No HD radios in Radio Shack stores...

[radiopilot]

I went to 3 Radio Shack stores in Savannah, to get a listen on these Accurian recievers and of the 3 stores I went to none carried the HD radios... plenty of Accurian speakers and misc. items but no HD radios..

Now how is the average consumer to know about what HD radio is? Not all of them have the inkling of visiting this or any other 'radio' websites to bother reading about HD or it's benefits when all they need to do it just listen tio the existing technology they have now... why bother?

I was reading the commentary of BEradio in my Radio magazine and decided to add the link...

Read it for yourself... I think it says it all....

http://beradio.com/viewpoint/radio_report_card_hd/

Quote:

I visited two national electronics retailers: Best Buy and Circuit City. I have visited these retailers before, so the return visits were a good opportunity to determine the current status. Neither store had any home or tabletop HD Radio receivers, so I moved to the auto sound department. When a sales person approached me, at both stores they started with the question, “Can I help you with something?”

I answered, “Tell me about HD Radio.”

[EDIT]


[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyprotected. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's TOS.]

 

[tomservo]

Seriously, I don't think the "average consumer" would go to a Radio Shack anymore to learn about any kind of technology, new or old. They go to the big box retailers. It's nice to know some of them are starting to get clued in about HD radio. From a consumer standpoint, it's going to be a tough sell for a long time.

I see three key items that HD-radio is going to have to overcome: high receiver costs, lack of tuner diversity and programming.

The high cost of equipment is a hinderance. The HD group is really going to have to find a way to market inexpensive, good receivers if they are serious about making progress. Average consumers don't pay $100 for a tabletop radio. I'm sorry, but that is reality. I was looked at with disdain 7 years ago for paying $130 for a (discontinued) JVC Kaboom portable stereo. Sadly, people are complacent with weak sounding, weak performing cheap-o radios. The price point is going to have to be very close to get people to "upgrade".

Speaking of $100 tabletop radios, they're all well and good, but where's the variety? HD radio has been getting pushed for a while, but we still need more choices. Where are the HD boomboxes? Clock radios? Integrated tuners in mp3 players? Why are there so few integrated HD tuners in aftermarket radios? Drop the add-on box prices like a rock or integrate, and they'll see real success... Oh, let's not forget following satellite again in get OEM contracts -- this is serious stuff. The 'free trial' period XM and Sirius offer with many new cars has introduced tons of people to satellite, even though most don't pony up after the trial expires... Low or no cost integrated HD in OEM is like a free trial that never expires!

Finally, programming. Innovative, interesting program is key. I can't tell you how many tech reviews and opinion pieces I've read over the last few years talking about how disappointing the HDTV thing is. Most people in the United States get their TV from a coax cable or dish, and outside of a few FiOS deployments, they don't offer many HD channels. Including out of town locals, I get maybe 12 HD channels with DirecTV. The cable company here offers all of 5 channels. No wonder people aren't flocking to the service... If HD stations don't want to make the same mistakes, they're gonna have to tout the extra free programming, and actually make it worth listening.

My .07¢ (adjusted for inflation)

 

[Mike Walker]

HD is young, and the major players...the electronic giants, are just getting in on the act. For whatever reason, Radio Shack made a decision not to carry the Accurian in all stores, only major markets with lots of HD signals. I hate to tell you this, but Savannah ain't a major market

I mail ordered my Accurian on Black Friday. If you want to be an "early adopter", you may have to as well. The only two HD Radios I've actually laid hands on in stores are the Accurian at a Radio Shack dealership in Lenoir NC, and the Boston Acoustics Receptor HD at Tweeter in Winston Salem. The Accurian was pulling in stations from Charlotte, about 50+ miles away. The Boston Acoustics was a paperweight.

When home models from companies like Yamaha, and Kenwood hit the street, you'll see 'em at Best Buy, because these are the brands that stores like that (as well as specialist hi-fi dealers, if there are any left!) carry. Hey, I couldn't find an HDTV in my (small) town in 1998. Now they're at Wal Mart (and every other store. Wait, once Wal Mart came to town, all the other stores went out of business!)

