So where are these so called HD Radios?

[Radiogeek500]

Rant mode on

I've been looking, but Radiosophy says they're on backorder till at least January(the front page says October, but if you click buy, it says January)and Boston Acoustics says their radios aren't out till the beginning of next year and I can't find any more info on what other products are available through anybody else.

This has to be the SLOPPIEST rollout of a new technology I have ever seen. How are they expecting this to do anything if the damn units aren't available. Geez anyways.

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[SamBuca]

http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=546294&Board=engineering

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[mwebster]

C Crane is listing the Boston Acoustics HD radio for $499.00 and says it is due back in stock October 31st.

The roll out of HD TV is almost as sloppy, but the price is coming down. But there is still a confusing array of choices (type of screen; aspect ratio; true HD or ED) and you still may have to buy an additional box. At least HD radio is more straight-forward choice. And all new technology starts out pricey. Bring the price down and you stimulate lots of demand and end up with more profits. Henry Ford figured that out almost 100 years ago, but the consumer electronics people seem to have forgotten it.

 

[BoardmanDJ]

People are getting used to "computer" minded technology upgrades where they are available NOW. The radios are out there (Crutchfield, even C Crane has a portable version), but many stations still seem to be getting used to their equipment.

Remember how expensive XM and Sirius used to be once you added on all the things needed to pick up a signal? Now prices are much lower? That's how HD radio will work. Wait a couple of years and you'll see the same thing. My low wnd HDTV is now half the price I paid for it 2 1/2 years ago


> Rant mode on
>
> I've been looking, but Radiosophy says they're on backorder
> till at least January(the front page says October, but if
> you click buy, it says January)and Boston Acoustics says
> their radios aren't out till the beginning of next year and
> I can't find any more info on what other products are
> available through anybody else.
>
> This has to be the SLOPPIEST rollout of a new technology I
> have ever seen. How are they expecting this to do anything
> if the damn units aren't available. Geez anyways.
>
> Rant mode off
>

 

[Rocco]

I don't know about anybody else, but I'm not going to spend $500 for a radio that gets what I can get with all the radios I already have. Maybe if it gets one or two more stations that's not nearly enough to warrant the extra cost. No thanks.

> People are getting used to "computer" minded technology
> upgrades where they are available NOW. The radios are out
> there (Crutchfield, even C Crane has a portable version),
> but many stations still seem to be getting used to their
> equipment.
>
> Remember how expensive XM and Sirius used to be once you
> added on all the things needed to pick up a signal? Now
> prices are much lower? That's how HD radio will work. Wait
> a couple of years and you'll see the same thing. My low wnd
> HDTV is now half the price I paid for it 2 1/2 years ago
>

 

[954]

WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS?

Go to the South Florida Radio News, at the link
in the sig below.

There are links on that page to a few HD radios.

And when the multicast-capable HD radios are available,
they'll be added.

That's when HD will be worthwhile. (For example,
WLRN is now multicasting classical music and WPOW is
multicasting dance music. Both can be heard on the web.
See articles in September Radio News.)

Please remember that if you buy a radio through
the South Florida Radio Pages, you are helping
to support the site.

73s from 954

<P ID="signature">______________
September 2005 - South Florida Radio News</P>

 

[JerryStevens]

"The roll out of HD TV is almost as sloppy, but the price is coming down. But there is still a confusing array of choices (type of screen; aspect ratio; true HD or ED) And all new technology starts out pricey. Bring the price down and you
stimulate lots of demand and end up with more profits."

Yes, HDTV has problems too. The difference is that all the different delivery systems for TV run off the same set. If you don't have HDTV for broadcast TV, you also don't have it for cable and satellite TV.

People are already sampling digital radio via XM and Sirius and terrestial radio sounds worse to the satellite partisans by comparison. And don't look now, but here comes Sprint. Text Here<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"You should always believe what you read in the newspapers, for that makes them more interesting." - Rose McCaulay

</P>

 

[markwooldridge]

So why don't we learn from others (and the past)?

