HD longevity

[radioskeptic]

On Dec.3, “FreddyE1977 posted the following as Reply # 5 on the thread “iboc crud” on the Pittsburgh discussion board:

I recently had a chat with my "Deep Throat" at iBiquity, and it sounds like basically they are on death watch. Huge layoffs, sounds like nobody but the CEO, receptionist and janitor left in the building. So the problem may take care of itself.

Then on Dec. 4, “Savage” posted the following as Reply # 3 on the thread “I took the plunge and bought an HD radio” on the HD Radio board:

Footnote department: on the Pittsburgh discussion board under the topic "IBOC crud" a poster with an inside source at iBiquity claims most of the staff has been laid off. This has the ring of accuracy given complaints I've heard that iBiquity licensees are having trouble getting calls returned and support questions answered. If the staff has been pared back to save money, that would be the explanation.

Has anybody had trouble getting calls returned? Does that suggest that HD radio could soon be an orphaned technology, one for which there may be no technical support? And if so, shouldn’t that be a red flag for any station considering an investment in the technology, whether a first installation or a digital power upgrade?

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Let's only hope. Maybe we can start over again with a modest investment and go with something that actually works like FMextra.

 

[rrsounds]

Let's only hope. Maybe we can start over again with a modest investment and go with something that actually works like FMextra.

Or DRM, at least for AM.

Kind Regards,
David

 

[L. DeForest]

It's time to move on from the concept of digital radio. Ibiquity was a scam and if they are going under that's s good thing for all concerned. They spent millions of $$$$ on advertising and consumers barely noticed. That should tell you something.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

"Deforest" oh brother. What history.

Digital Radio Mondale has excellent implementation. there was supposed to be an Fm product but it never took place.

We can only hope the funding for Ibiquity will end and this will become like the old quad products in the late 60's.

One firm that ran perceptual studies determined radio listeners were inherently stupid. They wanted to be able to turn it on and not fiddle with it. i have spoken with several people in OTA locations that have simply stopped watching television because they can't connect the cable boxes. Blind, aged, etc. They are listening to internet, radio, sca services, or just do something else.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Yup. If the listener gets tired of having to fiddle, most won't bother... Agreed!

 

[RolfTaylor]

Yup. If the listener gets tired of having to fiddle, most won't bother... Agreed!

Yup, digital tuners have spoiled everyone. Grandma knew how to tune a radio and adjust the rabbit ears on the TV.

But fiddling can be worthwhile...:

http://drabruzzi.com/images/MenAndWomenEngineering.jpg

 

[jboyd]

Here's a switch...if the smaller markets do not buy in to it...it will die! The majority of the small/ medium market stations make up over 50% of the stations in the USA based on my unofficial analysis...meaning stations 70,000 ( in primary or under )
I am going to do my part! Why do you think the power increase proposal is out there? If you are a small adjacent FM to one of the majors...you are in for REAL trouble...JBI

 

[TomT]

I own an FM in a small market & buying another FM in the same market.

IBOC is a solution seeking a problem; I wouldn't spend a nickel on it. There are already too many signals in our (rated) market, without adding HD-2 services no-one can hear; there is no logical reason to run main channel IBOC just to say that you are digital.

(Well, almost-- I have three of the Sony tuners. Good tuner, with closeouts and discounts you can find them for well under $100. Didn't buy them for IBOC--use one at home for general monitoring, the other two as EAS receivers.)

 

[jboyd]

That's the spirit! If we don't play, there will not be a dance! I am not an obstructionist....BUT, I see no logic in this plan...just profit for a few (NON BROADCAST). So...Why don't we all pass...just like in AM stereo? I had a friend who spent $$$ on am stereo and less than in a year turned it off. That was a long time ago...the stakes now much higher. Can we hear from other s/m markets and how they feel? Best for 2010... ( AND, the FCC has now determined early January 2010
as the due date for ownership reports...check their site) JBI

 

[nd2023]

I can't wait for the HD radio fire sale. It would be awesome to buy a tabletop or car HD radio for $20. It will be like the death of HD-DVD. Those DVD players had to be practically given away, even though they could play regular DVDs (HD radios can receive analog stations)

 

[RF_Warrior]

"Digital Radio Mondale has excellent implementation. there was supposed to be an Fm product but it never took place.

DRM does have an FM product - at least in the design stages... we had a live demo running with a 5kW transmitter at NAB last April. As to how close it is to a marketable product I don't know.

Remember, though, that DRM is not designed, for AM at least, as a hybrid system... it's more flexible than IBOC with respect to the ability to adjust digital signal bandwidth, data bitrate and for being able to run it in SSB mode, but it also means shutting off the existing analog signal... I'm not sure most station owners would be ready to play that game just yet either!

In the US, DRM would encounter mostly the same issues that IBOC does - short spacings on FM and narrow band directional antennas on AM... the only difference is that without an analog signal to interfere with, most of the complaints would be resolved. Then again, if IBOC didn't have to deal with the analog signals, the complaints would be resolved as well. The vast majority of the issues with IBOC are due to it having to coexist with existing analog - if DRM were in the same position, the same problems would be there.

As to whether or not it is a good idea, or whether or not it will survive, I don't know - but we've been seeing better communications from iBiquity on the manufacturing side recently than we have for awhile, so I'd suggest that reports of their imminent demise may be somewhat exaggerated. Then again, I've been wrong before...

Best,

Jeff

Jeff Welton
Regional Sales Manager, Central US
Nautel Limited
Toll-Free: 1-877-662-8835, ext. 5127
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