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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

 

HD Radio-More is less!-Digital destruction.

Dear Mr. Klein,
Digital HD Radio uses the adjacent channels for all digital signals thus jamming 2 or more channels for each FM station transmitting HD. As more Philly stations start transmitting digital HD Radio the interference to popular nearby Trenton and Wilmington stations will increase drastically, particularly in the Roxborough area, where most Philly FM stations are located, and the HD digital signal is greatest.
On AM, the situation is even worse. The adjacent channel digital noise transmitted from WDAS 1480 AM creates hissing, jamming, noise on the primary 1 millivolt per meter signal of nearby suburban WBCB 1490 AM Levittown here in Northeast Philadelphia. This noise is so pernicious that the FCC has not allowed AM HD Digital Radio to be transmitted past sunset or before local sunrise. In order to transmit AM HD Radio on the adjacent channels where it resides, the host station of the parasite digital signal must cut it's analog AM frequency response in half from 10,000 hertz to 5,000 hertz resulting in a much muddier sound.
Here is a link to a public site that describes the digital damage being done to the AM and FM broadcasting bands by HD Radio:
http://worldsupercaster.blogspot.com
Please check with other sources beside the dealer's car salesman before you advocate everyone should run out and buy a Yugo. There are two sides to this story. Remember, in science and particularly physics you don't get something for nothing. There are no free rides.
Internet streaming can be better quality then HD Radio depending on the streaming bitrate.
HD Radio is not CD quality and, is often not as good as the analog stereo FM signal it is supposed to replace. This is even more true of the HD2 signal as it is broadcast at an even lower bitrate.
FM HD Radio degrades the main station's analog stereo FM signal it surrounds, resulting in noisier, lower quality audio for the existing analog listeners.
HD Radio on both AM and FM has a shorter range then the analog signal of the host station, resulting in HD reception problems for suburban commuters and when traveling between cities.
Please take a tip from veteran broadcaster and journalist Paul Harvey, and report the "rest of the story".
HD Digital Radio offers little to consumers and listeners, except more interference, and fewer stations.
HD Radio only has "interim approval" and NOT final approval from the FCC and any HD Radio bought now might be obsolete if the FCC or RIAA insists the standards be changed. Today's expensive HD Radio might be tomorrow's doorstop, or pet rock.
Comments responding to this article:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/13951844.htm

Saturday, February 25, 2006

 

HD Radio-DIGITAL NOISE AND INTERFERENCE


BY POPULAR REQUEST!
The BLUE line is the digital interference created by the HD
Radio broadcasting station interfering with the FM stereo subcarrier and surrounding FM stations.
GREEN is the reduced stereo signal to noise ratio.
RED -the two verticle lines at the top are the FCC 200kHz maximum limit for an FM station. Beyond those two verticle RED lines at the top is all the digital noise and interference created on neighboring channels by the digital signal.




PROPONENTS OF THE HD DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEM (MOSTLY THOSE WHO ARE PROFITING) WILL TELL YOU THIS NOISE AND INTERFERENCE DOSN'T MATTER.


 

Radio Industry Showing Signs Of Doubt About HD Radio

RADIO GROUP HEADS HAVE DOUBT ABOUT HD RADIO
"I'm probably not as excited about HD radio as others have been," said Judy Ellis, chief operating officer for Citadel Broadcasting. "I fear that HD is more for Wall Street than for consumers."
"Joel Hollander, chairman and CEO of CBS Radio, said HD radio faced an uphill battle. He indicated that he and others had discussions with electronics makers and automobile companies in Detroit about moving forward on HD receivers but could not see any significant progress happening for at least three to seven years."
Here is the link:
http://www.audiographics.com/agd/022006-1.htm

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

 

HD RADIO-INTRINSICALLY AND FATALLY FLAWED!

