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Has Austin forgot about HD Radio?

J

jras20

First KHFI HD-1 (main channel) sounds horrible, the HD-2 channel sounds better than HD-1. KASE HD-2 sounds horrible. 102.3 has been off forever. KVET has a delay back in of 2 or 3 seconds when the HD kicks in. KFMK is off and has been off for a while. The only ones that sound good are 89.5, 90.5, and Bob HD-1 and 2 sounds good. KKMJ sounds OK the HD-2 channel could sound better...
 
The answer to your question is.....yes.

The stations have figured out that you can't buy a HD radio in this town. The only two places that carried the home models regularly, Best Buy and Fry's, have never, ever had a decent model working on display. BB has given up and Fry's has a couple with dust on them next to the Sangean Internet radios.

A couple of car stereo vendors still sell the JVC dash unit, but it's getting rather long in the tooth. BB has had a couple of car models, but no one there knows what they are or can decently demonstrate them.
 
It might be interesting to see which of these stations have had their engineering hit hard by cutbacks. Were I the chief for some of these folks, the HD channels would be the last thing I would be interested in, given the (complete lack of) listenership.

If you're having headaches keeping the main signal on due to a lack of bucks, then I can' t imagine HD having any priority whatsoever.
 
But how are you going to get listeners to care about something that's neglected and not maintained?
 
The bottom line with so called HD radio (which it most definitely is not) is that the stations have had to spend a ton of money on the equipment and they have no way or future plan to make any money off of it (this is Clear Channel I'm talking about). So, yes, they really just don't care. Sure, the management give it lip service because corporate (who are investors in the company that sells the IBOC transmitters) harps on it all the time, but nobody is being called on the carpet because it doesn't work. It constantly has bugs because the system as a whole is not good and as its been stated, the only people who actually have the radios are the people who are on this message board. In short, its a waste of time and will probably go away once the new "owners" figure out its a black hole for money.
 
I think Mega HD radio is the best and Ive said this before. I listen to it not with an HD radio, but over the internet which I am glad they are streaming because I bet you anything they are getting most of their listeners through the internet. Everybody I know that listens to Mega HD2 listens to them over the internet. If they ever cut out internet streaming that would be the end of the station. Nobody has HD radios around here.
 
Its ashame that it is like that. I enjoy Mega and KGSR's HD-2 channels at work.
 
What's really ashame is that companies like Clear Channel tried to shove IBOC down everbodies throat instead of other options before they had a chance to perfect it and come up with a real plan for how to make it work.
 
True, but how are they going to get the word out about it? I do think they did play to many commercials about it.

On a other note, I almost never hear any XM or Sirius ads any more on the radio.
 
What is the bes HD receiver to get that will plug into your exsisting home stereo? i'm looking at buying one from Amazon they have several on their website.
 
IMHO, we're within 5 years of the tipping point where non-local HD Radio and Satellite Radio will both have fewer listeners than mobile Internet radio.
 
Bandwidth issues still make portable Internet radio impractical. Remember each device needs its own wi-fi stream where broadcast radio receivers share a common data stream.
 
fredcantu said:
Bandwidth issues still make portable Internet radio impractical. Remember each device needs its own wi-fi stream where broadcast radio receivers share a common data stream.
Click to expand...
The digital TV transition is freeing up radio spectrum. Much of that will go to new wireless connectivity services for consumers on a national scale. That connectivity will be just dandy for mobile Internet streams.
 
HD is still of value to public radio.

Here's why.

Public stations can sell these radios and get a cut back in donation from the sale.

Public radio can still capture the ears of their loyal listeners enough to sell the radios.

Public radio audiences are hungry for more content than can fit on the regular signal schedule.

Public radio stations have grants and funding sources that support innovative delivery and unique content.

Therefore, I contend HD is still an area with potential for public radio stations.

However, I don't think Clear Channel could sell listeners on HD. Although, their E-Rockster offering is actually shockingly good.
 
Let's face it. You can have great programming on your HD Radios but you're going to have way more people hear it on your web site. With that option they have little reason to invest in Hybrid Digital.
 
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