[BC] HD Kills

[Rich Wood]

------ At 07:30 PM 4/27/2007, Ron Cole wrote: -------

>This man has lost his mind....
>
>Voice hads Priority over Data in Current Cellular Networks.
>Streaming Overload perhaps... See IP Multicasting.

No, Leonard hasn't lost his mind. He might have used a little 
hyperbole but his issue as long as I've known him (decades) has been 
that broadcasting is the best way to communicate in an emergency when 
stations are staffed to do so. Those of us who lived through long 
blackouts in New York relied on radio for information. In my 
neighborhood there was no cell service because there was no power for 
cell sites after a few hours, land line phones were overloaded if you 
had a line-powered phone and cable was out. The last blackout lasted 29 hours.

I believe he sees the current flawed digital system for radio to be 
yet another threat to a major communications link in emergencies. I 
disagree with him there only because there will never be enough 
receivers sold or stations adopting the system to kill analog radio 
that reaches virtually every human on the planet. The bigger threat 
is the loss of news departments capable of covering major events. 
Even radio networks relied on TV network audio instead of doing it 
themselves. It's cheaper that way.

Contrary to the belief of some on these lists, I see analog radio 
being with us, even if it has an albatross like IBUZ on its back, for 
many decades, if not centuries, to come. As far as cellular-based 
systems are concerned, there are many areas in Northern New England 
that have no service. My brother, a long distance trucker, complains 
about no service in many parts of the country once you're off the 
Interstates. I have no Verizon service within 5 miles of my house. it 
appears the population density doesn't warrant another tower. I camp 
in PA far enough from the nearest Interstate that there's no service. 
Only when cell/data service is available everywhere will it replace 
radio. Right now it's the only thing close to universal service, if 
there are people staffing it.

Rich