How to destroy radio

[vchimpanzee]

Just in case clear Channel needs help ...

I check in on the HD Radio board and found the secret. People are complaining that HD stations, specifically subchannels, cannot be picked up for more than a few miles. Main channels take you back to the analog channel.

But someone on one post on that board said the problem could be solved if all hD stations broadcast at full power. I wasn't aware they didn't. But the reason they can't now is that would cause interferecne on the analog channels, and not just the channel the HD stations are connected with.

I forget the exact text of the post or what the thread was, but a person stated that full-power HD, and shutting off analog the way TV is doing, would be a certain end to radio.

 

[upstate29651]

So radio's destruction will begin in Charlotte?

I'm trying to figure out what your rant has to do specifically with Charlotte.

G

 

[Moonshine]

Am you point is?

 

[vchimpanzee]

So radio's destruction will begin in Charlotte?

I'm trying to figure out what your rant has to do specifically with Charlotte.

G

It wasn't my rant. I was paraphrasing what someone else said.

I could have started this anywhere that Clear Channel is getting complaints. But I'll get in trouble if I start it everywhere.

Is there a more general place I could start the topic?

 

[EncSpy]

the charlotte HD's...as well as the raleigh and gso HD's all do the same thing...their HD goes out to the City grade and after that it falls off quickly...if im lucky I can get some of the raleigh stations in HD in greensboro...but this is in the car...and my radio setup is "modified" a little bit...but I figure the same would apply if it was a home stereo...just as long as there is a clean stereo signal..the HD should decode...remembe rthe HD signal is only 1% of the transmitted power....\

HD radio is failing cuz its expensive

 

[gymbeaux120]

HD radio is failing cuz its expensive

I would also dare say its because it has little to offer, IMHO.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

HD radio is failing cuz its expensive

I would also dare say its because it has little to offer, IMHO.

Has HD Radio really failed? I think people who say that expect too much. Did you think that everyone was going to rush right out and buy an HD radio because a few stations ran some spots about it? Look how long it took FM to get established. It's a shame stations are playing it safe rather than put some daring and stimulating programming on HD2 and HD3. Stations give us some programming that will make people say "Oh Wow!"

 

[vchimpanzee]

HD radio is failing cuz its expensive

I would also dare say its because it has little to offer, IMHO.

Has HD Radio really failed? I think people who say that expect too much. Did you think that everyone was going to rush right out and buy an HD radio because a few stations ran some spots about it? Look how long it took FM to get established. It's a shame stations are playing it safe rather than put some daring and stimulating programming on HD2 and HD3. Stations give us some programming that will make people say "Oh Wow!"

If they can pick it up. That's the problem.

And the solution to this would destroy radio as we know it. At least with TV they could switch over gradually, and people have cable and satellte, and there are converter boxes too.

 

[EncSpy]

you can still buy analog FM radios for $3...now..find me a HD radio under $100......now while u are at it..find me a battery powered HD radio...

 

[jtudor]

Has HD Radio really failed? I think people who say that expect too much. Did you think that everyone was going to rush right out and buy an HD radio because a few stations ran some spots about it? Look how long it took FM to get established. It's a shame stations are playing it safe rather than put some daring and stimulating programming on HD2 and HD3. Stations give us some programming that will make people say "Oh Wow!"

Many of us will remember that FM radio really didn't take off until automobile manufacturers started putting FM radios in cars and trucks as standard equipment, or at least as part of option packages that were on many cars on the lot.

The same thing is part of what killed AM Stereo, there were few AM Stereo recievers in cars, and then there was the big FCC screw up of allowing the market to decide which system would become the standard.

Does anyone even broadcast AM Stereo anymore? (I am referring to the systems introduced in the late '70s and early '80s)

 

[JimmyJames]

HD isn't that expensive. You can get the Sony model, which is really nice and has an Ipod/Iphone dock on it for $150. Extra channels, plays and charges my IPhone, and FM as well? Worth it to me.

 

[gymbeaux120]

The point I was trying to make is that unless the operators offer something to listen to, why bother? The variety of formats and music on satellite will keep me paying that monthly fee. I don't see radio owners, especially the big corporations, willing to take a risk to offer the same choices. For example, I love to listen to the Old Time Radio shows (Gunsmoke, Fibber McGee, Jack Benny, etc). Do you really think that someone will offer that in Charlotte?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

The point I was trying to make is that unless the operators offer something to listen to, why bother? The variety of formats and music on satellite will keep me paying that monthly fee. I don't see radio owners, especially the big corporations, willing to take a risk to offer the same choices. For example, I love to listen to the Old Time Radio shows (Gunsmoke, Fibber McGee, Jack Benny, etc). Do you really think that someone will offer that in Charlotte?

I have wanted programs like that too. It's great when you're driving down the road and want to hear something other than music or just for late night listening. The trouble is most people would rather watch TV. Give them a radio program to listen to and before long the start gabbing or their attention wanders.

When I was very young there were still a few radio shows on the air, mostly on CBS. Later in the '70's the station I worked for ran "The CBS Radio Mystery Theater" which was quite good. The show had quite a few fans.

What we have now are generations of people with very short attention spans who are video obsessed.

 

[jtudor]

HD isn't that expensive. You can get the Sony model, which is really nice and has an Ipod/Iphone dock on it for $150. Extra channels, plays and charges my IPhone, and FM as well? Worth it to me.

The issue I was referring to is not the cost, but just having it already installed. Not a lot of people will go to the trouble of replacing a factory radio with an ?HD radio, at least not enough to make it over the hump. I think it will be just like FM was, whenever it becomes standard equipment, that is when the ?H?D format will really take off.

As to subscription radio, XM is about to lose me as a customer. They already have lacked up the rates for the family plan, fiddled with the formats to the point they are nowhere near as good as they were a year ago, they are keeping NASCAR on the Sirius side and still have not come up with a way to allow me to add the factory Sirius radio in one of my cars to my XM Family plan, and now they are gouging customers with a fake increase they are blaming on the new copyright fees. I have read that the real cost of the new copyright fees is about $0.07 per subscriber, but they are jacking the monthly subscription rates by $1.98 and family plan rates by $0.98. This is just a way to gouge subs when the FCC will not yet allow an across the board rate increase. I have read in some forums that this increase/gouge is being looked into by regulators and attorneys, but so far nothing is changing. If this flies, my days with XM are likely over.