[R-390] IBOC - was R-390a Image problem?

[Roy Morgan]

At 01:27 PM 10/22/2007, you wrote:
>?On Mon, 22 Oct 2007, Tim Shoppa wrote:
>Since IBOC the region +/- 25kc of 1890
> > is pretty much unusable. I'm 99% sure that the harmonics are
>
>What is "IBOC"?

Richard and the list,

From:
http://www.udel.edu/nero/Radio/glossary.html
"IBOC In-Band On-Channel. System that would allow digital broadcasting over 
current AM and FM frequencies. Major companies promoting IBOC included 
Lucent and USADR USA Digital Radio, Inc. These companies have merged and 
are now know as <http://www.ibiquity.com/>Ibiquity. IBOC is now refered to 
as HD-Radio. "

(cut from an earlier message to to Tim):

I am as yet ignorant about IBOC.  I see that it means In Band On Channel 
(Digital) transmission.  I suspect this will be trouble.

iBiquity says:
http://www.ibiquity.com/
"More choice, crystal-clear sound, new data services. Read all about it. 
Radio for the 21st century. iBiquity Digital is the developer and licenser 
of HD Radio technology, which is transforming AM and FM radio into a 
digital medium featuring increased programming variety, drastically 
improved sound quality and an array of new data services. "

That sounds to me like: "We-um$ is gonna get fabulou$ly rich if we can 
foi$t thi$ trave$ty onto the un$u$pecting public."

At iBiquity's site I find a list of stations,
http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station
just a very few of which in my area are AM. I can listen on my radios to 
see what I hear.  My AM radio just now is a Rhode and Schwartz EK-07.  I 
think it is superb at image and junk rejection, and very likely will give 
me a good idea whether or not an IBOC station sounds fuzzy on AM mode.

I do not have a Marantz 10b tuner with which to be confident of the FM 
stations I'll be able to hear in greater number.  (If anyone has one they 
want to sell at a modest price, do let me know.  "Modest" means under, say, 
$800. hah!)

I have heard IBOC bemoaned with an intensity similar to the Internet on 
power line situation (called, "BPL").  This was on a mailing list for 
professional technical radio and tv station people.  There seemed to have 
developed two camps, pro and con, with considerable heat going in both 
directions. I un -subscribed quickly.  The various opinions of those folks 
seemed to be:
  - IBOC is the thing of the future. Gotta have it. Keep up with Progress!
  - IBOC it devilishly difficult to set up and adjust at the station
  - Careful engineering and diligent attention to the details will solve 
all those problems.
  - You (the station) need a whole new transmitting antenna to make it work 
(AM stations especially?)
  - The whole thing is unnecessary. Who needs it anyway?
  - The FCC is forcing us little guys out of business
  - More Digits!  More services!  More money!  YAY!!

So if you are tuning around on the AM or FM broadcast bands, and you find 
yourself trying to fine-tune the station so the fuzz goes away yet the 
signal is plenty strong, suspect IBOC.  And welcome to the world of 
digital-everything.  Ugh.

Roy




- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing
13033 Downey Mill Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Phone 540-822-5911   Cell 301-928-7794
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