With the roll out of these new technologies why don't we learn from others?

(NB: DAB is referring to Digital Audio Broadcasting, DTT to Digital Terrestrial Television).

UK DAB: Pros: - Plenty of products at a reasonable price.
- Lots of new stations to listen to.
- No extra subscription required.
Cons: - Patchy coverage.
- Decreased sound quality due to lack of spectrum.

UK DTT: Pros: - Very easy and cheap to get.
- At least 4x the number of OTA stations.
- Can add on subscription TV if wanted.
- No new TVs required - set top box will do.
Cons: - Patchy coverage as spectrum still used for analog.
- Not yet High Def.

German DTT: Encouraged roll-out, switch-off analog on state-by-state basis.
French DTT: Watch the UK and others make mistakes, roll out its network based on their errors.

US DTT: Go off doing something different to the rest of the world, make it expensive and complicated.
US DAB: Go off doing something different to the rest of the world, make it expensive and complicated.

Canadian DAB: Copy the Europeans.
Canadian DTT: Copy the Americans.

So far, I won't be getting a HD radio. There's no compelling content for me to get one. I got XM (and soon Sirius - but not yet due to a budget crunch) because of the content on the system (sound quality may not be as expected but still - it's better than regular FM/AM). I like cable TV and would get it due to the *content* (but again, budget crunch).

But yes, we need to learn from others and also past experiences. If we were to have DAB to be a success, we need to a) make frequency space for it (and enough of it), b) introduce the technology cheap enough, and c) make the content compelling enough to want to get it.

Mark.

 

[Rocco]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> That's when HD will be worthwhile. (For example,
> WLRN is now multicasting classical music and WPOW is
> multicasting dance music. Both can be heard on the web.
> See articles in September Radio News.)
>

2 new stations? For $500? Uh, uh, yeow.

Oh wait, I forgot, the $500 ones don't give you ANY new stations. The ones that will get the two new stations aren't out yet.

 

[954]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> > That's when HD will be worthwhile. (For example,
> > WLRN is now multicasting classical music and WPOW is
> > multicasting dance music. Both can be heard on the web.
> > See articles in September Radio News.)
>
> 2 new stations? For $500? Uh, uh, yeow.
>
> Oh wait, I forgot, the $500 ones don't give you ANY new
> stations. The ones that will get the two new stations
> aren't out yet.

Right.

But I'll add links when they are available.

Meanwhile, listen to these stations on the web for free.

Links are in the article.

73s from 954
<P ID="signature">______________
September 2005 - South Florida Radio News</P>

 

[k9ez]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> > That's when HD will be worthwhile. (For example,
> > WLRN is now multicasting classical music and WPOW is
> > multicasting dance music. Both can be heard on the web.
> > See articles in September Radio News.)
> >
>
> 2 new stations? For $500? Uh, uh, yeow.
>
> Oh wait, I forgot, the $500 ones don't give you ANY new
> stations. The ones that will get the two new stations
> aren't out yet.
>


Actually they are out. A buddy of mine has one. Kenwood is producing them.

I have a "normal" HD Radio, and it is hard to go back to analog after listening to HD.

 

[Rocco]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> I have a "normal" HD Radio, and it is hard to go back to
> analog after listening to HD.
>

Actually, if there were some compelling new content on the HD I might be tempted but, except for the two new stations, I can get the same programming without spending a dime on my existing radios...it sounds good enough.

 

[westlife]

Don't waste your time; HD Radio is dead.

> This has to be the SLOPPIEST rollout of a new technology I
> have ever seen. How are they expecting this to do anything
> if the damn units aren't available. Geez anyways.

If HD Radio's severe technical flaws aren't enough to kill it, then consumer reaction to HD Radio receivers -- if/when they become available en masse -- will surely do it in.... and the sad thing is, it just might take AM/FM radio as a whole down with it.

If there's one good thing about HD Radio, though, it's making C-Quam AM Stereo look like a fantastic success!

