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Should KGO-AM 810, KNBR 1050/680 be on a subchannel of KFOG, KFFG HD-2 or HD-3

R

recto101

or put KSFO on HD-2 or HD-3 of 107.7?

My main reason is that KNX 1070 in LA is even heard on HD radio on KTWV 94.7 HD-2 or HD-3. I wonder about that because HD radio signals tends to cover a smaller area than analog FM signals and analog AM signals. I'm wondering if HD radio would flop like stereo AM did in the 1980's.
 
recto101 said:
or put KSFO on HD-2 or HD-3 of 107.7?

My main reason is that KNX 1070 in LA is even heard on HD radio on KTWV 94.7 HD-2 or HD-3. I wonder about that because HD radio signals tends to cover a smaller area than analog FM signals and analog AM signals. I'm wondering if HD radio would flop like stereo AM did in the 1980's.
Click to expand...

HD radio does appear to be a flop, so far - which is a shame because HD channels provide a lot of variety. When the factory installed car stereo on my old Mazda crapped out a few years ago, I bought a new unit with HD. It was only $20 more than the similar unit without HD - well worth it.

The problem is - most people are not willing to shell out the money for a new unit just to get HD. I probably wouldn't have either, if I didn't need to replace the old unit. Broadcasters have to convince car manufacturers to install HD equipped units in their new cars, much as the Satellite people have done. I recall that a couple of years ago, BMW was advertising HD radios in their new cars for awhile, but I don't know if they still do it, or if other manufacturers have followed suit.

As for moving KGO, etc to the FM HD sub channels - sure, why not? It will give the few people who have HD the chance to hear their stations in high quality stereo sound, though listeners would lose a few music choices. I think CBS is doing that in LA with KNX because they're not ready to waste a regular FM signal for a simulcast - KNX is not as popular as KCBS is here.
 
Simulcasting an AM on one of the HD subchannels (eitehr HD-2 or HD-3) is very popular around the country (LA, MSP, ABQ immediately come to mind in places I have listened to on HD) . If you have the equipment already at the station, it is cheap. And it gets really good quality (relatively speaking) for an AM signal without a lot of the noise.

The future looks like only three choices for an AM station: blowtorch AM, FM translator, or HD.
 
There are few HD-3 signals. It degrades the main too much. That said, there are so few HD receivers, you'd be better off just setting up a website and streaming the format.
 
I think the sucess of KSFO and KGO was due to the good signal amoung other things...HD is not out there enough.
 
i don't know but HD radios are semi-death. only the few people are adopting and HD radio quality like like shiIt. A few years ago, HD ad are CD quality, 3 sub channels, and a ton more choices. MP3 players are killing radio stars.
 
Don't forget ... KGO turned off the "AM HD" because of the noise. Would there be problems on FM HD with a simulcast? I think so.

At this point, I agree with other posters ... "Who cares"? So few listen to HD Radio in the market and the signal is degraded.
 
oaktree said:
Don't forget ... KGO turned off the "AM HD" because of the noise. Would there be problems on FM HD with a simulcast? I think so.

At this point, I agree with other posters ... "Who cares"? So few listen to HD Radio in the market and the signal is degraded.
Click to expand...

As with AM Stereo 30 years ago, it took too long to get receivers into cars. They're in a fair number of 2012's (including the Toyota Camry), but I don't think there's a there there.
 
Good points, Michael.

In much of the signal area ... of say, KGO and KNBR it wouldn't matter much as people here in San Luis Obispo County only have one HD capable station (KCBX) and the KFOG / KFFG signals wouldn't ever make it hear anyway ... on up through Monterey County as well. Why waste the 10% of the analog pattern to go with HD?
 
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