HD Radio and You!

What the heck is HD Radio?
It’s a new method of radio broadcasting that allows stations like WUKY to broadcast a digital signal in addition to our current analog one. HD Radio represents the first significant improvement in FM broadcasting since the introduction of stereo over 50 years ago.
 
What’s in it for me?
Quite a bit, actually. The first thing you’ll notice is a dramatic improvement in the quality of sound. HD boasts the full frequency range of compact discs, plus greater stereo separation and increased definition. And if you listen in your car, you’ll notice that HD is noise-free. There’s none of the sputtering and signal fades that you experience as you drive around the Lexington area. But that’s not all. HD technology also enables you to enjoy “multicasting” and receive text messages related to our programming.
 
Whoa. What’s multicasting? Is that even a word?
It may not be in the dictionary yet, but multicasting is one of the greatest benefits of HD technology. Simply put, WUKY can now broadcast two or more streams of programming at the same time. All you have to do is tune your HD radio to WUKY-2 or WUKY-3 to sample these offerings.  

Did you say “new” radio? Does that mean I can’t get HD on my current radio?
In order to hear WUKY’s HD broadcasts, you need an HD-capable receiver. Car radios, table radios, and even component tuners are all available now. Several different brands are available including Sony, JVC, Sangean, Cambridge SoundWorks, and Radiosophy.

Where can I get an HD receiver?
Barney Miller’s, downtown Lexington, has the Cambridge SoundWorks radio in stock. The JVC car radio is available from Wal- Mart. Perhaps the best way to purchase an HD radio, however, is online. Use the Amazon link on this page to search for “HD Radio”, and you’ll see many HD radios at very competitive prices. Of the units we have tested at WUKY, we recommend the table radio and component tuner from Sangean and the JVC car radio. Also worth consideration is the Radiosophy table radio, which sells for under $100. You can click the banner on this page, or visit our home page, to order. One word of warning: Boston Acoustics no longer manufactures HD Radios. The Boston Acoustics Receptor radio found at amazon.com cannot tune in digital radio signals.

What’s the difference between HD and satellite radio?
Both HD and satellite radio provide an interference-free, CD quality signal for both music and talk shows. However, there are several significant differences between HD and satellite. Both require that you purchase a new radio to hear the programming. However, you must pay a monthly fee to receive satellite broadcasts. HD Radio is free. Satellite radio is a national service that supplies the same programming from coast-to-coast. HD is a local service that supplements regular programming that you already receive from WUKY and other HD stations.

What will I hear when I tune to Wookie 2 and Wookie 3?
24/7, WUKY HD- 2 gives you music much like the Adult Rock we play on our main channel. It's "eXPoNential Radio," from NPR and WXPN.  Sample it here. WUKY HD- 3 is all news, all the time. You'll hear NPR's "Talk of the Nation," "The Diane Rehm Show," and other NPR fare, as well as the BBC. Full schedule here. Stream WUKY HD-3 here.
  

HD Radio™ Newsflash

• The Jensen HD5212 HD Radio receiver for your car is available at various retailers. Click here for more.

• Listening to HD2 and HD3 channels in your car is becoming easier with factory-installed, upgrade kits, and replacement radios available now. Read about the momentum in the automotive world here.

• Check out a variety of high-quality, feature-rich HD Radio receivers that are currently available, plus some that are “coming soon,” in the HD Radio booth (#725) at the NAB Radio show. See the floor plan here.

• 1,768 stations in the US are broadcasting with HD Radio technology with over 900 additional HD2 and HD3 stations. 

Have a question we didn’t answer? E-mail it and we’ll reply as quickly as possible.