"DISHONESTY IS THE PROBLEM" - Hype on, integrity off.
A lesson on how to sell Star Trek Transporters to the gullable!
Flawless reception of HD digital signals when they are weak and substancially drop below the ambient noise floor is unlikely at best (even with the most advanced laboratory equipment) and impossible at worst. Claims that somehow digital signals cirumvent the laws of physics are fraudulent. Telepathic digital radio is a myth. Like transporters, they don't exist.
"In one case, analog is pumping out 11Kw. IBUZ is at 110 watts. That leads to digital mode switching. In the Boston, Worcester, Hartford, Springfield and Albany markets digital is so wimpy it's lucky to make it to the city limits."
"I have a few problems with IBUZ. For AM, it's a death sentence, I believe, from what I already hear. When you crap all over your neighbor's signal it ceases to qualify as good engineering practice. Is there any engineer here with any sense of pride in what they do who would dispute that contention? Instead of admitting there are serious problems over and above old transmitter sites they set up a web site touting how wonderful this new debacle is. I have to give iBorg credit for assimilating such a large number of formerly independent thinking engineers."
"On FM I hear artifacts. I don't hear the adjacent channel interference, probably because I'm no longer in an incredibly congested market (New York City). The CD Quality issue is the most deceptive of all. By CD Quality I mean the ability to make full use of the Red Book standard. If you choose to use the audio purity of CDs to record smashed crud you still have the capability of doing it right. In the case of IBUZ, it's low bit rate codecs can't possibly match the potential quality of a CD. You couldn't do CD Quality right if you really, really tried. Even iBorg has racheted it down to CD-like quality. The HD Dominion uses the term everywhere."
Link to full comments:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=662894&Board=hd

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

 

HD RADIO-POOR (LOCAL ONLY) COVERAGE!

COVERAGE PROBLEMS WITH HD RADIO-
LOCAL ONLY IN MOST AREAS.
Typical HD Radio digital signal only covers 10 to 20 miles, where the analog signal may cover 40 to 60 miles! "Your mileage may vary" depending on local terrain and noise conditions.
"I've built a couple of HD stations in the past year. And the real world of reception and coverage is different than any claims by Ibquity you might have read. First of all, FM coverage by HD is generally good within the 70 dbu (3.16 mv/m) contour of FM, and fairly robust inside the 5 mv contour of AM stations. Outside of those general coverage contours, it falls apart pretty quickly.
HD AM in particular is vulnerable to power line noise and driving under bridges and such, as is it's analog counterpart. HD FM seems to suffer the same problems as it's analog counterpart, except there is no multi-path. Dropouts, digital glitches, switching back and forth from analog to digital, yes. But no multi-path.
Whoopie...

I was surprised by the lack of robustness of the HD signal within the primary contours myself."
"The staff was trying to figure out what we spent $120K on. So was I. The second digital audio channels are nice, but suffer the same problems as the main channel HD. They simply don't drive as well as the analog side."
Link to full comments:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=662194&Board=hd

Thursday, February 16, 2006

 

FCC URGED TO INVESTIGATE PAYOLA ACTIVITIES OF BROADCAST CARTEL.

Corrupt activities by radio broadcast cartel, exposed.

Recent investigations by the New York State Attorney General's office have revealed widespread violations of laws against radio payola. Nearly 200 stations were implicated. Many are owned by the handful of radio conglomerates that have risen to prominence since the industry was deregulated in 1996.

The investigation alleges that the stations in question accepted cash and prizes to play artists that were hand-picked by major recording labels. The radio stations aired these without disclosing to listeners the shadowy record deals that pushed the performers to the top of playlists. This practice is not only dishonest, it's against the law.

The airwaves belong to the public, and since 1927, the federal government has required broadcasters who use them to serve the public interest. You owe it to the American public to put a stop to this deception. Please launch a full and thorough investigation into all allegations of payola in the commercial radio industry and hold bad actors accountable.

Also, HD Radio AM and FM digital jamming of the public airwaves by the broadcast cartel should stop. Popular community and suburban stations, that provide valuable unduplicated local public service, are being jammed, and independent voices muffled. This seems contrary to the primary mission of the FCC and intent of congress.

