[BC] IBUZ opinion from an outsider

[Phil Alexander]

On 17 Oct 2005 at 15:42, Ernie Belanger wrote:

> Can't agree with you here Phil.

And I completely respect your right to do that Ernie. Who knows, you could
be correct, but OTOH, it is possible you could be thinking wishfully. <g>
I do understand how serious this is for you, especially if Ibquity is 
allowed to lock up the tech as their own private retirement plan.

> 1 There is nothing which says new cars will automatically have IBOC 
> receivers. Like satellite radio or AM/FM/ CD's it will be an option for the 
> consumer to purchase, not an automatic. Until the analog is gone, the 
> standard radio in most car models will remain as AM/FM analog.
> 
> It might be a price point thing where all cars over say $25K have them as 
> standard but not defacto.

You mean like AM radios are the "standard base selection" - er, like they
were 35 years ago before FM's started to appear in quantity? :)

> While I do agree that you can't delete the radio, but you can only provide 
> the cheap analog  base radio. 

It is a matter of volume and production variants. At some point it became 
cheaper to make AM/FM the standard, then AM/FMS complete with stereo audio
system and the incremental cost was less than the cost of multi-variant
production. So too with IBOC/HD. I know you disagree, but only time will
answer this one.

> With everything else being an optional 
> upgrade. They may bury the upgrade with some sexy option package like, 
> electronic mirrors, or heated seats or something like that... but it will be 
> an upgrade from a base radio which is AM/FM Analog.

MAY?  YA THINK? <ggg>

> 2 Your comment  ...at some point being "told" to shut off the Analog???? 
> Possibly but with the monoply issues surrounding HD Radio it needs to remain 
> voluntary implimentation.  Forcing any owner who chooses not to go digital, 
> to go digital using the HD standard, is a whole different legal ball of wax 
> one which can force the whole thing into court..

That is something the Commish must confront, now or later. IMHO, it is 
something better done now because the entire process can be stopped when
billions are riding on it if they wait.

However, if you carry it to its ultimate extent, there is no need to turn
off analog except a station may "want" to do that so it can become full
digital an participate in the increased benefits of doing that - more
power etc. etc. Those stations which "choose" to stay with analog will be
squashed under the noise of digital carriers in analog detectors.

> 3 I have to agree with Bob, what the FCC has agreed to allow happen with 
> totally destroy AM which has been hanging by a thread.  

That's were we differ. I see it differently. AM  HAS BEEN  destroyed by
inept allocation, leaderless regulation and aerial power line proliferation 
since 1970.  In IBOC, however poorly designed, I see an opportunity for 
resurrection and re-birth. Not that it will happen, but at least an
opportunity to get to full digital broadcasting.

> Long ago the FCC 
> should have heeded the advice of Craig Fox and others who wanted AM moved 
> into a different band where they could do audio of the same quality of FM 
> and didn't have the night time skywave issues.

In an all digital system, skywave becomes less a problem and quality for
many if not most listeners will be very satisfactory.

> With all of the noise on AM most listeners will take the course of least 
> resistance which does not cost them anything. That is stop listening to AM. 
> The noise most likely will not force them to invest in a more expensive 
> radio.  They will simply cease to exist as AM listeners.

Again, we see the same thing differently. The better quality of MW-IBOC
may attract them as MW listeners as many will not discern a significant
difference between "AM" and "FM" when both are digital.

> OTOH Most of the programming found on AM can also be found on FM in many 
> markets. Many may have already switched to the less noisy side of the dial. 
> The noise our new technology is causing may further the exodus.

While the FM noise is not a grating, it is there, and as FM IBOC deploys
the complaints are sure to rise. If you think about it, the adjacent noise
is an unintended benefit to force IBOC radios into cars, thus limiting the
warranty complaints from new owners. <g>

A final comment - I don't like the system because better things are 
available. I do see a real need for digital broadcasting in the "AM"
band, but the ham-handed way Ibiquity has managed their part of the
exercise has been inexcusable, and I can say the same for the FCC.
Never-the-less, it is what we have, and it is all we are going to get
so we should buckle down and make it work as best we can and get the
transition to full digital over with as fast as we can IMHO. YMMV
(And I could be wrong.)


Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037





-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.12.3/141 - Release Date: 10/18/05