HD: últimas novidades

O Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) acaba de lançar uma nova versão do «White Paper» sobre o HD. Um documento muito interessante, até pela simplicidade, mas com muita informação.

Destaques:

«HD Radio has propelled the medium into the digital space, and marks the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago»

Porquê: «HD Radio has provided expanded programming choices, radically improved audio quality, and new wireless data and text services. Its anticipated impact on consumers is so significant that HD Radio received top honors with CNET’s “Next Big Thing” Award at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show. Signal fading, static, hisses, and pops are a thing of the past as HD Radio delivers FM quality sound on AM and CD quality sound on FM. Real-time text messages including song title and artist, weather, news, and traffic alerts, and local information for nationally advertised brands are revolutionizing the way consumers experience AM and FM radio. Surround sound, a “buy” button, and traffic data overlaid on in-car navigational systems are on the way. And, as always, it’s FREE»

Sobre o multicasting: «Alliance member stations are coordinating the formats on the new HD2 multicast channels to ensure a variety of program choices within the HD2 multicast markets. More information is available at www.hdradio.com. To date, 3,000 U.S. radio stations covering all major markets and reaching 90% of Americans, have committed to upgrading their stations. Over 700 stations are already broadcasting their primary signal in HD Radio including stations in all top 50 markets. Over 150 stations are currently multicasting an HD2 channel with over 250 HD2 stations expected on the air in the coming months. A few stations are experimenting with HD3 multicasts».

A recepção: «Boston Acoustics’ Receptor HD tabletop radio is widely available, as is Yamaha’s home component receiver. High-end home component units are on the way from Audio Design Associates, Day Sequerra, and Rotel. Polk is scheduled to launch a tabletop radio in April.  After-market auto receivers from Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, Eclipse, Sanyo, and Panasonic are selling in retail stores across the country. New automotive aftermarket technology will debut in 2006 allowing consumers to easily convert their existing analog car radios to receive digital HD Radio signals. BMW is the first car manufacturer to offer HDRadio receivers as a factory installed option in its 2006 “6” and “7” Series models.»

Está tudo aqui (http://www.rab.com/secure/white_papers/HDRADIOWhitePaper.pdf)