This was brought up in another topic and I think some good points were brought up about HD radio so let's run with it and see what everyone here on the boards have say, I would like to know?
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How's HD Radio doing?
- Thread starter Gatekeeper007
- Start date
Someone on another thread compared HD radio to AM Stereo. I'll agree that AM Stereo was a waste of time, money, and effort. Not only did the frequency response not improve, there was no standard equipment. Harris made one system and C-Quam another. I'm pretty sure the radios would pick up one or the other, but not both.
I believe that HD will catch on eventually when it becomes standard in most cars. Much of the Sat radio growth is from their radios coming with new cars whether the buyer wanted it or not. It would be interesting to know what percentage of new car buyers actually subscribe to Sat radio versus those who let the trial period expire. The difference will be HD is free. If corporate radio doesn't fire all the competent programmers and talent, I believe the side channels can be very popular for niche programming or even mainstream events like college football a station might want to put on it's main channel.
The down side is that HD is only a small percentage of the station's total power. You almost have to have a Class C to make it worthwhile. Although the main channel will mix with the analog signal if there is signal loss, the side channels just go away. Side channels are probably listened to best on stationary radios and not in cars.
On the up side, HD on an AM station is pretty impressive. There is an AM station in GSP that is HD at 1490 and it really sounds like FM.
I believe that HD will catch on eventually when it becomes standard in most cars. Much of the Sat radio growth is from their radios coming with new cars whether the buyer wanted it or not. It would be interesting to know what percentage of new car buyers actually subscribe to Sat radio versus those who let the trial period expire. The difference will be HD is free. If corporate radio doesn't fire all the competent programmers and talent, I believe the side channels can be very popular for niche programming or even mainstream events like college football a station might want to put on it's main channel.
The down side is that HD is only a small percentage of the station's total power. You almost have to have a Class C to make it worthwhile. Although the main channel will mix with the analog signal if there is signal loss, the side channels just go away. Side channels are probably listened to best on stationary radios and not in cars.
On the up side, HD on an AM station is pretty impressive. There is an AM station in GSP that is HD at 1490 and it really sounds like FM.
freqdev said:
Since this board is populated by radio geeks like me (and some other people who are alot cooler then me) I am curious how many of 'the hardcore' radio heads have an HD radio.
I found this article on internet radio in automobiles being, eventually better be 'sooner' because the Center For Automotive Research says 2010 is when customized and/or on-demand content will be streamed to vehicles. Also thought it was pretty wild the Google is going to go after the coveted 700Mhz wireless spectrum...I find the prospect of a bazillion different channels, including FM streams of stations from around the country to be exciting. I have already heard of people using their Iphones and an application available on it to listen to internet radio in their cars.
Here is a list of the HD stations in Charleston SC, found it on-line, dont know how accurate it is. Has anybody heard any of these stations and care to comment...Are there any websites up for any of them? Havent seen or heard any promotion for them. Then again I listen to ESPN radio and there would be no need for Kirkman to have HD channel and/or promote one. CC seems to be the only one on the bandwagon in town.
Charleston, SC 103.5 WEZL-HD FM Country Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 103.5-2 WEZL-HD2 FM Bluegrass/Americana Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 94.3 WSCC-HD FM Talk Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 94.3-2 WSCC-HD2 FM Jammin Oldies Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 102.5 WXLY-HD FM Oldies Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 102.5-2 WXLY-HD2 FM Contemporary Christian Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 104.5 WRFQ-HD FM Clsc Hits Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 104.5-2 WRFQ-HD2 FM Aternative Rock Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 103.5 WEZL-HD FM Country Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 103.5-2 WEZL-HD2 FM Bluegrass/Americana Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 94.3 WSCC-HD FM Talk Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 94.3-2 WSCC-HD2 FM Jammin Oldies Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 102.5 WXLY-HD FM Oldies Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 102.5-2 WXLY-HD2 FM Contemporary Christian Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 104.5 WRFQ-HD FM Clsc Hits Clear Channel
Charleston, SC 104.5-2 WRFQ-HD2 FM Aternative Rock Clear Channel
I know for a fact that 'RFQ is Classic Rock, not Classic Hits. Big difference. WXLY is AC, not oldies anymore.