 

[clouseau]

A check of the big chart show there are not any HD stations transmitting in Savannah OR anywhere else i GA except for Atlanta and Augusta.

The Accurian still seems to be regionalized in Radio Shack stores. No HD stations tends to lead to no HD radios.

Clouseau

 

[MotoMuzak]

At the three Radio Shack stores I visited last weekend (1 in Portland, 2 in Vancouver, Wash.) not one had an IBAC radio display. No Accurians, Bostons, zilch. In January when visiting them they all had them. Now one has computer printers where the IBAC's were (Those little Epson photo printers *do* look kinda cool....ink hogs though, with 7 *tiny* cartridges.......), and the other two have shortwave radios and police scanners where the IBAC's were!! Upon asking "Where have all the IBACs gone, long time passing..." the sales persons revealed to me that those particular locations are not carrying them any more, and only one other store in Vancouver--the one I didn't go to last Saturday but I am going this afternoon because I am all out of solder--has three Accurians in stock. I might just check it out and see if I can call their bluff............

I am guessing that perhaps Tandy realises this product (the Ibiquity system, specifically) is becoming a commercial failure--think of it like I do, as the "AM Stereo" crisis of the early 21st century--and is getting out of the market while they still can before losing any more money then they most likely have already??

 

[SUPERCASTER]

At the three Radio Shack stores I visited last weekend (1 in Portland, 2 in Vancouver, Wash.) not one had an IBAC radio display. No Accurians, Bostons, zilch. In January when visiting them they all had them. Now one has computer printers where the IBAC's were (Those little Epson photo printers *do* look kinda cool....ink hogs though, with 7 *tiny* cartridges.......), and the other two have shortwave radios and police scanners where the IBAC's were!! Upon asking "Where have all the IBACs gone, long time passing..." the sales persons revealed to me that those particular locations are not carrying them any more, and only one other store in Vancouver--the one I didn't go to last Saturday but I am going this afternoon because I am all out of solder--has three Accurians in stock. I might just check it out and see if I can call their bluff............

I am guessing that perhaps Tandy realises this product (the Ibiquity system, specifically) is becoming a commercial failure--think of it like I do, as the "AM Stereo" crisis of the early 21st century--and is getting out of the market while they still can before losing any more money then they most likely have already??

The local Radio Shack has not been able to get indoor reception (on their HD Accurian) of even one HD station (AM or FM) in plain sight of the broadcasting towers, and in spite of trying since before Thanksgiving. Analog stations are OK though.

 

[Mike Walker]

I don't think it's the lack of signal strength of "penetration" that's keeping HD radios from performing in stores...it's the RF JUNK in the average store, plus the fact that dealers usually place the antenna right next to the radio...a NO NO with most HD units, because of the RF noise generated by their cpus. The solution? Get the antenna AWAY from computers, the radio itself, and other electronics. Hey guys...in the old days, you put an antenna on the roof to sell tvs? Then you put a dish on the roof to sell satellite tv. Then you put antennas on the roof to sell satellite radio (that doesn't come in too well inside concrete buildings with steel frames!) Time to head back "up on the roof" (I can hear the Drifters now!)

 

[hitNrun]

I don't think it's the lack of signal strength of "penetration" that's keeping HD radios from performing in stores...it's the RF JUNK in the average store, plus the fact that dealers usually place the antenna right next to the radio...a NO NO with most HD units, because of the RF noise generated by their cpus. The solution? Get the antenna AWAY from computers, the radio itself, and other electronics. Hey guys...in the old days, you put an antenna on the roof to sell tvs? Then you put a dish on the roof to sell satellite tv. Then you put antennas on the roof to sell satellite radio (that doesn't come in too well inside concrete buildings with steel frames!) Time to head back "up on the roof" (I can hear the Drifters now!)

The Accurian HD, that I tried at Radio Shack, was near a window, away from computers, and couldn't link to any HD stations. By the way, our Radio Shack has sold only a few HD radios.

