FM stations are being replaced with HD?

[blacsno]

I was about to buy a AM/FM McIntosh tuner. Thankfully before I could get my money out!!! Two on my favorite stations dropped their FM broad cast in favor of HD. WTF...... I don't ever remember seeing or reading radio doing the television dump!!!! Then I had a chance to listen to HD-radio, while my car was in service and the loaner HD-radio. In that car I couldn't tell a difference?? Sooooo what was the sorry reason for this switch?

Ken

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by blacsno

I was about to buy a AM/FM McIntosh tuner. Thankfully before I could get my money out!!! Two on my favorite stations dropped their FM broad cast in favor of HD. WTF...... I don't ever remember seeing or reading radio doing the television dump!!!! Then I had a chance to listen to HD-radio, while my car was in service and the loaner HD-radio. In that car I couldn't tell a difference?? Sooooo what was the sorry reason for this switch?

Ken

Are you sure that the HD broadcast is not in addition to the normal FM broadcast. One issue with HD radio is the signal drops off like the digital TV signal. As I understand you either get it or you do not. No pulling in a week signal.

[blacsno]

Originally Posted by Stillone

Are you sure that the HD broadcast is not in addition to the normal FM broadcast. One issue with HD radio is the signal drops off like the digital TV signal. As I understand you either get it or you do not. No pulling in a week signal.

98.7FM DROPPED it's FM broadcast! If you want to hear them you must must have HD!!!!

Ken

[gregswaim]

I sold my MAC tuner this year because of bad programming in my area. Radio is not what it used to be. I'm more happy playing my LP's,CD's,& open reel tapes anyway.

[bradleyc]

I was considering the MR88, but a little birdie told me there wasn't much Mac could do to improve on the AM/FM section of the tuner beyond the MR85, they are very similar. Instead, I purchased a moderately priced separate HD tuner to go with one of my MR85's. This purchase also made sense since HD radio is not catching on that fast, and selection is limited within my area. Another concern was that I listen to the all blues HD2 station most of the time when listening to HD and really enjoy it. If that blues format gets dropped, then the other HD multicasts in my area are hardly worth listening to.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by blacsno

98.7FM DROPPED it's FM broadcast! If you want to hear them you must must have HD!!!!

Ken

From this note I think they have different programming on their HD channel (still smooth Jazz) than they do on their FM feed. Not really sure.

Amp Radio 98.7 Detroit Launches : RadioInsight

Here is another note. They are still on FM, just broadcasting crap there.

Detroit’s self-billed smooth jazz radio station WVMV 98.7 is expected to announce a format switch today.

The smooth jazz format is apparently moving to an HD2 channel, but it’s not yet clear what the terrestrial broadcast format will be.

[bradleyc]

Originally Posted by Stillone

From this note I think they have different programming on their HD channel (still smooth Jazz) than they do on their FM feed. Not really sure.

Amp Radio 98.7 Detroit Launches : RadioInsight

This is correct, most of the stations in my area offer an HD1 version of their analog signal with the same programming, and an HD2 with alternative programming such as lite jazz, soft rock, classical, blues, etc... One thing I do like about HD is there's a radio station 40-50 miles from here that broadcasts analog classical but it drifts in and out and has background noise. I can use a powered antenna with the HD multicast and it does not cause multipath, the background is dead quiet, and the station no longer drifts.

[MC352]

Check this little HD tuner out. Sony XDR-F1HD.


Here are a couple of reviews
Sony's Tuner Is Rich in Features, by Ira A. Wilner

Sony XDR-F1HD Technical Review - AVS Forum

There is also a guy who does mods to the tuner - I ordered one, and I am going to get some of the mods. I am not a big FM listener, but for this kind of money it was worth a try.

[Still-One]

blacsno
I still get 98.7 on my car radio (no HD radio). It is just the new format.
Jim