Anyone else hearing these commercials on the radio? I'm sure its the non-XM alternative (cable radio?) but the whole terminology bothers the hell out of me. What can be a higher definition than an analog signal? It obviously can't have better resolution ... so what is it? They also say there's hidden channels as well, I'm sure they are just at higher and lower frequencies current radios aren't equiped to search?

It absolutely can be higher quality audio. Typical demodulated FM audio has a bandwidth of about 40hz-10khz, with most data below 100 hz being mono to save bandwidth. CD audio is DC-20khz, with no unintentional mono signals. I am not sure what the standard of satellite radio, but standard analog FM is pretty crappy. Also analog FM and probably satellite radio are only 2 channels of audio. HD radio could possibly support the bandwidth to accomodate 5.1.

Yeah, now that I think about it - radio couldn't be broadcasted in true analog, it has to be compressed - else it'd be too large of a signal.

I don't need HD radio. I need something that will drown out the other noises in the background while I'm driving to work with the windows down.

Yeah, now that I think about it - radio couldn't be broadcasted in true analog, it has to be compressed - else it'd be too large of a signal.


It is not compressed it is FM(Frequency modulated) The overall frequency of the channel is the overlaying basic shape of the signal while the varying frequencies are hidden into that wave. Think of it as a wave within the wave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_modulated A decent Decription. But think of a sinusoidal wave with another wave hidden within it.

and HD radio is actually a compressed version of FM allowing more data to be sent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-Radio

Wouldn't all this be something a supposed media/video/sound professional have to know to get a job?