Where to send your outrage if you are honest, or collect your cash, if you are not.
Link to PAYOLA stations map: http://www.freepress.net/payola/map.php

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

 

Online Radio Audience Triples!-Broadcast Execs Embarrassed!

The first-ever full year of online radio measurements is in, and it shows that the medium's audience nearly tripled during that time.

http://www.billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/business/digital/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001956950

 

HD RADIO EXECS COUGHT SMOKING WEED!

"When FM first came on the scene, it was being championed by the guys smoking weed in the back room," WQHT PD John Dimick said. "Those are the kind of people we need to tap now for ideas about making HD work."
http://www.audiographics.com/agd/020606-1.htm
It will take more then weed to get HD Radio to work right and not jam other stations. Will you try crystal meth next, broadcasters?
But all those drugs cost a lot of cash!
But, wait, there is always PAYOLA to fall back on!

Feb. 09, 2006Radio conglomerates target of 'payola' probe ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday he has subpoenaed nine of the nation's largest radio conglomerates in his "payola" investigation of major artists and songs that he claims got air time because of payoffs by recording companies. "A lot of the major songs have been implicated in this and it showed how pervasive the payola infrastructure had become," Spitzer told The Associated Press. "Major artists, major songs were sent up the charts through improper payments to buy spins on the air that translated into sales." The companies that have received subpoenas control thousands of stations nationwide, including Clear Channel Communications Inc., Infinity, which now operates as CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting Corp., Cox Radio Inc., Cumulus Broadcasting Inc., Pamal Broadcasting Ltd., Entercom Communications Corp., Emmis Communications Corp. and ABC Inc., according to court records filed by Spitzer. (AP) FULL STORY
http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=1&pmmsid=1463440&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.singingfish.com

Monday, February 13, 2006

 

CELLPHONES READYING FOR DIGITAL PODCASTING AND STREAMING!

MOBILE INTERNET RADIO IS ALREADY HERE!
New model cell phones from Motorola, Verizon, Cingular, Nokia, LG, and others have built in MP3 players, wireless podcasting, MP3 streams and downloads. There is no need for a radio of any kind to be included, or a radio station either. Just listen to the webstream. Wireless Bluetooth Stereo headphones, make it a real Hi-Fi/stereo pleasure to listen, and the quality can vary according to the bitrate of the producer from low bitrate mono (for voice) all the way up to audio CD quality or better. That beats Serius and XM also, as it allows a choice of thousands of stations all over North America and perhaps worldwide with much better fidelity. Apple’s iPod may be adding this feature soon.
HD radio transmits a digital signal at one-onehundreth the power analog stations licensed power (for FM) and about one-onethousandth the power (for AM) on adjacent channels, and digital coverage is the analog stations city grade coverage area. However HD digital radio jams analog stations many miles away because of it’s destructive digital waveform. More harm then good is coming from this seriously defective technology. The reason that so many are so strongly opposed, is because of the broadcast Cartel’s misinformation campaign, the huge amount of jamming, especially of licensed independent voices, suburban commuter reception, and community stations.
FCC objections to HD radio run heavily against the defective technology. Not because those filing objections are against digital transmission, or don't understand the technology, but because they DO understand HD Digital radio and object to this particular defective system.
Here is an FM digital system that works, and dosn't trespass or jam other stations.
www.dreinc.com
As of now, no other digital broadcasting system for AM has been independently tested, however, at least one is under development.

 

HD RADIO JAMMING CREATES PROBLEMS FOR COMMUTERS AND TRAVELERS!

