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Philips subsidiary introduces multiple types of digital radio on a single chip.

V

vsa

NXP Semiconductors, the chip-making arm of Dutch electronics giant Philips, has introduced a car-radio chip that allows auto makers to install a single radio that supports AM/FM and multiple types of digital radio. More at the link:

http://www.redherring.com/Home/23285

This is something my friend David Eduardo has said repeatedly - could never be done.
 
vsa said:
NXP Semiconductors, the chip-making arm of Dutch electronics giant Philips, has introduced a car-radio chip that allows auto makers to install a single radio that supports AM/FM and multiple types of digital radio. More at the link:

http://www.redherring.com/Home/23285

This is something my friend David Eduardo has said repeatedly - could never be done.
Click to expand...

I like David. I'm glad he works in radio, not the semiconductor business.

Interesting article. With more and more of these types of chips flooding the market, it seems entirely possible that everyone's next radio will incorporate HD Radio technology, whether it's enabled or not.
 
I wonder if the chip consumes less power than the current generation of HD radio chips? It would be nice to see a battery operated HD radio.
 
Len14043 said:
I wonder if the chip consumes less power than the current generation of HD radio chips? It would be nice to see a battery operated HD radio.
Click to expand...

Bet on it. The current generations HD chipsets aren't a single chip design. There's that and the longstanding tradition that as IC technology advances it always becomes smaller and more efficient.
 
If only battery technology advanced as fast as IC technology! Then, maybe we would have a high-power laptop, running at peak performance, with display set to BRIGHT, AND decent battery life!
 
Radioman100 said:
vsa said:
NXP Semiconductors, the chip-making arm of Dutch electronics giant Philips, has introduced a car-radio chip that allows auto makers to install a single radio that supports AM/FM and multiple types of digital radio. More at the link:

http://www.redherring.com/Home/23285

This is something my friend David Eduardo has said repeatedly - could never be done.
Click to expand...

I like David.  I'm glad he works in radio, not the semiconductor business.

Interesting article.  With more and more of these types of chips flooding the market, it seems entirely possible that everyone's next radio will incorporate HD Radio technology, whether it's enabled or not.
Click to expand...

I like David too. And I also enjoy disagreeing with him now and then - particularly on HD radio.

It's entirely possible that stations of the future may decide to use what form of digital transmission they prefer - as long as they play within the rules.

Of course, that's IF the public ever gets around to buying any of these radios. Traditional radio will be competing with a ubiquitous wireless Internet.
 
I'm sorry, but this "ubiquitous wireless internet" everyone talks about is just that...talk. That is unless you buy an expensive data plan (the vast majority don't. Just ask the people who have tried to make money streaming video to these portable devices). HD Radio is, well RADIO. It's available wherever, to whomever...not just to a select few, who happen to have an expensive data plan. Fact: the infrastructure just doesn't exist to replace terrestrial broadcasting with internet broadcasting. Wait until the day that 260 million Americans decided to listen to streaming audio, rather than turning on a "real" radio. "CRASH" goes the internet! "BANKRUPT" go the providers of streaming content, because "economy of scale" actually works in reverse for streaming media...the more people who listen, the more expensive it gets. Companies/stations can actually bleed their bank accounts dry with "success".
 
Re: Philips subsidiary introduces multiple types of digital radio on a single ch

Mike Walker said:
I'm sorry, but this "ubiquitous wireless internet" everyone talks about is just that...talk. That is unless you buy an expensive data plan (the vast majority don't. Just ask the people who have tried to make money streaming video to these portable devices). HD Radio is, well RADIO. It's available wherever, to whomever...not just to a select few, who happen to have an expensive data plan. Fact: the infrastructure just doesn't exist to replace terrestrial broadcasting with internet broadcasting. Wait until the day that 260 million Americans decided to listen to streaming audio, rather than turning on a "real" radio. "CRASH" goes the internet! "BANKRUPT" go the providers of streaming content, because "economy of scale" actually works in reverse for streaming media...the more people who listen, the more expensive it gets. Companies/stations can actually bleed their bank accounts dry with "success".
Click to expand...

