[BC] HDradio & our digital future

ChuxGarage@aol.com ChuxGarage
Fri Dec 22 19:08:14 CST 2006


 
In a message dated 12/22/2006 9:55:18 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

For  decades to come we'll have very low powered IBUZ stations trying 
to reach  deaf radios. It doesn't seem like a winning plan to me. I 
don't understand  why iBuckuity didn't put more pressure on 
manufacturers to design decent  receivers. At least for a little while 
to get this elephant to  fly.



I think it is not just the radios, but more importantly the incredibly  low 
power of the HD signal.  It's 20 db down, or 1/100 of the analog  signal.  That 
is not likely to change in the near future as long as analog  broadcasts 
continue.   Otherwise, there really will be an interference  problem.  In many 
cases that kind of power just isn't going to go very far.  Yeah, I know that 
digital is very robust, but there is a point of diminishing  returns, especially 
for smaller stations. 
 
I've really wondered about the future of HD on translators.  Armstrong  sells 
an HD translator, but I don't get the logic unless you are only interested  
in covering a very small area, like a college campus. Assuming your translator  
is 250 watts, 2 1/2 watts for a digital signal is going to give most radios  
fits, especially if they are inside a steel and concrete building.  Many  
translators are as low as 10-20 watts.  That puts their HD signal in the  same 
category as the modulators used by XM and Sirius for your car radio. Does  anyone 
have any experience with HD translators? 
 
It is beginning to look like this works OK on FM flame-throwers, but small  
stations are not going to realize much benefit out of it.   

Chuck  Conrad
KZQX Radio
_www.kzqx.com_ (http://www.kzqx.com/)  



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