HD Radio^®

What is HD Radio^®?

HD Radio is Xperi’s ‘in-band on-channel’ (IBOC) digital radio technology that enhances AM and FM broadcasts by providing high-fidelity digital sound. It enables broadcasters to transmit up to three new digital channels alongside their main frequency, thereby expanding programming variety without requiring additional bandwidth. HD Radio also supports advanced data services, delivering information such as song titles, artist details, and traffic updates directly to digital receivers. Like traditional analog AM and FM broadcasts, HD Radio is FREE for listeners. Learn more about it at https://hdradio.com/.

Why is HD Radio Even More Essential Today?

Enhance Auto Dashboards with Station Metadata

Today’s car dashboards offer a rich array of multimedia content, elevating the listening and interactive media experiences to new heights. In this competitive landscape, HD Radio technology not only enhances traditional radio broadcasts with rich metadata, including song titles, album art, and station information, but also enriches listener engagement by leveraging its data transmission. This data channel can deliver digital traffic updates and instant information, including weather conditions, sports scores, and emergency alerts, enhancing the overall media experience.

Monetize Auto Dashboards with Visual Ads

By integrating synchronized text, images, and even QR codes alongside audio ads, radio stations may increase their ad revenue through enhanced content delivery.

Text ads displaying specials, brand messages, and sponsorships enhance the visual appeal of stations, encouraging extended listenership and raising listener engagement and attention. Learn more about the impact of metadata on ad effectiveness from Quu’s 2024 In-Vehicle Visuals Report, featuring detailed dashboard scoreboards: https://myquu.net/report/

Diversify Content with Additional Channels

HD Radio enables broadcasters to transmit up to three new digital channels alongside their main frequency, expanding their programming variety or lease channels to other organizations without needing additional bandwidth.

This allows stations to diversify their content, catering to niche audiences with specialized programs such as genre-specific music, sports, news, or cultural programming, thus attracting a wider audience. As a result, broadcasters can not only enrich listeners’ choices but also tap into new revenue streams, making it a strategic move in a competitive media landscape.

Making HD Radio Easier and More Cost-Effective

Nautel leads the charge in simplifying HD Radio implementation with its advanced software-based solutions. Leveraging the power of software-based HD Radio Air Chain technology, Nautel seamlessly integrates all essential HD Radio components — including the Xperi Gen4 Importer, Exporter, and Exgine implementations — directly into the transmitter.

This consolidation not only simplifies implementation but also significantly reduces hardware requirements, resulting in substantial cost savings for broadcasters. With advanced features facilitating seamless changeover to backup air chains, broadcasters can ensure uninterrupted transmissions even in the face of unforeseen challenges. Furthermore, Nautel’s synchronization technology ensures precise alignment of FM and HD signals, eliminating the risk of HD FM blend drift.

Nautel HD Radio Solutions

Whether you prefer a software-based or hardware-based approach, Nautel provides comprehensive options tailored to your needs. As pioneers in the industry, Nautel offers the first and only trial program, allowing qualifying stations to experience HD Radio before committing.

Software-based HD Radio

Introducing Nautel’s “Just Add Audio“, a groundbreaking software-based approach that consolidates all components of HD Radio implementation into one streamlined solution. From audio processing to importer, exporter, exgine, support for station logo, album art, artist experience, PSD, RDS, and more, everything can be seamlessly integrated within a single transmitter, the GV²—the first in the industry capable of integrating all HD Radio™ components inside the transmitter. No additional hardware is required. With fewer boxes, reduced costs, and simplified complexity, you get everything you need in a single transmitter. Just connect an IP Audio feed, and its Audio In and RF Out —effortless and efficient.

Software-based HD Radio Air Chain Features:

• Livewire® AoIP inputs for all audio streams
• Omnia for Nautel audio processing for FM and up to 4 x HD
• Blend-Lock FM/HD Synchronization eliminates HD Radio Time Alignment Drift
• Gen4 vPorter software-based Importer and Exporter
• Gen4 vExgine modulator with PAR2
• Station logo, Album Art, Artist experience, PSD, RDS support
• Air Chain Selector allows automatic selection of multiple complete air chain inputs
• MPX & E2X STL solution for combined FM+HD: 3 Mbps bandwidth
• GPS not required for single transmitter deployments

Traditional Hardware-based HD Radio

Nautel also supports the traditional external Importer/Exporter architecture giving broadcasters the most flexibility possible in how the chose to implement their HD deployment.

Built upon proven importer/exporter hardware-based technology, the Nautel HD Multicast+ offers broadcasters a reliable and robust solution for HD Radio implementation. This all-in-one solution reduces complexity and cost, and is built on a high performance, extensible 2 RU platform. Major features include multi-channel audio card, GPS receiver, and Nautel Reliable HD Transport, plus up to two optional Orban 1101e audio cards. The HD MultiCast+ can be configured to operate as Import/Exporter, Exporter, or Importer for best flexibility to adapt to changing needs. NEW: Optional Omnia for Nautel software audio processor for HD channels. The software is pre-installed, just purchase the license that matches your needs.

