Building a 21st century radio
 

http://news.com.com/Building%2Ba%2B2...3-5402054.html

I was reading a post to a group from 1999 that was saying that the then
current televisions in the U.S. would be obselete in two years. Well....
Here it is... almost 2005 and they aren't obselete yet. I have a $238 RCA tv
that I will put up against any plasma screen Best Buy sells for current
broadcast tv and it will have a better picture. Yeah Yeah...when HDTV gets
going good, it will be a different story. Another thing, I just bought a
Ten-Tec RX-320D. That's the shortwave radio that runs from your computer. I
sent it back to Ten-Tec the next day. Newer is not always better but I'll
give it a chance. ;)


"Dan" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 16:23:56 -0400, "lsmyer"
wrote:


http://news.com.com/Building%2Ba%2B2...0-1025_3-54020
54.html

Finally.

Let's face it, radio hasn't changed much in nearly 100 years. This
change is long overdue.

Of course, that means I'll have dozens of useless boxes. But hey,
that also means I get to buy dozens of *new* boxes, right?

Dan

"Dan" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 16:23:56 -0400, "lsmyer"
wrote:


http://news.com.com/Building%2Ba%2B2...0-1025_3-54020
54.html

Finally.

Let's face it, radio hasn't changed much in nearly 100 years. This
change is long overdue.

Well, the predominant radio mode changed from digital (Morse code) to analog
about 80 years ago. I don't the think the difference between the new
digital mode and analog will be as striking as the difference between analog
and the old digital mode.

What sort of improvement will digital bring to the average listener? Better
sound? Both AM and FM have far more fidelity potential than what is usually
broadcast. Some sort of cheesy digital radio display which would show the
artist's name and whatnot? That could be done right now on FM, but people
don't seem to get excited about the idea of watching the radio.

The article claims there's "better reception" with digital. That's nice.
But most people get very good to excellent reception with analog
transmissions right now. Even if digital reception could somehow be perfect
all the time, the improvement would be incremental rather than
revolutionary.

I just don't see people flocking to digital radio over some slight
improvements they might never even notice, especially if the digital radios
stay expensive. I think there is a fair chance that IBOC, in it's current
incarnation, won't find a market. But that doesn't mean I think those damn
digital sidebands will go away. What else could those digital sidebands be
used for? I think they might be end up being used as something like one or
two super SCA channels from every IBOC equipped transmitter. Maybe even for
a terrestrial digital pay radio service.



Of course, that means I'll have dozens of useless boxes. But hey,
that also means I get to buy dozens of *new* boxes, right?

Dan


The FCC has a history of liking compatibility. They liked the compatible
color system They liked the compatible FM and AM stereo systems. They like
IBOC because it's compatible with existing radios. If IBOC morphs into some
sort of pay radio scheme, I'm pretty certain the FCC would demand that the
analog channel remain analog and free.

Anyway, there's far more failed predictions of future technology than there
are truly obsolete technologies. Some boats are still powered with sails
and people still ride horses, but just try to get around in a turbine car of
a jet pack.

Frank Dresser