[BC] Rachel Returns from Switzerland

[Mark Humphrey]

On 2/18/07, Rachel Ehrenberg <ehrenberg at fastmail.fm> wrote:
> Ok, lets see where we left off!   Radio in Europe, (Germany, Switzerland
> and Austria) is in a real time warp.   I think I have been spoiled by Sirius, but I
> guess in the big picture, there was far more personality to the radio
> over there.   And it was nice having and RDS system that works!

Yes, most European broadcasters take full advantage of RDS,
particularily the AF automatic-retuning feature.  I drove across
southern Bavaria a few years ago and just had to the touch the tuning
control once, to make the initial choice of a format I liked. I
probably listened to at least four main transmitters and maybe a dozen
translators without noticing that the radio had switched frequencies.

Does anyone know if "HD Radio" includes an AF feature?  None of the HD
car radio specs I've seen mention anything about it.  With continued
growth in FM simulcasts and translators in the US, why would we pass
up this opportunity?

I listen to a lot of German radio on the net, and appreciate the
commitment to news that still exists at most of their local stations.
I'm not sure if this is mandated by law or just demanded by listeners,
but I sense that their citizens stay better informed because of the
hourly newscasts.

One of the best classical services I've found is the ORF1 network
based in Vienna.  Thanks to consolidation, we no longer have a
full-time classical station in Philadelphia, so I'm forced to "import"
this content from Austria in the evening.  It sounds better than any
HD-2 channel, and most HD-1s.

Mark