown Manhattan and on FM have experienced no recption problems either on HD stations or on their analogue counterparts. The improvements are easliy obvserved, Better stereo seperation and the addition of otherwise unavailable formats and at least for the foreseable future there is no commercial content on the HD 2 or 3 channels. Of course that will change, but even XM & Sirrius have comercial content on some of their channels and you get to pay for the privlage. Go to a movie today and after spending 9 dollars for the ticket you get to sit through minutes of commercial content before the actual movie starts. We live in a commercial world. "Yes, the truth does have a way of coming out, and that is wonderful!The truth about HD Radio is being told, and you won't find it on the HD Radio promotional websites, that are bound to fall by the wayside, along with HD Radio.Sunshine is the best disinfectant."And what is coming out? I have the radio and love it. I am sure when more radios become available others will feel as I do. The Recptor is a first generation receiver. I purchased a first generation CD player years ago and paid 700 dollars for a very simple player. 700 dollars in the early 80's was a lot of money and even with it's shortcomings the technology evolved and the prices came down significantly over the years. The same has been true for color TV, the technology improved and the prices have dropped. "If you were honest, you would welcome discussion of HD Radio's problems, and shortcomings, and not attack the messenger.Why resort to such disreputable tactics, unless there is plenty to hide?"There's nothing to hide. IBOC is becoming more widely available and will be the defacto winner in the end.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

autopaint and supporters,So anyone who agrees with your opinions (such as those on HD Radio) has no agenda, and anyone opposing your opinions has an agenda?I think that proves your credibility and objectivity are as seriously jaded and flawed as HD Radio itself.You claim good HD Reception, but many have reported problems and poor reception results.Results with HD Radio are very questionable and variable at best.I expect few to put up with all those external AM and FM antennas, except the DXers, who already have the external antennas, and whom you deride.I agree, the marketplace will decide.

 

[HD_Ready]

I don't hear any interference at all, what are you talking about!Both my Receptor and my Kenwood sound Great!

 

[stevenNOLA]

I'm in Houston and have no complaints about IBOC. I've had a Kenwood setup in the car since January. Most of our FMs here are on 1800' sticks and 100kw. Their digital signals reach approximately 80 miles. When listening on the fringe of the digital signal coverage area, the analog signal has so much noise that it is not very useful. The digital signals crap out in the areas where the analog signal sounds muffled, still in stereo but sounds like mono. I would not be listening to a signal like that anyway... The only AMs with IBOC I've ever heard are KMIC-Radio Disney Houston and WBYU-New Orleans' Radio Disney...both sound better than analog FM. My only complaint is the IBOC signal does not travel very far on AM. I could see where a 50kw AM station might do well (although I've never tested one out) as they would have more reliable coverage. As far as HD-2s go, I want them in the car...my computer can't do that. I am a Sirius subscriber but listen to over-the-air radio more.

Just my $.02

Steven