Any updates on HD Radio stations in this area? I hear a lot of commercials most mornings on 105.7
Any updates on current HD Radio stations here?
Thank you for your time
Any updates on current HD Radio stations here?
Thank you for your time
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HD RADIO
- Thread starter MR. JAROME_CALVIN
- Start date
Cue the crickets.
you people are so immature. GROW UP!!!!
Naw! I don' wanna!
But it all seriousness, the only Boston station I could pick up in East Providence that showed any hint of HD was WBZ/1030. I don't know about the others. I think it's off WXKS & WILD. The F.M.s are harder for me to guess but I'd assume they're still there. I think the only one of any consequence was/is 96.9-2, the Irish station.
But it all seriousness, the only Boston station I could pick up in East Providence that showed any hint of HD was WBZ/1030. I don't know about the others. I think it's off WXKS & WILD. The F.M.s are harder for me to guess but I'd assume they're still there. I think the only one of any consequence was/is 96.9-2, the Irish station.
I've owned an HD Radio for about 7 years (Boston Acoustics Receptor). In all that time, I've (at best) listened to the HD2's and 3's only sporadically. Other than "Nothing But The 70's" (WROR-FM HD2), there is really nothing "out there" to warrant purchasing an HD radio. Personally (IMHO), WWBB (101.5/Providence) or WODS (both former "oldies" stations) really missed the boat in not adopting an oldies format for their HD2's. Originally, WODS was to run pre-64 oldies on their HD2 channel. But, they decided run "The Cove" (love songs), kind of like another WMJX. One HD2 channel I really like is WDRC-FM HD2 (Hartford, CT) who runs "Classic Oldies", complete with vintage "Big D" jingles on their HD2. Anytime I get a good trop opening from Hartford, I listen to it as long as I can. Sadly both WDRC-FM (102.9) and their HD2 do not stream. (a corporate decision.... I guess). But until someone decides to put some really unique and palatable programming on HD Radio, I'm afraid it's a real non-starter.
From a business standpoint, it makes no economic sense.
It only serves to splinter the existing audience even further.
For existing stations, it cannibalizes their own audience.
For group-owned stations, it is redundant. If a format is,
indeed, economically viable (as a full-time format), then
put it on an existing station, by way of a format change.
It would appear that the only ones who stand to profit from
HD radio are the equipment manufacturers...
It only serves to splinter the existing audience even further.
For existing stations, it cannibalizes their own audience.
For group-owned stations, it is redundant. If a format is,
indeed, economically viable (as a full-time format), then
put it on an existing station, by way of a format change.
It would appear that the only ones who stand to profit from
HD radio are the equipment manufacturers...
LAUROJRM said:
No real changes here in the Boston area, LAUROJRM. Most Greater Media stations (WMJX, WROR et.al.) still promote HD Radio on a regular basis. Otherwise, a lot of the others don't promote it as much as they used to. The ROI on "free time" for HD Radio hasn't netted the results they (Ibiquity) thought HD Radio would. With so many other digital platforms out there, HD Radio is basically...... not "front and center" (if it ever was). The HD Radio platform is inherently flawed with coverage issues and audio quality issues as well. Personally, FMeXtra (digital SCA) would have been a better platform for digital radio. But, Ibiquity had "deeper pockets" and as a result....here we are........
I enjoy the WXKS AM simulcast on WXKS-HD2, especially this time of year when the sun sets around 5p. I used to enjoy listening to the WRKO simulcast on WAAF-HD3, for the same reason, but Entercom seems to have shut down their subchannels on WAAF and WKAF.
I had been listening to the 80s station on WBMX-HD2, but since they seem to have a single 80s compilation CD on infinite repeat, I've stopped listening.
HD Radio is dead. There's, what, one receiver on the market (the Insignia portable)? I don't understand the point being pimping HD radios given the difficulty in purchasing one.
I had been listening to the 80s station on WBMX-HD2, but since they seem to have a single 80s compilation CD on infinite repeat, I've stopped listening.
HD Radio is dead. There's, what, one receiver on the market (the Insignia portable)? I don't understand the point being pimping HD radios given the difficulty in purchasing one.
probboy said:
Bottom line is that the technology failed to get into cars as OEM equipment, and unless it does so soon, it has no future. Ubiquity and the broadcasters positioned it as a Sirius/XM killer, yet here we are a half-dozen years later and new cars come with satellite radios and free trial subscriptions while you still have to find an HD radio somewhere else and install it in your car. That's real techno-geek stuff; ham radio operators will do that, not fans of Celtic music or blues. And now the only model still being manufactured isn't even a car radio!
