New User Apathy

[rbrucecarter5]

People don't seem to understand, nor care about trying out HD-2 channels.

In my rather unscientific poll consisting of a limited number of users:

(1) My daughter rented a car while hers was in the shop. The radio had HD radio. There were HD subchannels I know she would like. I told her how to get to them and how to try them out. She stayed on the main channel and didn't even try the sub channels. You couldn't even tell the difference on that "high end" audio system (Bose) when it switched from analog to HD.

(2) A co-worker bought a new car. It had HD radio. I told him about the HD-2 channels available in the air. He didn't care and left it on HD-1. Same observation - there was no difference audible when the "high end" HK system switched over. Therefore no audible reason for HD (in either car).

There are additional examples but the point is made. People I encounter don't care about HD-2, and the audio difference is so slight they don't care about HD radio - PERIOD. I'm the only one I know actually listening to HD-2's, and I get classified as an opponent of the system because I point out the obvious engineering problems and consumer apathy. I am not an HD opponent, I own three radios and listen almost exclusively to HD-2's. But my message to iBiquity - FIX THE _____ SYSTEM!!!!!

My daughter soon went back to playing her iPhone play list through the bluetooth link in the car. Another HD fail.

 

[fordranger797]

FM sound quality is really as good as its going to get. Personally, I don't see any reason to try to make it "better" with HD. As I said in the other thread, its exactly like DTV. I think they should quit wasting time trying to improve HD and work on creating a different kind of system that allows for better FM reception with less fluttering of the signal. I mentioned in the other thread that I had ran across a video on YouTube which showcased a system that would eliminate a lot of FM signal loss. It would benefit the consumer because they would be able to enjoy listening to terrestrial radio without having to upgrade anything.

 

[Chuck]

Recently, I've been casually looking for a new car. One model I've considered has HD radio. The enthusiastic young salesman was very well informed about the particular vehiclel I was looking at and even seemed to know what HD was. There is only one station in my area that still broadcasts in HD, but neither he nor I were able to get it to lock in (although the analog did just fine). As we were talking about this, I casually mentioned that HD had been around for about 10 years. He was dumbfounded. As far as he knew it was brand new technology. It seems the first time he'd ever heard of it was when he went to a factory training seminar for this particular new car. I guess HD is one of the best kept secrets out there.

It's probably worthwhile to mention that the same "infotainment" screen with the HD Radio logo also had a Pandora and a I Heart Radio button prominently displayed. In fact with all the icons on the screen, HD seemed pretty much like an afterthought.

 

[landtuna]

My daughter soon went back to playing her iPhone play list through the bluetooth link in the car. Another HD fail.

Nope - not an HD fail. Simply people have found something they like and are not in the mood to try anything new. Consider this (from an HD-2 listener):

Since there is no significant improvement of HD over analog FM the answer must lie elsewhere, and it does. The answer is content. People will listen to a marginal signal to get the content they want - that's why AM's are still in business. If a listener has found content he/she likes on analog FM or their iPOD there is no reason for them to try HD Radio. I listen to digital radio because it is where my preferred content is located. I would listen on AM if it were there. Content rules.

 

[tomservo]

Nope - not an HD fail. Simply people have found something they like and are not in the mood to try anything new. Consider this (from an HD-2 listener):

Since there is no significant improvement of HD over analog FM the answer must lie elsewhere, and it does. The answer is content. People will listen to a marginal signal to get the content they want - that's why AM's are still in business. If a listener has found content he/she likes on analog FM or their iPOD there is no reason for them to try HD Radio. I listen to digital radio because it is where my preferred content is located. I would listen on AM if it were there. Content rules.

This, a million times. First, people need the radios, and that's happening extensively in new cars today. Second, the content needs to be there and that isn't happening except in select markets. I've got seven commercial FMs in my area broadcasting HD, but only four of them have HD-2s, and of those, two channels are duplicate programming (smooth jazz) and one is a simulcast of an AM station. The only other unique programming is classic country and a new "Hot AC" type format called radioacTV or some nonsense.

I've been taking my parents out to various dealers as they're looking for a retirement vehicle of some sort, and just about every one they've got an eye has HD radios as standard or a reasonably priced option. That includes the Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-5, a Subaru Legacy and a Ford Escape. I tried to push them towards something more sensible like a diesel VW Passat (with HD radio standard), but they want something a little higher-up for a change.

Frankly, I don't expect the HD situation to get any better in markets where Cheap Channel and Crumulus have a stranglehold like they do here in Darwin's Waiting Room. Cumulus just flipped a failed FM talker back to music with classic hits… they even fired the HD back up! Unfortunately the music is being delivered in crystal clear glorious mono on both analog and HD. I spoke with a station rep through their social media outlet who apologized for the technical troubles and promised it'd be fixed in a day or two. A month later, all they've done is shut the HD and RDS back off and left it in mono. If they don't have the money to source a stereo patch cable set then I doubt they're going to spend a nickel programming any HD2s properly!