<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[KMRichards]

Re: Don't waste your time; HD Radio is dead.

> If HD Radio's severe technical flaws aren't enough to kill
> it, then consumer reaction to HD Radio receivers -- if/when
> they become available en masse -- will surely do it in....
> and the sad thing is, it just might take AM/FM radio as a
> whole down with it.

That hardly qualifies for the definitive statement "HD Radio is dead" in your subject line.

Flaws or not, it is not dead yet.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>

 

[DoctorWu]

"Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated."

Um. I think, judging from your signature, that you have a not-so hidden agenda re: this topic.

HD Radio is far from dead. It has not yet gotten started. There are rollout issues with all new technology. It took FM Stereo nearly 10 years to make an impact in the marketplace, and another 10 years to become dominant.

Don't count your tombstones before they're carved.

- Doc


> If HD Radio's severe technical flaws aren't enough to kill
> it, then consumer reaction to HD Radio receivers -- if/when
> they become available en masse -- will surely do it in....
> and the sad thing is, it just might take AM/FM radio as a
> whole down with it.
>
> If there's one good thing about HD Radio, though, it's
> making C-Quam AM Stereo look like a fantastic success!
>

 

[DoctorWu]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

I bet you were one of those guys who told his buddies "Vinyl is just fine. Who needs CDs?" in the early 90s, weren't you?

Times change. Get with it.

- Doc

> Actually, if there were some compelling new content on the
> HD I might be tempted but, except for the two new stations,
> I can get the same programming without spending a dime on my
> existing radios...it sounds good enough.
>

 

[DoctorWu]

Right. And remember how the first CD players cost $1,200 and took 30 seconds to cue a track? Now you can buy 'em for $35 at Rite-Aid.

- Doc

> Remember how expensive XM and Sirius used to be once you
> added on all the things needed to pick up a signal? Now
> prices are much lower? That's how HD radio will work. Wait
> a couple of years and you'll see the same thing. My low wnd
> HDTV is now half the price I paid for it 2 1/2 years ago

 

[peppertree]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> I bet you were one of those guys who told his buddies "Vinyl
> is just fine. Who needs CDs?" in the early 90s, weren't you?
>
>

I still say that. When CD's and cassettes are gone, vinyl will still play, provided it is kept away from the heat. Vinyl never dies.

I can not even comment on other media. <P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>

 

[Rocco]

Re: WHERE ARE THE HD RADIOS? -> follow link

> I bet you were one of those guys who told his buddies "Vinyl
> is just fine. Who needs CDs?" in the early 90s, weren't you?
>
>
> Times change. Get with it.
>

It's not that, but it's just that HD Radio is a step back from the times. Here's why:

For $500 you can't even purchase a radio that gets any of the new streams, only the old ones that are duplicated anyway on people's existing analog FM receivers (that I'll bet most feel work just fine). If it were 1) unique proramming that they; 2) desired highly they might spring the $500, but getting people to shell out big bucks just to get the SAME THING with a slight improvement? It's not worth the money. And I think most consumers who are adventurous enough to look around for something new in radios -- maybe having been spurred on by an interest in HD Radio -- will certainly find satellite radio with 140 new channels as a slam-dunk, hands-down better choice for them as they survey the marketplace...and that's scary.

This is a bad move by the broadcast industry to jump on IBOC HD Radio, especially if it has the potential of increasing interest in satellite radio this way. This is a knee-jerk reactionary move by some suits, many of whom I'm sure you'll agree act sometimes like overgrown children with ADHD. They felt compelled to flinch, they failed to think things through, and they came up with a bad plan (in addition to having been sold a bill of goods by iBiquity).

I think that the broadcast radio industry is about to open a can of worms that, years from now we'll look back and say we shouldn't have shot ourselves in the foot. We should have just emphasized local programming with local contact with listenters and left well enough alone. Sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing, especially if a plan of overt action is ill-conceived.

(And no, I don't have any hidden agenda)