WHO Radio is pioneering digital radio broadcasts in Des Moines and Central Iowa. As the first station in the area to add a digital broadcast, we're going to be learning to ride this bike without training wheels, so you'll be learning right alongside us!
First and foremost,
your normal radio will continue to work and will still receive the regular WHO signal. We're not abandoning you, and our regular (analog) signal will remain as strong as ever. Digital radio is going to be an extra service that we will add on top of the original signal.
And that explains a little more about the way the new signal works: It's called in-band, on-channel (IBOC). That means that the new digital signal is delivered to you sort of like a layer cake -- it's in the same place as our conventional signal, just right on top of it.
It won't interfere with the regular signal, but it will require some experimentation since we're one of the most powerful stations to ever try digital broadcasts.
In order to receive our digital broadcasts, you will need to purchase a special receiver. It's just like making the switch to digital cable or HDTV -- you can't get the new signal on your old receiver; it has to be unscrambled or interpreted by a new piece of equipment. Right now, the receivers cost several hundred dollars. Some cost more than $1,000. As more people buy them, the cost is expected to fall (just like computers!) -- so we're counting on you early adopters out there to lead the way. Some cars are already being fitted with digital receivers, too, and these can be less expensive than the in-home receivers.
The signal will
sound a lot like FM radio, and in some cases even better. Fortunately, WHO Radio has had a long history of processing its AM signal to sound great, so now you'll be able to really enjoy the benefits of our work. That's the really special part about our new digital broadcasts -- the great programming you've always enjoyed, but at a sound quality you've never experienced from AM before.
Here are some of the other questions most people are asking:
- How much will a digital receiver cost? That depends on where you buy, how advanced a receiver you want, and how many people start to buy them. Prices in February 2005 are around $1,000 each, though we've seen receivers and car systems that can plug in to existing systems for under $400.
- How far away will the signal reach? We're going to "power down" the digital signal at night, so our listeners in distant locations will only receive our conventional AM signal.
- Will digital radio cost me anything? No subscription fees from us, that's for sure. Just the cost of a new receiver.
- Will digital radio help my reception? For the most part, digital AM broadcasts carry about the same as analog signals. The difference is that the sound is much better. So if you're in a big metal building where reception of the conventional WHO signal is weak, our digital signal probably won't get through any better. For you, our planned Internet streaming audio will probably be the solution. We expect to have that ready shortly after we start working from our new studios later this spring.
If you have any further questions about digital radio, please contact our webmaster,
Brian Gongol. We will not be able to answer all of your questions personally, but we will add them to our list here on the website.
© 2008