HD Radio has stepped up our radio listening experiences. It delivers crystal clear sound, more channel options, and text information on the screen. But how does HD radio work? What technologies help it achieve such benefits?
One radio frequency can only carry a small amount of information with low quality. HD Radio solves the problems by digitizing AM and FM signals and compressing them, so more can be sent within the same radio bandwidth.
Digitalization also eliminates the interference of buildings, leaving CD-quality audio without any interruptions. Below, you will find more details of this ingenious technology.
How It Works
Limitations of standard radio technology
An FM radio frequency is limited to carrying little data at a time, so stations must lower the audio quality to deliver it. This is why radio voices are unclear and harder to hear than CD voices.
An AM radio frequency can convey even less data. You can find all AM stations broadcasting in mono instead of stereo mode (stereo sounds wider, more realistic, and more detailed than mono).
These problems are due to the nature of radio waves and the large distance between stations.
HD Radio technology
- Digitizing audio signals
HD Radio solves the issues by digitizing the data before broadcasting. It allows more information to be sent at a time and maintains the original high quality. This is done by a method called High-Definition Coding, in which computers compress radio signals before sending them out.
Remember that HD Radio doesn’t replace AM and FM. It only helps boost the quality of these traditional radio methods. The digitizing process will upgrade your favorite FM channels to high-definition FM that sounds like CD audio quality. Meanwhile, AM frequencies will sound as good as FM does.
There are thousands of HD Radio stations throughout North America. The density of stations means more stable signals, fewer interruptions, and clearer content.
The digital transmission also eliminates the interference of high buildings and constructions. With HD Radio, you won’t experience the annoying hiss and static of traditional radios. High-definition car radios are guaranteed.
You can learn more with this video:
- Multicasting
Another feature of HD Radio for car is that it allows stations to multicast up to three more subchannels. It means that instead of one channel as in the past, a station can now broadcast four channels (one main channel and three subchannels) on one frequency. This technology offers endless listening options.
For example, you enjoy FM 88.5Mhz where they feature news. Today, if you tune in to a channel but you don’t like the content, you can click HD2 radio (which is right next to HD1 on the screen) for another talk channel. If you still don’t like that, choose HD3 to switch channels again.
So, no more rolling the knob back and forth and hearing the irritating static to find what you might enjoy. How does it work? The trick lies in the audio compression and extra bandwidth. Stations can jam one extra music channel and three extra talk channels into one frequency.
- Displaying text data
With FM and AM radio technology, you don’t see anything on the screen but the channel frequency. With an HD radio tuner, you can read station information, song titles, artist names, and even album art on your car’s screen. This is the result of digitizing text data.
The innovation changes the way people listen to the radio. If you like a song, you can immediately read its name and singer. No more wild guessing.
HD Radio Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits
HD car stereo delivers deeper bass, higher treble, and greater dynamic range. Once you experience the high-solution audio HD Radio offers, you’ll never want to go back to regular radio. Car trips are more fun and enjoyable than ever.
The perk of it is you get all the benefits with only an HD Radio receiver, whose cost starts at $50. Other radio programs like Sirius XM Radio charge $20 per month for access to all content.
If you intend to use HD Radio at home, the same benefits apply. All you need is an HD Radio home receiver. You won’t pay any monthly subscription fees.
Drawbacks
HD Radio has been around for almost two decades, but many people still don’t feel the need for it. Why?
The digitizing process might discard data, resulting in lost information of the original audio. Additionally, the audio compression for multicasting can cause sound quality reduction at times.
Digitalization doesn’t stop signal delays entirely. When delays happen, it causes the timing of the digital signal to be later than the analog version.
When the digital signal is not strong enough, the HD Radio receiver will automatically stop and your radio switches to its analog version. If this occurs too often, it leads to a pattern of interruptions.
Besides, the cost for stations to implement HD Radio technology is high. Upgrading equipment can cost from $200 to $30,000. On top of that, stations have to pay an annual fee of $5,000. Thus, your favorite channel might not be available on HD Radio.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know if my radio is HD?
Many cars already equip HD Radio in their sound systems. If your car has one, you’ll see an HD Radio logo on the screen when you tune in to a channel. Its position can be right below the FM frequency or at the bottom list of the screen.
2. How far does HD Radio signal travel?
HD Radio signal can travel from 10 to 15 miles before your radio switches to standard audio. You can find the nearest stations on the HD Radio website.
3. Is HD Radio the same as satellite radio?
No, it isn’t. HD Radio enables local AM and FM stations to broadcast with higher quality and additional digital content for free. Satellite radio offers select programming all across the country at a monthly description fee.
4. Is HD Radio worth it?
Whether you should invest in HD radio depends on how many HD channels are available in your area. In small towns, there might be no HD channels at all. So, check the stations near you by entering your zip code on the brand’s website. In large cities, HD Radio is definitely worth the price.
Conclusion
To sum up, HD Radio delivers better sound quality and more content by digitizing AM and FM radio signals. With HD Radio, you can say goodbye to the annoying static and hiss of standard radio, enjoy a variety of listening options, and read text information (songs, weather, sports) right on your car’s screen.
If you find our answer to “How does HD Radio work?” informative, please share it with others. This technology will take their radio experience to the next level.