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In newer cars with video displays and HD Radio capability, the screen can show a small image next to the song information. It's typically album cover art for t

In newer cars with video displays and HD Radio capability, the screen can show a small image next to the song information. It's typically album cover art for the song that is playing, but a lot of stations just put their station logo up and keep it there. https://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/561/2016/05/2014-mazda3-radio-hd-1024x570.png https://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56... Satellite radio had this capability very early, and HD Radio seems to want to keep up with that. The data itself is sent on a sideband data channel that rides along with the traditional FM channel. Lots of links to read up starting here: https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/HD_Radio_(FM) https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/HD_Radio_(FM) The signal specification can be read here: https://www.sigidwiki.com/images/f/f6/HD_Radio_FM.pdf https://www.sigidwiki.com/images/f/f6/HD_Radio_FM.pdf

ThinkingGuy 5y ago
It's also possible to decode this data with an RTL-SDR receiver: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/displaying-live-weather-and-traffic-data-from-hd-radio-nrsc-5-signals/ https://www.rtl-sdr.com/displaying-live-weather-and-traffic-...
- koz1000 5y ago
  What's interesting is that this traffic map is also loaded on Mazda cars, but shown in a different application. Somehow the system searches for a HDRadio signal in the background to update this map from an independent receiver. I've had AM radio on for long periods and then load this app, and the traffic map is up to date. I've also driven to a different city and the map is now showing the new city.
jrochkind1 5y ago
If you asked drivers "would you like a brand icon shown on your screen for the radio station, the trade-off is a couple bucks more expensive car and more opportunity for bugs to crash your radio" -- who would say yes? Does anyone actually want this "HD Radio" technology, did anyone ask for it? Who are the car manufacturers (and radio standards setters for that matter) working for?
- xxpor 5y ago
  Yes, my last car I specifically looked for HD Radio support. The metadata is nice to have, but the audio quality is genuinely much better. Especially on AM, where a lot of sports broadcasts still are, depending on the market.
  - OvidNaso 5y ago
    And its where the stations hide their good content. it's no spotify of course, but a way more diverse offering on many stations hd2 and hd3 signals, still without ads on several as well.
- thrashh 5y ago
  Sure, your point stands if you pose it that way. But if you pose it as seeing album art for music that you listen to (and titles!), that’s going to get a yes from a lot of people (myself included).
- koz1000 5y ago
  "Would you like a car that updates its entire control panel, unannounced, with a software upgrade and will hide familiar buttons on you when you need them the most?" https://twitter.com/ArtemR/status/1488030592880967680 https://twitter.com/ArtemR/status/1488030592880967680
  - Handytinge 5y ago
    Whilst a lot of people (myself included) agree the recent UX change is awful, it doesn't seem relevant to the GP.
- gxqoz 5y ago
  I believe moving to digital also allows stations to broadcast more channels. For instance, KUOW, the source of this bug, has KUOW-2 and KUOW-3 only accessible via HD Radio that broadcast things like the BBC news feed and classical music. Of course, maybe you'd like to have that option without being exposed to logos.
- 5y ago

ThinkingGuy 5y ago

It's also possible to decode this data with an RTL-SDR receiver: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/displaying-live-weather-and-traffic-data-from-hd-radio-nrsc-5-signals/ https://www.rtl-sdr.com/displaying-live-weather-and-traffic-...

koz1000 5y ago
What's interesting is that this traffic map is also loaded on Mazda cars, but shown in a different application. Somehow the system searches for a HDRadio signal in the background to update this map from an independent receiver. I've had AM radio on for long periods and then load this app, and the traffic map is up to date. I've also driven to a different city and the map is now showing the new city.

jrochkind1 5y ago

If you asked drivers "would you like a brand icon shown on your screen for the radio station, the trade-off is a couple bucks more expensive car and more opportunity for bugs to crash your radio" -- who would say yes? Does anyone actually want this "HD Radio" technology, did anyone ask for it? Who are the car manufacturers (and radio standards setters for that matter) working for?

xxpor 5y ago
Yes, my last car I specifically looked for HD Radio support. The metadata is nice to have, but the audio quality is genuinely much better. Especially on AM, where a lot of sports broadcasts still are, depending on the market.
- OvidNaso 5y ago
  And its where the stations hide their good content. it's no spotify of course, but a way more diverse offering on many stations hd2 and hd3 signals, still without ads on several as well.
thrashh 5y ago
Sure, your point stands if you pose it that way. But if you pose it as seeing album art for music that you listen to (and titles!), that’s going to get a yes from a lot of people (myself included).
koz1000 5y ago
"Would you like a car that updates its entire control panel, unannounced, with a software upgrade and will hide familiar buttons on you when you need them the most?" https://twitter.com/ArtemR/status/1488030592880967680 https://twitter.com/ArtemR/status/1488030592880967680
- Handytinge 5y ago
  Whilst a lot of people (myself included) agree the recent UX change is awful, it doesn't seem relevant to the GP.
gxqoz 5y ago
I believe moving to digital also allows stations to broadcast more channels. For instance, KUOW, the source of this bug, has KUOW-2 and KUOW-3 only accessible via HD Radio that broadcast things like the BBC news feed and classical music. Of course, maybe you'd like to have that option without being exposed to logos.
5y ago