Is HD Radio Broadcasting Right for You?

Whether you’re considering launching your first HD station or evaluating the investment for going digital, Nautel provides an excellent opportunity for you to explore opportunities for revenue, ratings, & enhanced content for your listeners via the HD Digital Radio Test Drive.

The HD Digital Radio Test Drive aims to remove many of the obstacles that prevent many stations from adopting HD Radio. This initiative offers you the opportunity to establish a significant presence on car dashboards and test the impact of graphics, advertising, and new content in your specific market.

Utilizing Nautel’s software-based air chain technology, the HD Digital Radio Test Drive makes it easier for you to experiment with HD Radio transmission in your market for up to six months. This trial can help you unlock new listeners, content, and revenue opportunities without the immediate need to invest $40-50K in HD equipment for eligible broadcasters.
Learn more here >

Nautel HD Radio Innovations

• Blend-Lock FM/HD Synchronization eliminates HD Radio Time Alignment Drift.
• HD PowerBoost™ GEN4 technology increases the HD Radio power output and efficiency, allowing broadcasters to meet the FCC standards while reducing costs and space requirements.
• Spectrum/Efficiency Optimizer enables broadcasters to reach peak hybrid IBOC efficiency by dynamically optimizing digital transmission parameters for improved spectral performance. This approach can enhance digital efficiencies by up to 15%.
• HD Radio MER Instrumentation enables real-time measurement of the Modulation Error Ratio (MER), adhering to NRSC standards without requiring external equipment. This facilitates the diagnosis of issues such as interference with MP3 carriers near the analog signal, caused by over-modulation of the FM analog signal.
• Asymmetrical HD Radio transmission allows broadcasters to enhance one sideband for maximum digital coverage without affecting adjacent stations, if interference prevents increasing IBOC injection levels on both sidebands.
• MP11 enhanced data mode operation is supported by the GV² Series. Advanced data modes provide broadcasters with higher HD Radio data rates, supporting additional audio and data services such as traffic reporting or emerging IoT applications. With MP11, an extra 24 kbps is available for data transmission or to support an additional audio channel.
• HD Multiplex offers a spectrally and energy-efficient way to implement all-digital radio using a multiplexed implementation of Xperi’s Gen4 HD Radio transmission technology. It enables the placement of up to 15 audio streams or stations within 600 kHz of signal bandwidth, or up to nine audio streams in 400 kHz of signal bandwidth.
• EAS At The Edge, demonstrated at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas, reimagines EAS alerting for radio’s increasingly virtual, IP-driven world by using IP-based content distribution to precisely route emergency alerts. The system transitions from hardware-centric models to an intelligent, one-to-many approach, employing the Livewire® AoIP protocol for geo-targeted alert insertion across multiple streams, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
• Omnia® for Nautel covers all FM and HD Radio audio processing needs and provides Livewire AoIP inputs for all audio streams.

Nautel HD Radio Platforms

GV² – Optimized for HD Radio

Engineered using Nautel’s field-proven binary combined high-power architecture, the GV² Series offers the industry’s highest digital power outputs, commercial-grade instrumentation, advanced intelligent features, and award-winning control via Nautel’s AUI. The GV² transmitters, incorporating significant technology enhancements, are the first in the industry capable of integrating all HD Radio components inside the transmitter. The GV² supports HD Radio with Xperi Gen4 Importer, Exporter, and Exgine implementations for HD Radio encoding, and includes station logo and artist experiences. It is the first solution that synchronously locks FM and HD signals to eliminate HD FM blend drift. Omnia® for Nautel covers all FM and HD Radio audio processing needs and provides Livewire AoIP inputs for all audio streams without requiring additional hardware.

VSHD – Go Digital with your VS

Make your VS Series transmitters ready for HD Radio broadcasting by adding the VSHD Digital Exciter.

The VSHD employs ‘direct-to-channel’ audio conversion for superior signal fidelity, eliminating issues such as aging, microphonics, and filtering. Designed for seamless integration with VS Series transmitters, the VSHD supports IBOC transmission in both all-digital and hybrid modes. Audio source options include AES/EBU, analog UR, modulated and unmodulated SCA inputs, RBDS/RDS generator, and composite inputs. Controlled either locally or remotely via the associated VS transmitter’s front panel display or remote AUI, the VSHD exciter provides advanced functionality with ease of operation.

AM IBOC – HD for AM

The AM IBOC is Nautel’s next generation AM digital exciter.

When paired with Nautel’s HD MultiCast+ or Exporter Plus, the AM IBOC digital exciter allows for easy transmission of an AM HD Radio signal. By utilizing a built in Exgine card and digital AM exciter, the AM IBOC can accept the HD Radio digital program feed directly from the exporter via LAN connection. The Exgine card then decodes the data and produces I and Q signals for the AM exciter which then outputs phase and magnitude to the transmitter allowing it to broadcast a digital signal. Operational settings such as frequency, audio inputs and other settings are configurable from the AM IBOC’s full feature front panel display.