Digital BC DX Opportunity

[Richard O'Neill]

From: *http://tinyurl.com/psqqz2t*

Wed Oct 1, 2014 9:07 pm (PDT) .

This, from the Seattle Society of Broadcast Engineers list. Interesting
opportunity to (maybe) do some DXing on HD radio. Dunno how badly the
co-channel junk will mess this up, but let's see. Of course, your finest
analog radio is helpless here.

Ludwell Sibley

Fox Sports 1380 (KRKO) and Classic Country 1520 (KKXA) originate North
American all-digital AM radio tests October 2nd through October 7th.
Stations will suspend analog transmissions for experimental broadcasts in
partnership with NAB Labs.

Everett, Washington - If you're hearing silence on your radio this weekend,
it may be time to purchase a new receiver. The Federal Communications
Commission has approved experimental test authority for Everett area radio
stations KRKO-AM and KKXA-AM to serve as the final all-digital test stations
out of nine chosen by NAB Labs, a division of the National Association of
Broadcasters. The testing will require both radio stations to broadcast
their programming utilizing all-digital HD RadioT Technology and temporarily
suspend their analog broadcasts for periods of time between October 2 and
October 6, 2014. NAB Labs is collecting test data to better understand the
performance characteristics of all digital transmissions via AM radio.
Results of the tests will be processed and submitted to the Federal
Communications Commission in 2015.

According to the Seattle Area Radio Association and Ibiquity Digital
Corporation, there are approximately 223,907 HD Radio-equipped vehicles in
Seattle and 50& of the new vehicles sold Y-T-D in the Seattle DMA shipped
with HD Radio Technology. Nationwide, over 20 million receivers are
equipped with the new technology. Nearly 40% of new cars delivered in 2014
are equipped with HD Radio receivers.

"Listeners in King County with analog radios can receive approximately 26 FM
signals, but those who have radios with HD RadioT Technology can receive an
additional 33 channels, many of them commercial free," said Chuck Maylin,
executive director of the Seattle Area Radio Association. "Many people
don't realize that HD RadioT Technology gives them free access to
programming and radio channels they can't currently receive on analog
radios."

Listeners with analog radios will hear silence when tuned to 1380 AM and
1520 AM during test times. Listeners with radios that have HD RadioT
Technology will hear audio quality similar to that of FM Radio except with
no static, and listeners tuned to Classic Country 1520, in particular, will
hear stereo separation along with the full audio range of the country music
being played. The coverage area of both radio stations should also increase
during the tests.

"These all-digital tests are an important step in the evolution of an
industry that produces great content at no charge to the consumer," said
Andy Skotdal, general manager of Fox Sports 1380 and Classic Country 1520.
"People who want to listen to streaming audio on their cell phones know it
kills their cell phone battery and can have a costly impact on their data
plan. This technology will give us the ability to deliver all of our 
content with
superior sound quality on our biggest distribution channel: 
theover-the-air transmitter.

Fox Sports 1380 and Classic Country 1520 are encouraging listeners from
Tacoma to Bellingham to tune in to 1380 AM Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
and to 1520 AM Sunday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Listeners with radios
capable of receiving HD RadioT transmissions will be invited to participate.

###

KRKO 1380 AM (Fox Sports) all-digital test times (subject to change until
October 2):
Saturday, October 4, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday, October 5, 9 PM - 1 AM
Monday, October 6, 9 PM- 1 AM

KKXA 1520 AM (Classic Country) all-digital test times (subject to change
until October 2):
Thursday, October 2, 9 PM to 1 AM
Saturday, October 4, 9 PM to 1 AM
Sunday, October 5, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

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