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HD Radio in Las Vegas

Demodave

Demodave

Las Vegas now has 8 radio stations (7 FM and 1 AM) broadcasting in HD. Two more will be coming online in the next few months. Have you heard it? Do you have an HD tuner or radio? What do you think of the Las Vegas HD2 stations? What formats would you like to hear on Las Vegas HD2?

I really liked the HD2 format that KCNV 89.7 had...XPoNential Radio. It was a really cool AAA format playing everything from Jimi Hendrix to Norah Jones. Then KNPR decided to move the HD equipment to their stronger 88.9 signal...and when they did, they replaced XPoNential Radio with a simulcast of KCNV 89.7 on their HD2. While the classical sounds nice and clean, I much more prefer the extra choice of the AAA station.

The Party features their old format of Kool oldies on their HD2. Classic country resides on KWNR. Jack becomes Dancin' Jack on their HD2...very similar to The Party on 93.1. Star has their 80's and more format on their HD2 for those that really missed it. No HD2 on Spanish 105.1. And Xtreme features all new rock on their HD2.
 
You'll have to forgive me for being the "old dinasour" that I am, Dave. How much does HD cost? Where do I get it? It's a seperate deck that is installed? What are the benefits of HD? HD-2? Will this be a growing technology?(god knows I would love to see different formats than we have now) Maybe I am too "old school" but there are just too many rock stations. Something's gotta give! No oldies station. The Party missed the boat.(why play currents or old slow boyz II men songs---yuck) Star is all over the place. (no station for depeche, new order, the cure, u2, the smiths, punk, etc.) I definitely don't understand why Sunny is playing disco music(1999, SOS Band when The party plays that genre) Thanks for your help.
 
The original selling point of HD Radio was better sound because it's digital. But Ibiquity and assorted broadcasters realized that most people were quite satisfied with the sound of analog FM Stereo. What most listeners want are more choices...so multicasting was included in the FM HD format. With HD multicasting, one radio frequency can have two good sounding digital stations. More than two stations can be featured on one frequency like HD3, HD4, etc., but the sound quality decreases with each new station added because of the limited digital bandwidth of 96 kbps.

So in addition to KNPR's analog signal at 88.9 FM, a digital simulcast of KNPR is on HD1; and a digital simulcast of their classical format on 89.7 is on KNPR's HD2. They both sound very, very clean with no background noise or distortion.

Radios that can receive HD start at $59. Go to http://www.radiosophy.com.

More info at http://www.hdradio.com.

And I agree that a classic alternative format would be a perfect HD2 format. Also, AAA, classic metal, dance, mellow love songs, chillout are a few niche formats that might work on HD2.
 
KOMP has the equipment in house. We should be firing up KOMP HD and KOMP2 pretty soon. Right now, the priority has been the construction of our new AM facility AM 1100. So very, very soon...
 
KOMP will be HD very soon. The equipment is in place, the antenna has been prepared, and the gear was dry run in the engineering shop for many weeks. So as soon as the Power problems are resolved on Mt. Potosi, I'll go up and fire it up. Right now I do not want to risk $100,000 plus of equipment on unstable power. The land lord up there has promised stability within the next month. Stay tuned to most of these same stations!

Bill Croghan CPBE WBØKSW
Chief Engineer,
KOMP/KXPT/KENO/KBAD/KWWN
Lotus Broadcasting, Las Vegas, NV
 
I've listened to a lot of HD radio and I don't really notice the "better quality sound" on FM.

Do you see any clusters putting a business model together to generate revenue on thier HD2 stations?
 
I think the feature of HD Radio that will draw new listeners to it will be new and innovative formats on HD2; not the improved sound quality. I think most people feel that analog FM sounds just fine. In fact, because of satellite radio's "channel quantity" war between the two services, sound quality is now worse on XM and Sirius than analog FM Stereo...and most subscribers don't seem to care. Content is what sells.

Promotionally, KOMP has some cool ideas that I can't go in to just yet. But we plan to have some fun with the HD2.

The start-up of our new AM station has been the main priority for Lotus; but KOMP HD should hit the air soon.
 
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