The only way HD Radio is ever going to catch on is if the auto manufacturers begin to offer it standard with a new car purchase.I'm old enough to remember the 1960s, when AM radio was king. In the early to mid 1960s, new cars would come standard with an AM radio. If you wanted FM Stereo, it was available, but at an extra charge that a lot of people declined at purchase.By the late 60s to early 70s, AM / FM Stereo radios became standard on new cars, and it was a few dollars extra if you wanted an 8-track -- and then a stereo cassette as we got into the mid to late 1970s.I think it was around 1972 or 73 when local FM stations would offer promotions with an adapter you could purchase to allow you to listen to FM Mono through your AM car radio. I had one of those adapters in my car for a couple of years.In the mid to late 60s and very early 70s, your average middle class family had an FM Stereo inside the home -- but never really listened to it. I lived in Arlington, where we could pick up both KLIF from Dallas and KFJZ from Fort Worth. 99% of the time, my friends and I would listen to KLIF, and we used to joke about how "old" Mark E Baby was getting on KFJZ, and how long it was until he was replaced with someone younger. There was even one day when one of my junior high teachers came into the room, and we had a portable radio on. She said, "Mark E Baby?!? He's still around?!?"At any rate, when they began to offer AM / FM as standard on the new cars, you could tell the difference when listening to KLIF. Every time you turned around, another KLIF deejay would announce, "Today will be my last day on KLIF."Despite the turnover, and the fact that the station was obviously suffering, it wasn't until the new "Z-97" FM went commercial free for several weeks, that loyal KLIF listeners finally switched. I can still recall announcements from program director Harry Nelson that Z-97's antics were "unfair" competition.Recently, I've been noticing some new car commercials where the manufacturers are throwing in a Sirius satellite radio receiver with a free three year subscription. THAT looks like the type of thing that will probably catch on. In a year or two, everyone with a brand new car will be listening to satellite, and a lot of their friends who ride with them from time to time will decide to put it into their old car, as well...As for HD Radio, it looks like to me it is going to go the way of AM Stereo... The only thing that could save HD Radio is if it becomes standard on new cars at no additional charge -- and I doubt that is going to happen...A good synopsis of the radio years that were. Satellite radio seems to be the first really viable broadcast mode to emerge since the advent of FM stereo, and that of course was mostly a variation on the theme of FM mono, not actually an entirely new mode in itself. Agreed, HD is tanking AM and unless some dratic technical improvements are made quickly, HD will in no time become no definition, which it mostly is now.
What about the studios for the HD ? in house ? I have lots of stupid questions , and I'm brave ...Ron Clark... Weatherford, TEXAS