1. No, your presenter is not “drinking the iBiquity Kool-Aid”
IBOC / HD RadioTM : Engineering Concerns Aaron Read (G.M. : Finger Lakes Public Radio)
Already decided HD RadioTM is right for you? Here’s a look at what you’ll need to do.
No, your presenter is not “drinking the iBiquity Kool-Aid”

2. A little housekeeping first…
CBI listserv:
Opening for Student position on CBI executive board. app to by Nov.15th
Must still be a student thru Dec.2011
Fill out a feedback form, dammit!!

3. Session is not about operational issues / concerns.
Essential Questions
Session is not about operational issues / concerns.
It’s about the engineering of HD Radio, and how it applies to your situation.

4. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
Are you an AM station?
We’re not going to talk much about AM.
Has a lot of problems, is only sparsely implemented.
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5. What is HD Radio? Hint: “HD” doesn’t stand for anything
HD Radio=brand name
Digital sidebands straddling the analog carrier
Some RF energy on adjacent channels
In-Band / On-Channel = “IBOC”
Backwards-compatible
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6. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
Is it required?
Unlike DTV in 2009, it’s optional
All-digital possible, but not authorized by FCC yet
Pressure to migrate comes from listeners, marketplace, campus politics, etc.
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7. What happens with HD Radio?
Analog > Buffer > Blend to Digital
Takes a few seconds
Analog delay for time-align
IBOC uses HDC (AAC) codec
If HD is lost, blends back to analog
Or mutes for HD2, HD3, etc
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8. Simple FM IBOC Transmission Topology – All IBOC Gear at Transmitter Site diagram courtesy of The IBOC Handbook, page 401

9. FM IBOC Transmission Topology – with Exporter and Exgine Modules diagram courtesy of The IBOC Handbook, page 405

10. FM IBOC Transmission Topology – with Exporter & Exgine Modules, plus Importer diagram courtesy of The IBOC Handbook, page 413

11. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
What is HD Radio? (FM)
Digital carriers = bits & bytes
96kbps std (+12 or +24 ext.hybrid or “MP3” mode; More carriers closer to analog carrier = no work with 92kHz SCA)
Multicasting (HD2, HD3…HD7)
PAD/PSD, iTunes Tagging, Downloadable Content, etc. 20kHz audio bandwidth
No multipath interference or stereo hiss
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12. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
What is HD Radio? (AM)
Also just bits & bytes, just 32kbps
No multicasting
PAD/PSD, just barely
Improved audio quality
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13. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
Multicasting
Killer app
Extra stations hidden in the signal
Require an HD tuner to hear
Subdivides 96kbps total
Ext.Hybrid is separate
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14. Download these slides: www.friedbagels.com/cbi/
iTunes Tagging
Press TAG button
Radio saves tag to iPod
Next time iPod synchs, iTunes
buys it automatically
Very cool, but limited receivers /
stations doing it.
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15. More HD Radio power, pleez!
Standard was -20dBc (1/100th)
FCC blanket increase to -14dBc
Up to -10dBc in specific cases
Hi-lvl combining / common amp – derating by 50%
-20dBc common amp TPO = 4.00kW (16.0kW)
-14dBc common amp TPO = 2.65kW (10.6kW)
-10dBc common amp TPO = 1.98kW (8.52kW)
Means a MUCH bigger transmitter is needed!
MUCH better HD coverage – better for HD-n, too
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16. FM translators and boosters
Boosters (Single Freq. Network)
NRSC-5 specs carrier synch, but no radios support it yet. Only prelim testing.
Translators require separate iBiquity license (i.e. $20k)
Unless you get a heterodyning xlator
WEOS/W212BA case study
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17. FMeXtra? Digital SCA (Subcarrier) service
Compatible with hybrid IBOC, but not all-digital IBOC.
Transmits 64 – 156kbps
Stereo, RDS, analog SCA = less kbps avail.
Transmits DATA, but architecture only supports audio via AAC at the moment.

18. Shameless Self-Promotion The IBOC Handbook : Understanding HD RadioTM Technology
Looking to really learn the engineering of IBOC / HD Radio? Read this book!
First Overview of the Approved NRSC-5 (IBOC) Standard.
Authored by David Maxson
Illustrated by Aaron Read
Available on Amazon.com

19. Questions – and please no: Tell us your situation, we’ll opine if
Final Thoughts
Questions – and please no:
Rants, Screeds, Diatribes, Harangues, Raving, Tirades, Bullyragging, Vociferation, Bloviating, Railing, Objurgating, Badgering, Molestation, Nettling, Ruffling, Badgering, Pestering, Heckling or Persecution.
Tell us your situation, we’ll opine if
HD Radio or FMeXtra is right for you!
Aaron Read can be reached via
Need an engineer? Yes you do!