Selling HD Radio (To Passive Listeners)

[staticradio]

I was at a (big box store) today, and they had the Sony XDR-S3HD on display. Mind you, no antennas, and none of the secondary channels preset. But, since no one asks, why make it look appealing...right? With a few minor tweaks (and removing an FM antenna from a close by unit that appeared to not even be working), I got at least 5 of the secondary channels to work (whereas without a simple dipole antenna...no channels).

So, the thought remains as this: why not try to make them interresting? When I made my modifications, I at least got some looks from other consumers. Are we that myopic in our thinking to not appreciate more from our own (popular) culture then the mundane?

Sadly, the only people HD Radio gears to is audiophiles, disillusioned listeners, public/community elitists, et al. - and not the passive listener. Of course, when no one was 'minding the store' for 30+ years, this is what happened to (commerical terr.) radio: mundane programming. No wonder people aren't interrested in HD (and sat.) radio, as we've 'dumbed-down' the listener base.

So, what is to become of HD Radio? I still have high hopes for it, and hope more secondary channels come into play in my area that bring about more 'true' diversity and variety of music/genres, and not the overused catchphrase of 'More Variety.'

 

[nd2023]

I have not been able to get any HD stations from HD radios in stores located in the suburbs. The included antenna doesn't get good reception when it's in the middle of the store. Even in major cities, getting HD reception in the store is only possible if the antenna is hooked up. Who would want to buy a radio that doesn't get any reception?
In one Radio Shack in New York City, I asked to look at the HD radios, and the clerk showed me the Sirius radios. The HD radios were right in front of him when I asked. Of course, there was no antenna hooked up, and it didn't get any HD reception only 10 blocks from the Empire State Building.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I have not been able to get any HD stations from HD radios in stores located in the suburbs. The included antenna doesn't get good reception when it's in the middle of the store. Even in major cities, getting HD reception in the store is only possible if the antenna is hooked up. Who would want to buy a radio that doesn't get any reception?
In one Radio Shack in New York City, I asked to look at the HD radios, and the clerk showed me the Sirius radios. The HD radios were right in front of him when I asked. Of course, there was no antenna hooked up, and it didn't get any HD reception only 10 blocks from the Empire State Building.

That is really depressing for HD radio. I've had luck at 35 miles, and other people are telling me 50 is about the limit. Occasionally I hear claims of 80 mile FM in the car, but I am skeptical. 100 miles with a deep fringe antenna is about it. I've thrown everything I can at HD from 110 miles with no luck. A lack of HD stations from 80 to 150 miles away is hampering my research somewhat.

Now - scale that back to your environment. A store with lots of steel re-bar and concrete. Lots of vertical flat surfaces for multipath. Only ten blocks from the Empire State building, a lot of signal is probably going right over your head, and at street level the stations may be comparatively weak. Still, it is a typical enough scenario for a city listener in a high rise apartment. I think the HD folks better get some problem solved or bad word of mouth is going to spread rapidly with consumers. Add to that, the average consumer has the technical saavy of a tomato plant and wads up the dipole if they hook it up at all, and places the AM loop flat on top of the metal case. HD better work under those conditions!!!

The sales clerk's lack of knowlege sounds intentional. His boss probably has seen HD radios go out, and come right back "defective". He probably tells his sales staff to push satellite to anybody inquiring about HD, because he knows satellite doesn't get returned as often as HD. I find it really illuminating that the only sales clerk who knew what HD was - was one in Home Depot where I was buying antenna hardware. He had sure heard of HD reception problems, because other people had been buying outdoor antennas. That really surprised me.

 

[Chuck]

I have not been able to get any HD stations from HD radios in stores located in the suburbs. The included antenna doesn't get good reception when it's in the middle of the store. Even in major cities, getting HD reception in the store is only possible if the antenna is hooked up. Who would want to buy a radio that doesn't get any reception?
In one Radio Shack in New York City, I asked to look at the HD radios, and the clerk showed me the Sirius radios. The HD radios were right in front of him when I asked. Of course, there was no antenna hooked up, and it didn't get any HD reception only 10 blocks from the Empire State Building.

Try KLJT 102.3, Jacksonville,TX. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&call=KLJT They are 50 KW at nearly 500 feet. It's about 100 miles from Dallas. I'm a lot closer. I get the analog OK at my house on an "average" radio, but I can't get their HD on a Sangean HDT-1 with an outside antenna. YMMV Maybe you can get a signal.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Try KLJT 102.3, Jacksonville,TX. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&call=KLJT They are 50 KW at nearly 500 feet. It's about 100 miles from Dallas. I'm a lot closer. I get the analog OK at my house on an "average" radio, but I can't get their HD on a Sangean HDT-1 with an outside antenna. YMMV Maybe you can get a signal.

BTW - there is no indication on their web site that they are running HD. I think that is a big mistake! The Sangean does well on KOOI analog - so KLJT might also come in. The only 102.3 I am familiar with is a country station in Wichita Falls, I'll swing the antenna around and try the other direction. But sidebands from 102.1 are going to be a problem, I need to throw them in a side null.

 

[Chuck]

Try KLJT 102.3, Jacksonville,TX. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&call=KLJT They are 50 KW at nearly 500 feet. It's about 100 miles from Dallas. I'm a lot closer. I get the analog OK at my house on an "average" radio, but I can't get their HD on a Sangean HDT-1 with an outside antenna. YMMV Maybe you can get a signal.

BTW - there is no indication on their web site that they are running HD. I think that is a big mistake! The Sangean does well on KOOI analog - so KLJT might also come in. The only 102.3 I am familiar with is a country station in Wichita Falls, I'll swing the antenna around and try the other direction. But sidebands from 102.1 are going to be a problem, I need to throw them in a side null.

The way I found out about it was by accident. I was in Tyler which is a lot closer to their transmitter. A HDT-1 stopped on it when I hit the "HD search" button. This was done with a roof mounted Winegard FM Yagi antenna, but it wasn't exactly your ordinary roof. It's on a high rise building that's a little over 200 feet above the street level.

There was no HD-2 channel.

 

[Mike Walker]

Best Buy in Hickory NC has the wire antenna just thrown behind the Sony. Still, I got several of the Charlotte (about 30 miles away) HD stations just fine.

By the way, they didn't have any satellite radios, or analog fm receivers set up properly either. And don't get me started on bubble-wrapped portable radios, cd and mp3 players (not to mention bubble-wrapped headphones). What the hell are manufacturers and retailers thinking? I wouldn't buy a car without driving it! Ok I lied...I AM buying a car I've never driven, but it's because I'm legally blind!