 

[R.F. Burns]

I don't think it's the lack of signal strength of "penetration" that's keeping HD radios from performing in stores...it's the RF JUNK in the average store, plus the fact that dealers usually place the antenna right next to the radio...a NO NO with most HD units, because of the RF noise generated by their cpus. The solution? Get the antenna AWAY from computers, the radio itself, and other electronics. Hey guys...in the old days, you put an antenna on the roof to sell tvs? Then you put a dish on the roof to sell satellite tv. Then you put antennas on the roof to sell satellite radio (that doesn't come in too well inside concrete buildings with steel frames!) Time to head back "up on the roof" (I can hear the Drifters now!)

The Accurian HD, that I tried at Radio Shack, was near a window, away from computers, and couldn't link to any HD stations. By the way, our Radio Shack has sold only a few HD radios.

First, what market are you in? Was this an outside window? How far away from flourescent lights and computers was this radio located? I know many who own Acurians and they all seem to be happy clients. While I don't own the Accurian, my B.A. and Sangean are both excellent radios, receiving solid HD signals at my QTH.

 

[Chuck]

While I don't own the Accurian, my B.A. and Sangean are both excellent radios, receiving solid HD signals at my QTH.

Since there are no HD stations in my area, I haven't made the plunge yet, but I will probably buy a Sangean fairly soon. It seems like a decent radio. There is some HD in Shreveport, 60+ miles away. It will be interesting to see if I can actually receive anything in HD. I have tried both the Sangean and the BA in stores though, and the BA was about like getting a pet rock to play music. It was as dead as Monty Python's parrot.

I guess you got a good one.

 

[R.F. Burns]

While I don't own the Accurian, my B.A. and Sangean are both excellent radios, receiving solid HD signals at my QTH.

Since there are no HD stations in my area, I haven't made the plunge yet, but I will probably buy a Sangean fairly soon. It seems like a decent radio. There is some HD in Shreveport, 60+ miles away. It will be interesting to see if I can actually receive anything in HD. I have tried both the Sangean and the BA in stores though, and the BA was about like getting a pet rock to play music. It was as dead as Monty Python's parrot.

I guess you got a good one.

I'd highly recommend the Sangean tuner. I am able to receive stations with it that I can't on any other FM radio. No matter what happens with HD, the radio is a winner.

 

[Mike Walker]

RF, ever compared the display and remote of the Accurian with the Sangean? They look IDENTICAL! My guess is that the Accurian's "innards" are remarkably similar to the Sangean. Of course given the choice, I'd buy the Sangean too. But should that Accurian ever be on sale again for 99 dollars!

(I'll probably own both of 'em soon, and maybe a few others. I'm a radio collector, and once i start buying radios from a "category"...like boat anchors from the WWII era, tube table radios, shortwave portables, or HD radios...I DON'T STOP!)

 

[R.F. Burns]

RF, ever compared the display and remote of the Accurian with the Sangean? They look IDENTICAL! My guess is that the Accurian's "innards" are remarkably similar to the Sangean. Of course given the choice, I'd buy the Sangean too. But should that Accurian ever be on sale again for 99 dollars!

(I'll probably own both of 'em soon, and maybe a few others. I'm a radio collector, and once i start buying radios from a "category"...like boat anchors from the WWII era, tube table radios, shortwave portables, or HD radios...I DON'T STOP!)

I'm with you. I've heard although I haven't had a chance to compare that the Sangean tabletop isn't quite the radio that they tuner is. My Sangean has the earlier software so it decodes CQUAM too. Hey, I bought a Armstrong band FM radio to listen to the recent Alpine broadcasts from WA2XMN. I was lucky enough to be at the actual broadcast site during the anniversary broadcast held in Alpine, NJ. That broadcast I have on Dat which I was able to record from a supplied mult, but I was also able to record some of the tests which took place following that broadcast on the old Armstrong band.

 

[Mike Walker]

Wow that must have been something (the Armstrong anniversary broadcasts). I listened "on the interweb" (as Patrick Norton, formerly of Tech TV calls it), but to be there must have been incredible.

A station I used to work at, WIFM in Elkin NC, still had a working Armstrong band tuner. They were very early on the "new" FM band...came on the air in '49, when nobody had FM radios!

 

[Chuck]

I'd highly recommend the Sangean tuner. I am able to receive stations with it that I can't on any other FM radio. No matter what happens with HD, the radio is a winner.