BROADCAST RADIO LOOSES SUBURBAN COVERAGE TO DIGITAL JAMMING!
Take a look at the Arbitron ratings for Trenton, NJ. The ratings for the NYC stations have all suddenly gone down in Trenton since the nearby Philadelphia stations started transmitting FM IBOC, thus leaving the adjacent NYC stations with noisy, staticky, hiss-filled signals. Even on an excellent car radio, in Trenton the NYC signals which are not adjacent to any IBOC signal are in clear stereo, while the NYC which are unfortunately next to IBOC hash can only be received in hissy mono. IBOC will not last long when stations realize that in exchange for gaining a few dozen local listeners to their "HD2" channels, they are losing thousands of fringe-area analog listeners. You can be(t) that at some point the "HD2" channels will be continued as Internet audio streams only, and the IBOC signals will be turned off.
Here is the link:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=655158&Board=hd

Sunday, February 12, 2006

 

BROADCASTERS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY!

WE ALL KNEW THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BROADCASTING WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTED TO HEAR. NOW WE KNOW WHY!
Hundreds Of Stations Under Investigation By FCC In Payola Investigation.
Adelstein threatens the loss of stations' licenses through this investigation, saying, "I can't believe that radio stations are putting their licenses at risk. It seems to me they thought the FCC was asleep and they shot someone in front of the policeman. The policeman is obligated to act when evidence is so clear." He added, "While it's highly unusual for the FCC to pull licenses on first violation, depending on the severity that is one option that is available to us. These are criminal matters as well."
Commissioner Adelstein revealed that he has been in regular contact with Spitzer lately, and wants the FCC to handle the investigation, as opposed to just Spitzer and the state of New York. "We have a responsibility to get to the bottom of this. It's important that the FCC does its job and not let the states do it for us," he said.
Link to full article:
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=173928

 

HD Radio-"BLACK HOLE" OF BROADCASTING

THREE YEARS, AND MULTIPLE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED, FOR HISS AND JAMMING OF YOUR AM AND FM BROADCASTS!
Tons of Money goes in, hiss and jammiing come out. This is progress?
Asked via conference call how many such (HD radio) devices have been sold to date, Clear Channel Radio President John Hogan says, "Not very many."
San Antonio Business Journal Jan. 29, 2006

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

 

HD digital radio-TYPICAL COMMENTS.

At home, I couldn’t get a digital signal from WOR (710 kHz)
In my New Jersey location, about 25 miles from New York City, I should theoretically be able to pick up as many as 23 FM and four AM stations transmitting HD. But nearly half the FM stations didn’t reach me, and only one AM station did.

Veteran programmer Bill Figenshu of FigMedia1 writes: "In all the research I have seen, no one has ever complained about the quality of a full-power FM signal. Are people signing up for satellite radio or buying iPods because of quality? Very few. It's the content, baby!"

On his blog, Dave Barry, who works in radio in Sonoma County, told about the industry alliance and drew this response: "It sounds like putting lipstick on a pig. Let's see -- making people shell out a lot of money for a receiver that will improve sound quality to that which they already have on their iPods and satellite stations. Lousy content has been mentioned. ... For me, there is the added problem of commercials ... which interrupt the flow of the programming. I understand why, but the problem is still there.
Oink."

Boston Acoustics Recepter Radio HD-Comments

"why would i spend $500 on this p.o.s."
This radio is junk, it doesn't even have a real antenna. This $500 radio has one of those thin wire that act as the antenna, you would also find this type of antenna on $10 fm alarm clocks. This radio is perfect for mental defects with money to burn. For $500 I could get an xm or sirius radio with 3 years of service. This radio should cost no more than $60. Why does cnet.com bother with stupid products like this?

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Boston_Acoustics_Recepter_Radio_HD/4864-7866_16-31637870.html?messageSiteID=16&messageID=1689627&tag=uonext&cval=1689627&ctype=msgid

"Obsolete out of the box"
People are not going to spend $500 on betterAM radio sound .

Sunday, February 05, 2006

 

HD RADIO-EVEN WHEN MISLEAD, ONLY 4% SAY THEY MIGHT BUY IT!

NO DEMAND FOR THE BRAND!
"listeners may hear "HD radio," but what they are understanding is "HD TV." So when 38% say they've heard of HD radio, what they've really heard of is HD TV. There is no question about this, and it raises serious issues about technological nomenclature."

