Other radio options

[KDus]

As HD2 HD3 and such roll out on broadcast bands, stations will need alternate programming. Hopefully, something that gets PPM numbers to make their HD channels worth broadcasting. (some have found it a waste of electricity)

FTL and LRN would be great for those channels.

[FTL_Ian]

That'd be cool.  But how to market that to stations?  Plus, there's the fact that LRN sometimes has dead air because it has no live operator 24/7.

[KDus]

Been listening to HD channels around L.A. I predict it is a doomed technology. It can't compete with satellite.
XM is rock solid. HD drops out if you look at it wrong. On the HD2-HD3 it mutes because there is nothing to fall back on like the main carrier.
Also, the selling points of HD were better audio, more user services, and multi-channel. But, it only sounds better when it works, the "services" require stations to pay license fees to use them, and HD2/3..are worthless. There's no revenue in HD radio, so stations are turning it off.

The good news is, all the HD gear displaced other gear that will make its way into the market.

[BonerJoe]

HD and satellite sound like shit to me. But then, I can hear the difference. Most people don't care.

[KDus]

HD and satellite sound like shit to me. But then, I can hear the difference. Most people don't care.

Yes, they sound like crap and yes, most listeners don't care.
HD radio has more potential but few stations take the necessary steps to maximize audio quality.

Stations I work for in L.A. still play songs that were dubbed from Carts that were dubbed from vinyl. They also still have songs stored in Layer2 compression at about 4:1. It is actually worse than analog FM because we are cascading algorithms between 2 and 4 times.
We had an HD3 that played cuts from mp3, through a Barix IP codec, up to the TX on a 4:1 aptx codec through a T-1, and then through the HD packaging(like AAC). It was barely intelligible and has been turned off. The recovered bandwidth was given back to the HD2 which doesn't sound much better.

[FTL_Ian]

HD and satellite sound like shit to me. But then, I can hear the difference. Most people don't care.

Yes, they sound like crap and yes, most listeners don't care.
HD radio has more potential but few stations take the necessary steps to maximize audio quality.

Stations I work for in L.A. still play songs that were dubbed from Carts that were dubbed from vinyl. They also still have songs stored in Layer2 compression at about 4:1. It is actually worse than analog FM because we are cascading algorithms between 2 and 4 times.
We had an HD3 that played cuts from mp3, through a Barix IP codec, up to the TX on a 4:1 aptx codec through a T-1, and then through the HD packaging(like AAC). It was barely intelligible and has been turned off. The recovered bandwidth was given back to the HD2 which doesn't sound much better.

Yegads.

[davidfordhere]

How about renting out an hour or two a week on one of the powerful shortwave stations to bring in more listeners to FTL? 

Shortwave transmissions cover extremely large areas, and they do not requirer a computer, or stationary dish antenna. The listener only requires a radio with short wave coverage. From what I heard air time bought in baulk is about $1 per min. (Something to consider) 

http://www.wwrb.org/ptime.php
http://www.wwcr.com/buying-airtime.html