Portable HD Radio prototype gets pictured, coming this summer for under $50
By Darren Murph 
posted May 13th 2009 10:07PM
posted May 13th 2009 10:07PM
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want. now.
same... i bet this is how people felt in the 80's when they had to lug around walkmans... i hope these get smaller like normal radios...
Sweet I have HD Radio in my jeep now I can take it to go.
Portable? Under $50? OK, now I'm interested in HD Radio.
Cheaper than an in-car HD radio.
That's what I was thinking. When are they going to make adapters for head units this cheap? I can get a satelite adapter for less then hd radio adapter.
About time. I've been wanting a portable HD radio tuner ever since I got a Micro-system for my bedroom with HD (Hybrid Digital).
Ummmmm.....AM? Why build something like this and leave that out?
Where does it say that AM is not supported?
FWIW - I had HD Radio in my previous car (Installed a 3rd party head unit myself). Many, many (most if not all? local stations carry the AM broadcast on an HD sub-channel.
I actually find myself missing the HD service, and would totally go for something as cheap as this. Most HD units are still way too expensive for what they offer.
This is what should've become standard around the world.
Or find someone promote DAB round the world.
Many countries haven't figured out which to use,
neither could Nokia,no suprise that they couldn't even try
putting DAB on their N-series.
Grrr... DAB nasty.
Most DAB chanels in the UK are so overly compressed (many are 96k MP2), it doesn't quite deserve the 'higher quality' argument which so many vendors and radio stations use - Not sure what HD radio is like in the US, but over here i'll stick with my FM thanks.
That HD stuff is completely propriety though I read, I think anti-monopoly laws might interfere with global acceptance.
What a waste! SiriusXM 4 Life!
Oh boy here comes 1990 again. Everyone is getting happy about a portable radio...only thing missing is those headphones with the wire that lets you adjust it. All we need now is bicycle shorts and those cheap sunglasses...
I'll be interested to hear what the battery life is like. From what I hear that's been the problem with trying to develop a portable player.
saweeeet
$50. to listen to the radio? You all obviously never heard the lackluster radio we have up here in Canada.
The government makes radio stations pump local, and Canadian "talent" all day long(upwards of 50%). Some is good, most is pure garbage. And not to mention the same bunch of DJ's. Who hold no credit, as just the week before they worked at a pop radio station, talking about how great Brittany Spears is, and now work for a classic rock station, going on about how great the Doors are.
The thought of spending even a lick of coin on radio here makes me cringe. HD or otherwise.
Oh, and its clearly RCA.
US radio's pretty bad too, I've used the FM radio on my Zune maybe once or twice over the year I've had it.
As a Canadian Radio Student/Announcer, I figured I'd chime in on this.
The rules the CRTC set up are/were to separate ourselves as a country from the American media (this was back when radio was the main form of media). Legally, it's 35% CANCON we have to play, not quite 50% yet, but it's usually programmed for about 40%, just to stay on the safe side. Yeah, it does suck sometimes. For example, Nickelback. But it also drives forward the search for new music and it's good for the artists. It comes more down to genre as to whether or not it's good for the listeners or not. For example I'm on an Urban station, and there's not a ton of Canadian Urban talent, and that makes things a little tight in choices.
And that brings me to your DJ point: You don't get to pick and choose what station you're at. Talent advances quickly. Just because you heard the voice on another station with a different sound has absolutely no reflection on them as a DJ. That's the same as refusing to order from Wendy's because last week you saw the cashier eating at Taco Bell. Stations can be owned in groups of up to 4 in a local cluster by one company, so the stations could be spread across different demographics, and talent can often be shared between the stations in the cluster. That's why you can hear one voice on a Rock station hyping the Foo Fighters rolling through town, then turn the dial to the Light Rock your mom listens to and hear that same voice gushing over Pink's new album.
Isn't radio mostly about talk-radio nowadays, and some general music to keep you from getting bored/fall asleep on long trips maybe, but predominately talk-radio where the 'action' is.
If you want to listen to your favourite bands you use your MP3 player right?
@Jabourasaurus: That's exactly the problem the original poster was referring to. Those aren't 'real DJs', they're just professional arseholes who treat music like fast food.
Sure lots of people are willing to accept that, they just want musical wallpaper plucked from the charts with some idiotic chatter. But people who care about music want to listen to DJs who care about music. And DJs who care about music will have their own preferences, not whatever's playlisted for them in whatever job they happened to pick up that week.
Unfortunately I've not heard of any radio stations that play genuine music shows (ie largely dj-selected rather than from a standard station playlist) during daytime... Musical wallpaper is too popular to do anything else. So if you want to listen to real radio you either have to tune in at a specific time in the evening... or these days, listen to it on the internet later...
don't get me wrong though I think digital radio (we have DAB in the uk) is a good thing. is it suddenly going to make daytime radio bearable, no it certainly isn't. so doesn't solve any of the problems with radio content, but it's still a slightly better way to deliver it. [Would be lots better if they allocated more bandwidth and used better compression, but oh well.]
I've certainly heard a lot of stuff done by music-lovers, but it tends to be celebrities. They have the clout to get a show where they play what they like.
Hmm.. I just installed an Aux port in my car... so I'm thinking that I could just hook this up and save myself from buying a new receiver. Yay!
That font looks just like Radio Shack's logo...
