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Old September 29th 07, 11:31 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
SFTV_troy SFTV_troy is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Sep 2007
Posts: 118
Default HD radio won't just go away.

On Sep 29, 2:46 pm, Telamon
wrote:
In article om,

SFTV_troy wrote:
Rfburns wrote:
Despite the fact that both the AM and FM versions of HD radio are a
good example of out-of -control technology that nobody really wants,
the FCC has mandated that all broadcasting will be digital.
Therefore, I see no turning back regardless of what the consumer does
or doesn't want or understand.


Switching to digital just makes sense.


Really? And just how does that make sense?

Digital makes better use of the limited space available.


How does a digital mode do that?



Analog modes are inefficient, because they waste bandwidth sending
sounds you can not hear. Digital only removes that extraneous
information, and thus uses the space more efficiently. Which is why a
digital radio like HD can squeeze 5 channels into the same space as 2-
channel FM. ----- Or five FM-quality (64 kbps each) programs into
the space of 1 FM channel.

Digital psychoacoustic modeling is more efficient (sends only sounds
you can hear), than the older inefficient analog modulations (that
waste space sending sound you can't hear).

With digital the FM band would effectively triple or even quadruple
the number of channels on the dial. (Alternatively Classical FM
stations could boost the sound from 2 channel stereo to 5.1
surround.)


Do you understand the consequences of what you propose?
Apparently you do not.


No, because I can not read your mind. Please explain the
consequences.

How do you know that going to a digital mode of transmission would be
good for the consumer? You don't think there is a down side?


Was there a downside to upgrading from Cassettes to CDs? No. Was
there a downside to upgrading from analog VHS to digital DVDs? No.
Was there a downside to upgrading from analog radio to Digital
satellite radio? No. (I could go on-and-on with other examples like
digital MP3s and Ipods and Internet radio and.....)

To date, I've not seen a downside to abandoning Analog format and
adopting new Digital ones.

But I'm sure you have some.
What are the downsides?



I want to see FM upgraded with three to four times more programs to
choose from.


How wonderful. What a simply splendid idea. I just
have to ask why you think this is such a great idea?


Already answered in my previous post.