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IBOC around the world

RadeoEngineer said:
I want one of these babies!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3734241&CAWELAID=424313707
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Talk about a vestigial organ!

And if you notice, the Gigaware controller isn't getting uniformly rave reviews. One complaint (as is typical of HD Radio) is that it drains too much power from the host and there is no way to charge the iPod or iPhone or run an AC adapter with this thing stuck in the access port.

No, I expect the Gigaware device will soon be making its appearance on my local Radio Shack's closeout table (and marked way down).

c5
 
Zach said:
cyberdad, I don't own an iphone. Strangely I do live in area (n central Mississippi) where there is practically no 3g on AT&T but HD in all the rural thanks to MPB-public radio.
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MPB is a welcome exception to the rule. I've traveled through Mississippi quite a bit (including just last week). It's always been apparent to me that MPB has never been shy about producing....or investing in....a first-rate product for its listeners.
 
cyberdad said:
MPB is a welcome exception to the rule. I've traveled through Mississippi quite a bit (including just last week). It's always been apparent to me that MPB has never been shy about producing....or investing in....a first-rate product for its listeners.
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When you are evaluating HD, I think you have to take Public Radio stations out of the equation. For the most part, they are the only broadcasters that actually benefit from adding more choices to the radio dial. As most of you know, Pubcasters seem to have more content to deliver than they have available hours in a day. Their audience is divided into their three major groups of listeners and contributors. A lot of people like the prevalent thought provoking news-talk format. Some are big fans of Classical, Music, while others prefer Jazz. It is hard to serve all three masters. HD has given them that opportunity, although it would be easy to argue that FMeXtra could have done the same thing for a lot less money - and less interference issues.

For commercial broadcasters, adding more channels simply fragments the advertising base that keeps these stations on the air. It also taxes the station’s work force that is now required to come up with more programming, and then they are asked to sell it.

If you want to do a decent job of it, it is hard enough to run one station with just one format. Adding more channels is an answer to a question that not very many have asked....
 
Good points all, Chuck. I don't disagree.

But my comments had to do with the fact that generally speaking HD signals would be tough to find in areas where 3G or better cell phone service is limited or missing. Of course, for reasons that you pointed out, Mississippi is an example of where a Pubcaster has been able to fill the HD radio void. But at the same time, high-speed cell coverage is tough to find outside of Jackson, the Gulf Coast strip and limited zones around a few smaller smaller cities.
 
Except for radio people and a few listeners HD is being ignored. XM receives more attention from curious tire kickers. If they stay and pay is another story..
 
Chuck said:
When you are evaluating HD, I think you have to take Public Radio stations out of the equation.
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??? Have I been missing something ??? Does the FM band extend above 91.9 ???
 
ai4i said:
Chuck said:
When you are evaluating HD, I think you have to take Public Radio stations out of the equation.
Click to expand...
??? Have I been missing something ??? Does the FM band extend above 91.9 ???
Click to expand...

Of course it does. The business model for Public Radio is quite different from commercial broadcasting. They use HD to provide more programming choices for their listeners. Commercial broadcasters presumably use it to make money. I haven't heard too many glowing reports of monetary success from HD, at least, not yet. Have you?
 
Chuck said:
. The business model for Public Radio is quite different from commercial broadcasting. They use HD to provide more programming choices for their listeners. Commercial broadcasters presumably use it to make money. I haven't heard too many glowing reports of monetary success from HD, at least, not yet. Have you?
Click to expand...

Another great point, Chuck. And same the business model apparently extends to public TV.

I was looking at some HDTV data over the weekend, and noticed (unscientifically and with a small sample size), that major market Public TV stations seem to offer scads more "subchannels" than their commercial counterparts. Most of which would not be commercially viable.
 
Yet, each and every viewer can get all the TV multicasts.
 
Can they? My local cable provides does not carry any subchannel programming except the Fox affiliate, which is subchannel only. At another family member's location, cable does carry everything. And me on satellite, I get zero subchannels in the two markets I'm subscribed in. Buying a box or antenna, ms upgrading to a digital cable box for subchannels sounds no better than buying a new radio...
 
I was hoping nobody would mention this ;(
 
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