@Brian Kay -


"Upping HD Radio signal strengths"


"The short math given what we know today is that it will cost roughly double on the transmission end to increase HD Radio FM power tenfold. There are likely to be additional costs for cooling and air handling as well, in order to dissipate the excess energy required to get out another 10 dB in HD Radio signal. And, for some higher powered stations, existing HD Radio configurations may not be able to handle the power load, which could add to the cost and complexity of increasing HD Radio beyond its current power level... Also worth considering is existing transmitter combiner technology and whether or not it can support the added demands of increasing HD Radio broadcasts another 10 dB. If not, then it’s very likely that stations at the higher power levels will need to factor in a new antenna system that can support HD Radio, rather than piggyback onto their existing FM antenna system. At the higher powers, especially, an immediate 10 dB increase in HD Radio signal may be cost prohibitive... This will typically mean the addition of another similarly rated transmitter (using a combining technique) or the purchase of a new transmitter of roughly twice today’s power level."


rbr.com/features/intel_briefs/hd_radio_signal_bealor_cavell.html


"How Far Does the Digital Go?"


"Public radio wants to know how far its digital signals are going, and how susceptible to interference neighboring analog stations are. So the Corporation for Public Broadcasting commissioned NPR Labs to conduct a series of tests to find out... While an IBOC power increase would most benefit home listening, the resulting increased interference would likely hurt analog mobile coverage, Kean told Radio World... Increasing the IBOC power level from the current –20 dB to –10 dB causes a substantially larger amount of interference, including a larger number of stations that may lose 50 percent of their analog service population on a noise-limited service basis, according to Kean’s findings. He considers his approach different from how HD Digital Radio Alliance stations tested elevated power levels, on which we’ve reported."


rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.14274.html


Good luck with the 10db FM-HD power increase - HD/IBOC is even deader without it.


"Arbitron/Edison study chills the already thin air of HD Radio"


"All you need to know about this research is this: It says relatively few know about HD. It says that number hasn't gone up. And it implies that folks are aware of what they care about, not vice versa. It also strongly suggests this isn't going to change any time soon - as in, forever."


hear2.com/2008/04/arbitronedison.html


The HD ad campaign has been going on for two years, yet consumers remain totally apathetic.

Ever hear of the adjacent channel interference that is obliterating AM radio every night? Ever hear of the study NPR commissioned which states that co-channel interference will be just as bad on FM as it is now on AM if this 10db increase it granted with little improvement in reception? This is not expected to pass as even NPR who gets a free ride for IBOC is hesitant and has not recommended this latest reckless attempt to improve the unimprovable.
Sorry there Brian, but The HD train has derailed already. There's no stopping it's being carted off to the big train wreck in the sky.

Portable HD Radio along with a 10 fold increase in broadcast power (subject to FCC approval next year) is the shot in the arm that this exciting, wonderful new technology needs. I have been listening to HD radio in my car for the last year and it's been the most satisfying purchase that I have made in years. So crisp, so clear, I am really surprised it's taking so long to catch on. I think once the word gets out to Joe Six Pack, there will be no stopping the HD Radio train.

How long will it take this chip to run through a set of battery's? 4 hours instead of 2? HD is a goner anyway, why are they wasting the time? The contracts are up next year, how many broadcasters do you think are going to go around for a second time?

"HD Radio"


"Until now, portable HD Radio receivers have been unavailable because the chipsets needed by this technology required too much power to be practical for a battery-operated device. However, in January 2008 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas iBiquity unveiled a prototype of a new iPod-sized portable receiver. It is based on a new chipset developed by Samsung. Although portable, it is still a relatively power-hungry device (it will run on an average set of alkaline batteries in about two hours, according to an iBiquity engineer). But Samsung engineers at CES say a second-generation chipset due in 2009 will be about 40 percent more power efficient and then a third-generation chipset due about a year later will use even less energy."


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Radio


"Niles HD radio issues"


"We have been installing quite a few HD radio 'Cards' for the Niles ICS multiroom audio system. This is a proprietary device that fits in a slot in the ICS mainframe if you will. Lately we have been having a rash of problems with lockups etc. The radio will show a channel and good signal, but no audio. A reboot will typically bring it back. We have had more severe failures as well. We now carry a spare card with us and are now considering going back to AM/FM only cards. All other functions on this keypad based audio system have been great. I am wondering if anyone has any insight into these failures? Niles must have to buy them from a chip manufacturer of some sort? It would seem to be a problem with the chipset. We have been using attic or roof mounted antennas to improve signal, but that does not seem to be the problem as unites still fail with the antenna. There seems to be alot more going on with these devices than standard tuners. More power consumption as well. I wonder if the power consumption is the issue? I am really guessing here, but Niles is not helping with any tech support. Thanks in advance for insight."


avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14432739#post14432739


I bet this new, wonderous chipset is a farce, also.