What does NPR really think of HD radio?

[vsa]

National Public Radio (NPR) member stations have been among the earliest of HD radio proponents and adopters. If you wondered where NPR now stands on promoting this technology, checking out the NPR online store for radios might be a great place to look. I decided to do that today. What did I find?

http://shop.npr.org/webapp/wcs/stor...=10051&catalogId=10051&top=Y&categoryId=10331

HD radios:  only one model is available for sale - the Sangean HDT-1 HD. Here's what NPR has to say about it.

http://shop.npr.org/webapp/wcs/stor...ctId=22007&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=18853

WI-FI radios: two are available for sale - one of them being the Tangent Quattro WI-FI radio. The other is the Acoustic Energy WI-FI radio. Read what NPR has to say about the TQ.

http://shop.npr.org/webapp/wcs/stor...ctId=24548&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10331

By far, the vast majority of radios for sale at the NPR store are analog radios.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

It seems HD radio may have hit it's high point even with NPR and is on the way out.
Here is an intriguing portable WiFi radio that seems nice, if a little pricey, and perhaps is a good alternative to HD Radio.
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/internet-radios/revo-pico-portable-wifi-internet-radio.aspx

 

[hipporadio]

Here is an intriguing portable WiFi radio that seems nice, if a little pricey, and perhaps is a good alternative to HD Radio...

As I have noted here before – I have little restraint when an interesting radio comes into my view and few reservations about giving new-tech a try... I just can’t find any compelling reason to fork out $200 bucks to hear defective lackluster technology and uninspiring pabulum-like programming on an “HD Radio”. I CAN [finally] find a compelling reason to invest in the WiFi genre...

The Revo Pico portable WiFi receiver has been a hit in the U.K. and will be available here thru MANY top-tier brick ‘n mortar and catalog electronics retailers this month [including C Crane and Universal Radio – who choose their product offerings carefully]. Even at a hefty $350, the anticipation for this product is high. I have been running one thru its paces for the last month [a “dealer-advance” loaned to me by the owner of a high-end consumer electronics chain], and it has surly-advanced my desire to dive right into the WiFi market. It’s a delightful product!

Think of it as a WiFi version of the Tivoli PAL - which I also own [it even snuggly fits in the PAL’s accessory carry-case/shoulder strap]. It near-seamlessly detects the network and programs itself with over 5000 offerings by name and genre. Additions and edits can be easily programmed, and this unit will play back music streams from your home computer “jukebox” over LAN [up to 802.11(g)] anywhere in the house. I have my own personal “classic hits station” running on broadcast automation on a PC in my studio. After hardware audio processing, I feed a simple ShoutCast MP3 server on the wireless broadband network, and the Pico allows me to listen anywhere in my home in mono or stereo [thru headphones or exported via a line-out jack to a larger system]. It has a “six-watt amplifier”... The smallish two-inch “neodymium speaker” sounds similar to the Tivoli PAL but is no “room-rocker”. The built-in FM tuner is “OK” but falls well-short of the PAL’s exceptional reception.

It’s a “Swiss Army knife” of sort – supporting every popular streaming and playlist format [including AAC] and will directly interface with your iPod as a decoder/amplifier [it even supports direct .WAV format playback]. It recognizes 128-bit WEP security encryption and the keys are stored in non-volatile memory. Its best utility is its portability and high-quality stereo output to use as a receiver feeding your home A/V system.

The only downside is its limited battery life [less than six hours on a full charge], but AC operation is possible and it recharges to a usable point in a few hours. Its $350 cost is steep – but consider the more-outrageous price of a separate storage/streaming-media appliance sold for home media-file distribution – then the multi-talented Revo Pico [with your current home or notebook PC] appears to be a “steal”.

Sorry to all the “HD” apologists, but I’m now holding the real digital-broadcast “McCoy” in the palm of my hand... THIS excites me – IBOC DOESN’T!

 

[vsa]

Here is an intriguing portable WiFi radio that seems nice, if a little pricey, and perhaps is a good alternative to HD Radio...

As I have noted here before – I have little restraint when an interesting radio comes into my view and few reservations about giving new-tech a try... I just can’t find any compelling reason to fork out $200 bucks to hear defective lackluster technology and uninspiring pabulum-like programming on an “HD Radio”.  I CAN [finally] find a compelling reason to invest in the WiFi genre...

