Monday, February 13, 2012

It’s Not Your Average Radio. Have You Made the HD Radio Switch?


When you start your car, chances are as soon as the key enters the ignition it turns on your radio as well. Everyone has his or her favorite stations. It might be anything from top forty to smooth jazz. But, did you know that there are more stations out there that you didn’t even know existed?

These stations are HD stations that are only available on HD radio. An HD radio receives the normal analog broadcasts of AM and FM radio in addition to digital broadcasts. According to the official HD radio website, stations are available in all fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. These stations feature a wide variety of options for listeners of all genres. For example, in Baltimore you can find anything from classical to Country to talk radio. 

You also won’t have to worry about no longer having analog or being forced to switch. A few years ago, television broadcasting went completely digital. However, because of portable radios, you won’t be forced to make the switch any time soon though I would encourage you to do so. If you’re worried about making the switch, it’s very simple. HD radio doesn’t cost anything other than the initial purchase of one. Unlike subscription services such as Sirius or XM, listening to HD radio is completely free. 

Not only is it free, but it also comes with great advanced features: 
-Program Service Data: If you’re listening to a song and you want to know who sings it, you can easily check on an HD radio. Program Service data displays the song title and artist right on the screen as it plays 
-Digital Sound: Sometimes static interferes with you’re listening experience. This is no longer a problem on HD radio. Digital sound features a higher quality and no static interference. 
-iTunes Tagging: Perhaps one of the more advanced features of HD radio. You can easily connect your radio to your iTunes account. If you like a song you here you can “tag” it. It will then make a note in your iTunes account with an option for a future purchase. 
-Artist Experience: Your HD radio will display an album cover or picture of the artist as the song plays, thus mirroring the current iPod experience. 
-Live Pause: If for any reason you need to take a break but you still want to listen later, you have the unique ability to pause the radio even though it is live. 
-Bookmark: This feature saves a song or even ads in a bookmark folder for future reference. 
-Traffic: You’ll never have to worry about being late to work again. The HD radio can display traffic update in real time. 

All of these features make the HD radio not only a radio, but also a unique listening experience. With the ability to listen to more stations than ever before, radio usage may just experience a turnaround. Obviously, it has to compete with listeners who prefer to listen to their iPods or CDs. But for those who truly enjoy the experience of radio, HD is the ultimate solution. 

3 comments:

  1. I appreciated the fact that you "showed" instead of "told" in your blog introduction. Nevertheless, you could have been a little more imaginative to capture your readers' attention. I also appreciated your list. Your list was persuasive in that your numerous arguments on why HD radio is great was convincing. Lastly, you did a good job staying on topic.

    Good job!

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  2. I really enjoyed reading your post! It was very informative and clear. I had no idea there was such a thing as HD Radio before learning about yesterday in class and reading about it in this post. Thank you for including the link to the website in your blog! Not only was I able to explore the site myself, but I was also able to send the link to some of my family members and friends, and use what I learned in your blog post and in class to explain HD Radio and the benefits of using it to them. A lot of people I know have Sirius Satellite radio, but are unhappy with the cost. They were thrilled to hear about a radio where the service is free, and the only cost is buying the device itself. Sirius radio also has the downfall of needing to see the satellite in order to have a signal, something that it not a problem with HD Radio, because it is digital. Thanks so much for sharing!

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