Chicago HD2 Report as of 11/13/05

[mario]

The following stations are broadcasting different programming on their HD2 channels:

95.5 WNUA - Real Jazz

96.3 B96 - contemporary flashbacks

99.5 WUSN - "Future Country"

101.9 WTMX - "Totally 80's"

102.7 WVAZ - "Dusties" R&B Oldies

104.3 WJMK - Oldies with live jocks weekdays

105.9 WCKG - "NewsRadio 780" simulcast

These stations are broadcasting with few or no commercials, except the simulcast.

There are currently no stations using their HD3 channels

 

[JustinT]

> There are currently no stations using their HD3 channels

Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was turned off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs resulted in them shutting it down.

 

[VideoPaul]

> > There are currently no stations using their HD3 channels
>
> Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was turned
> off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> resulted in them shutting it down.
>
That's been off for several weeks.

--PP

 

[ZelenRecords]

> > > There are currently no stations using their HD3 channels
>
> >
> > Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was
> turned
> > off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> > resulted in them shutting it down.
> >
> That's been off for several weeks.
>
> --PP
>

Are comsumers going to have to buy special radio's for this, or will all new radio's have HD?

 

[mario]

> > > > There are currently no stations using their HD3
> channels
> >
> > >
> > > Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was
> > turned
> > > off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> > > resulted in them shutting it down.
> > >
> > That's been off for several weeks.
> >
> > --PP
> >
>
> Are comsumers going to have to buy special radio's for this,
> or will all new radio's have HD?
>

Unfortunately, THAT'S the Problem. All new radios, including table top, component receivers, and car radios will NOT have HD. Consumers now have to shell out several hundred dollars to hear the signals, and no indication at all that prices will come down, or that many receivers will be available. At this time the only auto manufacturer offering HD radios factory installed is BMW, and THAT is an extra cost option.

 

[ZelenRecords]

> > > > > There are currently no stations using their HD3
> > channels
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was
> > > turned
> > > > off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> > > > resulted in them shutting it down.
> > > >
> > > That's been off for several weeks.
> > >
> > > --PP
> > >
> >
> > Are comsumers going to have to buy special radio's for
> this,
> > or will all new radio's have HD?
> >
>
> Unfortunately, THAT'S the Problem. All new radios,
> including table top, component receivers, and car radios
> will NOT have HD. Consumers now have to shell out several
> hundred dollars to hear the signals, and no indication at
> all that prices will come down, or that many receivers will
> be available. At this time the only auto manufacturer
> offering HD radios factory installed is BMW, and THAT is an
> extra cost option.
>

If terrestrial radio is going to want to compete with Satellite, ipods, intenet, they better step up. Thank god for my ipod. Here is the problem. I'm like the rest of you, very into radio. So I am a fan of scanning the dial and listening to whatever. In the past year or so, I have been listening to my ipod, with the exception of some talk shows (i.e Howard,Mancow,Steve Dahl, Roe Conn). I don't feel entertained by radio anymore. Not in music, not in talk. When I was in junior high (i'm only 24) I loved tuning into The loop, and listening to Kevin, then listening to Danny, then Sunday nights I would listen to Loveline. It was awesome. I would rather go home and watch somethign on my TIVO, or listen to my ipod in the car, or at work I love to listen to internet radio.

Its sad.

 

[uncamark]

> The following stations are broadcasting different
> programming on their HD2 channels:
>
> 95.5 WNUA - Real Jazz
>
> 96.3 B96 - contemporary flashbacks
>
> 99.5 WUSN - "Future Country"
>
> 101.9 WTMX - "Totally 80's"
>
> 102.7 WVAZ - "Dusties" R&B Oldies
>
> 104.3 WJMK - Oldies with live jocks weekdays
>
> 105.9 WCKG - "NewsRadio 780" simulcast

Isn't WLIT simulcasting WRLL on their HD-2?