The Revo Pico portable WiFi receiver has been a hit in the U.K. and will be available here thru MANY top-tier brick ‘n mortar and catalog electronics retailers this month [including C Crane and Universal Radio – who choose their product offerings carefully].  Even at a hefty $350, the anticipation for this product is high.  I have been running one thru its paces for the last month [a “dealer-advance” loaned to me by the owner of a high-end consumer electronics chain], and it has surly-advanced my desire to dive right into the WiFi market.  It’s a delightful product!

Think of it as a WiFi version of the Tivoli PAL - which I also own [it even snuggly fits in the PAL’s accessory carry-case/shoulder strap].  It near-seamlessly detects the network and programs itself with over 5000 offerings by name and genre.  Additions and edits can be easily programmed, and this unit will play back music streams from your home computer “jukebox” over LAN [up to 802.11(g)] anywhere in the house.  I have my own personal “classic hits station” running on broadcast automation on a PC in my studio.  After hardware audio processing, I feed a simple ShoutCast MP3 server on the wireless broadband network, and the Pico allows me to listen anywhere in my home in mono or stereo [thru headphones or exported via a line-out jack to a larger system].  It has a “six-watt amplifier”... The smallish two-inch “neodymium speaker” sounds similar to the Tivoli PAL but is no “room-rocker”.  The built-in FM tuner is “OK” but falls well-short of the PAL’s exceptional reception.

It’s a “Swiss Army knife” of sort – supporting every popular streaming and playlist format [including AAC] and will directly interface with your iPod as a decoder/amplifier [it even supports direct .WAV format playback].  It recognizes 128-bit WEP security encryption and the keys are stored in non-volatile memory.  Its best utility is its portability and high-quality stereo output to use as a receiver feeding your home A/V system.

The only downside is its limited battery life [less than six hours on a full charge], but AC operation is possible and it recharges to a usable point in a few hours.  Its $350 cost is steep – but consider the more-outrageous price of a separate storage/streaming-media appliance sold for home media-file distribution – then the multi-talented Revo Pico [with your current home or notebook PC] appears to be a “steal”.

Sorry to all the “HD” apologists, but I’m now holding the real digital-broadcast “McCoy” in the palm of my hand... THIS excites me – IBOC DOESN’T!

Many of the folks with an HD radio can only pick up a handful of (if any) HD radio stations, even after hooking up a dipole antenna, rabbit ears or an attic or rooftop antenna. How's the reception with your new portable WI-FI radio? How many of those +5,000 radio stations can you actually pick up with any consistency? Any problems keeping a lock on digital signals? Any interference? Do most of the news, talk and sports stations shut down their WI-FI digital offerings after dark as stations still have to do with AM HD radio? Some folks here harp about the lack of viable AM signals. Have you noticed any non-viable WI-FI station signals?  ;D

 

[tomservo]

Many of the folks with an HD radio can only pick up a handful of (if any) HD radio stations, even after hooking up a dipole antenna, rabbit ears or an attic or rooftop antenna. How's the reception with your new portable WI-FI radio? How many of those +5,000 radio stations can you actually pick up with any consistency? Any problems keeping a lock on digital signals? Any interference? Do most of the news, talk and sports stations shut down their WI-FI digital offerings after dark as stations still have to do with AM HD radio?Some folks here harp about the lack of viable AM signals. Have you noticed any non-viable WI-FI station signals? ;D

Q: How many of those wi-fi radio stations can you take along with you in the car?
A: All of them, as long as you don't leave your driveway.

 

[vsa]

Many of the folks with an HD radio can only pick up a handful of (if any) HD radio stations, even after hooking up a dipole antenna, rabbit ears or an attic or rooftop antenna. How's the reception with your new portable WI-FI radio? How many of those +5,000 radio stations can you actually pick up with any consistency? Any problems keeping a lock on digital signals? Any interference? Do most of the news, talk and sports stations shut down their WI-FI digital offerings after dark as stations still have to do with AM HD radio? Some folks here harp about the lack of viable AM signals. Have you noticed any non-viable WI-FI station signals?  ;D

Q: How many of those wi-fi radio stations can you take along with you in the car? 
A: All of them, as long as you don't leave your driveway.

Correct answer: All of them pretty soon wherever you're going. Wimax-equiped vehicles will become traveling wi-fi hotspots so you can use your wi-fi devices inside or around your car. Intel is about to release combo Wimax/wi-fi chips for devices so they will be able to connect directly at long distances. Here's just one example of what's coming soon:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_6568140

Some people find it easier to just ignore the warnings. Do so at your peril.

 

[hipporadio]

How many of those +5,000 radio stations can you actually pick up with any consistency?

