-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
What stores carry HD radios in Houston?
- Thread starter sdh416
- Start date
E
everclear75
Guest
> Just wanting to take a listen before I go back to boring San
> Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
>
I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
> Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
>
I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
K
K5MLK
Guest
> > Just wanting to take a listen before I go back to boring
> San
> > Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> >
>
>
> I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
>
Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked at me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"... "A radio, that is... HD."
> San
> > Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> >
>
>
> I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
>
Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked at me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"... "A radio, that is... HD."
> > > Just wanting to take a listen before I go back to boring
>
> > San
> > > Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> > >
> >
> >
> > I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
> >
>
> Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I
> asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked at
> me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"...
> "A radio, that is... HD."
>
What about Tweeter?
>
> > San
> > > Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> > >
> >
> >
> > I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
> >
>
> Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I
> asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked at
> me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"...
> "A radio, that is... HD."
>
What about Tweeter?
M
Mike_O
Guest
> > > > Just wanting to take a listen before I go back to boring
> > > San Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> > > >
> > > I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
> > >
> >
> > Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I
> > asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked a
> > me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"...
> > "A radio, that is... HD."
> >
> What about Tweeter?
>
I hadn't mentioned any stores by name, but I had the same response at Fry's on 45 @ The Beltway and this was from a person that ran the electronics department. Got the same blank stare at three other big stores also.
Don't know about the other Tweeter's, but the one at Westheimer/Voss does not carry any HD radios or have any plans to carry them in the near future. At least the man I spoke with there knew what HD Radio was and didn't zone out when asked if they carry HD Radios.
If HD radios don't get into the market soon people will lose interest, not that there is very much interest outside of radio people.
I've conducted a very unscientific survey, but any person I strike up a conversation with I ask them if they know what HD Radio is, Yes: 0% No: 100%; had they heard of HD Radio: Yes: 5% No: 95%. If time permits I give a very basic description of HD Radio {CD quality FM, FM quality AM, etc.} and would they spend $20 {TWENTY} not the $200 some dollars it is now for an HD radio over a regular analog radio: Yes: about 2% No: 98%.
I would say this does not bode very well for HD Radio at this time. Most people were not interested in the fact that there would be up to two additional channels per station. Typical response is more of the same sorry shitt that we have on Houston radio now. I think HD Radio is going to have a very difficult time of becoming a success. Add to the fact that the radio stations are paying an exorbitant yearly licensing fee to Ibiquity to use the HD product and you have to wonder how long and how many stations will continue with HD Radio if very few people in the general public are interested.
The other thing is unless you are driving a very soundproof vehicle or have the radio cranked way up the sound of the traffic is going to drown out any difference you would notice between a CD or plain ole FM or even AM for that matter.
AM HD is pretty much a dead issue, daytime only use and many stations on AM that did go HD turned it off because of the slop and interference to adjacent stations. Three Houston area AM stations are licensed for HD, KCHN 1050; KPRC 950 and KMIC 1590. I don't see KCHN ever using HD in it's present form. It will cut into KNTH 1070's signal on the west side of Houston during the day since KNTH has a weak pattern to the west and southwest and a very deep null toward Corpus Christi from thier FM1960 area array. While KCTA 1030 Corpus is well outside of their protected contours, if KCHN goes HD it will probably wipe out KCTA and with their fairly potent signal they likely have a listener base in the area that KCHN has a strong signal. KPRC could cause problems to KLUP 930 from San Antonio once you get outside of Harris County as I can pick up KLUP in the Galleria with weak signal now. Again outside of the protected signal for KLUP, but a possible bone of contention between Clear Channel and Salem who owns The Loop. KMIC 1590 may be the only station that can use HD Radio during the day without causing any interference, but not sure about BMT's KOGT 1600 or the 1570 in La Grange. I don't know if the range of either of those stations meet up with the coverage that KMIC has during the day. Since the FCC has had strong protests from Mexico and Canada regarding the nighttime use of AM HD Radio I wouldn't look for any nighttime authorization anytime soon.
Mike O
> > > San Antonio, where we only have 3 HD stations
> > > >
> > > I was in Car Toys yesterday, and they had one setup..
> > >
> >
> > Ah, that's awesome. I'll have to check that out this week. I
> > asked a worker at Fry's @ I45/North Beltway.. he looked a
> > me like I was from Mars, then goes "What's an HD radio?"...
> > "A radio, that is... HD."
> >
> What about Tweeter?
>
I hadn't mentioned any stores by name, but I had the same response at Fry's on 45 @ The Beltway and this was from a person that ran the electronics department. Got the same blank stare at three other big stores also.
Don't know about the other Tweeter's, but the one at Westheimer/Voss does not carry any HD radios or have any plans to carry them in the near future. At least the man I spoke with there knew what HD Radio was and didn't zone out when asked if they carry HD Radios.
If HD radios don't get into the market soon people will lose interest, not that there is very much interest outside of radio people.
I've conducted a very unscientific survey, but any person I strike up a conversation with I ask them if they know what HD Radio is, Yes: 0% No: 100%; had they heard of HD Radio: Yes: 5% No: 95%. If time permits I give a very basic description of HD Radio {CD quality FM, FM quality AM, etc.} and would they spend $20 {TWENTY} not the $200 some dollars it is now for an HD radio over a regular analog radio: Yes: about 2% No: 98%.
I would say this does not bode very well for HD Radio at this time. Most people were not interested in the fact that there would be up to two additional channels per station. Typical response is more of the same sorry shitt that we have on Houston radio now. I think HD Radio is going to have a very difficult time of becoming a success. Add to the fact that the radio stations are paying an exorbitant yearly licensing fee to Ibiquity to use the HD product and you have to wonder how long and how many stations will continue with HD Radio if very few people in the general public are interested.
The other thing is unless you are driving a very soundproof vehicle or have the radio cranked way up the sound of the traffic is going to drown out any difference you would notice between a CD or plain ole FM or even AM for that matter.
AM HD is pretty much a dead issue, daytime only use and many stations on AM that did go HD turned it off because of the slop and interference to adjacent stations. Three Houston area AM stations are licensed for HD, KCHN 1050; KPRC 950 and KMIC 1590. I don't see KCHN ever using HD in it's present form. It will cut into KNTH 1070's signal on the west side of Houston during the day since KNTH has a weak pattern to the west and southwest and a very deep null toward Corpus Christi from thier FM1960 area array. While KCTA 1030 Corpus is well outside of their protected contours, if KCHN goes HD it will probably wipe out KCTA and with their fairly potent signal they likely have a listener base in the area that KCHN has a strong signal. KPRC could cause problems to KLUP 930 from San Antonio once you get outside of Harris County as I can pick up KLUP in the Galleria with weak signal now. Again outside of the protected signal for KLUP, but a possible bone of contention between Clear Channel and Salem who owns The Loop. KMIC 1590 may be the only station that can use HD Radio during the day without causing any interference, but not sure about BMT's KOGT 1600 or the 1570 in La Grange. I don't know if the range of either of those stations meet up with the coverage that KMIC has during the day. Since the FCC has had strong protests from Mexico and Canada regarding the nighttime use of AM HD Radio I wouldn't look for any nighttime authorization anytime soon.
Mike O
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.