 

[k9ez]

> > > > > There are currently no stations using their HD3
> > channels
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was
> > > turned
> > > > off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> > > > resulted in them shutting it down.
> > > >
> > > That's been off for several weeks.
> > >
> > > --PP
> > >
> >
> > Are comsumers going to have to buy special radio's for
> this,
> > or will all new radio's have HD?
> >
>
> Unfortunately, THAT'S the Problem. All new radios,
> including table top, component receivers, and car radios
> will NOT have HD. Consumers now have to shell out several
> hundred dollars to hear the signals, and no indication at
> all that prices will come down, or that many receivers will
> be available. At this time the only auto manufacturer
> offering HD radios factory installed is BMW, and THAT is an
> extra cost option.
>


This is pretty much no different han people needing to buy a satellite radio. Albeit the HD radios are more expensive AT THIS POINT.

 

[djdanska]

> This is pretty much no different han people needing to buy a
> satellite radio. Albeit the HD radios are more expensive AT
> THIS POINT.
>
Yeah, but it only cost me $20.00 for my roady2 (and i found a 3 month free promo code online too).

 

[mario]

WLIT has yet to put on its HD channel (In fact the only Clear Channel FM stations with HD are WNUA and WVAZ).


> > The following stations are broadcasting different
> > programming on their HD2 channels:
> >
> > 95.5 WNUA - Real Jazz
> >
> > 96.3 B96 - contemporary flashbacks
> >
> > 99.5 WUSN - "Future Country"
> >
> > 101.9 WTMX - "Totally 80's"
> >
> > 102.7 WVAZ - "Dusties" R&B Oldies
> >
> > 104.3 WJMK - Oldies with live jocks weekdays
> >
> > 105.9 WCKG - "NewsRadio 780" simulcast
>
> Isn't WLIT simulcasting WRLL on their HD-2?
>

 

[RadioDoc]

> Unfortunately, THAT'S the Problem. All new radios,
> including table top, component receivers, and car radios
> will NOT have HD. Consumers now have to shell out several
> hundred dollars to hear the signals, and no indication at
> all that prices will come down, or that many receivers will
> be available. At this time the only auto manufacturer
> offering HD radios factory installed is BMW, and THAT is an
> extra cost option.
>

Interesting. No sign of coming down? Where do you get that? The radios have dropped a bit already. Remember CD players...they were $1000 when they first came out "with no sign of coming down".

They will come down substantally. Not tomorrow, not next month, but they will. This is a long-term deal...back in the 70's not all radios did FM Stereo...now they all do. If the prices get decent in the next year or two, we'll be in good shape.

Don't be so quick to dismiss...<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[k9ez]

> > This is pretty much no different han people needing to buy
> a
> > satellite radio. Albeit the HD radios are more expensive
> AT
> > THIS POINT.
> >
> Yeah, but it only cost me $20.00 for my roady2 (and i found
> a 3 month free promo code online too).
>


And what will this radio cost you in the long run when you continue to pay a monthly fee?

When FM came along, they were VERY expensive radios. Now look at what you an buy an FM radio for.

Dont get me wrong, HD Radio is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.

 

[k9ez]

> The following stations are broadcasting different
> programming on their HD2 channels:
>
> 95.5 WNUA - Real Jazz
>
> 96.3 B96 - contemporary flashbacks
>
> 99.5 WUSN - "Future Country"
>
> 101.9 WTMX - "Totally 80's"
>
> 102.7 WVAZ - "Dusties" R&B Oldies
>
> 104.3 WJMK - Oldies with live jocks weekdays
>
> 105.9 WCKG - "NewsRadio 780" simulcast
>
> These stations are broadcasting with few or no commercials,
> except the simulcast.
>
> There are currently no stations using their HD3 channels
>

I do not have first hand knowledge but I heard that WNUA was playing NOAA weather on HD3.

 

[djdanska]

> And what will this radio cost you in the long run when you
> continue to pay a monthly fee?

Enough to justify the over 100 channels.

