Q. What is HD Radio?

A. HD Radio has been described as “the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo.”  Instead of relying solely on analog broadcasts, FM and AM stations now also have the ability to broadcast their programs digitally, a change that offers multiple advantages.  

• More Programming Options
• Improved Fidelity
• No Audio Distortion
• Advanced Services

HD Radio provides better fidelity than AM or FM.  For AM-HD Radio, the difference is striking.

For FM, the improvement in fidelity is somewhat more subtle.  FM-HD Radio's big advantage is its ability to multicast -- that is, to carry more than one program service at the same time on the same frequency.  This provides stations the ability to triple the amount of programming offered to listeners who have new HD radios and as the technology matures, there may even be four program channels.

Engineers are also working on advanced services like real-time traffic and weather displays.  These will have to wait for advanced receivers to be built, but the HD Radio technology fully supports it.

Learn more about the advantages HD Radio will offer.  Check into how NPR is implementing HD Radio.

Q.  How will Northwest Public Radio take advantage of the multicasting capability?  

A.  NWPR broadcasts two program services, and we plan to put both services on all our FM digital stations (because of narrower channels, this multicasting capability will not be available on AM, nor is HD Radio currently authorized for FM translators).  In the case of KNWY in Yakima, for example, this means our NPR and Classical Music service will continue to be on the analog side and on 90.3-HD1 on the digital side.  NWPR's NPR News service can be tuned in on 90.3-HD2.  Eventually (meaning when there are a sufficient number of receivers in listener hands), our plans are to add an HD3 service that will be something entirely different.

To summarize, this will be the initial configuration for stations currently providing our NPR and Classical Music service (KZAZ, KNWV, KNWO, KRFA, KNWP, KFAE, KNWR and KNWY):  

 Analog/HD-1: NPR and Classical Music
HD-2: NPR News
HD-3: To Be Determined

And, except for KWSU-AM, this will be the initial configuration for FM stations currently on our NPR News service (KLWS, KQWS, KMWS, and KWWS):  

Analog/HD-1: NPR News
        HD-2:  NPR and Classical Music
        HD-3:  To Be Determined

Because KWSU-AM does not have multicasting capability, it will continue to provide only our NPR News service, but of course most KWSU listeners can also receive KRFA or KNWV.  

Both our program services are also available, streamed as they are broadcast, from our web-site. 

Q.  You mentioned that “stations” will be converted to HD but “translators” will not be in the near future.  How do I know whether I’m listening to a station or a translator?

A.  To clarify, the following are stations:  

KZAZ, Bellingham (91.7)
KNWV, Clarkston/Lewiston (90.5)
KNWO, Cottonwood/Grangeville (90.1)
KNWR, Ellensburg/Wenatchee (90.7)
KRFA, Moscow/Pullman (91.7)
KLWS, Moses Lake/Ephrata (91.5)
KMWS, Mount Vernon ( 89.7)
KQWS, Omak/Okanogan (90.1)
KNWP, Port Angeles/Sequim (90.1)
KWSU-AM, Pullman/Moscow (1250)
KFAE, Tri-Cities (89.1)
KWWS, Walla Walla (89.7)
KNWY, Yakima (90.3)  

The following are translators:

Q.  What are Northwest Public Radio’s plans for converting its stations to HD Radio?

A.  The first Northwest Public Radio station to be converted to HD was KNWY in Yakima .  It was completed in December, 2006.  KWSU-AM in Pullman followed in early 2007.

In early 2008, KMWS in Mount Vernon, KFAE in the Tri-Cities, KRFA in Moscow/Pullman, and KLWS in Moses Lake/Ephrata were converted.  KNWR in Ellensburg is scheduled to be converted this spring.

We have received a commitment for federal funding for all 13 of our stations and are in the process of raising the local portion.  We're hoping to convert all 13 to HD Radio within the next two or three years.

Q.  Will I need to buy a new radio?

A.  To enjoy the benefits of HD Radio, you will need to buy a new radio.  More and more HD radios are coming on the market, and prices are dropping rapidly and some good ones are already available under $200.  Click here for more information on the products currently available.   

If you purchase a new HD radio, you will encounter the realities of digital transmission.  If you have a digital cell phone or one of the new digital television receivers, you know that digital transmission is "brittle."  It's either perfect or not there at all.  There's no gentle fading away as in the case of analog.  Unlike your digital cell phone or digital television, though, the main channel of HD Radio is designed to simulcast the analog programming.  When fading occurs, the digital signal will blend into the analog signal, so you won't lose service.  For the 2nd and 3rd HD Radio channels, however, this will not be available, so you will experience a smaller reliable coverage area for those program services than for the main one.

Q.  If I am satisfied with the current service I receive from Northwest Public Radio, will I still have to buy a new radio?

A.  No.  The digital program information is embedded within the existing AM or FM signal, so those analog signals will not go away.

Q.  Is there a fee for this service as there is for satellite radio?   

A:  No.  The HD-1, HD-2 and HD-3 services will be free.

Q.  What factors will affect my HD Radio reception?

A.  Based on our limited experience with this new technology, here is some general information on HD reception. As always, reception depends on proximity to the transmitter site and lack of blocking terrain.

·  HD radio reception in vehicles is generally strong.   

·  HD radio reception in wood-frame homes should be strong.

·  HD radio reception in steel-reinforced buildings is problematic, especially on the first floor of such buildings.  Reception improves near windows and on higher floors.   

Additionally, and this is a very important point, good FM antennas are critical to HD reception.  That’s the primary reason why vehicle reception is best – they have external antennas.  At a minimum, a “T” antenna must be attached to the radio with the top of the “T” in a straight line (horizontally or vertically) and with the wire to the receiver perpendicular to the top of the “T” for a foot or two.  TV “rabbit ears” should also work as well.  With either antenna, a listener should experiment with positioning for best reception.

Q.  How much does is cost to convert stations to HD Radio?

A.  The current estimate to convert all Northwest Public Radio stations to HD is about $1,663,000.  The federal grant program is providing about $1,188,000 toward this project.  We have also received generous support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and the Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation for the projects completed in 2006 and scheduled for 2007.