HD Radio News and Information

Welcome to HD Radio News and Information April 9, 2006 10:30

Do HD Radio broadcasters need to thiink outside the "jukebox?" April 9, 2006 11:05

 
Those of you who are fortunate enough to both own an HD Radio and live in a market where stations have added HD Radio may already have discovered what stations are calling HD2 channels. These channels or subchannels are made possible by HD Radio technology because it's digital and the HD2 channels can be sort of slipped in next to the normal HD broadcast. For example, a station may be broadcasting classic rock from the 60s on its main frequency -- say, 105.6 – and the same classic rock on its primary HD Radio channel. But then, it may be broadcasting classic rock from the 70s on its HD2 channel.

Now, if you have been listening to one or more HD2 channels, you have probably discovered the good news and the not-so-good news. The good news is that these HD2 channels are commercial free. You can listen to one for hours and never hear so much as a 10-second spot. The not-so-good news is that you probably won't hear any news, weather or talk of any kind. This is because most stations broadcasting HD2 channels are airing just the music. Period. Which makes these channels pretty much like listening to a jukebox that just never stops.

The Washington Post brought this issue up in an article dated April 4 saying, among other things, “"But with no DJs and no human presence of any kind on the air -- most of the new digital channels are, and sound like, computer-generated jukeboxes -- the station feels even less like radio than do many satellite channels."

Do you have an HD Radio? Have you been listening to any HD2 channels? We'd like to know what you think about the commercial- and voice-free aspects of these new digital channels (Go to URL)

How to hear HD Radio April 9, 2006 11:12

 
If you live in a major market, chances are that one or more of your local stations is broadcasting in HD Radio technology. This is also true if any of your local stations are owned by Clear Channel, as this broadcaster is in the forefront of HD Radio broadcasting.

That's the good news. The not so good news is that you probably can't hear HD Radio. There is only one tabletop HD Radio currently available – the HD Recepter Radio from Boston Acoustics – and it costs nearly $300.

But here's today's giant question. Where do you listen to the radio most often? My guess is that it's in your car. This being the case, it's easier for you to hear HD Radio because there are at least six units to choose from, ranging in price from the Sanyo ECDHD1990M at $199.95 to the Alpine DVA9965 DVD/CD/MP3/WMA Player with HD Tuner at $1449l95.

Good places to shop for an HD-enabled car audio system include Best Buy, PriceGrabber.com and Crutchfield.com.

Click back to my web site, www.hd-radio-home.com from time to time as I will update you on new HD tabletop radios and car audio systems as they become available.
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