2003
marked a quiet debut to HD Radio™ and since then more
than 500 radio stations around the country have begun broadcasting
better sounding digital versions of their analog broadcasts.
Radi-osophy
HD Radio
What Is HD Radio?
iBiquity Digital's HD Radio technology transmits digital audio
and data alongside existing AM and FM analog signals, allowing
listeners to enjoy “CD-quality” sound and virtually
eliminating the static, hiss, and pops associated with today's
terrestrial radio. The technology also provides a platform
for integrated wireless data services that, combined with
display screens on HD Radio-enabled receivers, will deliver
listeners a variety of additional information such as song
titles, artist names, traffic updates, weather forecasts,
sports scores, and more. Best of all, IT'S FREE!
Except
for the cost of the receiver, HD Radio™ is as free as
analog, meaning no subscription fees like satellite radio
and no more advertising than you're already used to. Local
stations can deliver up to three program feeds on the same
frequency depending on how they allocate the bandwidth.
Does
HD Radio Really Sound Better?
You can easily hear the difference the moment you tune in.
To avoid delays while the digital signal arrives to your receiver,
the radio goes analog first, then switches to digital several
seconds later. Stations that you can barely tune in suddenly
lose their pops and clicks while stations with a stronger
signal whose fuzz and hiss you take for granted gain a greater
range between loud and soft tones.
The
future of HD Radio™ holds great promise with the possibility
of stock tickers, all-traffic subchannels and the return of
interesting music to greatly improved AM and greatly expanded
FM bands.
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