HD radio in the uk
MGBCTV
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What progress has there been in the development of HD radio in the UK and does anyone think it will ever take off.
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MGBCTV
Posts: 1,380 MGBCTV
Posts: 1,380 MGBCTV
Posts: 1,380
Comments
No.
It hasn't taken off even in the USA. There are few HD transmissions, and they're mostly simulcasts or minority interest programming.
http://www.ibiquity.com/social/hdradioguide2.html
Bear in HD-1 will only be a simulcast (so nothing new there) and stations below 92.1 MHz are University / PBS / NPR / religious etc so of mostly minority appeal.
Unlike the UK where supermarkets and stores are full of DAB radios, I can't remember ever having seen an HD radio on display over there. Similarly, although I've had a rental car with satellite radio, I've never had one with an HD radio fitted. On AM, HD causes interference on adjacent channels and is restricted at night.
Technically, the USA likes to do its own thing but they often end up as lemons that few others adopt. Think 525 lines, NTSC (Never Twice the Same Colour), 1900MHz mobiles, 120V 60Hz etc. Even 120V isn't completely standard because cookers and tumble driers use 240V.
They still haven't invented Chip & PIN, high-intensity rear foglights or roundabouts either...
As we've had DAB transmissions for nearly 20 years, there's zero chance of HD radio ever starting in the UK.
As others have said, none. HD is a marketing name and does not mean high definition - in fact, it's just as subject to low bit rates and other criticsms as DAB. I do, actually, own an HD portable - it makes me very glad to get back to DAB!
If they are talking generically then high(er) definition radio broadcasts are available via the internet. BBC Radio 3 is available at 320kbps AAC to Internet radios.
It also 'piggy-backs' out on to the sidebands of the primary signal hence expression 'IBOC ha sh' to describe the edge-of-pulse-generated interference that leaks everywhere around a channel especially on AM.
Remmeber too that in the USA theres a bigger gap between FM channels they are only on oddnumbered frequencies - e.g. 101.1 but never 101.2 so they have more bandwidth for HD-1 HD-2 and even HD-3 in lessening bitrates outwards hanging on to WXXX-FM.
It wont be coming here ever - unless someone at the top receives a bung. Thats surely never happened has it?
But the latest generation of DAB/FM chipsets will also support HD and DRM,
http://www.radioworld.com/article/single-chip-receivers-open-the-way-for-conversion-to-dab-drm/270749
so there is renewed interest in DRM radio, especially for small stations and international broadcasters in India and South Africa. It could also replace HD radio in the US?
But the DRM name can get confused with digital rights rather than radio!.
Notice a test was done in Germany where DAB+ and DRM+ co existed.
http://www.drm.org/drm-and-dab-side-by-side-at-german-symposium/
Close to that now with SDR.