November 28, 2007
Volvo Commits to HD Radio in Nearly All 2009 Models
Volvo will include HD Radio tuners in most of its 2009 models: The auto maker confirmed that they'll make this a standard feature.
September 27, 2007
JVC Adds Transportable HD Radio
The KT-HDP1 can be used in a car or at home with separate kits: The $150 receiver requires two separate $60 kits to use with a car and at home. The former comes with all the modules to tie into an FM receiver and auxiliary input for automotive audio, along with a stand for dashboard mounting; the latter, a stand, AC adapter, and some audio cables.
September 26, 2007
Ford Expands HD Radio to Most Product Lines
HD Radio is now part of a dealer-installable option on most Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury cars: Also, older cars back to 2005 models can have a digital AM/FM receiver installed. This is a bit of a move in the right direction, but it's nothing like a factory-installed option, where more people would choose a model of car that happened to include HD Radio.
June 7, 2007
New Mini Coopers To Have HD Radio Receiver Option
It's a very small number of additional potential customers, but it's part of a big wall that's has to be chipped away for mass adoption: Mini USA will offer factory-installed HD Radio receivers on the 2007 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S hardtops. As a standalone option, it costs $500, which includes an upgraded radio. It can also be had as part of the full-on audio package which offers a Sirius receiver, too. Ridiculously expensive, but these are premium brands.
February 12, 2007
Directed's Strange Method of Adding Auto HD Radio
For $200, you can add HD Radio to your car--and an extra faceplate: Okay, this is a little weird, when you can buy an entire car radio for $200 that includes an integral HD Radio tuner. Crutchfield is selling Directed Electronics DMHD-1000, which is an add-on for car radios that uses an existing antenna and stereo system--and a separate faceplate. Crutchfield's site notes that you just put the "control panel in a convenient spot on your dash," which is, I don't know--nowhere? I can't see where most cars have the room to add a second faceplate, and having a non-integrated AM/FM radio with HD seems rather strange, too.
Since you'd need to install the Directed unit, buying the Panasonic CQ-CB8901U from Crutchfield for $200 ($500 list!) would offer integration and simplicity.
December 6, 2006
Automakers Commit to HD, But Shhhhh
Nine carmakers and 49 models will over HD Radio over the next two years, but which ones? When I interviewed iBiquity's head, Robert Struble, for the article that appears in today's New York Times reviewing HD Radios, he said the same thing. Lots of commitments, no announcements as to whom. BMW is the only automaker that offers HD Radio as an option so far on just a few models. Struble told The News & Observer that some models will feature HD Radio receivers as standard equipment starting in 2007.
June 6, 2006
Traffic Data over HD Broadcasts
Clear Channel will distribute traffic information to HD Radio receivers: The radio giant's head of distribution development said that they would launch this service into 48 markets, a close overlap to their current, much slower system. Initially, 100 stations will broadcast traffic data over HD Radio signals, although this will spread to all Clear Channel stations. An HD Radio traffic module will be necessary to receive the data and integrate it into navigation systems.
The exec expects this service to be built into cars by companies that offer navigation systems to automakers. This will allow automakers to add new information remotely, such as new stores that have opened since the GPS system was primed at the factory. An alternate system called RDS runs about 1/20th the speed of HD Radio, but is better designed for handhelds and after-market products due to price and power use.