"High-definition" FM radio - is there such a thing?; HD Internet streams

[Jeffhs]

A Cleveland FM radio station has been advertising for some time (probably several years) that it is now "broadcasting in high definition". I think they are confused, as HD, as applied to FM broadcast radio, is the abbreviation for the term "hybrid digital" or multicasting; it has nothing to do with the sound quality. I don't think there is any such thing as "high definition" FM radio. I think the people who run that particular station are misinformed, in the worst way; that or else they want the station to stand out from every other FM radio station in the city. No other FM radio station in town makes that claim. Hmmm. :scratch2:

I have yet to see any "high-definition" FM receivers advertised for sale anywhere. Speaking of hybrid digital multicasting, however, I recently read something somewhere which stated it's not really catching on in this country; that is, it is a fad which will run its course and die a quiet death in a few years or less, much the same as what happened with quadraphonic FM (after beginning amid much fanfare in the early seventies) in 1980 or so. Some FM stations advertise (and are listed on sites such as RadioStationWorld.com) as having hybrid digital extensions (W---/K--- HD1, HD2, etc.) that often carry the same programming as the main signal, though most stations' HD streams do have alternate programming. These hybrid-digital signals are supposed to be accessible on the Internet as well (again, these are shown in RSW.com following the station's own listing), but to listen to the HD streams one must use Windows Media Player 11--which will not run on anything other than Windows XP or Vista.

 

[Zeromancer]

http://www.hdradio.com/what_is_hd_digital_radio.php
"It’s the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago. HD Radio technology enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally – a tremendous technological leap from the analog broadcasts of the past.

http://www.hdradio.com/buyers_guide.php

Ever wonder how technology can split the radio signal into analog and digital channels and then transmit it over the existing AM/FM bands? It’s a process known as In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) Broadcasting. It’s DIGITAL, and it’s FREE.

HD Digital Radio supports CD-quality sound as well as song titles and artist names. And because the digital signal piggybacks onto a conventional broadcast signal, it is free to the listener."

It isn't Hi-Def by no means; it is sorta like broadcasting out mp3 "digital" music
So that station is wrong in saying it broadcast hi-def because HD Radio is still lossy format.

 

[Zeromancer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Radio
""HD Radio" is the proprietary trademark for iBiquity Digital's in-band on-channel (IBOC) technology, which was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2002 as the only digital audio broadcasting technology for AM and FM broadcasting in the United States.[5] The IBOC technology was developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation, and it allows stations to simulcast digital audio and traditional analog audio, without changing to new frequency bands. According to iBiquity, the name "HD Radio" is simply iBiquity's brand for its digital radio technology,[6] and does not stand for "Hybrid Digital" or "High Definition" such as HDTV does"

"The FM hybrid digital/analog mode offers four options which can carry approximately 100, 112, 125, or 150 kbit/s of lossy data depending upon the Station Manager's power budget and/or desired range of signal (achieving perceived quality equal to a 1400 kbit/s CD). If in the future the FCC decides to discontinue analog radio, as they have done with analog television,[19] the HD Radio provides several pure digital modes. In these modes broadcasts can be made at 270 or 300 kbit/s maximum"

 

[Fast_Eddie]

I've heard it. I thought it sounded really, really good. I'll get a reciever one of these days. I like FM, but it's not the greatest medium in the history of Hi Fi. I think in this case, the digital might be better. That's just my opinion.

Take care,

Ed

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Hi JeffHS,

HD is Hybrid Digital. Equivalent in sound quality to a low bitrate MP3 file. Not high definition at all. Requires a lot of signal strength to work reliably. Outdoor antennas usually required even for local reception. A quality, well maintained and aligned analogue tuner slays HD Radio any day. Add a HD2 (second channel) and it's even lower quality. Keep what you have! I am a broadcast engineer and ham (as you know). I can easily turn on HD at most of our stations since we are ready for it if it catches on. HD Radio is a bust in real life for fringe listeners and car/portable listeners.

 

[dew042]

HD does not stand for hybrid digital or high definition, its just a brand name that wants you to associate it with HDTV. Its stands for nothing according to the brand owner.

dew.