I doubt that I have enough years remaining to fully-enjoy most of those 5000 offerings [actually 5500+ and growing]... Truthfully, many I have NO interest in – but others will, and choice is a fine thing! Users may access a program service database online for easier query and “suggested” additions [I have made three – and they were included within a day]. Every time the Revo Pico is powered and connects, it instantly refreshes itself with that service list and catalogs them by name, country, and genre.

How's the reception with your new portable WI-FI radio? ...Any problems keeping a lock on digital signals? ...Have you noticed any non-viable WI-FI station signals?

I have found dozens [and added several somewhat-obscure] favorites. ONLY TWO have briefly “hiccupped” – and those were admitted server/network problems on their end. My “evaluation Pico” connects and performs flawlessly on a $30/month standard Verizon DSL connection [which clocks at a “garden-variety” 1 mbps]. Most “serious” services are streamed from 64-128 kbps in mp3 and WMA, and 128 kbps WMA easily-betters the quality of FM “HD”. Forget about any urge to compare AM “HD” IF your radio can even manage to acquire it - we’re talking “late 90s low-bandwidth RealAudio” quality here [I’d MUCH-RATHER listen to a well-transmitted ANALOG SIGNAL on a decent AM receiver]! Furthermore, the Pico flawlessly-receives my LAN-based 256 kbps mp3 stream within the house and yard... It allegedly will decode 44kHz .wav streams [given the capability of the network], but I have yet to try that.

Q: How many of those wi-fi radio stations can you take along with you in the car? A: All of them, as long as you don't leave your driveway.

Although the Revo Pico can be powered [and recharged] from an external 9-12-volt DC source [and a mobile adaptor is available], I have no illusion about overcoming the current complexities of WiFi-delivered entertainment in that environment. Frankly [for the uninitiated masses] - it’s a ways down the pike but, nonetheless, a viable future option. Since I find very-little on FM [and “HD”] that interests me; my XM subscription, iPod connection, and CD collection meets my needs fully!

 

[SUPERCASTER]

hippo:
Please try to see if your Revo Pico can decode these high quality aacPlus (same codec as HD radio) internet stations:
http://www.tuner2.com/

 

[hipporadio]

hippo: ...see if your Revo Pico can decode these high quality aacPlus internet stations: http://www.tuner2.com/

SuperCaster: The answer is “YES, sort of”. ACCplus is part of the Barracuda DSP engine used by the Revo Pico. It can easily-access internal ACC codec streams on the LAN and decode them perfectly [e.g. ACC downloads played and streamed from iTunes], but its currently-supported streaming transports on the internet are mp3 [via .m3u and .pls], WMA [.asx], Real [.ram], and “HTTP”. I have to believe that this will be addressed in a future upgrade as ACCplus streaming gains a firm position and transport mechanism. There is no “official support” for QuickTime streams, but I suspect their play is indicated as “HTTP” on the Pico, so all of this may be mere semantics.

I was able to access several streams available at tuner2.com and two within the “Decades” genre that I checked out and were also listed on the Pico’s menu: “Box Radio UK” playing pop/rock music at 128k and “Play Radio UK” [70s/80s pop/rock] at 64k. Both sounded excellent [the former – better than any “HD” transmission I have heard], but I cannot verify listening to their specific ACCplus stream featured on “tuner2” since the Pico detailed them as “HTTP” [again – maybe only “semantics my Dear Watson”].

By “work-around” I was able to get the Pico to access two KNOWN streams using ACCplus – re-routing them from the net into a local address thru a server on my LAN. One is a VPN-transported off-air signal from a very-good classic hits station several states away that I maintain a mono 64k ACCplus link [via a T-1 at my brother’s business] to privately enjoy. It’s an exceptionally-engineered AM station [with a one-year-old digitally-modulated transmitter] received at 4-miles on a Carver TX11b tuner set for proper NRSC bandwidth and de-emphasis - but likely not an optimum demo of the supremacy of ACCplus. The second is featured at tuner2.com... 1490 WECM Pensacola, FL [www.memories1490.com] with an internal, separately-processed [Orban PC Optimod], 64k stereo feed. The audio is awesome [well-beyond any I have heard on anover-the-air analog Oldies FM] with very-few detectable artifacts [and I can hear - and hate that crap]. Interestingly, the song titles encoded into the stream presented themselves perfectly on the Pico’s display.