I'm on the border of Framingham and Natick and have a Sony XDR-S10HDiP, which generally seems to be one of the better reviewed HD radio receivers. In a fixed location, and with the included wire antenna (which seems to work better than either the included dipole or an aftermarket dipole), I can only reliably decode the HD streams from the stations on the Pru or on 128. I've never been able to reliably receive 93.7 (as either WEEI-FM or WMKK-FM), but oddly enough I can get WCRB. WICN is hit or miss (not surprising given how weak their HD signal is). I can't get anything out of Providence (Is 94HJY the only station broadcasting in HD out of Providence? Citadel pulled the plug on their cluster, right?). As an aside, the Sony is an absolutely fantastic radio for picking up weaker signals like WFNX.
Previously I had an Accurian, which was completely useless and seems to better reflect the quality of receivers on the market.
Given that I'm in a fixed location and have spent a lot of time playing around with different antennas, I can't imagine that HD radio works very well in a car. With the poor antennas manufacturers now include in their vehicles (either the decorative fin on the top of the car which looks like it's made for satellite radio or the in-glass antenna), I can only imagine how frustrating trying to pick up an HD-2/3 station would be. I'd imagine that it would be much like my experience with one of the early Insignia portables. While walking around my neighborhood, I could only get the stations broadcasting off 128 and would experience frequent drop-outs.
At the end of the day, even when HD radio works, there isn't any compelling content out there. The stations that could be doing something interesting aren't. Even WGBH is using their two HD subchannels to rebroadcast existing station, and public broadcasters are supposed to be on the bleeding edge of showing us what this technology can do.
I'm sure the latest power increase would help, but it doesn't address the major issue: there are no receivers available and apparently no consumer interest no matter how often these ads are played. I can appreciate that the costs to update plant is a sunk cost, but it just seems silly at this point to try to sell this lemon.
Previously I had an Accurian, which was completely useless and seems to better reflect the quality of receivers on the market.
Given that I'm in a fixed location and have spent a lot of time playing around with different antennas, I can't imagine that HD radio works very well in a car. With the poor antennas manufacturers now include in their vehicles (either the decorative fin on the top of the car which looks like it's made for satellite radio or the in-glass antenna), I can only imagine how frustrating trying to pick up an HD-2/3 station would be. I'd imagine that it would be much like my experience with one of the early Insignia portables. While walking around my neighborhood, I could only get the stations broadcasting off 128 and would experience frequent drop-outs.
At the end of the day, even when HD radio works, there isn't any compelling content out there. The stations that could be doing something interesting aren't. Even WGBH is using their two HD subchannels to rebroadcast existing station, and public broadcasters are supposed to be on the bleeding edge of showing us what this technology can do.
I'm sure the latest power increase would help, but it doesn't address the major issue: there are no receivers available and apparently no consumer interest no matter how often these ads are played. I can appreciate that the costs to update plant is a sunk cost, but it just seems silly at this point to try to sell this lemon.
JIBGUY said:
I guess the million dollar question is when. I'd imagine that as long as it doesn't cost the corporate suits any money to keep running, they'll keep it running until something breaks. There's been very few examples (Citadel Providence is the only one I can think of locally) of a broadcaster actually going in and pulling out/shutting down the HD-specific equipment.
In some cases college stations were relegated to HD radio and streaming (out in San Fran, R.I., etc.) when deals were made to put a classical station on what had been their freq. Again though how many people who had listened to the college station have HD radios and how many want to get one?
>>http://wjmfradio.com/?q=about
In May of 2011, WJMF established a partnership with WGBH in Boston. The station now broadcasts online as well as on 88.7 HD-2 in Smithfield and Providence.
My HD portable is a bit of a curiosity, with good FM reception (HD1s) and the "extra stations" but hey, I can get THOSE
online with no HD receiver needed (Classic Country WKLB-2, The Irish Channel, WZLX Blues Radio Mojo etc.)
I even had one reason to buy it ($40): the possibility I could have gotten WEEI on the HD3 of what was then Mike 93.7,
at work. Now with WEEI on 93.7's primary signal, no need.
>>http://wjmfradio.com/?q=about
In May of 2011, WJMF established a partnership with WGBH in Boston. The station now broadcasts online as well as on 88.7 HD-2 in Smithfield and Providence.
My HD portable is a bit of a curiosity, with good FM reception (HD1s) and the "extra stations" but hey, I can get THOSE
online with no HD receiver needed (Classic Country WKLB-2, The Irish Channel, WZLX Blues Radio Mojo etc.)
I even had one reason to buy it ($40): the possibility I could have gotten WEEI on the HD3 of what was then Mike 93.7,
at work. Now with WEEI on 93.7's primary signal, no need.
As far as my own tastes go, which I know don't reflect the general public...
I still enjoy (much of) the music mix on 100.7 HD3 "WBCN Free Form Rock", and it's still being hosted live Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 AM - 2 PM, and occasionally other times.
Though I tire of a steady diet of blues after a while, 100.7 HD2 "Radio Mojo" plays some great stuff, from original vintage roots blues to contemporary blues and blues/rock.
