local HD reception

[SmokeRing]

I was at an East Dallas Radio Shack the other day and tuned around on a display model HD Radio. It was made by Boston Acoustics.

Couldn't receive 620 in HD. Couldn't receive 770 in HD. JACK was off and on, but never locked. Couldn't receive The Oasis in HD.

I checked, and the antenna was indeed hooked up and extended.

Maybe there was poor reception inside the Radio Shack for all radios. I don't know.

Maybe there was something wrong with the radio.

Bottom line: If I didn't know a thing about HD Radio, there's no way I would ever buy one after having THAT experience.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

A lot of people report HD ranges no better than 20 to 30 miles. Great for New York City, but in spread out metro areas like Dallas, that range sucks. You wouldn't think you would need to DX Dallas from Richardson North and Garland East, but if you want HD, you better be prepared to put up an outdoor FM antenna! Too bad Radio Shack is discontinuing its 6 element Yagi - they could sell you a receptor and the antenna you REALLY need at the same time.

That news on KMKI and KAAM is disturbing. KMKI and KAAM are blowtorches - I got them in perfect stereo 300 miles to the West (rest area on 114 near Crosbyton, Sony SRF A-1 receiver aided by a small loop) when they were C-Quam. If they have coverage problems in HD locally - that is pathetic coverage for HD. And the receptor radio sounds as sensitive as the hearing of a kid gone to too many rock concerts.

 

[Chuck]

That news on KMKI and KAAM is disturbing. KMKI and KAAM are blowtorches - I got them in perfect stereo 300 miles to the West (rest area on 114 near Crosbyton, Sony SRF A-1 receiver aided by a small loop) when they were C-Quam. If they have coverage problems in HD locally - that is pathetic coverage for HD. And the receptor radio sounds as sensitive as the hearing of a kid gone to too many rock concerts.

I have a friend who lives on the northeast side of Longview. He used to regularly listen to KAAM in AM Stereo. He has a a Realistic (Radio Shack) AM stereo tuner and a long wire (about 25-30 feet) antenna. I've heard it. It sounded remarkably good, even at 125-130 miles distance. Of course, now that it is IBOC, I suppose it just sounds like an AM radio.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I have a TM-152 as well, not the most sensitive receiver, but with an external box loop it can get the job done. It is designed to be broadband, and all IBOC stations self-jam on it. AM IBOC only sounds good on the old "3 IF can" type of radios that are inherently more selective and therefore limited in bandwidth. I suspect that is the ONLY type of receiver Ibiquity tested, because if they had tested with more recent "one ceramic filter" type of radios, they would have come up with a different system.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

I suspect that is the ONLY type of receiver Ibiquity tested, because if they had tested with more recent "one ceramic filter" type of radios, they would have come up with a different system.

Can you say, 100lbs of crap in a 10lb bag? Something has to "give" in order to do IBUZ, and the analog audio quality is it. If I was an AM station owner, I'd drag my heels on IBUZ for now, waiting until the FM guys get some radios out in the marketplace to talk to. Then, after there's 75 percent or more of the public that can hear it, I'd just kill the analog and go for it, especially for the remaining music-formatted AMs out there. The pure digital signal would work MUCH better anyway, as long as there were enough of an audience that could hear it out there.

Yes, Radio Shaft is showing their utter stupidity as usual by discontinuing the FM beams. They always seem to perfect poor timeing. No wonder they are closing stores everywhere.

Radio Shaft - You've got questions, they've got shrugs.