Ford offering HD radios

[Robert Stanton]

Highlights from the article linked below:

The automaker said Wednesday it plans to make HD digital radio available on nearly every 2008 model year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle as a dealer-installed option, giving motorists improved reception and more radio content.

The option will be available for about $279 for standard HD radio, or $299 for HD radio with iPod compatibility, Sears said. There is no monthly subscription fee and the installation will take about 30 minutes and cost $40 to $50, he said.



Owners of most vehicles built from 2005-2007 will be able to have HD radio installed on their vehicles, Sears said.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I like HD Radio.





Tom

 

[Axel Deneselya]

I had it when I was in europe for a while, it did sound better but after a while they shut down broadcasting because so few people had the radios. Satilite radio was not an option over there.



Is the HD programming here special or is it the same commercial stations broadcast in HD?



For me, I have XM mainly because it is commercial free (for the channels I listen to) if they started having commercials, I would cancel and just make more use of my ipod.

 

[Fudged Undies]

HD radio has specialy channels, kinda like satellite. Though it is currently free, I have heard rumors that eventually it will end up as a subscription service otherwise it's going to be bombarded with commercials just like regular radio. HD is already suffering a bit due to poor advertising.



I have gone the way of Sirius, and though I never thought I would pay for radio, considering how much time I spend in my trac and the available variety plus web access, I don't think I'm ever going bact to regular radio.

 

[Tony Tassillo]

Though it is currently free, I have heard rumors that eventually it will end up as a subscription service otherwise it's going to be bombarded with commercials just like regular radio.

Ibiquity Corp. - Founders of HD Radio - Told us personaly (Peripheral Electronics) that HD radio will never need a subscription. HD1 channels still have commercials but the second Multicast of the station (HD2) does not. so for instance..... 99.5 HD1 will have commercials where 99.5 HD2 will not.