[BC] IBOC Query

[Rich Wood]

------ At 09:15 PM 2/2/2006, John Buffaloe wrote: -------

>   In most cases you can't do that, unless you're willing to pay 
> Nautel an enormous sum to have a one box solution, which is 
> actually the best way to go in my very humble opinion.  (unlike yours)

I thought my opinion was very humble (I'm the most incredibly humble 
person I've ever known). We've worked together. You should know that.

>Continental has an interesting mod to their transmitters that allows 
>for a one box IBUZ, but only if the head room is available, and in 
>most cases it isn't.  There seems to be a concensus of how to do 
>IBUZ, and it is usually high level.  For those that have the 
>vertical real estate to do a seperate antenna, that is in my mind 
>the best alternative, but it does require a seperate 
>transmitter.  The other methods of producing IBUZ have their 
>drawbacks as well.  This is not an easy system to get airborne, and 
>I still don't understand the concept of competing with technology 
>instead of content.  But the folks with the ties and business suits 
>seem intent on going this direction.

I stood in front of a single FM transmitter pumping out analog, HD-1 
and HD-2. I asked about separate transmitters and antennas (they have 
the vertical real estate) and was told enough money had already been 
spent. I agree that this is touchy stuff. Just getting it on the air 
(and keeping it running) is a chore even before you delve into 
processing that doesn't turn it to crud. Read your copy of Radio 
Guide and see what equipment is available even before there are 
people capable of receiving it.

I see these stations as being all dressed up with nowhere to go 
(except the NPR stations with talk on one channel and music on the 
other - fully staffed). Each channel is a real radio station. It's a 
chicken and egg situation. Show me the content before asking me to 
replace my receivers. I don't believe a low quality Internet stream 
is going to entice anyone to spend the money on a receiver they think 
is going to sound like the stream. The demo streams should be the 
highest quality you can get. The fact that they aren't tells me this 
rollout is half-hearted.

Rich


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