HD Radio: How Can I Use It?

Not very many people are familiar with HD radio so I will first define it and it's possibilities. The number of people with a HD radio is very small. Few people even know what HD stands for. Most simply think that it is high definition.

The original definition was hybrid digital. Some have said that it is now a brand name for the inventing company ( iBiquity Digital Corp.). The common use seems to be simply HD radio and defines the digital radio that captures the HD signals. The use seems to be more of a brand than anything else.

The radio stations like it because they can get many more broadcasting stations. This is part of the digital revolution that is occurring in the world today. The digital signal is compressed and bundled with the following signals: AM , FM, HD, HD2. The AM and FM signals are analog and digital. These are broadcast as a bundle but it requires the special HD radio to receive the digital and HD signals.

When or if the digital signal is lost, the radio reverts back to the analog signal. The AM digital signal loses its static and buzz and produces a sound that is very much improved over the analog signal. The FM digital signal produces a sound that is very close to CD quality. The question most people ask is are the people willing to pay the high price for a HD radio? These cost between $100 and $600 and are made for the table top or installed in a car.

The public likes their mp3's and small portable radios. One can get a portable AM/FM for $15. The cost should come down if many people get the HD radios. Many or most NPR stations are going to the HD broadcast format. Most of the large stations are also changing to the new format. The cost is reasonable to convert to this format and the user fees to iBiquity must be reasonable as most stations are changing.

iBiquity might have improved the roll out by forgoing any fees until the usage was very high. The industry must have confidence in the system though since so many are changing to this format. The critics say that the technology has not been proven and may not work. Supporters say how can one loose by improving the sound to digital everyone wins.

This is the most improvement in radio sound since the introduction of FM stereo nearly fifty years ago. The government has forced TV stations to go digital. This also allows for high definition television for even better reception.. The government is not forcing radio to go digital but they are doing it on their own to improve reception. My opinion is that the hardware receivers will need many improvements before everyone is going to flock to the electronics store to buy their own. The size and features along with the price needs improving. The technology for HD radio is here and looks great on paper. Will people turn off their satellite subscription and mp3's and Iphones to go to HD radio? It could be a slow process but when it really catches on, it could take off.. The world is moving much faster in the digital world than it did in the slow days of AM and FM.

Author: Uscoe Fitts is a retired mechanical engineer with a BSME and MSME. He is also a registered professional engineer. He is also a lifetime member of ASME. He is the holder of three patents and has written a number of professional articles for research magazines. He has had a computer in his home since the IBM PC was introduced. Web sites are: www.SharPix-Electronics.com and www.BuyThe-World.com