Oh geez... We're not getting into the Internet radio debate again, are we?

Not only is consumer cost a problem, it's a bigger problem for providers. The biggest streamers are curtailing their web efforts, and their listenership is declining.

If Yahoo and AOL can't afford the new royalties, it doesn't bode well for the medium.
 
vsa said:
NXP Semiconductors, the chip-making arm of Dutch electronics giant Philips, has introduced a car-radio chip that allows auto makers to install a single radio that supports AM/FM and multiple types of digital radio. More at the link:
http://www.redherring.com/Home/23285
Click to expand...
A big tip of the hat to Philips for bringing us one step closer to the "Holy Grail", of an all-inclusive receiver which can tune in any of the world's digital "flavors", as well as the traditional analog.

I love the idea that a given broadcast station could, in theory, choose which digital flavor to broadcast in.

With a bit of luck, AM might just make it after all.
 
Oh I'm sure AM HD will make it. For 3-5 miles from the tower. Maybe 10-20 for the really big signals, the ones that used to cover over a hundred!
 
I haven't seen a datasheet on this device, but it is probably the older generation type of device where you still need external coils, varactors, IF filters and discriminators to make it work. The type of HD chip that would really impress me is if all that external stuff was integrated onto the chip. Philips is one of the companies that is in the race to make such a device, but they aren't there yet.
 
Mike Walker said:
Oh I'm sure AM HD will make it. For 3-5 miles from the tower. Maybe 10-20 for the really big signals, the ones that used to cover over a hundred!
Click to expand...
Mike:

What I meant was that (hopefully soon), some NON-HD 'flavor' of digital transmission will be the thing that 'just might' enable AM to make it after all.

Me?......The flavor I'm rooting for is DRM. If AM is really serious about trying to stay afloat, they would embrace DRM and transition as swiftly as possible to a fully digital transmission mode.

I sympathize with your sentiments. The current HD hybrid analog/digital nonsense isn't doing the AM band any favors.
 
Dighton Rockhead said:
... If AM is really serious about trying to stay afloat, they would embrace DRM and transition as swiftly as possible to a fully digital transmission mode.
Click to expand...

Hey hey... Trust me, AM is really serious about trying to stay afloat. :)

If we could just "Snap our fingers" and be there, I'm all for it.

However... I think you have come up with a scenario which neither Savage or Myself or virtually any other station operator would go along with. The fact is... WE JUST CAN'T GET THERE, with the audience intact, TOMORROW.

DRM appears to require a "Flash Cut" similar to most LPTV. That is... You're either analog OR digital but there is no "Transition Time".

As ongoing entities,, radio can NOT do this. IF we "Just changed" tomorrow we'd have NO listeners. Make that "No revenue". To start over would be a "No Go" item.

It's my opinion radio needs to transition to a digital form. It's a FACT that most radio stations can not survive if they were to attempt converting this way.

If radio (especially AM radio) were able to get a "Companion channel" like TV did, then this would work. Sadly, this does not appear to be the case.

I still think we should have gone with Eureka 147 for AM & FM, but that's just me.

YMMV

Clouseau
 
Inspector:

You get no argument from me on any of your points. Obviously, my scenario rests on the idea that both the FCC and Federal Government as a whole need to take a MUCH MORE ACTIVE role in helping insure the viability of the AM band......(now waiting for stones to be thrown at me from the 'less government' types out there...LOL).

The Ice storms in the midwest, and Thursday's snowstorm in New England serve as reminders of radio's vital role in keeping people informed.