I was also able to access a few 32 and 48k ACCplus streams... They get a nod for convenience, but fall short when it comes to sonic integrity. In fairness, ACCplus at 48k is light-years ahead of mp3 and an improvement over the most-recent Windows Media codecs. If I really craved a particular format, and 48k was the only transport available – I guess I would listen; but I would not buy an “HD Radio” [and possibly pay a subscription - and we all know that’s where this iNiquity scheme is headed] merely to hear it... And the operative word here is "merely"

 

[tomservo]

Some people find it easier to just ignore the warnings. Do so at your peril.

I'm not ignoring the warnings, I'm just being pragmatic. If I were still living in a major urban center this would be news; but out here in the sticks I am confident that this area may well never see any Wi-Max coverage. (Tho I certainly could be wrong - Sprint just opened up two stores in the area.)

What I don't understand is the appeal of having so many online stations "live" with you as you go places. Most I've heard are just jukeboxes, much like some satelllite radio channels. If I want a certain kind of music bad enough, it's easier to just record the stream overnight then transfer it to a media player. Now it can follow me anywhere, regardless of what costly wireless internet connection's available.

As much as ubiquitous wireless internet piques my interest, the cost will be as prohibitive for all but the geekiest geeks, keeping most consumers at bay. Y'know, kinda like how HD radio is now. Near-seamless GSM EDGE-enabled internet service from AT&T is costing me $20/month just for using my phone; the tethering option brings it up to $80/month. $80/month for 250 kbps at best... How much will that 1 Mbps cost with this spankin' new technology? I am not holding my breath for an affordable plan in the next 10 years.

Affordable, widespread wi-max is still years off, possibly decades. HD radio is a sham (especially on AM) but at least it is failing in the here and now and not in theory. :

 

[dbdigital]

Some people find it easier to just ignore the warnings. Do so at your peril.

I'm not ignoring the warnings, I'm just being pragmatic. If I were still living in a major urban center this would be news; but out here in the sticks I am confident that this area may well never see any Wi-Max coverage. (Tho I certainly could be wrong - Sprint just opened up two stores in the area.)

What I don't understand is the appeal of having so many online stations "live" with you as you go places. Most I've heard are just jukeboxes, much like some satelllite radio channels. If I want a certain kind of music bad enough, it's easier to just record the stream overnight then transfer it to a media player. Now it can follow me anywhere, regardless of what costly wireless internet connection's available.

As much as ubiquitous wireless internet piques my interest, the cost will be as prohibitive for all but the geekiest geeks, keeping most consumers at bay. Y'know, kinda like how HD radio is now. Near-seamless GSM EDGE-enabled internet service from AT&T is costing me $20/month just for using my phone; the tethering option brings it up to $80/month. $80/month for 250 kbps at best... How much will that 1 Mbps cost with this spankin' new technology? I am not holding my breath for an affordable plan in the next 10 years.

Affordable, widespread wi-max is still years off, possibly decades. HD radio is a sham (especially on AM) but at least it is failing in the here and now and not in theory. :

I'm not so sure that the Wi-Max or Wi-Fi build out is 'years or decades away'. What makes the upcoming 700 MHz auction so interesting is the idea that the so-called 'white spaces' (unlicensed and unused TV airwaves) that are being sold off will be used to transmit high-speed internet service. This would make internet service accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas.

Many heavy-hitters are working on this technology and bidding in this auction, including Microsoft, Google, Dell, Intel and others.

On the Wi-Max front, Sprint and Intel are predicting that this service will be available in several major cities by '08 and are set to release low-cost chips for it during that time as well. So while none of this technology is "soup yet" it soon will be.

It's true that many internet stations are little more than jukeboxes, but that is a consequence of not being able to fully monetize webcasting. Out of necessity, most internet stations have to be automated with almost no staff. But web radio doesn't have to be that way, it can be just as local and live as any terrestrial station and I think, in time, many more will be live, especially as wi-fi radios becomes more ubiquitous.

HD Radio is a stop-gap solution with a lot of problems. It is a means by which station owners hope to keep their broadcast "properties" from becoming worthless. And while it is a 'here and now' solution for hearing digital radio there is nothing to indicate that it is the real future of radio.

db

 

[hipporadio]

I'm not so sure that the Wi-Max or Wi-Fi build out is "years or decades away". What makes the upcoming 700 MHz auction so interesting is the idea that the so-called "white spaces" that are being sold off will be used to transmit high-speed internet service. This would make internet service accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas.

