CBS NEWS STORY: NEW iPHONE MAY CHANGE FACE OF RADIO

[Carmine5]

Now here's something that really looks like the future of radio:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/14/scitech/pcanswer/main4256999.shtml

Notice this reviewer's comments on using the iPhone in the car:

"I plugged the iPhone into the auxiliary jack of his car radio while we drove around the San Jose, Calif. area listening to WCBS Newsradio from New York, a radio station from Kingston, Jamaica and a customized channel through Pandora.

Even at 66 miles an hour on U.S. Highway 101, the sound was better than what you'd expect from a clear FM signal. I also tuned into my local KCBS news station where the sound quality was definitely better than the station's terrestrial AM signal."

Of course, along a freeway getting a wi-fi signal is rather easy. I'm not sure how wi-fi or WiMAX would do in the rurals but that's what using the television "white spaces" technology is all about.

C5

 

[LinoNYC]

Now here's something that really looks like the future of radio:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/14/scitech/pcanswer/main4256999.shtml

Notice this reviewer's comments on using the iPhone in the car:

"I plugged the iPhone into the auxiliary jack of his car radio while we drove around the San Jose, Calif. area listening to WCBS Newsradio from New York, a radio station from Kingston, Jamaica and a customized channel through Pandora.

Even at 66 miles an hour on U.S. Highway 101, the sound was better than what you'd expect from a clear FM signal. I also tuned into my local KCBS news station where the sound quality was definitely better than the station's terrestrial AM signal."

Of course, along a freeway getting a wi-fi signal is rather easy. I'm not sure how wi-fi or WiMAX would do in the rurals but that's what using the television "white spaces" technology is all about.

C5

In a reality check:http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2008-06-12-att-internet-charge_N.htm

Hogs like this are going to accommodated at all our expense.

we drove around the San Jose, Calif. area listening to WCBS Newsradio from New York, a radio station from Kingston, Jamaica

How nice. Now if those stations can find a way to profit from this, they may be interested. Otherwise it's just a waste of their bandwidth and server capacity.

Lino

 

[Play Freebird]

Of course, along a freeway getting a wi-fi signal is rather easy. I'm not sure how wi-fi or WiMAX would do in the rurals but that's what using the television "white spaces" technology is all about.

You don't suppose we could use some of those "white spaces" for a digital radio system that really works?

 

[LinoNYC]

Of course, along a freeway getting a wi-fi signal is rather easy. I'm not sure how wi-fi or WiMAX would do in the rurals but that's what using the television "white spaces" technology is all about.

You don't suppose we could use some of those "white spaces" for a digital radio system that really works?

-And has no listeners for the foreseeable future.

Lino

 

[TheBigA]

What no one seems to understand is that WiMax turns the phone company into the new Clear Channel.

Think CC was a monopoly? Wait til you try to battle AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast.

I have seen the future, and it isn't better. ISPs and cell phone companies will be the new enemies.

 

[KB1OKL]

What no one seems to understand is that WiMax turns the phone company into the new Clear Channel.

Think CC was a monopoly? Wait til you try to battle AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast.

I have seen the future, and it isn't better. ISPs and cell phone companies will be the new enemies.

A big difference is that CC programs all the junk they play and controls what we hear, WiMax is just a transmission mode, with that we could listen to just about anything we wanted to and maybe in REAL CD quality although I'd prefer LP quality myself ;D
I hate those companies myself, we'll see what happens when they get their greedy little hands on WiMax. I know right now I'm only paying about 6 bucks a month for live 365 and it's great, but of course my broadband cable Charter the gouger charges me 57.00.

 

[TheBigA]

WiMax is just a transmission mode, with that we could listen to just about anything we wanted to

For the time being. There was a time when radio and cable was just a transmission mode. Don't be so anxious to let the big bad wolf into the hen house.

 

[KB1OKL]

WiMax is just a transmission mode, with that we could listen to just about anything we wanted to

For the time being. There was a time when radio and cable was just a transmission mode. Don't be so anxious to let the big bad wolf into the hen house.

Yeah, I understand your your point, but unfortunately the one true free transmission mode left is radio but it is being endangered by a new type of whooshing noise that covers adjacent channels and cuts down it's range severely and also makes AM sound terrible and FM sound flat. I wonder what it is?

 

[TheBigA]

Yeah, I understand your your point, but unfortunately the one true free transmission mode left is radio but it is being endangered by a new type of whooshing noise that covers adjacent channels and cuts down it's range severely and also makes AM sound terrible and FM sound flat. I wonder what it is?

To be honest with you, I've never heard what you're talking about.

 

[clouseau]

Yeah, I understand your your point, but unfortunately the one true free transmission mode left is radio but it is being endangered by a new type of whooshing noise that covers adjacent channels and cuts down it's range severely and also makes AM sound terrible and FM sound flat. I wonder what it is?

To be honest with you, I've never heard what you're talking about.

Well I'll stand up for KB here. If you're trying to listen to an out of market station and it's next to a local, there can be some "Whooshing" on AM. And it can also cause some diffuiculty on FM as well. KB has posted an MP3 of how NYC fm listennig 15 miles from Boston was disrupted by HD transmission in Boston. (Why you'd listen to "In the grass" FM from New York in Boston is beyond me, but that's another story.)

You haven't heard it's probably because it basically isn't a problem. Especially on FM

Clouseau

 

[TheBigA]

If you're trying to listen to an out of market station and it's next to a local, there can be some "Whooshing" on AM.

For over 25 years, through multiple administrations, it has been the point of view of Congress and the FCC that there should be no "out of town listening." That is why they licensed so many radio stations, why they ended clear channel licenses, and why they are so hell bent on promoting localism and diversity.

