HD Radio Web
HD Radio information portal talks about what HD Radio is, current and potential applications and features as well as options for HD Radio receivers.
What is HD radio and how does it work?
Wiley Temptress asked:
I would like to know how it works with radio stations as well as in my car. Is it a separate system that I purchase? How would it fit in my car? Also, does it just pick up stations that are further away or does it only work with stations that are HD-enabled (if that exists)?
I understand that satellite radio has more choices. I have tried it out but it didn’t have stations that appealed to me very much. Grant it they have hundreds to choose from, but I hate talk radio, and I’d say about 90% of the music stations didn’t appeal to me. I just wanted to know about HD because I found a station that I love that is just a little out of my reach, it gets static in my city but in the neighboring town I can hear it pretty well. I just wanted to see if HD actually extended the listening area, but I guess not.
I would like to know how it works with radio stations as well as in my car. Is it a separate system that I purchase? How would it fit in my car? Also, does it just pick up stations that are further away or does it only work with stations that are HD-enabled (if that exists)?
I understand that satellite radio has more choices. I have tried it out but it didn’t have stations that appealed to me very much. Grant it they have hundreds to choose from, but I hate talk radio, and I’d say about 90% of the music stations didn’t appeal to me. I just wanted to know about HD because I found a station that I love that is just a little out of my reach, it gets static in my city but in the neighboring town I can hear it pretty well. I just wanted to see if HD actually extended the listening area, but I guess not.
3 Responses on What is HD radio and how does it work?
it’s a scam, don’t waste your money
buy a satellite radio, they are great.
Like Artie, I am also a fan of satellite and disappointed that terrestrial radio messed up a great opportunity with HD by making it hard to use (not intuitive) and expensive to adopt.
You must buy a new radio. You will get different programming on side channels from some of your existing stations. It does not necessarily add any distance to your reception.
It’s digital. That, for the moment, is really all that can be said about it. I’d wait and see if it becomes viable.
-a guy named duh
Just to add a couple of bits to what’s already been said,
HD Radio stands for “Hybrid Digital”, not “High Definition” as some would have you believe. FM signals receive an analog signal, while services like XM and Sirius receive digital signals.
The signal is still terrestrial, not satellite. So just like FM, the service is only as good as the channels that are programmed in your area. There are often more choices than traditional AM/FM radio, but not nearly as many as satellite radio offers. Also, I believe HD still has commercials.
HD does require a different radio (they are quite expensive too for what you get - I’ve only seen one at Best Buy and it was about $150). There is no subscription fee though.
I’ve had Sirius, and now have XM satellite radio. I would definitely recommend satellite radio. It is well worth the $0.43 per day!
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