HD Radio - what will happen in 2006?

[BruceS8852]

I just checked the Radiosophy site and saw that their HD radios will not be ready until late March. This is a delay of at least 5 months. Presently, the only table HD radio available is from Boston Acoustic at $500 which is out of range of most people. Questions?

1. Will radio stations begin to multicast when there are so few HD radios out there?

2. When will other electronics companies begin to market HD radios? Ibiquity states that several companies are planning to sell models in 2006. How fast will the cost come down?

Any comments?

Thanks

Bruce

 

[BoardmanDJ]

Stations will need to begin broadcasting before or at nearly the same time the radios are available. That way there is something to listen to.
I think it would be to the stations advantage to broadcast to nobody for a few months anyway to work out the kinks. Always present in a new technology.
Since it's all part of the same transmission, it's not as 'wasteful' as throwing HDTV on the air with no audience.

As with any technology, you'll want to wait for new models, so previous models are cheaper.

> I just checked the Radiosophy site and saw that their HD
> radios will not be ready until late March. This is a delay
> of at least 5 months. Presently, the only table HD radio
> available is from Boston Acoustic at $500 which is out of
> range of most people. Questions?
>
> 1. Will radio stations begin to multicast when there are so
> few HD radios out there?
>
> 2. When will other electronics companies begin to market HD
> radios? Ibiquity states that several companies are planning
> to sell models in 2006. How fast will the cost come down?
>
> Any comments?
>
> Thanks
>
> Bruce
>

 

[k9ez]

> I just checked the Radiosophy site and saw that their HD
> radios will not be ready until late March. This is a delay
> of at least 5 months. Presently, the only table HD radio
> available is from Boston Acoustic at $500 which is out of
> range of most people. Questions?
>
> 1. Will radio stations begin to multicast when there are so
> few HD radios out there?
>
> 2. When will other electronics companies begin to market HD
> radios? Ibiquity states that several companies are planning
> to sell models in 2006. How fast will the cost come down?
>
> Any comments?
>
> Thanks
>
> Bruce
>

Stations are already running HD2 in many major markets. All are running commercial free as well. You need to have the programming out before the hardware really hits the streets.

There are many other manufacturers coming out with HD Radio. Yes there has been a delay in getting these to market due some engineering issues. But that should chnage soon.

I have a multicast radio in my car now. They can be had though they still are quite expensive yet. You can pick up a non multicast HD Radio for pretty cheaply now.