HD Radio; does anyone have one?

[Stonecove]

I am looking into getting an HD radio. I currently have a subscription to XM radio for my truck and I use my cell phone to listen to I Heart Radio when I walk the dog or cut the grass. I mainly use them for talk radio so hi fidelity is not much of an issue.
The XM works great but it costs something like $170.00 a year and I can't use it anywhere but the truck. The I Heart Radio only works sometimes with numerous interuptions (just like my Sprint phone service). It hasn't worked at all this week!
HD Radio seems to solve both issues. Just buy a new palm sized radio and listen for free.
This seems to be a no brainer. What am I missing.
Thanks for your input.
Stonecove

 

[speedyquad]

i have had various xm radios in the past. always bought the ones that i can move from the vehicle to the house. but i too got tired of paying for it. i have 2 radios that ahve sat for about 2 years now. i have considered resubscribing, but haven't hd radio is not readily available in my area.

 

[labworm]

I don't need no HD XM radio.

 

[kent11202]

My Mercedes came with an HD setup and I really liked it. Unfortunately, I didn't like the car. LOL

When we bought a new car for my wife, the HD was part of an upgraded stereo system I thought was too expensive. Now I wish I had spent the money because Sirius/XM is NOT worth the money for the time we actually use it.

I just told them to NOT renew the exisitng subscription and not three days later I got a letter saying they were "reconnecting" my Sirius, at no charge, for a month and that for $25 they would extend it for six months. Oh, and they would "waive" the reactivation fee.

The "small" print said that by accepting the $25 deal I would end up with "automatic renewal" - not in this life thank you.

 

[sipowicz]

With HD radio, when I imagine what the people look like, they are much sharper images.

 

[Badquaker]

I've had it. It depends on what's available in your local market to decided if it's worth it. It did allow me to receive several AM talk stations on FM.

If you drive out into the outskirts, you may loose the HD channels.

 

[CoronaDan]

I used to be a huge fan of XM radio. But just couldn't justify e expense. Had the free 90 day trial with my new rig but didn't miss it on day 91.

I have, however, become a big fan of Pandora! Free app for the iPhone and plays wirelessly through the Bluetooth connection. Super music service. I even stream it outside on the patio with outdoor speakers hooked up to my old stereo system.

My ideal Friday night is music on the patio, a fire in the chiminea, cigars and drinks with the wife. Other company is optional.

 

[speedyquad]

if you can stream from a phone, try slacker radio. i was never a fan of streaming radio over the internet until i found slacker. pandora was always way off base as i would only hear on or so songs fro the artist that i picked.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If higher quality sound is not the purpose (just listening to talk radio) then what is the advantage of an HD digital receiver versus analog?

 

[truckemup97]

Phil, HD is kind of misleading. What the radio does is to allow you to access programming on a different spectrum. Most HD channels are nationally programmed stations or rebroadcasts of local stations.

I'm a big fan of XM, but then again, I'm in my truck most, if not all, of the day. I don't stay in one area, so with XM I don't have to keep changing channels looking for something I enjoy. I've listened to HD in other people's cars and in a couple of rentals. It's pretty good, but I'm not going to spend a bunch of money to get it. If it's a few bucks more next time I upgrade the radio in the truck, I'll probably get it. If it's more than $50, well, I'm kind of a cheapskate.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Thanks Truckemup97. I love electronic gadgets like this, but I really don't understand the product. From what I have read, you still have to be within the broadcast range of the station just as analog, and when/if the signal gets weak the HD radio changes mode to analog in an attempt to pickup the analog signal. The real advantage of digital high fidelity would seem to be lost on a small handheld anyway.

 

[7tenz]

I don't have HD rdio either. I imagine it's the same 10 or 20 songs every day, played 20 minutes out of the hour and calling it "Classic". The other 40 minutes would probably be the usual obnoxious advertisements.