"How likely would you be to pay a one-time charge of $100 to be able to listen to HD radio?"
4% of the sample say they're "Very Likely" to pay the charge for HD Radio.
"you can't find an HD Radio for anywhere near that (LOW) sum."

Link to the full article:

http://www.radiomarketingnexus.com/2006/01/only_4_of_the_u.html

 

HD digital radio-OPEC OF THE AIRWAVES!

This amounts to the OPEC of HD Radio, and we know how well that works.
The difference with OPEC is that it has to contend with a product - oil - that is in wide demand. In this case, HD Radio is in no demand. Indeed, the biggest problem with the whole notion of HD Radio is that demand is not organic to the market (the way mp3 player demand was). The industry is trying here not to meet a market need but to create one. And that is a long path strewn with the corpses of those who have tread it before. Can it be done? Maybe, but the odds are not in its favor.
Link to the full article:
http://www.radiomarketingnexus.com/2005/12/steep_climb_ahe.html#comment-13652019

 

HD digital radio-DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

HD digital radio fails quality and reception tests a few miles away from the broadcasting stations, even with an external outside antenna!
I saw the Boston Acoustics radio today at the Radio Systems show in South Jersey.
AM was picking up WPEN very clear, they were obviously running HD with the sidebands, but it would not give us more than the call letters on the display (no HD audio). Obviously, with a very useable AM signal in analog, digital was nowhere to be found. WIP was lost in a sea of noise. We were using a loop antenna outside.
NOTE: WIP 610 AM is 14.2 miles, and WPEN 950 AM is 15.7 miles from Radio Systems in Logan Township, NJ 08085. DIGITAL RECEPTION FROM EITHER 5000 WATT STATION TOTALLY FAILED!
The AM seems to mute when the signal falls below a certain level.
PROBLEM. Basically, the AM sucks and again is the bastard step-child.
I don't think it's worth $500, I don't think it's worth $300. Really, this is a $99-$149 radio AT BEST when you factor in reception and their idea of sound quality. I'm just thankful I was able to see a demo and that I didn't buy this "thing".
Link to full revue:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=648033&Board=hd

 

HD digital radio-Poor reception!

HD digital radio-GETTING A POOR RECEPTION.
I have a Boston Acoustics Receptor HD. Sitting 12 miles south of one large market. 35 miles north of another. I'd like to hear both markets if possible.
Right now I'm having trouble pulling in the HD2 to one of the class B signals 12 miles north. Almost impossible to hear the HD2 on a class A from that same tower.
Most of the HDs are a no show from 35 miles south although it tries to match up with the HD signal on a pair of them. Nothing on any of the AMs although the tower for one is only 15 miles south. In a rental home so not inclined to add an outdoor antenna.
Tried a Terk Tower with no success.
Any suggestions on what will help capture those HD signals.
Please and thank you.
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Board=hd&Post=649121&page=
Reply:
The HD digital AM signal is required by the NRSC-5a mask and proposed FCC standards to be at least -28 db below the maximum carrier power. This converts to about 1.5 watts for each 1000 watts of station analog carrier power. Coverage beyond a few miles from the stations transmitter is almost impossible, as the signal gets buried below the ambient noise level very quickly. Digging out a signal from below the noise level reliably, is difficult if not impossible. However, because of the destructive digital waveform is on adjacent channels, it can easily interfere with stations many miles away. http://worldsupercaster.blogspot.com/ http://commonsensesolutions.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 02, 2006

 

HD digital radio-STOP HIGH DESTRUCTION RADIO!

Unless they find a way to stop the tremendous interference AM HD causes it's neighbors on the band, it may not fly at all.
Try listening to KDKA anywhere a few miles east of Pittsburgh after 4 or so in the afternoon. That very annoying hiss is coming from WBZ in Boston. See how bad the intererence is???
Although not quite as destructive as AM, (FM) will still cause problems"
Here is the link:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=640363&Board=hd

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