I also noticed that they spelled "radio" the Exact same way, interesting...
Insignia at Best Buy....
You heard it here first!
What do i win?
This would be great if radio didn't suck so bad, or it picked up radio signals from, oh say, about 30 - 40 years ago.
Cool! I can listen to the same shitty radio with the same shitty commercials, but with "HD digital" sound!
IBOC (I refuse to call it HD Radio - they just wanted to ride HDTV's coattails) doesn't just make the stations you get now clearer; it also allows for additional other subchannels to be broadcast. I think most stations up and running with IBOC already broadcast at least one subchannel.
This I will buy. I bet it has an Insignia logo on the bottom of it. I wonder why they would use a large color screen on the thing.
Interesting. Might be tempted to get it. Would be really tempted to get it if it would play MP3s as well.
@Spiff--
I saw this device in person at the NAB show. Really a slick little unit. It will play MP3s and has a slot for additional storage space.
As for the codec and bitrate HD Radio uses? It is actually something called HDC, which if I remember correctly is a variant of AAC+. An FM station operating in "Hybrid" mode has a total of 96 kbps to play with. It can be allocated between main and sub channels. "Extended Hybrid" gives a few more kilobits to play with. With AAC+, lower bitrate channels actually sound pretty good.
what the hell is HD radio suppose to be?
Ah I see, 15KHz digital stereo over AM, that's cute I guess although I hear it messes with regular AM stations too since it uses twice the channelspace, also works over FM but that seems completely pointless to me since FM is fine, and I bet this messes up the great channel separation FM offers in practise. (many new 'improved' digital systems actually end up reducing quality in several areas I can't but help notice).
HD radio sounds like garbage. In the Boston market, the sound quality sounds over compressed. Digital does not equal better in this case. Also, where is the XM tuner in this thing? Ahhhh yes, it was supposed to be the other way around. Stupid NAB. The HD in HD radio is just a marketing gimmick. It doesn't sound better.
The quality depends on the station. In Des Moines, for example, digital on KIOA sounds worse than the analog signal. Yet KDRB sounds much better in digital even though their analog signal was already the best in the region.
A little behind the times Engadget - this was seen at CES this year back in January (actually - that image looks be from that event).
see for yerself
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/hd-radio-chipset-gets-smaller-fits-in-mp3-player.html
What's seen at CES and what is or will be on sale is not always the same though.
Some stuff at such shows never reach the retail stage, some never reaches the US or wherever the consumer lives.
RE sam: "Unfortunately I've not heard of any radio stations that play genuine music shows (ie largely dj-selected rather than from a standard station playlist) during daytime"
I think you can find that on Sirius Radio. The shows on their "Underground Garage" station spring immediately to mind.
Terrific...I want one. In this economy portable HD Radio for under $50 could be just the shot in the arm that HD Radio needs. HD radio continues to be a little confusing to some folks, but as with most new technology, it takes time and momentum for it to catch on. As larger companies, like Mercedes and Microsoft jump on board and promote HD technology with their products, more consumers will grow to appreciate the benefits and become comfortable with it. For a lot more info on HD radio and a great selection of HD radio receivers, HD radio tuners, and home audio go to www.hdradiotuner.org
I think that url is supposed to be http://www.hdradiotuner.org
Wow, this is great!
Actually, this is iNiquity's KRI Armband portable HD/MP3 player shown at CES 2009. It is still a power hog, as SiPort duped everyone claiming 110mW battery drain, but that was for HD RADIO PLAYBACK MODE ONLY! Those numbers are only attainable when all transceivers are shut off and the headphones are used. As usual, nothing but lies from iNiquity. The player is thick because the chipset is still too big. Also, notice how the power cord goes into the top away from the HD chip, as to lessen interference. This KRI Armband actually uses 500mW, so charges will be, at best, a couple of hours. Also, good-luck picking up those fragile digital signals without dipole antanas. This piece of junk will be returned enmasse:
hdradiofarce.blogspot.com
And, you think at $50, or any price, these junky HD radios will sell, just ask Mark Ramsey. Over four years, few HD radios have sold, and most have been returned for being "deaf", jsut like what will happen with this joke.
Actually, this is iNiquity's KRI Armband portable HD/MP3 player shown at CES 2009. It is still a power hog, as SiPort duped everyone claiming 110mW battery drain, but that was for HD RADIO PLAYBACK MODE ONLY! Those numbers are only attainable when all transceivers are shut off and the headphones are used. As usual, nothing but lies from iNiquity. The player is thick because the chipset is still too big. Also, notice how the power cord goes into the top away from the HD chip, as to lessen interference. This KRI Armband actually uses 500mW, so charges will be, at best, a couple of hours. Also, good-luck picking up those fragile digital signals without dipole antanas. This piece of junk will be returned enmasse:
http://hdradiofarce.blogspot.com
And, you think at $50, or any price, these junky HD radios will sell, just ask Mark Ramsey. Over four years, few HD radios have sold, and most have been returned for being "deaf", jsut like what will happen with this joke.
I bought a JVC KDHDR1 when it was first released and put it in my car, I have to say that I have been very pleased. I listen to my ipod off it 40% of the time, 20% HD only channels, 30% Normal channels in HD, and 10% CD. I wouldn't listen to music if it wasn't in hd now if I get a new car or stereo. The quality sounds so much better then normal fm.
What about a portable digital TV?