[BC] Open discussion.....

[Barry Mishkind]

At 01:14 PM 1/21/2006, Kent Winrich, K9EZ wrote
>Barry,
>
>It was not my intention to try to eliminate dissent, but to have a 
>quality discussion.

         Kent, we are in agreement here.

>  Yes there are issues with HD Radio.  They need to be discussed and 
> discussed in a manner (IMHO) where we can make improvements.  Like 
> it or not, it is here.

         That is indeed my point.  That is my editorial position,
         by the way, for Radio Guide. Whether one likes it
         or not, the goal is to understand it so we can do our jobs.

>I certainly dont have all of the answers, hence the reason I was 
>here.. to learn.  There are people far smarter than I will ever be 
>lurking here.  If I have something I can offer I will certainly be 
>there to offer it.

         Good.  We just don't want you to go away and allow the signal to noise
         ratio to deteriorate.


>I am in the middle of HD roll outs.  As a matter of fact I just lit 
>up and HD2 this week.  I have learned a lot in the past year about 
>how to make HD sound good.  I am sure I am not perfect, and I will 
>always try to do better.  It has come through trial and error.
>This technology is new and we as radio people need to help each 
>other out.  At least that is the tact I am taking locally.

         That is what we need a lot more of.
         Local, national, everywhere.

>   I have made presentations to our local radio alliance, and have 
> even volunteered to present at our competitors facilities.  I see a 
> lot of mis-information regarding HD Radio.  One would think that it 
> is the end of the world.

         There are some cases that appear to show
         the interference issues are happening.
         How bad it is, how hard to fix/ameliorate
         is something we should be helping one
         another to understand.

         We KNOW there is noise on the air, especially
         on AM.  It is apparent to all. We don't need
         to report "I heard interference."  We know
         it happens.  But what we do not know clearly
         as yet is qualitatively and quantitatively how
         much there is. And until someone logs in and
         shares some field data from an FIM, we will
         simply be hearing "I heard interference" on
         some or other radio.   I can't see how that helps
         broadcasters do their job.

>In regards to AMs, I would be most interested in seeing what a 
>nighttime HD signal would do to other stations.  We can guess but 
>until we try do we really know?   And what do we use as a standard 
>to make these measurements?

         Rich has suggested the industry demand 24/7 on AM to
         show what is happening.

         The standard ... that is a good question.  Got any
         ideas on what data you think should be collected?


>We have been so used to the way radio has been done over the past 
>80+ years.  Welcome to a shift in how radio is done!  Things will 
>not be the same.  If we keep that same frame of mind, we cannot 
>improve on what we have.  Many have a problem with change.  Some say 
>that digital radio is destroying what we presently have.  I dont see 
>that in FM, and the jury is still out on AM.

         You are not alone in that view.

>I also see a lot of arm chair PDing (if you will allow that acronym) 
>going on here.  I am not a PD.

         This is part of the disconnect with Rich.
         He is a PD.  He knows many PDs, and they
         have concerns different from the tech concerns.

         My view is that we have a real communication
         problem between the various parts of the
         industry ... and we need to be talking to
         each other.  While Rich and others point
         out problems the techs have no real control
         over, it is perceived as negative - and it is
         in the sense that we can't do anything about that.

         The real question - the answer to which may
         not be the one we want to hear - is what can
         be done to solve the problems identified?

         The answer, at least for now, is that those with
         control don't see them as problems, hence
         we have no opening to change.

         Programmers despair. They see the other
         media forms ready and up and running and
         those consumers who have them are generally
         happy. Programmers worry they are left
         behind, or out of, the equation, just like
         engineers, but for different reasons.

         But ... in the end ... yes, it is what it is.