It does seem like a very good tuner, even if it never receives a single HD signal. I was impressed.

 

[R.F. Burns]

I'd highly recommend the Sangean tuner. I am able to receive stations with it that I can't on any other FM radio. No matter what happens with HD, the radio is a winner.

It does seem like a very good tuner, even if it never receives a single HD signal. I was impressed.

My thoughts exactly, thanks to dsp and I can receive HD 1 & 2 streams from a station which is over 60 miles away.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

I don't think it's the lack of signal strength of "penetration" that's keeping HD radios from performing in stores...it's the RF JUNK in the average store, plus the fact that dealers usually place the antenna right next to the radio...a NO NO with most HD units, because of the RF noise generated by their cpus. The solution? Get the antenna AWAY from computers, the radio itself, and other electronics. Hey guys...in the old days, you put an antenna on the roof to sell tvs? Then you put a dish on the roof to sell satellite tv. Then you put antennas on the roof to sell satellite radio (that doesn't come in too well inside concrete buildings with steel frames!) Time to head back "up on the roof" (I can hear the Drifters now!)

Most consumers today have fluorescent lights, CPU's, computers, and many other electrical devices, just like Radio Shack. If it won't work in Radio Shack, even at closing time with all the electronics turned off, then it probably won't work in most homes.
As for the average consumer putting up new rooftop antennas just to get a couple of HD2 stations, dream on.
HD might catch on with a very few digital DXers and early adopters, but it will never be popular with the public at large, as it must, if it is to survive.

 

[Mike Walker]

Simply put the antenna by a window. Gosh...that's SOOOOOOO complicated!

 

[R.F. Burns]

I don't think it's the lack of signal strength of "penetration" that's keeping HD radios from performing in stores...it's the RF JUNK in the average store, plus the fact that dealers usually place the antenna right next to the radio...a NO NO with most HD units, because of the RF noise generated by their cpus. The solution? Get the antenna AWAY from computers, the radio itself, and other electronics. Hey guys...in the old days, you put an antenna on the roof to sell tvs? Then you put a dish on the roof to sell satellite tv. Then you put antennas on the roof to sell satellite radio (that doesn't come in too well inside concrete buildings with steel frames!) Time to head back "up on the roof" (I can hear the Drifters now!)

Most consumers today have fluorescent lights, CPU's, computers, and many other electrical devices, just like Radio Shack. If it won't work in Radio Shack, even at closing time with all the electronics turned off, then it probably won't work in most homes.
As for the average consumer putting up new rooftop antennas just to get a couple of HD2 stations, dream on.
HD might catch on with a very few digital DXers and early adopters, but it will never be popular with the public at large, as it must, if it is to survive.

Hmmm, Actually, you can't draw a reception comparison between a store in a steel building where many computers are running as well as a flourescent lighting level which no home has. Also mutiply this interference with the dozens of other store doing similar things in the same steel building. Now take a typical house, which is wood framed and while there might be a computer (We have four when the children are home) in the same room as the radio, not everyone leaves their computer on 24 hours a day. Say that same house uses the new power saver flourescent lights, which do not exibit the same level of noise that the old tubes with external starters used to do. Again, most people don't leave every light in their house on 24 hours a day. Starting to understand what I'm talking about here? The level of interfeernce is much lower in a residential environment then it is in a commercial establishment. When I bought my original B.A. radio, from a store located in a steel and concrete building, in Paramus NJ, using the factory provided antennas I was able to listen to HD stations on both AM & FM in the store. Reception in my house is much better than it was in the store but I was able to make it work. If say you are selling either car radios or components, such as the Sangean tuner you need an external antenna of some kind. With the dipole antenna Sangean provided for FM recption I was able to listen to a few Conneticut FM HD stations from my location in NY and I am 35 miles or so from the Conneticut border. Over the next few days I will post examples and you can judge for yourself.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Simply put the antenna by a window. Gosh...that's SOOOOOOO complicated!

As well as SOOOOOOOOOO useless.
hitNrun said:

The Accurian HD, that I tried at Radio Shack, was near a window, away from computers, and couldn't link to any HD stations. By the way, our Radio Shack has sold only a few HD radios.