About the ONLY television station LESS-desirable than radio in the mind of many a retail-advertising “vid-iot” was the one situated between UHF-TV channels 60 and 69. Such a station must have really-HATED the highly-rated FM rocker in town! Isn’t it ironic that, very soon, the former Channel-69 spectrum may be home to the wireless internet service that distributes the audio programming that cuts terrestrial and “HD” radio off at the pass. Sometimes, revenge is sweet

 

[vsa]

Some people find it easier to just ignore the warnings. Do so at your peril.

I'm not ignoring the warnings, I'm just being pragmatic.  If I were still living in a major urban center this would be news; but out here in the sticks I am confident that this area may well never see any Wi-Max coverage.  (Tho I certainly could be wrong - Sprint just opened up two stores in the area.)

What I don't understand is the appeal of having so many online stations "live" with you as you go places.  Most I've heard are just jukeboxes, much like some satelllite radio channels.  If I want a certain kind of music bad enough, it's easier to just record the stream overnight then transfer it to a media player.  Now it can follow me anywhere, regardless of what costly wireless internet connection's available.

As much as ubiquitous wireless internet piques my interest, the cost will be as prohibitive for all but the geekiest geeks, keeping most consumers at bay.  Y'know, kinda like how HD radio is now. Near-seamless GSM EDGE-enabled internet service from AT&T is costing me $20/month just for using my phone; the tethering option brings it up to $80/month.  $80/month for 250 kbps at best... How much will that 1 Mbps cost with this spankin' new technology?  I am not holding my breath for an affordable plan in the next 10 years.

Affordable, widespread wi-max is still years off, possibly decades.  HD radio is a sham (especially on AM) but at least it is failing in the here and now and not in theory.  :

Once Internet radio can be more fully monetized, you'll hear much more professionalism in the content and presentation. Once it is wireless and ubiquitous, the game changes. A station could get to the point of having expensive staffs/personalities because the potential audience size would be unlimited. Ditto for the advertiser pool. For example, a Howard Stern could even come back to an advertiser-supported form of radio via one single station. Sirius could even do that via an online stream. HD radio can never do anything like this.

Wireless and mobile Wimax will be fast enough to be your ONE service provider for all Internet access for all your devices on one single account. It will also be able to easily handle VOIP, making cellular phone service eventually obsolete. Sprint knows this and is actually planning to enable this on their Wimax service. So your total bill may eventually become smaller, not bigger.

 

[dbdigital]

I came across this quote from Bob Lefsetz of Los Angeles FM talker KLSX that I felt I had to share:

“Many people believe the owners are not going to fix radio. They're just gonna consolidate and add commercials, withdrawing cash until nobody listens anymore and the stations have been devalued to next to nothing.”

http://www.laradio.com/

No, Bob, they'll just patch up the cracks with HD Radio and keep extracting that cash.

db

 

[tomservo]

I'm not so sure that the Wi-Max or Wi-Fi build out is 'years or decades away'. What makes the upcoming 700 MHz auction so interesting is the idea that the so-called 'white spaces' (unlicensed and unused TV airwaves) that are being sold off will be used to transmit high-speed internet service. This would make internet service accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas.

When do you think it will reach 75% penetration for the entire United States, out of curiosity? I'm not concerned with a few pilot cities, I want real coverage.

I didn't hold my breath when I first learned of HD-FM testing in Las Vegas many years ago. So far, there still are zero HD signals in my neck of the woods.

Anyway, how long did it take for cellular companies to light up all the rural areas with service? A looooong time. For years and year it was primarily the domain of cities. I hope that is not the case with Wi-Max or other high speed wireless technologies.

 

[Chuck]

Anyway, how long did it take for cellular companies to light up all the rural areas with service? A looooong time. For years and year it was primarily the domain of cities. I hope that is not the case with Wi-Max or other high speed wireless technologies.

It could be argued that lower population areas are an interesting target for Wi-Max and the like. With no DSL or cable available, it's a case of serving the unserved. Here is less resistance to the installation (perhaps even including some tax incentives) because smaller cities actually want this kind of service, Where I live, near Longview, TX, Clear-Wire has launched their service, and it is going very well for them. My home is 10 miles from town, but my cell phone provider gives excellent EVDO coverage. We also have an independant wireless Internet Provider in my rural community. It's a real "Mom & Pop" operation that is doing well. I'm guessing it won't be too long before they are bought out by someone, maybe Clear-Wire.

Incidentally, I learned today, that Sprint is trying to purchase Clear-Wire, so they must see money in all this. It appears that the wireless Internet roll out is going a LOT faster than the cell phone revolution.