What the?? Digital high definition AM radio

[spidey07]

What in the world is High Definition Digital when talking about an AM radio station. I don't get it. Did we magically change all AM radios to now receive this new format/standard?

High definition digital my arse.

 

[loup garou]

http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/index.htm

 

[FoBoT]

you need a receiver that can receive it

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitalradio.html

AM digital radio is capable of providing sound quality equivalent to that of standard analog FM, and sounds dramatically better than analog AM. Some broadcasters believe that digital broadcasting may bring music back to the AM band.

In 2002, the FCC selected in-band, on-channel (IBOC) technology as the technology AM and FM broadcasters use for digital radio broadcasting. Broadcasters have begun IBOC transmission on an interim basis while formal transmission standards are developed.

Transition to digital radio requires broadcasters to install new equipment. During the transition, broadcasters will operate in a ?hybrid? mode, broadcasting the same programming using both analog and digital signals within a single AM or FM channel. Many FM broadcasters now offer two or more digital channels. The new digital technology will not require allocation of additional radio spectrum and will have minimal impact on present broadcast services. Consumers will continue to receive their current analog stations with minimal disruption.

Do I Need a New Radio to Receive Digital Quality?

Yes. A digital receiver is required to receive digital signals. However, listeners can use their digital receiver to tune to stations that are not broadcasting in digital.

Early models are expected to cost more than analog radios, but the FCC has no information on how much more.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: loup garou
http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/index.htm

uggh, I saw that after I started googling.

I guess they are indeed broadcasting in "High Definition Digital". I thought they were just trying to jump on the buzzword bandwagon.

 

[KLin]

WTF? That's like putting a turbocharger on a Ford Model T.

 

[QED]

Well, it's not "high-definition"... its just HD Radio, and supposedly the "HD" doesn't really stand for anything.

Anyways, it is somewhat analagous to over-the-air (OTA) high-def television-- the signal is encoded digitally at CD-quality bitrates and then sent over the airwaves.

It's supposed to sound much better than standard AM or FM....

 

[spidey07]

Yeah, after reading/googling a little bit this could be promising.

But the station does proclaim "broadcasting in high definition digital"

 

[FoBoT]

it probably sounds a lot like satellite radio, since that is what satellite radio uses

i noticed the difference on XM for voice/talk shows right away, it is much clearer than old analog crap

 

[spidey07]

I can see it being as good as XM quality wise.

Although XM still isn't anywhere near a CD, but it's decent enough.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I can see it being as good as XM quality wise.

Although XM still isn't anywhere near a CD, but it's decent enough.

Right now, FM sounds MUCH better than XM....their sound quality has gone down the toilet in recent months.

 

[spidey07]

bd2003,

I'd agree with that. I have a receiver hooked up to my 2 channel music system and it really sounds bad/compressed.

Same for the car receiver.

 

[foghorn67]

I got Sirius, it isn't great. A few of the popular sections in the 'pop' category sounds okay. Others sound like crap.
I do love it's content. I hope HD radio doesn't kill them, I hate commercials.
xm/sirius need to upgrade.

rant: why don't they have add-on hd radios for cars? I don't want a new head unit.