You're right......"Cut and Flash" IS the way to go. Had there been more foresight in the development of digital audio broadcasting, those digital 'companion frequencies' would have been found somewhere. With all that UHF spectrum about to be auctioned off by the FCC anytime soon, it's a crying shame that a few megahertz of spectrum couldn't have been set aside to insure a smooth tansition for AM broadcasters.

As to the problem of those not in broadcasting's 'front row' not being able to afford the equipment for the transition......low interest government backed loans......probably by way of the SBA......could have been made available for all the stand-alone and mom and pop folks......(waiting for still more stones thrown at me from the anti-gov't. types.....LOL).

The way things stand now?......What a mess, especially for the Mother of Audio Broadcasting, poor old AM. :(
 
Re: Philips subsidiary introduces multiple types of digital radio on a single ch

Again , what about the FCC after 2/19/2009 giving radio VHF Ch 5 and 6 (76-88Mhz) to FM radio and move lower class AM stations to Class A FM and able to use FM IBOC.
 
Re: Philips subsidiary introduces multiple types of digital radio on a single ch

mgpt6 said:
Again , what about the FCC after 2/19/2009 giving radio VHF Ch 5 and 6 (76-88Mhz) to FM radio and move lower class AM stations to Class A FM and able to use FM IBOC.
Click to expand...

The Philips chip, which is reportedly designed for a world market, should be ready for an expanded VHF radio band. Japan's FM allocation begins at 76, so I don't expect receivers based on this design would have a problem tuning the extra 12 MHz.

Consider all of the problems that would be solved if AM broadcasters were allowed to transmit their digital component in the VHF band:

1) Nightly skywave interference - gone. (Yes, I realize low-band VHF is subject to E-skip, but only sporadically)

2) Daytimers will finally be able serve their communities on a fulltime basis. And fulltimers with heavy co-channel interference (for example, Class C) or restrictive night patterns would no longer sacrifice coverage at night.

3) There's no need to send a hybrid digital signal -- AM broadcasters would continue to offer unadulterated analog in the medium wave band, while they transmit full digital at VHF. This eliminates the antenna bandwidth issue which prevents IBOC from working properly on some directional arrays, as well as the VHF combining requirement, which is usually inefficient.

4) There's far less of a problem with lightning and power line noise in the VHF band.

5) Now, the cool part: With a full digital (COFDM) signal, synchronized on-channel booster transmitters can be added without resulting in mutual interference, allowing wide area AM daytime coverage to be replicated with a network of low power sites. For instance, WYSL could have one transmitter in Rochester - say, on Pinnacle Hill - with another at the AM site near Avon, and a third on the hill south of Dansville. These would be synchronized, allowing Bob to provide seamless fulltime coverage all along Route 390 from Steuben County north to Lake Ontario.

6) The power requirement of these VHF digital transmitters would be modest: 100 watts to 1 kW. Shared sites would be easy to implement, no need for expensive high power combiners and antennas.

7) The full digital signal would provide a much higher bitrate than hybrid AM IBOC. No need to use a grungy codec.

Yet, many self-appointed experts claim this plan is "impossible", they say "it will never happen", "don't even think about it", etc. However, I can show a string of recent FCC precedents that could pave the way for this plan to become a reality. If there's interest, I'll explain in detail in another thread.
 
THIS is exactly the type of forward thinking that I wish had happened before the current IBOC system had been rolled out (or at least the AM version, anyway).

Now that so much time, energy and money has been invested in the current system, those with entrenched interests (like incumbents of any kind)...will now tend to dig in thier heels, and be resistant to any changes which will either cost additonal money, or risk thier status as the entrenched incumbent.

The idea of multiple low-power on-channel synchronus digital broadcasting is a brilliant idea in this era of NIMBY and BANANA.

Of course, everyone's heard of NIMBY, but for those who haven't heard of BANANA, here it is: (with credit going to JIBGUY, who I think coined it). ;)

B(uild)
A(bsolutely)
N(othing)
A(nywhere)
N(ear)
A(nybody)
 
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