 

[mario]

> > Unfortunately, THAT'S the Problem. All new radios,
> > including table top, component receivers, and car radios
> > will NOT have HD. Consumers now have to shell out several
>
> > hundred dollars to hear the signals, and no indication at
> > all that prices will come down, or that many receivers
> will
> > be available. At this time the only auto manufacturer
> > offering HD radios factory installed is BMW, and THAT is
> an
> > extra cost option.
> >
>
> Interesting. No sign of coming down? Where do you get
> that? The radios have dropped a bit already. Remember CD
> players...they were $1000 when they first came out "with no
> sign of coming down".
>
> They will come down substantally. Not tomorrow, not next
> month, but they will. This is a long-term deal...back in
> the 70's not all radios did FM Stereo...now they all do. If
> the prices get decent in the next year or two, we'll be in
> good shape.
>
> Don't be so quick to dismiss...
>
I hope you are right. But in addition to decent prices there has to be a demand for the product. How many of your friends and neighbors who are NOT in radio are waiting for HD prices to come down? How many have ever HEARD of HD?

 

[PhilJSmith67]

> I hope you are right. But in addition to decent prices
> there has to be a demand for the product. How many of your
> friends and neighbors who are NOT in radio are waiting for
> HD prices to come down? How many have ever HEARD of HD?

Bingo.

Completely aside of the "what's better" argument...

In the long run, satellite receivers unquestionably cost the consumer more money. However, satellite radio has a model that works: "Cheap hardware up front yields recurring subscription revenue." It's the same reason you can get 6 months of cable for 29.95/mo, three months of mobile web or text messaging for free, et cetera. Snag 'em, then charge 'em. The company greases the wheel up front and the consumer keeps it spinning.

That model doesn't exist for HD Radio. You can't give the hardware away to secure subscription agreements because there are no subscription agreements. Broadcasters are not going to unilaterally chip in as a substitute.

Some people have drawn up comparisons of HD Radio vs. analog, saying it's similar to the FM vs. AM battle in the 70s/80s. In a vacuum if terrestrial broadcasting, that comparison sounds plausible on the surface, but HD Radio must contend with other viable products that already have a head start, in an age when the word "radio" is being twisted to be "un-wired, tired, low-tech... 'so yesterday'."

The only way the iBiquity and terrestrial broadcasters are going to make a field goal with this HD Radio thing is if they slide the hardware right underneath people's fingertips. Agreements with car companies to make HD Radios *standard* on most new models of cars could work. Home stereo receivers with HD Radio built in might help. Finagling with the U.S. Government to mandate a sunset date for analog radio (biting my tongue) would of course do something. But, a scenario of the general public clambering to the stores for HD Radio receivers, strolling right past today's offerings of iPods, Internet devices and satellite receivers? That just ain't gonna happen.

 

[VideoPaul]

> > > > There are currently no stations using their HD3
> channels
> >
> > >
> > > Does that mean that WUSN's HD-3 simulcast of HD-1 was
> > turned
> > > off? Perhaps the poor audio quality on all of the HDs
> > > resulted in them shutting it down.
> > >
> > That's been off for several weeks.
> >
> > --PP
> >
>
> Are comsumers going to have to buy special radio's for this,
> or will all new radio's have HD?
>

First you have to get an HD radio and you have to specify that it's one that recieves multicast. If you go to Fry's Electronics (the only retailer in the area that sold them as of a couple months ago) the HD radio receivers they sell will NOT recieve multicast. You would have to buy the unit and PAY to send it back to Kenwood for them to upgrade the system

I got myself a Kenwood multicast capable receiver but it took a lot of calling around and pulling rank as a broadcaster. I am told by Kenwood that they are far mroe available now. Crutchfield is a good mail-order source. Look for the product review written by Cris Alexander, DOE of Crawford Broadcasting, extolling the virtues of the HD radio but not identifying himself as a radio DOE with a lot of company capital tied up in HD radio's success.

Then head out to the SW suburbs and listen to ANY HD radio. Where I live US-99-HD is audible about 40% of the time, WJMK-HD is good about 60 of the time. Wnat the shocker? WTMJ-AM 620 out of Milwaukee comes in in HD better than US-99 does. Also, the US-99 analog audio is not quite properly delayed, so when it switches from A to D or D to A it sounds like the CD is skipping.

20dB down from the analog carrier just isn't enoguh to serve the Chicago market, or any geographically diverse market. Anyone who really wants to hear it, feel free to contact me and I will demonstrate the reception for you in my truck. You'll be underwhelmed.

--PP