But I live in an area where stations aren't that close together, and truthfully, I have no reason to listen to out of market AM stations. They basically all run the same syndicated shows anyway, especially at night.

 

[KB1OKL]

If you're trying to listen to an out of market station and it's next to a local, there can be some "Whooshing" on AM.

For over 25 years, through multiple administrations, it has been the point of view of Congress and the FCC that there should be no "out of town listening." That is why they licensed so many radio stations, why they ended clear channel licenses, and why they are so hell bent on promoting localism and diversity.

But I live in an area where stations aren't that close together, and truthfully, I have no reason to listen to out of market AM stations. They basically all run the same syndicated shows anyway, especially at night.

Is that right? Are they going to pass a law against DXing next following that logic? I think you may have the wording a little wrong. Incidentally many 50KW stations still brag about their coverage at night, so I don't think the government has ever said that there "out of town listening." . That is against the laws of physics anyway. It does seem that they are hell bent as you say on destroying radio though unfortunately.

 

[KB1OKL]

Yeah, I understand your your point, but unfortunately the one true free transmission mode left is radio but it is being endangered by a new type of whooshing noise that covers adjacent channels and cuts down it's range severely and also makes AM sound terrible and FM sound flat. I wonder what it is?

To be honest with you, I've never heard what you're talking about.

KB has posted an MP3 of how NYC fm listennig 15 miles from Boston was disrupted by HD transmission in Boston. (Why you'd listen to "In the grass" FM from New York in Boston is beyond me, but that's another story.)

You haven't heard it's probably because it basically isn't a problem. Especially on FM

Clouseau

Wasn't me Inspector, I do remember that though, was another person who hasn't been around for a while. BigA (I assume you live in NY?) if you've never heard the HD whooshing, (which frankly I have a hard time believing or else you don't listen to AM at all), try tuning your analog radio to 650 AM at night, this was formerly WSM Nashville which is covered in many parts of the NE (at least) by WFAN's digital sidebands, or try tuning either 10 Khz above or below WOR AM, for that matter try tuning either above or below WBZ 1030 at night, it might be worse out your way as the first bounce of skywave seems to be from 200-400 miles. I have never heard it on FM either although others have.

 

[TheBigA]

BigA (I assume you live in NY?)

Not any more.

 

[TheBigA]

Are they going to pass a law against DXing next following that logic?

No, but they've made it difficult.

Incidentally many 50KW stations still brag about their coverage at night, so I don't think the government has ever said that there "out of town listening."

I'm sure they do, but out of town listening isn't measured by Arbitron. At least not now. So it doesn't contribute to the bottom line. Just the egos of the people on the air.

It does seem that they are hell bent as you say on destroying radio though unfortunately.

If you compare the number of radio stations per capita in the US with any other country, you'll be shocked. It is no wonder that terrestrial radio is in the state it's in. I'm sure the owners remind the Congress of that whenever they get a chance.

 

[clouseau]

My apologies, Bob for attributing the Boston/NY FM story to you. I believe you and the "Other fella" both started on this board at about the same time. He posted the file, though. However you DID relay it in the first post you ever made on this board...

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,85370.msg642747.html#msg642747

But seriously you are correct. You didn't post the MP3. Consider me corrected.

Sorry for the incorrect attribution.

Clouseau

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

"You don't suppose we could use some of those "white spaces" for a digital radio system that really works?" Boy that's the damn truth! How about giving us just one damn channel of "white space" that will be available in 90 percent of the country after TV conversion? (channel 6) As far as Wifi taking over radio listenership, I kind of doubt it in any forseeable future really. The cost of deployment of the wifi systems will be expensive and the cell companies that will put the systems in will start figuring out how to charge for bandwidth useage. My guess is at first they'll take the training wheels off and let people fly down the internet freeway without that many restrictions (but the coverage won't be all that great at first). When it becomes more popular they'll start slapping users with restrictions, etc. Take a look at the way the current net connectivity is with the cell guys. They all for the most part (Sprint now included) have bandwidth caps. Streaming is a bandwidth hog. Mobile broadband services will be cool for stream, but I just don't see it as a radio replacement for most people for at least 15 to 20 years IMHO. The problem with radio right now is two-fold. First and formost the content sucks and will continue to suck until the corporate clows have to get out and local people that care invest back in radio buying stations back at a reasonable cost. The public just isn't interested in crappy programming and it shows. Secondly the car industry is hurting at this point due to oil. If at some point things get right for the auto industry radio will pull out of the slump. Until then things are going to be bumpy to say the least for terrestrial radio. Fears of WIMAX taking over are very premature really, if ever a threat. Cell companies are greedy which in the case of terrestrial radio is a good thing. LOL!

 

[KB1OKL]

My apologies, Bob for attributing the Boston/NY FM story to you. I believe you and the "Other fella" both started on this board at about the same time. He posted the file, though. However you DID relay it in the first post you ever made on this board...

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,85370.msg642747.html#msg642747

But seriously you are correct. You didn't post the MP3. Consider me corrected.

Sorry for the incorrect attribution.

Clouseau

No problem Inspector, I was flattered actually, I remember the post but don't remember who it was.

 

[Mike Walker]

The Iphone sold (I think) one and a half million in a weekend. Pretty impressive, until one considers that Nokia sells about five million phones A DAY, every day (according to Leo Laporte, "The Tech Guy"). And then there are the BILLIONS of AM and FM radios in place. It's important to keep things in perspective!

The Iphone isn't even the biggest selling phone in the US. Here in Northwest NC, I have seen them in stores, but absolutely NEVER have I seen one 'in the wild'.