"JimC" wrote in message
t...
What's the development status of HD programming? (Are they being broadcast
in most metropolitan areas now?) Also, is the audio fidelity as good as
FM, and if not, what are the advantages of getting HD-AM?


Something over 500 HD equipped FMs are originating HD-2 programming separate
from the HD-1 duplication of the analog service. Another 500 to 600 stations
have just HD-1 duplication in digital of the analog programming.

In my experience with a number of HD stations, the HD-1 sounds better than
the analog signal, in part due to the lack of the 75 ms preemphasis applied
to analog FM and in part due to digital processing which results in a less
clipped and compressed audio if properly set up.

HD AM sounds much better than analog AM, although there is no "additional
channel" service available. HD AM sounds as good as a typical iPod or MP3
recording; it is also vastly less susceptible to man made and ambient noise.