I don't have a HD radio. Never really saw the need to buy one. Nothing impressive enough, to me. Not something I'd run out and buy.
I don't have a HD radio. Never really saw the need to buy one. Nothing impressive enough, to me. Not something I'd run out and buy.
carolinaradio said:
The RFQ HD Channel is Classic rock too? WXLY is also AC on the HD channel? Im talking about the HD channels for these stations, not the regular FM channels..
I meant the main HDs/HD-1s that you listed, not the HD-2s. Sorry for being confusing.
carolinaradio said:
No thats perfect actually...so the you are saying that their regular FM on 104.5 is classic rock AND HD-1 station is a classic rock? and then the HD-2 Channel is Alternative?
The 1490's HD only carries a tiny bit. Impressive? Hah! At WKDK, ANALOG sounds impressive on my Zenith High Fidelity. It sounds as good as some FM stations. Actually better as we don't CRUSH the modulation like too many FM stations do. I live out near the Greenwood / Newberry county line. Except for WSSL, I need a GOOD antenna to get decent RELIABLE FM decoding. Now as for content.... there's nothing compelling to listen to....
What do I think?
As the title of a country song.... What Part of NO DON'T you Understand!
Powell
What do I think?
As the title of a country song.... What Part of NO DON'T you Understand!
Powell
Powell E. Way III W4OPW said:
I cant even find anything compelling on the FM dial in charleston, much less give HD a shot.
I don't have an HD radio yet, with where I live it might not do to well. Anybody that has an HD rig, how's the reception of signals at a distance and do the signals go thru trees and buildings very well. Getting a good signal on a car radio is a lot easer than in a business or home.
Guess no one has the answer for that yet, I guess I will go buy an HD radio and start checking signal levels in the real world and how they really work.
freqdev said:
LOL. I have a HD radio. The HD2 and HD3's are nothing more than repeats of the main channel stuff. That's IF it's running. HD on AM ruins the 2 adjacent channels either side of the main channel. WLAC 1510 Nashville runs it, WCKY Cincinnati runs it. They both interfere with each other. When WCKY was NOT running it I got WLAC's HD on skywave a good bit of the time.
One good thing about the HD radio even with analog reception is DSP. I can listen to weak stations with a crushingly strong first adjacent with no interference. I hear the Sony HD tuner is absollutely stunning. I may get one of those.
Powell
freqdev said:
I hear that CC channels have been pushing it in just about every hour for the past year...and STILL nobody is buying it.
CC in a recent FCC filing regarding Sat Radio technology and that HD radio should be a part of Sat new receivers.
"The commission's harmful decisions to retain without even very modest modification its local radio ownership rules despite evidence of abundant competition, and to bless the formation of a monopoly SDARS (satellite digital audio radio service), have severely tilted the market against free local radio, undermining the longstanding policy goals of promoting competitive, locally-focused and diverse audio programming,"
Im sorry but I just don't feel too bad for them and their 52 floors of corporate lawyers.
the last two lines are frigging hysterical. "severely tilted the market against free local radio, undermining the longstanding policy goals of promoting competitive, locally-focused and diverse audio programming" we are talking about clear channel right? locally focused and diverse audio programming?!
Thats rich. :
"The commission's harmful decisions to retain without even very modest modification its local radio ownership rules despite evidence of abundant competition, and to bless the formation of a monopoly SDARS (satellite digital audio radio service), have severely tilted the market against free local radio, undermining the longstanding policy goals of promoting competitive, locally-focused and diverse audio programming,"
Im sorry but I just don't feel too bad for them and their 52 floors of corporate lawyers.
the last two lines are frigging hysterical. "severely tilted the market against free local radio, undermining the longstanding policy goals of promoting competitive, locally-focused and diverse audio programming" we are talking about clear channel right? locally focused and diverse audio programming?!
Thats rich. :
Why bother paying hundreds of dollars for the same horrid programming in HD when a crystal and a cat whisker yields the same relative results? I've got a small rock garden and two cats. Who's with me?
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