| The hottest new thing in sound is called HD Radio | | | | rock, and reggae, or classic rock and old school |
| technology. And what it does for radio is the same | | | | hip-hop. |
| thing that HDTV does for TV — it makes it light | | | | Naturally, you would be able to hear these stations only |
| years better! In fact, when you listen to HD AM radio, | | | | if you have an HD Radio technology receiver. If you |
| you'll think you're listening to FM. And when you listen | | | | don't, you'll still hear the same AM or FM station you're |
| to FM, you'll think you're listening to a CD. | | | | used to. |
| Why more is better | | | | How it works |
| In HD Radio tecnology, compressed digital signals can | | | | HD Radio technology works much like traditional |
| be subdivided. This allows a station to multi-cast. | | | | analog transmissions (AM and FM are both analog |
| meaning it could broadcast two or more programs at | | | | signals). |
| the same time. So, its listeners might be able to choose | | | | The difference is that the station broadcasting HD |
| between a sports program and easy listening music | | | | Radio technology transmits an extra digital radio signal, |
| — on the same station at the same time. | | | | along with its normal analog signal. It can also |
| This gets exciting because it will allow stations to do | | | | broadcast a third signal for text data. |
| more niche broadcasting, just as cable as brought | | | | Your radio receiver receives the signal — just |
| niche channels to television. | | | | as it does an AM or FM signal. If you have a HD Radio |
| For example, the radio station you’ve always | | | | receiver, it will decompress and translate the signal and |
| tuned to for classic rock, might subdivide into classic | | | | viola! You get bright, clean, near-CD quality. |