Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)
description
Transcript of Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)
![Page 1: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
No, your presenters are not “drinking the iBiquity Kool-Aid”
Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio
Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)
An “engineering-lite” look at the issues and concerns surrounding digital broadcast solutions like
HD RadioTM
![Page 2: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
What is HD Radio?Hint: the “HD” doesn’t stand for anything!
Digital broadcasting by iBiquity Corp. IBOC = In Band / On Channel Backwards compatible All-digital someday, maybe. Bennies: Better audio quality, data services,
PAD/PSD, multicasting
![Page 3: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
HD Radio: Hybrid Mode
Analog radios ignore digital (white noise)
HD Radios = analog > buffer > blendSeven second delay
Lost digital = blend backMulticast = mute
![Page 4: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
HD Radio: Kibbles and bits
AM HD = 36kbps hybrid / 40-60 digital FM HD = 96-120kbps hybrid / 300 digital Based on the HDC (AAC) codec It’s all just bits, so partitioning is
possible. Using the bits for things other than audio also possible.
![Page 5: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Must my station install HD Radio?
No FCC mandate (unlike DTV)Market-driven adoption
Will your listeners support it?Promotion, sales, installation
Only HD Radio is NRSC-approvedTheoretically, others could do it
![Page 6: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
HD Radio’s benefits: FM & AM
Audio fidelity (not quality)AM = FM, FM = CD (sort of)(20kHz)
No multipath PSD / PAD Data: iTunes Tagging, conditional access,
downloads, etc Multicasting! (FM only)
![Page 7: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
HD Radio’s problems: FM & AM
Algorithm is lossyAM makes mess of bandRequires good engineeringNot cheap ($75k - $200k?)Getting in over your head
![Page 8: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
HD Radio’s problems: AM only
Overall, not really recommendedAdjacent-channel interferenceSelf-interferenceDifficulty with Dir. ArraysNighttime problems w/skywaveVery low adoption by broadcasters
![Page 9: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
HD Radio’s problems: License Fees
Different way of thinking! iBiquity has steep one-time feesMulticasting have add’l fees
$1k/yr or % of revenueData service also have add’l fees
![Page 10: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
HD Radio -20dBc vs -10dBc
Standard HD was -20dBc (1/100th)Deemed not enough by NAB or NPR
FCC authorized blanket -14dBcUp to -10dBc in some situationsCan require much bigger xmitters
![Page 11: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
What about our FM antenna?
Short answer: it dependsHi-level combining
Inefficient, but equal patternsSeparate/Interleaved
Redundant, efficient, but pattern problems & weight/wind load
![Page 12: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Changing Perceptions
Breaks the “norms” Digital = ON or OFF, not gradual fade in/out
like analogNO FRINGE COVERAGE
Old worries = multipath, stereo hiss, not loud enough
New worries = cascading algorithms, pre-processing, listener perceptions
![Page 13: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Upgrading your technical plant
May need a lot of new $$$$ gear!STL – bursty data, extra channelsMonitoring – delays and multicastAudio Storage – cascading algosProcessing & PreprocessingArbitron PPM explosionExtra webcasts, websites….staff?HD is a computer – lifecycle?
![Page 14: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Upgrading your schema
Adding multicast is like adding whole new stations!Extra studios, processors, monitoring,
access, audio gear, computers, program sources, staff?
24 hours/day to 72 hours/dayCan you handle the workload???
![Page 15: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
HD Radio benefits
Multicasting – streamline format, appeal to new listeners
Fill untapped niches – earn more revenue
Potential leasing = more revenue
![Page 16: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Thinking outside the box
Rent out your HD2/HD3 for profit Got a translator? HD2 on it! Only Part 15? Rent another HD2
Pay for install, get free rent Unusual formats
The ten minute loopJazz, classical, foreign-language…?
![Page 17: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Future thinking on HD Radio
No FCC mandate, but listeners might! Costs are high = long term planning
needed!Probably longer than you’ll be there
New studio facility may be a must = long-term investment/planning
![Page 18: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Shameless Self-PromotionThe IBOC Handbook : Understanding HD RadioTM Technology
Looking to really learn the engineering of IBOC / HD Radio? Read this book! First Overview of the Approved
NRSC-5 (IBOC) Standard. Authored by David Maxson Illustrated by Aaron Read
Available on Amazon.com
![Page 19: Practical Operations Concerns about HD Radio Aaron Read (WEOS, Geneva)](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56813a20550346895da1f99d/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Final Thoughts
Questions – and please no: Rants, Screeds, Diatribes, Harangues, Raving, Tirades,
Bullyragging, Vociferation, Bloviating, Railing, Objurgating, Badgering, Molestation, Nettling, Ruffling, Badgering, Pestering, Heckling or Persecution.
Tell us your situation, we’ll opine if HD Radio is right for you!
Aaron Read can be reached via www.friedbagels.com/blog Need an engineer? www.sbe.org