[BC] IBOC "secrets" and my opinions.

[Craig Bowman]

But Frank,

Many of the people driving the Ibiquity roll out use immediate dire need 
as the reason to settle for this system.  If we, as an industry, let 
this fall on its face while causing real damage to good old analog 
broadcasting where are we at the end of the day.  I am sympathetic 
evolving technology and I understand that a system designed today will 
tomorrow be antiquated.  Many of us have spent our adult lives in this 
business and have time and again seen the negative affects of knee jerk 
reactions such as this.  First of all I do not have a stake in this 
other than station ownership.  It can, and is being done properly on 
both AM and FM.  I am pretty sure the DRE system will support 5.1 or can 
easily be modified to do so for FM and DRM does not interfere with 
adjacent stations.  Why is the industry in such a hurry to adopt a 
system which is inferior by almost every measure?  My gut says follow 
the money since there is so damn much of it involved in implementing 
this system.  Transmitter manufacturers love it because it (FM) often 
requires selling a new transmitter, antenna manufacturers love it since 
it often requires a new antenna, automation companies love it because it 
requires a jukebox to play the new format, processing manufacturers love 
it since it requires the purchase of a new processor.  Lets not forget 
that Ibiquity stands to make a ton of money with its licensing fees.  
It's like an orgy of profits for everyone but radio stations.  The 
ability for all broadcasters to implement a system is important and the 
FM system is just too expensive for many medium and small market 
stations.  When the tech is good, I like to think of myself as an early 
adopter. The halls of my memory still echo with the experiences I have 
had with Harris AM Stereo generators, FMX Encoders, on frequency 
boosters, not to mention a myriad of audio processors.  I guess what I 
am trying to say is I really really wish the Ibiquity system was as good 
as can be.  The commission approved its use, just as it approved the 
four or five AM Stereo systems even after it adopted a completely 
different standard years earlier.

Craig Bowman

padrino wrote:
> If, in the end, it doesn't work, then we'll know that every effort
> possible was put forth. Then, and only then, can we truthfully and
> honestly judge the tech.
>
> -Frank Foti
>
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