HD Radio: Clear Potential, but Uncertain Future

The Recepter was able to tune in 11 of the 14 FM HD stations without much trouble at a house in Arlington, although in some cases I had to swap antennas. Boston first shipped this radio with a relatively short wire antenna that plugs into the back, then recently added a seven-foot-long wire that can be used as a backup. The company says buyers of earlier models can get the new antenna for free.

At times, tuning in digital radio reminded me of trying to lock in digital TV broadcasts. The signals were weaker than their analog counterparts, as mandated by Federal Communications Commission regulations, and could drop out, then resume for no apparent reason. The HD signals of classical WGMS (104.1 FM) and smooth-jazz WJZW (105.9 FM) never got past that shakiness -- and The Post's WTWP (107.7 FM) was complete static the whole time.

HD radio on AM delivers a much bigger improvement in sound -- but only if you can get the signal, something the Recepter had serious trouble doing. Whether I used its internal AM antenna or the external one included in the box, it pulled in only one HD AM signal, "SportsTalk" WTEM (980 AM). It detected an HD signal on two others, WKDL (730 AM) and WTWP (1500 AM), but never tuned it in; all-talk WTNT (570 AM) never even showed one.

On WTEM's signal, the improvement was astounding -- HD radio wiped away all of the usual hiss and static, leaving a clear, crisp signal sounding better than most FM broadcasts.

As much as I'd like to hear Georgetown basketball games in this clarity next year, however, I probably won't; FCC regulations prohibit AM HD broadcasts after dark, lest they interfere with the reception of distant AM signals.

The Recepter ought to be able to pick up and hold on to a digital signal better -- the HD car stereo I auditioned two years ago seemed considerably more reliable. But it's not as if you've got much of a choice right now at home. When will that change? Since 2004, iBiquity has had the same general answer: over the next year or two.

Seeing this technology inch its way into the market is getting to be as frustrating as trying to find some originality on your FM dial. If you value what HD radio can do for the public airwaves, you have to hope iBiquity's forecast comes true this time.

Living with technology, or trying to? E-mail Rob Pegoraro atrob@twp.com.