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Directed Electronics to Release HD Radio Receivers
- Thread starter HD_Ready
- Start date
7
700WLW
Guest
BFD - what's your point ?
E
ElCheapo
Guest
700WLW said:
It's a mystery... Could it be the fact that this is an HD Radio chat board and some new HD Radio products are making their debut?
I have a suspicion the car-radio adapter will only work with a PLL car radio.
Becker once sold shortwave converters for car radios, and I was lucky enough to buy one in Saudi Arabia in 1991.
There were two models, one for PLL radios, and one for "regular" LC tuning radios.
I still don't know why this should be, as tuning range should be identical.
Will we still tune the car radio to the desired stations' frequencies, or will everything received be on a modulated RF output to some
FM frequency the radio will then be "parked" on? Will the converter receive regular analog signals and pass THEM on, or will we have to turn off the converter to receive standard analog signals? Will it screw up the regular analog reception with images, intermodulation, poor selectivity, and overloading? Finally, will the digital components' internal clock noise generate hash into our AM reception?
How about when it's turned off? Many digital devices are never really "off".
Most GM car radios can't even keep the vacuum flourescent display noise of the dashboard and radio display out of the AM.
Is there any reason for me to hope that this "radio" adapter was designed by anyone who gave a flying flip about these real issues?
Becker once sold shortwave converters for car radios, and I was lucky enough to buy one in Saudi Arabia in 1991.
There were two models, one for PLL radios, and one for "regular" LC tuning radios.
I still don't know why this should be, as tuning range should be identical.
Will we still tune the car radio to the desired stations' frequencies, or will everything received be on a modulated RF output to some
FM frequency the radio will then be "parked" on? Will the converter receive regular analog signals and pass THEM on, or will we have to turn off the converter to receive standard analog signals? Will it screw up the regular analog reception with images, intermodulation, poor selectivity, and overloading? Finally, will the digital components' internal clock noise generate hash into our AM reception?
How about when it's turned off? Many digital devices are never really "off".
Most GM car radios can't even keep the vacuum flourescent display noise of the dashboard and radio display out of the AM.
Is there any reason for me to hope that this "radio" adapter was designed by anyone who gave a flying flip about these real issues?
S
SaynotoIB0C
Guest
these type of devices usually plug into your OEM radio's CD changer port and they still allow for CD changers to function via pass thru. This is how my Kenwood HD tuner works as well. It replaces the Analog tuner alltogether+tunes both digits and waves.
...And do we remember how gratifying those HD Radio adaptors have been to date? ...And how well the EXPENSIVE Alpine HD Radio tuner works (NOT VERY) plugged into the Alpine auto receiver designed to accommodate it?
...And WHOOPIE... Yet another $300 HD table radio... This time from... Who... Directed Electronics? Like I said "WHO" ??? ...That doesn't quite have the same "ring" as the likes of Boston Acoustics and Polk Audio who have very established pedigrees in the consumer electronics industry, and despite--couldn't move-the-meter on HD Radio.
So help me understand the feasibility of this marketing map from its feeble beginning to successful conclusion... A virtual "unknown" in a very competitive industry totes in yet another high-priced HD table radio... And (this time) secures the immediate attention of high-end audio dealers who are already unimpressed with a similar product from a brand they have a wealth of experience with and heavy demand for other successful products from... Said retailer does a mysterious "180" and agrees to stock this product despite lackluster customer demand... And the audio store sales personnel succeed not only in spurring formerly-nonexistent customer interest in HD Radio--but ALSO demand for said product from this consumer electronics "newbie". 'Sounds like science fiction to me
...And WHOOPIE... Yet another $300 HD table radio... This time from... Who... Directed Electronics? Like I said "WHO" ??? ...That doesn't quite have the same "ring" as the likes of Boston Acoustics and Polk Audio who have very established pedigrees in the consumer electronics industry, and despite--couldn't move-the-meter on HD Radio.
So help me understand the feasibility of this marketing map from its feeble beginning to successful conclusion... A virtual "unknown" in a very competitive industry totes in yet another high-priced HD table radio... And (this time) secures the immediate attention of high-end audio dealers who are already unimpressed with a similar product from a brand they have a wealth of experience with and heavy demand for other successful products from... Said retailer does a mysterious "180" and agrees to stock this product despite lackluster customer demand... And the audio store sales personnel succeed not only in spurring formerly-nonexistent customer interest in HD Radio--but ALSO demand for said product from this consumer electronics "newbie". 'Sounds like science fiction to me
E
ElCheapo
Guest
hipporadio said:...And do we remember how gratifying those HD Radio adaptors have been to date? ...And how well the EXPENSIVE Alpine HD Radio tuner works (NOT VERY) plugged into the Alpine auto receiver designed to accommodate it?
...And WHOOPIE... Yet another $300 HD table radio... This time from... Who... Directed Electronics? Like I said "WHO" ??? ...That doesn't quite have the same "ring" as the likes of Boston Acoustics and Polk Audio who have very established pedigrees in the consumer electronics industry, and despite--couldn't move-the-meter on HD Radio.
So help me understand the feasibility of this marketing map from its feeble beginning to successful conclusion... A virtual "unknown" in a very competitive industry totes in yet another high-priced HD table radio... And (this time) secures the immediate attention of high-end audio dealers who are already unimpressed with a similar product from a brand they have a wealth of experience with and heavy demand for other successful products from... Said retailer does a mysterious "180" and agrees to stock this product despite lackluster customer demand... And the audio store sales personnel succeed not only in spurring formerly-nonexistent customer interest in HD Radio--but ALSO demand for said product from this consumer electronics "newbie". 'Sounds like science fiction to me
A few Directed Electronics brand names you may recognize...
