HD-Radio bekommt einen Schub von Autohersteller

By Dan Carney, NBC News logged-in user
You have noticed that HD radio reception stinks. This means that if you have noticed, HD radio at all. But the advocates say they are the problems fix cars with HD radios in them, so perhaps at the time, most people buy the problems be solved.

For the case that you don't remember, HD radio broadcast of ground-based radio station, but it, XM satellite radio is a bit like SIRIUS in a few ways.

Even if it comes through the ether as regular am and FM radio, the signal is digital, such as those of satellite radio. This means that HD FM stations have the sound quality of a CD and HD am stations as well as normal analogue FM sound stations instead of tin cans and a string, sound like phone you in the second class taken.

Because digital data take not so much of a signal can range as an analogue broadcast radio stations put together multiple channels in their frequency, by you them the possibility to offer unusual programming of the collation, you may sometimes on some stations SIRIUS XM.

Finally, since it still a bit is an experiment, many of these stations are commercial-free, at least for the time being. This means that not to hear the same screaming show for car dealers "Buy a Rama."

Finally, the best part is that HD radio is free of charge! Satellite radio requires a subscription of at least $175 per year. Ouch.

So sold is not why HD Radio of's hottest new technology not Apple? Because until now the free system largely us given we had paid what for it: not much.

The Federal Communications Commission, out of fear that this new, would impede the analog stations existing several digital stations, limited its signal strength to a mere 1 percent of the analog console, according to Stephen Baldacci, spokesman for iBiquity Digital Corporation the company the HD Radio promotes. One percent!

It is a miracle that we could pick up the stations at all. Fortunately has for a few years experience has shown that the HD channels not out analog ones knock, which boldly makes FCC HD the analog signal whopping 10% increased.

Still pathetically weak sounds, require no digital stations the signal as much power, so at 10 percent as strong as a could be analog broadcast. "At full strength, would you be able to hear a HD signal in Moscow" Baldacci joked.

The recipients are to improve. The Sony radio in Ford focus has a tuner that is optimized for HD reception, and it showed Washington, D.C. solid inclusion of many HD channels in the area.

Many current models radios have two annoying problems, the HD radio difficult-to - hear impossible. On the station's main channel, as the radio brings that it changes HD signal, and then, if she loses it, switches it back to analog. This is good for the detection of the HD sound, but bad listen superiority for that if the signal constantly changes, because it sounds socks in the speakers like someone alternately fill and then take out.

New radios, Baldacci explains, are designed so that they switch between the two less abruptly, so the change is not disturbingly apparent.

This is on the main channel an analog signal is secure. Additional HD-only stations fall just out and back into pop. These channels are useless on the most radios with poorly optimized HD Tuners and antenna.

These issues are addressed on the new focus, and possibly other new cars with the latest HD radio hardware. In combination with the stronger signal is now allowing, if radio finally beginning stations with the extra power, HD, to fulfill his promise.

These are good news for listeners, perhaps less well for SIRIUS XM satellite radio.