Still moving forward on HD Radio
Despite the slow and steady process of the HD Radio evolution, which has included some bumps along the way, there have been some recent innovations pushing the progress forward.
STL white spaces? Apparently so.
Because the frequencies in the 700MHz band are being auctioned for new uses, these frequencies will no longer be available for auxiliary uses, such as wireless mics. This was further reinforced by the FCC's recent ruling to ban wireless mic use in this spectrum.
How is HD Radio really doing?
We can all see that HD Radio appears to be moving slowly ahead. Recent news headlines of sub $100 receivers and the first portable (albeit far from being as portable as an Ipod) receiver are good steps to making HD Radio accessible
The business of engineering
As an engineer, you likely have a passion for solving problems. You see a challenge, identify possible solutions, formulate a strategy and get the job done. But while most engineers have excellent troubleshooting skills, many do not have the best business skills.
The next step in EAS
The FCC has an open rulemaking to update one aspect of public warning: the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The current EAS has been in use for more than 15 years, and by itself, it is an improvement over the EBS, but it still has shortcomings.
Is it really a secret?
When we prepare articles and material for Radio magazine and RadioMagOnline.com, one of the prime directives is to provide information that will help you, the reader, do your job better
A day in the life
What's you typical day at the NAB Show? Everyone's agenda is different during the convention. I am often asked what my day is like at the convention
Convention time
All attention turns to the NAB Show this time of year. It is the biggest industry event of the year after all. Even if you don't go or have never gone, it still has some relevance, since this is where the latest product developments and technology introductions specific to broadcasting are unveiled.
The new digital radio
The big news from CES for HD Radio was that a portable chipset was finally unveiled – at least for FM. This is one significant part of the HD Radio rollout that has been noticeably absent. Once implemented, it will provide a necessary element for HD Radio acceptance, putting a digital radio receiver in just about any portable device.
Reaching Parity with Satellite Radio
Satellite radio has the edge over HD Radio. It's been available longer, and it had a huge marketing push across multiple types of media since its inception.
Problems and solutions
In the eyes of broadcasters, December was a busy month for the FCC. Broadcasting is just one small part of the FCC’s concerns, so when several significant rulings are made at once, broadcasters naturally take notice. Two recent actions deal with broadcast ownership while another deals with programming localism. Now that the FCC has acted, there are more questions raised than answers provided.
Engineered for business
Why do radio engineers choose their career in radio engineering? We obviously have the aptitude and the skills for the job, but there are other reasons. I think many engineers will tell you that they do their job because it's not really like work. It's like getting paid to practice a hobby.
Out of mind, but not out of sight
"Why do you listen to radio?" Depending on how listeners are asked this question, the replies can be wildly different, as was shown in a recent study. The results go beyond the actual question to reveal other important aspects of radio.
Tag! Is this it?
The technology, called tagging, works with a radio that includes the tagging capability. That makes sense, right? The idea is that a listener hears a song he likes, presses a button (or some similar simple action) and the song is tagged for immediate or later purchase.
Convention time
So which conventions did you attend? If you’re going to lament that you can’t attend any conventions, remember that I have heard all the common complaints from people who don’t attend conventions.
A FAQ on CAP
The mid-July 2007 further notice of proposed rulemaking from the FCC concerning EAS has begun the process of bringing the system into the 21st Century. However, the FCC action raises more questions than it answers.
Awareness is not the same as interest
The HD Radio "Discover It!" campaign appears to be creating awareness of HD Radio, but it seems to be missing the mark when it comes to consumer interest.
Satellite radio merger? Why not?
Many doubt that the merger proposal will pass, but if it actually does, what will be the real harm to terrestrial radio? If terrestrial is as good as it thinks, there will be no ill effects.
Radio's real fix
Some say that HD Radio won't save radio broadcasting, and that we should focus instead on better programming. Why not do both?
How was Your NAB Experience?
It seems that the current trend in new product development is based on incremental improvement, not sweeping change.