Viper - Car Alarms
Clifford - Car Alarms
Hornet - Car Alarms
Avital - Car Alarms
Orion - Car Audio (not the cheap TV people)
Precision Power - Car Audio
ADS - Car & Home Audio
Definitive Technology - High-End Home Speakers
And then there's their latest acquisition - Polk Audio!
Directed also manufactures many - if not all - of the Sirius branded Sirius satellite radios.
www.directed.com
ElCheapo said:
I stand ready to admit that I learned something important since I gave up drinking with those car audio retailers
That's an impressive resume of brands... Point WELL TAKEN, but which one draws the unlucky HD Radio marketing assignment--and sets off the Viper car alarm?
7
700WLW
Guest
ElCheapo said:
It's a mystery - no one cares about HD Radio.
Tom Wells said:
The range is identical but the available tuning steps aren't.
The modulation mode used by shortwave stations is identical to that used by standard domestic AM stations. The only thing that's different is the frequency. So, you can make a converter to reduce the frequency of a shortwave station by some fixed amount - say, 5400KHz - and that will cause shortwave stations to come in on the AM dial. For example:
SW station AM frequency
6000 600
6010 610
6020 620
...
The problem is... that shortwave stations operate on 5KHz channels. There might be a station on 6015, which the converter would cause to come in on 615 on the AM dial. Your U.S. PLL radio can be tuned to 610 or 620 - but it can't be tuned to 615. (in Saudi Arabia they use 9KHz channels - same problem, different numbers: the closest valid frequencies in the Saudi plan are 612 and 621) A converter for use with a PLL digitally-tuned radio will need some means of varying the amount of frequency conversion so that the converted SW stations can be moved onto frequencies that can be tuned by regular AM radios.
Non-PLL radios have no tuning steps; they can be tuned to *any* frequency within the available range. 615KHz is no problem, either for U.S. or Saudi sets.
Anyway, that won't affect HD converters. The HD modulation scheme is completely different from the analog system. Simply converting the frequency of the transmission won't make it receivable on an analog radio. (in fact, there is no frequency conversion to do: the HD signal is already on a valid AM/FM frequency within the tuning range of the radio) These converters are in fact a nearly-complete HD radio. They only lack an audio amplifier and speaker; instead, a miniature analog FM transmitter is used to play the audio through the FM radio.
I'm sure it'll be on a modulated FM RF output.
ElCheapo said:
Last evening “ElCheapo” responded to my post regarding the position of the Directed Electronics company in the consumer electronics marketplace. He provided some very good info on that company’s brand resume that many (like myself) outside that industry would not routinely associate. As I have noted in a past post, I have for years been acquainted with three long-term high-end consumer electronics retailers as clients—two have experience in mobile audio--(NONE stock or push the current HD Radio offerings).
As I tend to be a “factory radio” type guy when it comes to car audio, I asked one this morning to explain the “presence” of D.E. in the retail marketplace. His response included the following points:
*Directed is a fine company—huge player in the mobile security (alarm) biz.
*As for car audio... Overwhelmingly focused on audio transducers (speakers)—MUCH LESS on electronics (boxes full of transistors and resistors).
*They have a fine stable of prominent speaker lines (including ADS)—especially now with their acquisition of Polk (which he rightfully pointed out, unlike Bose with its radio and sound system line, is primarily a home and mobile SPEAKER company.
*ALL of DE’s “audio electronics” are outsourced. In the case of their Sirius sat receivers, they merely act as an OEM marketer (usually to the auto industry which also includes their SPEAKERS as a premium audio system option)... They do not build or brand these sat radio receivers.
Then he asked: “And your point?” Understanding that this guy was never high on the BA Receptor (from a company he DOES place prominence on in his business)... I queried as to how favorable his decision to floor-plan and promote HD Radio would be if a Directed rep came thru the door with an “car audio adapter” and yet another $300 HD table radio. The following emoticons will accurately illustrate his response...
Thank you, I knew about the 9 khz steps which was a real hoot to get used to, when I worked in Australia several times.
But it never occurred to me that those poor PLL radios would be stuck with a single mixer frequency output in the converter.
Maybe the PLL-type converter had some oscillator fine-tuning shift adjustment on the front.
The converter mentioned used the "lower-side" mixer output to the 550-1600 range, so the tuning dial was "backwards"
on the converted SW ranges. Another funny quirk. Maybe there were some problems with using the upper conversion products.
Many SW stations are not even on 5s or 10s, so there would need to be something to permit a shift of conversion for PLL reception.
As if I needed another reason to dislike PLL radios, this is a good one.
After 45 years, and 40 of them using radio extensively, I still have only ever owned one PLL radio.
I consider it a "radio emulator".
I have my doubts that the analog performance or feed through integrity of analog signals with these converters will be any good.
I think it more likely they would be only passable, in order to encourage use of the HD signals.
But it never occurred to me that those poor PLL radios would be stuck with a single mixer frequency output in the converter.
Maybe the PLL-type converter had some oscillator fine-tuning shift adjustment on the front.
The converter mentioned used the "lower-side" mixer output to the 550-1600 range, so the tuning dial was "backwards"
on the converted SW ranges. Another funny quirk. Maybe there were some problems with using the upper conversion products.
Many SW stations are not even on 5s or 10s, so there would need to be something to permit a shift of conversion for PLL reception.
As if I needed another reason to dislike PLL radios, this is a good one.
After 45 years, and 40 of them using radio extensively, I still have only ever owned one PLL radio.
I consider it a "radio emulator".
I have my doubts that the analog performance or feed through integrity of analog signals with these converters will be any good.
I think it more likely they would be only passable, in order to encourage use of the HD signals.
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