HD Digital radio, anyone?

[Wayne M.]

Last week, Q104. 3, The rock station here in NYC started talking about a new radio format called HD radio. Suppoesdly it is an all new band aside from AM or FM. The description is like Satelite but it's free. The station is affiliated and is claiming to be playing " the good stuff you haven't heard in a long while" and I am very curious. The radio scene in NYC is really hurting and I can't bring myself to actually pay for radio.

Does anyone know if our radios (I have RAZ) is compatible, or if there is a mopar kit to update? Is there a HD radio available in the '06's? I love my system, especially the wheel controls and hate the thought of ditching this radio now! :{

I googled and came up with this

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20040127/hd_radio_interview.html



I did a quick TDR search and found nothing.

 

[PHeadings]

HD Radio has been out for a couple of years now. Doesn't compare to satellite at all. Lets see you drive from California to New York listing to the same HD Radio station, not going to happen. HD Radio opperates on the same band as FM, better quality though. Sirus all the way.

 

[TowPro]

While HD radio sounds interesting, you will still have the same old radio station your now listening to with FM (or AM). Its not really free, You are paying by listening to commercials 25% of the time. I noticed one of the PHila local stations is advertising "free FM" in the middle of a 5 minute commercial block. Free?

 

[wcjp]

In the PNW there are a couple of stations offering HD Radio. Some have upto 3 stations playing at the same place. One of the stations is offering normal analog music, CD quality music and 24hr news all at one location on the dial. IMO big problem is unit cost. Radio units are typically $400 and up if you can find them. Some retailers don't even carry HD radio units because of very low demand. Why buy HD with limited capabilities when satellite radios are so cheap?





http://www.thenewstribune.com/ae/music/story/5474607p-4938715c.html