[BC] More important: the Nighttime Answer

[Rich Wood]

------ At 04:04 PM 11/14/2005, Barry Mishkind wrote: -------

>not everything has to be serious to the max.

True. However, it looks like we're only willing to deal with the "fun 
stuff" when AM radio, in particular is in for some spectacular 
nighttime interference and behind a serious 8 ball when they sound 
good during the day and just like "old fashioned" radio after 6pm. 
How may listeners will stick around?

>Added to all that is the reality that in the future, car listening 
>will still be important. Audio cannot be permitted to drop below 
>ambient level. Dynamic range must be restricted. Those that believe 
>IBOC can be processed and programmed successfully for those with 
>$30,000 home systems are either in non-comm radio (where economics 
>take a whole different path) or afraid that if they don't give 100% 
>support to IBOC, they - and others - would doom it.

There's no question that processing is necessary. Many Classical FMs 
process heavier during drive time than they do the rest of the day. 
Visit the satellite services. You'll find rack after rack of 
processors. I made a comment on another list about not being able to 
detect a difference between analog and digital when they switched 
mode. Bob Orban made it clear that they should be separately 
processed. In another post I'll give everyone the results of "My Fall 
with an HD Radio."

>Meanwhile, AM stations, which have had a rough decade, and being 
>asked to take a double hit - going digital, but then taking it away 
>each evening ... if they get through the twilight hours with listeners.

That simply won't work. The separate processing of WBZ is producing 
one of the best sounding AM HD signals I've heard. It's beautifully 
done. If there were HD radios available in significant numbers I can 
guarantee WBZ's nighttime audience would drop significantly as the 
old sound returns at 6pm.

>That brings us to your call for immediate nighttime operation of AM IBOC.
>
>Have you petitioned the FCC as yet?   Perhaps you should do so, and 
>help everyone else understand the way to make a petition/comment, 
>etc to the FCC.

I'm thinking of doing that. It seems to me that, if it's inevitable, 
we should allow it 24/7 and deal with the consequences while they're 
manageable.There aren't enough consulting engineers in the industry 
to handle every station that's going to require facilities changes to 
make it work at night. There are enough lawyers. I'm wondering why 
those so ardently supporting HD aren't pushing to enable it at night.

Rich


Rich Wood
Rich Wood Multimedia
Phone: 413-303-9084
FAX: 413-480-0010