Have you heard one of your local stations say it is “crystal clear now broadcasting in HD Radio,” and wondered what the heck is HD radio?
The simple answer is that HD radio is digital radio, in front of the radio you are listening now, which is analog. Analogue radio is like a tried and true old friend who has almost always been and is probably an integral part of his life. In comparison, digital radio is the new kid on the block – a new technology that has for HD radio which makes for television. You need the same programming, and only makes a heckuva lot better.
Reason number one: Once again I hear it does not
HD radio sounds much better than conventional radio, it’s like the difference between a Hudson Hornet 1948 and a current Lexus LX-400. Listening AM radio digital high definition is so clear and free of static, you may think you are listening to FM radio. And FM radio broadcast in HD is so superior to normal FM, you may think you’re listening to a CD. Personally I have tried several different radios HD and I can say first hand experience that once you have listened to their favorite stations in HD, they just do not want to return to conventional radio.
Reason number two: clean. “Hidden” stations
By listening to conventional radio, analog, you’re missing a lot. That’s because, in the midst of these stations are probably the other stations can not be heard unless you have an HD radio. Because HD Radio is digital allows broadcasters to package several different channels at the same frequency. In fact, I have heard that stations can literally sandwich eight different channels of programming on the same frequency. While this may be true in theory, starting today, the HD stations are just adding a second channel or HD2. There are two interesting things about these HD2 channels. First, most are commercial free. So, without commercial interruptions. You can listen to one station all day without hearing a radio spot. Second, most stations are using HD2 channels to various, and in some cases, experimental programming. For example, here is a station broadcasting easy listening music in the main channel or blue HD1 and all its HD2 channel.
Reason number three: the radio that can send messages
When broadcast stations in high definition – or digital radio – which also sent text messages. Today, these messages are mainly stands for the transmitter and the frequency and the artist name and song title. However, this is just the beginning. In the not too distant future, the stations will use this ability to send updates and weather alerts, traffic updates, and who knows what. I recently saw an HD radio had not shown that scrolling text messages, like subtitles. This could make something like radio, fully accessible for people with hearing disabilities. And there are probably a dozen other uses for this skill text messages that have not yet been announced.
I recently saw an estimate that by 2012 there will be 30 million HD radios in use, and I believe it. HD Radio is the wave of the future, and what better time than now to buy and HD radio and ride the wave.
Tags: analogue radio, commercial interruptions, hudson hornet, lexus lx, new kid on the block