HD Radio Broadcast Power Can Rise on May 10

[Barry]

According to Inside Radio and other trades, broadcasters will be permitted to boost the power of their HD signals by as much as 4X, from 1 to 6 db., starting on May 10.
Of course, just because stations will be allowed to increase the strength of their HD signals next month does not necessarily mean they will be ready to do so. It is possible that much of the existing HD equipment they have was not designed to run at significantly higher power.
It will be interesting to observe whether the stronger HD signals will be significantly easier to receive in the New York area, with its many hills and tall buildings. If HD radio becomes about as easy to pull in as standard signals, perhaps interest in the technology will increase.
Does anyone know whether any FM stations in the New York area are prepared to crank up their HD signals next month? Will some need to purchase new equipment? Would you be likely to get an HD radio, if reception in the New York area was no longer a significant issue?

 

[sfergie]

WRKS 98.7 (KISS-FM) has turned their HD transmitter up already.

 

[d21ofnj]

Im going to try to see how far south it goes. I wonder if WKTU-HD2 boosted their signal.

 

[Barry]

How could WRKS legally increase their HD signal strength now, if the F.C.C. is setting May 10 as the date when stations are permitted to do so? Have they authorized certain stations to crank up the power before then?

 

[sfergie]

The application was sent to the FCC and it was approved

 

[DonTheTrucker]

I'm convinced that the only way HD Radio will ever be accepted on a large scale is if it becomes standard equipment in cars.

People don't like to pay for radio. That extends to buying new receivers just to hear subchannels.

 

[d21ofnj]

Agreed! If MP3 players are having HD radio built in to it, I don't see why the auto industry added the feature in the first place.

 

[d21ofnj]

*sory, I dont see why they didn't add the feature to cars. Unproper planning by the auto industry, but at the same time, why didnt the HD radio francise push for it?

 

[mjb1124]

I think it will become standard in more cars eventually, along with MP3 players, home stereos, and so forth. In the meantime, I think radio station owners are better off advertising individual HD subchannels rather than HD as a whole. The general HD radio commercials are just too vague, and clearly aren't getting people to rush out and buy HD radios. I do also feel like stations should take advantage of the increased power allowance. It would be nice to get reliable HD reception from the NYC stations here in Middlesex County.

 

[Ozman]

Any word on Q-104.3 HD2 signal... I $%$# love that station and the q V/O guy saying q-104.3 Rock station... too bad the internet stream is not the same

 

[nd2023]

From the beginning, the FCC should have mandated that all satellite radios should also include HD radios

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

The raise in power for hd radio stations will make little to no difference in coverage. It doesn't really matter anyway. If broadcast companies won't spend money on quality programming on their regular frequencies, what could possibly be interesting
to listen to on an hd station?

 

[Barry]

Radio Truth, perhaps the main formats that are available in this area only on HD radio, are country, dance and alternative rock. Where did you get the info. that a substantial boost in power will not significantly improve HD reception?
Is it not possible that if a power increase and perhaps improved equipment provide better reception, HD radio will be available standard in more cars? At this point it is probably not very costly to add it to an audio system. And if more people can receive it, and start checking it out, isn't there a reasonable chance programming will be upgraded?
Yes, this is optimistic, but I believe within the realm of possibility. If the technology can be made to work well, and widely available, why dismiss it?

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Radio Truth, perhaps the main formats that are available in this area only on HD radio, are country, dance and alternative rock. Where did you get the info. that a substantial boost in power will not significantly improve HD reception?
Is it not possible that if a power increase and perhaps improved equipment provide better reception, HD radio will be available standard in more cars? At this point it is probably not very costly to add it to an audio system. And if more people can receive it, and start checking it out, isn't there a reasonable chance programming will be upgraded?
Yes, this is optimistic, but I believe within the realm of possibility. If the technology can be made to work well, and widely available, why dismiss it?

None of the above is within the realm of possibility. Broadcast engineers have already done field strength tests. The results of the tests indicate that the difference in coverage will be minimal. What won't be minimal is the raise in the costs of electricity to each company that ups their power. You don't seem to understand that power on an FM station is not the biggest factor in field strength. Antenna height above average terrain is the biggest factor in field strength. Here is an example. A Class C FM with a 2000 foot tower at 100,000 watts. If they drop their power to 75,000 watts, they lose about three miles of city grade coverage. For all of these reasons and a few others, HD Radio has zero chance.

 

[DonTheTrucker]

HD always struck me as a knee jerk reaction to satellite, which really wasn't necessary. Only a certain percentage of people are ever going to want to pay for radio, so unless the receiver comes free in a car, and there is no subscription fee, neither format is ever going to even come close to replacing AM/FM as a the go-to format.

The only thing that will ever kill AM/FM radio is streaming internet radio being available everywhere and streaming radios being a standard part of cars. Even then, it will take 20 years for the cars with AM/FM radios to be circulated off the roads. We're going to be stuck with the same bands we have for at least the next 40-50 years.

Of course that's just my opinion.

 

[Ozman]

what could possibly be interesting
to listen to on an hd station?

Q-104.3 HD2 freaking rocks. I am always trying to get it. what makes it nice is the Q V/O guy as I explaned before. I could care less about the internet stream

 

[Don Juan]

None of the above is within the realm of possibility. Broadcast engineers have already done field strength tests. The results of the tests indicate that the difference in coverage will be minimal.

Broadcast engineers I have heard from have said that the HD coverage will indeed make a difference. In most cases, the HD signal will be equivalent (or close to) the analog signal.

What won't be minimal is the raise in the costs of electricity to each company that ups their power.

The power increase cost will indeed be minimal.

Only a certain percentage of people are ever going to want to pay for radio, so unless the receiver comes free in a car, and there is no subscription fee, neither format is ever going to even come close to replacing AM/FM as a the go-to format.

Two thoughts....

1.) What you describe above sounds like HD radio. Free in the car (or will be), and no subscription fee.

2.) No one is saying that HD is going to replace AM/FM....it's just an added feature. Unlike TV, there is no sunset date being talked about for analog broadcasting.

What won't be minimal is the raise in the costs of electricity to each company that ups their power.

The power increase cost will indeed be minimal. Part of the cos5t of doing business.

The only thing that will ever kill AM/FM radio is streaming internet radio being available everywhere and streaming radios being a standard part of cars. Even then, it will take 20 years for the cars with AM/FM radios to be circulated off the roads.

And let's not forget the time it will take to give everyone in the current coverage area a stable signal. People now put up with "dead-spots" in cell service...something that is unacceptable in broadcasting.

Of course that's just my opinion.

..and worth every penny! ;-)