Tom,

In terms of best interest, I don't think digital or analog is the issue. 
We've got junk on analog AM, and we'll probably have the same junk when HD 
finally takes hold unless broadcasters have a complete change of philosophy 
and programming.  As things stand now, the only advantage to digital modes 
is that we can propagate the trash in higher quality sound.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 14:43
Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day


>    Steve:
>
> Thanks for the thoughts and clarifications on all this.
> I will check out the IBOC AM audio.
>
> Guess we'll all be going digital at some point.
>
> I just wonder sometimes whether it's in the best interest of everyone.
>
> But, maybe you could have said the same thing earlier about other 
> broadcast
> mode changes.
>
> And, of course, the same is now going on with tv.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 2:09 PM
> Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day
>
>
>> Tom,
>> First, efficient use of the spectrum means what?  Obviously, tramsmitting
>> video
>> isn't as efficient as a narrow bandwidth data stream, but the content is
>> richer.
>> Certainly, Amateur TV is not efficient compared to CW, but the target
>> audience
>> is different.
>>
>> In this respect, digital AM uses the carrier sidebands of the analog
>> signal.
>> And, you won't notice any difference if you listen on analog equipment.
>> But,
>> you can do a search on the web for IBOC digital AM and hear a comparison.
>> What
>> you will hear is an FM-quality stereo broadcast on an AM receiver; and
>> digital
>> FM sounds like CD-quality as opposed to regular compressed FM stereo.
>>
>> Steve, K8SP
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 12:17 PM
>> Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day
>>
>>
>>    Bob and all:
>>
>> I have two quick questions here:
>>
>> 1.  Even though digital radio may use less power than analog, whatever
>> happened to the idea of using frequency spectrum space as efficiently as
>> possible?  In my view, digital AM certainly doesn't do that!  and
>>
>> 2.  Does digital AM or FM really sound that much better than analog?
>> Admittedly, I have only listened to digital or HD AM and FM stations on
>> analog equipment up to this point, but I really can't tell much 
>> difference
>> in overall sound quality.  Maybe I'm just loosing my hearing, but I don't
>> think so, or at least, I hope not!  (grin)
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Bob Tinney" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 12:07 PM
>> Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day
>>
>>
>>> Hi Tom and all,
>>> I really think that HD radio is being forced on local broadcasters by 
>>> the
>>> XM
>>> and serious satellite radio services.  If A M and FM radio is going to
>>> survive, it must compete with the quality of other media and digital
>>> radio,
>>> though it totally messes up the ability to hear weak signals on the A M
>>> and
>>> FM bands, does that.  Digital radio seems to be more efficient as the
>>> digital transmissions are only running 10% of the power of the main
>>> analog
>>> transmitter.
>>> So, I'm trying to keep an opened mind and we'll have to wait and see 
>>> just
>>> how things develop.  One thing that I do know is that HD radio receivers
>>> are
>>> not being snapped up by consumers, and that the satellite radio services
>>> are
>>> both in financial trouble also.
>>> 73
>>> Bob, [log in to unmask], K8LR
>>> Skype Name: bobtinn
>>> Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting!
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:27 PM
>>> Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day
>>>
>>>
>>>    Bob and all:
>>>
>>> For what it's worth, my two cents worth on the whole thing is that this
>>> is
>>> really sad.
>>>
>>> I can't figure out who, other than the marketers of HD radio, are
>>> benefitting from this whole thing.
>>>
>>> Considering the quality of AM radio today, I am not sure the general
>>> public
>>> will be shouting for joy over this ruling.
>>>
>>> You just have to wonder who's running the FCC today anyway!
>>>
>>> I'm all for technological progress, but is this really productive and
>>> beneficial to the general public as a whole?
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Bob Tinney" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 12:29 AM
>>> Subject: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I know that this topic is not strictly amateur related, but I'll bet
>>>> that
>>>> 99.9% of us have done a lot of swl work and have listened to dx 
>>>> stations
>>>> on
>>>> the A M broadcast band.  The days of looking for DX on the A M band may
>>>> end
>>>> forever on September 14.  On that date, the FCC will allow HD stations
>>>> to
>>>> broadcast 24 hours a day.  Below is some quoted material from the Radio
>>>> Mag
>>>> online.
>>>> "FCC Update
>>>> FCC logo 1
>>>> IBOC Rule Changes Kick in Sept. 14
>>>> Publication of the FCC's Second Report and Order in the Federal 
>>>> Register
>>>> on
>>>> Aug.
>>>> 16 means that the long-awaited IBOC digital radio rule changes will
>>>> become
>>>> the law
>>>> of the land on Sept. 14.
>>>> Among the most controversial new provisions will be the green light for
>>>> 24-hour HD
>>>> Radio hybrid operation on AM. Critics of Ibiquity's implementation of 
>>>> AM
>>>> IBOC digital
>>>> transmission have charged that many stations currently serving a
>>>> significant
>>>> audience
>>>> within secondary nighttime coverage areas will lose that service area 
>>>> to
>>>> digitally
>>>> generated adjacent-channel interference. In a separate but related move
>>>> announced
>>>> just this week, the FCC appears to be addressing AM owner coverage
>>>> anxieties
>>>> by tendering
>>>> an NPRM that would grant new FM repeater privileges to eligible AM
>>>> licensees.
>>>> Among other key provisions set to go into effect include the right for
>>>> FMs
>>>> to commence
>>>> HD Radio multicasting without experimental authority grants and use of
>>>> separate FM
>>>> antennas for HD Radio hybrid operation without STAs.
>>>> Other matters, such as specific public service requirements, 
>>>> limitations
>>>> on
>>>> and regulatory
>>>> fee assessments for digital subscription services, and what role
>>>> multicasting will
>>>> play in any new ownership equation remain to be addressed by future
>>>> rulemaking.
>>>> Bob, [log in to unmask], K8LR
>>>> Skype Name: bobtinn
>>>> Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting!
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>