[BC] The best place for HD radio is.....

[DANA PUOPOLO]

The best place for HD radio is the current aural STL band (947-951 mHz),
vertically polarized. Perfect propogation for this service. If spread spectrum
was used with a common transmitter per market (multiplex everyone in one data
stream the way the REST of the world does), you could even keep most existing
paths in use, albeit with a slight increase in noise. Many stations are using
data lines for their STL these days anyway, relying on the 950 band only for
back up use. This spectrum is just too valuable for that! Also, horizontal
polarization could still be used with virtually no problem whatsoever, so
there'd still be some spectrum left for the stations that REALLY need 950 mHz.
Radio stations could also be allowed to use (splinter) TV STL frequencies to
offset the loss of spectrum. Another viable possibility would be the some of
the old analog cell spectrum that's now virtually unused. Also, I believe
there's some other non broadcast 950 ish spectrum that sits virtually unused
too. Of course, we all know that this would never happen here in the U.S., as
these are creative, elegant solutions and the FCC is neither creative nor
elegant!

-D


------ Original Message ------
Received: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 03:19:43 PM PDT
From: "Dan Strassberg" <dan.strassberg at att.net>
To: "Sid Schweiger" <sid at wrko.com>Cc: broadcast at radiolists.net,
Towers at mre.com
Subject: [BC] Another iBiquity goof

Sid Schweiger (I think) wrote:

By the time the HD radio was designed for that model, it was already
obsolete
-----

And therein lies probably the worst flaw of HD Radio as it is currently
conceived. A major (and essential) feature of a digital radio is its high
software content. The software embedded in a properly designed digital radio
can be upgraded periodically to rectify design flaws or to incorporate
improvements developed after the radio was produced. This capability is
essential in consumer products that cost hundreds of dollars and even more
important in such consumer prducts when they are built into other consumer
products that cost upwards of $40,000 (cars, for example). As far as I know,
software upgrades are not envisioned in radios built to iBiquity's HD Radio
standards, however. This is a truly fatal flaw and iBiquity deserves to be
rewarded with bankruptcy for attempting to inflict such a stupid design
concept on the public.

I realize that software upgrades can be implemented in a variety of ways. It
might, for example, be possible to transmit upgrades over the air (over
stations that transmit HD Radio signals), but that approach might be just
too complicated to be manageable. Mandating a USB (or comparable) port might
be a better approach. With Wireless USB on the horizon, the problem of where
to locate the connector may just go away. Yes, any version of USB will add
cost, but the radios are expensive enough that a $15 increment in selling
price should be acceptable to avoid premature obsolescense--or hobbling an
unproven system with characteristics that prove to be unworkable and can't
be changed economically.

--
Dan Strassberg, dan.strassberg at att.net
eFax 707-215-6367








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