Of course, both of those formats have more people listening to their online streams on computers and on various phone apps., etc... than on HD radios.
I like the "Nothing But The '70s" format on WROR HD2 because it includes some lesser hits that aren't played on their regular analog/HD1 format, though that has been replaced by an automated version of their regular format while their analog/HD1 is in Christmas mode.
My mom is still very grateful for being able to hear classical music 24/7 on WGBH HD2 (//WCRB) because WCRB 99.5 doesn't come in well where she lives. When I've mentioned this before, everybody starts suggesting streaming classical online stations, classical satellite radio channels, etc... but she's 83 years old, and doesn't want to get into all that "newfangled" stuff. She still wants to listen to classical music on free terrestrial RADIO, albeit on an HD subchannel.
To answer the original question, nothing else has changed in Boston area HD radio over the past couple of months, except for that WAAF/WKAF seem to have dropped all HD2/HD3 subchannels, and are now only broadcasting their regular programming in HD.
I still enjoy (much of) the music mix on 100.7 HD3 "WBCN Free Form Rock", and it's still being hosted live Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 AM - 2 PM, and occasionally other times.
Though I tire of a steady diet of blues after a while, 100.7 HD2 "Radio Mojo" plays some great stuff, from original vintage roots blues to contemporary blues and blues/rock.
Of course, both of those formats have more people listening to their online streams on computers and on various phone apps., etc... than on HD radios.
I like the "Nothing But The '70s" format on WROR HD2 because it includes some lesser hits that aren't played on their regular analog/HD1 format, though that has been replaced by an automated version of their regular format while their analog/HD1 is in Christmas mode.
My mom is still very grateful for being able to hear classical music 24/7 on WGBH HD2 (//WCRB) because WCRB 99.5 doesn't come in well where she lives. When I've mentioned this before, everybody starts suggesting streaming classical online stations, classical satellite radio channels, etc... but she's 83 years old, and doesn't want to get into all that "newfangled" stuff. She still wants to listen to classical music on free terrestrial RADIO, albeit on an HD subchannel.
To answer the original question, nothing else has changed in Boston area HD radio over the past couple of months, except for that WAAF/WKAF seem to have dropped all HD2/HD3 subchannels, and are now only broadcasting their regular programming in HD.
I am very happy with my two Sony HD table radios at home, and I will make sure my next car has one. Sure, HD on AM is pretty silly/useless/annoying. But HD on FM works well and allows stations to program niche formats or formats that were only marginally successful (smooth jazz, star937, etc.). I have a lot of electrical noise where I live, and can get very few stations on AM radio. Now with stations like WBZ, WEEI, WXKS using their FM subchannels to simulcast their AM station, I can listen to those stations again. As for the unavailability of inexpensive equipment, that's true...but it's also true for traditional radios: try and find a table radio/clock radio that isn't plastic with a half-inch speaker. I use my clock radio only for the alarm: it sits on top of my Sony HD radio that I listen to.
Last year I gave them away for Christmas to my family and a few friends. I didn't even push the HD2 thing. Today several of them regularly listen to HD2 formats. Many of the new cars come with them as well so though I'm not saying I'm a big proponent I think it might just slog along. And AM is dead anyways so if HD can make BZ and KOX sound a little better who cares about the hash. It's kind of like a last ditch effort the way I see it for a doomed band.
KOX--you mean WXKS (AM) right?
On my HD portable right now: WXKS-FM HD 2 (Talk 1200) has Katz? on, but the display reads Julio Iglesias
WGBH--HD2, 3 not coming in?
WPRO-fm comes in, main sig as does HJY
WEEI-FM only has Funkytown HD2
Irish on 96.9
WOKQ Dover NH main sig, slightly fuzzy
WBZ-FM HD2 and HD3 do come in thought at first the HD2 is silent and it says "Channel no
longer available".
WKAF 97.7 indeed just main sig
WZLX radio mojo on the hd2
Class country on KLB
You get the idea. It does pull in some signals from Prov., New Bedford, NH, Worcester, etc.
(just the main signal) much like a half decent car stereo does (this, again, is the portable
and it's the 1.0 version not the new 2.0)
On my HD portable right now: WXKS-FM HD 2 (Talk 1200) has Katz? on, but the display reads Julio Iglesias
WGBH--HD2, 3 not coming in?
WPRO-fm comes in, main sig as does HJY
WEEI-FM only has Funkytown HD2
Irish on 96.9
WOKQ Dover NH main sig, slightly fuzzy
WBZ-FM HD2 and HD3 do come in thought at first the HD2 is silent and it says "Channel no
longer available".
WKAF 97.7 indeed just main sig
WZLX radio mojo on the hd2
Class country on KLB
You get the idea. It does pull in some signals from Prov., New Bedford, NH, Worcester, etc.
(just the main signal) much like a half decent car stereo does (this, again, is the portable
and it's the 1.0 version not the new 2.0)
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