If a tree falls in the forest…

With all the “whiz-bang” high tech developments gaining attention in recent years, one seems to have escaped the notice of many. Perhaps it is because it is looked at as an old technology. Perhaps it is because the devices for using it are expensive and hard to find. Or perhaps it is a technology that just doesn’t offer enough new benefit. Perhaps it is because of all the above. The technology is HD Radio™.

HD Radio™ is the moniker used for the technology developed by iBiguity Corporation to digitally transmit audio and data on the current FM and AM radio bands. Right now most radio in the US is broadcast with regular analog transmission technology that has changed little since the first regular radio broadcasts began in the early 1900s. The FCC has adopted HD Radio™ as the standard for digital broadcasts in the United States. However, unlike digital TV, there is no FCC mandate and no deadline for stations to begin digital transmission.

There are three major improvements offered with HD Radio™. First, the quality of the audio is enhanced. While the quality is not that much better than good current FM broadcasts, e.g., WGUC/ 90.9, WARM 98, or WEBN 102.7, the audio quality (if not the content) on AM stations is greatly improved. In fact, you will be hard pressed to hear the difference in the quality of music played on AM or FM using HD radio™.

The second major benefit of HD Radio™ comes in its ability to offer multiple programs on a single channel. For example, if you tuned to WGUC 90.9 using an HD Radio you will find not only a commercial free classical music service but also be able to hear jazz programming 24 hours a day. Other local stations that are transmitting HD Radio have decided to use the second or third “channel” in a variety of ways.

HD Radio™ has a third feature that many will find useful. Some receivers will have small screens on which can be displayed information about the program being broadcast. This is somewhat akin to the on-screen TV guide on your cable. The display might be the name of the performer or catalog number of the musical recording being played.

There are cuurently 15 stations in the Cincinnati area broadcasting in HD Radio™ format. Unfortunately that is also about the same number of radios in the Cincinnati area that are able to receive the broadcasts. That is an exaggeration, but not by much.

Auto makers have been slow to provide HD Radios™ in the new models. It is easy to forget, but it was in large part the standard offering of AM/FM radios in cars that propelled FM broadcasting from the poor “step child” to the prominent and even dominant player in radio broadcasting. That has not happened for HD Radio™ as the car manufacturers have embraced the satellite radio pay services.

The radios are not cheap and up until now not easy to find. The large national electronic stores may have one or two models on the shelf for home and car. RadioShack® stores offer two models for home or office use but they are pricey in the $200 neighborhood. Like any other electronic device, as sales increase the price will go down. But that is yet to happen. Last week’s announcement by the retail behemoth Wal-Mart® might jump- start sales but even their announcement was cautious in predicting demand.

Frankly HD Radio™ is an enigma. It is a good service. It is free. It is available anywhere. It provides more listening options, e.g. a real jazz service in this market. But it just has not taken off. I have been watching it for years and really don’t have an opinion when or even if it will replace traditional analog radio. Perhaps it will require the FCC the do what it has done for TV, set a sunset date for analog radio transmission.