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.