Real World Test of “Mighty Red HD Radio”

You may have  heard  about the “Mighty  Red HD Radio” that was recently offered  for  $35.00 plus shipping by commercial radio consultant Eric  Rhodes.   According to Rhodes, most  radio pros haven’t even heard HD Radio.  So, if HD is ever to  catch on, Rhodes believes that those  in the biz should champion it.

Since the focus of this blog is on noncom radio, let’s give the “Mighty Red HD Radio” a here-and- now test with Minneapolis/St. Paul stations.  It is late morning December 31, 2009.  Here is the dial scan:

• 88.5 KBEM –  Jazz — Spotty FM reception, no HD

• 89.3 KCMP “The Current” — MPR Album Rock — Spotty FM reception, HD can’t lock in

• 89.9 KMOJ — Black Community — Good FM reception, no HD

• 90.3 KFAI — Pacifica Community — Good FM reception, good reception HD-1 simulcast, HD-2 carrier without audio — crawl says “no longer available”

• 91.1 KNOW — MPR NPR News and Talk — Good FM reception, good HD-1 simulcast reception, HD-2 “Radio Heartland” good reception; HD-3 BBC World Service good reception but phasing problems and thin audio fidelity

• 98.5 KTIS — Northwestern College — Current Christian AC — Good FM reception, good HD-1 simulcast reception; HD-2 Christian Rock, good reception; HD-3 old style Christian AC

• 99.5 KSJN — MPR Classical — Good FM reception, good HD-1 simulcast reception; HD-2 “Light classical” good reception

Results:  Radio is okay but only two local noncom broadcasters are offering serious HD programming.