Is the Alliance Finally Getting a Clue?

[dumber than a box of hair]

http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/i/Alliance%20Text%20Rebate%20Form_R5.pdf

Summary:  If you text a word to a text address, and complete and mail a form, you get $50 back on the models of HD radios listed on the form.

Many of us have said repeatedly how bad the promotion is for this tech, and how the Alliance fails to understand why their arch-enemy, satellite radio, is in so many cars while their stuff sits on shelves, unsold and discounted down to the close-out bins.  Maybe someone finally clomped them on the forehead ("Wow!  I could'a had an HD radio!").

[Chuck]

http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/i/Alliance%20Text%20Rebate%20Form_R5.pdf

Summary:  If you text a word to a text address, and complete and mail a form, you get $50 back on the models of HD radios listed on the form.

Many of us have said repeatedly how bad the promotion is for this tech, and how the Alliance fails to understand why their arch-enemy, satellite radio, is in so many cars while their stuff sits on shelves, unsold and discounted down to the close-out bins.  Maybe someone finally clomped them on the forehead ("Wow!  I could'a had an HD radio!").

Dang!  It seems I bought too soon.  About a month ago, I got a Sony for $63 at Best Buy.  I had some coupons that gave me a $55.00 credit, so when all was said and done, I got out of the store for less than $10.  If I could have used this rebate, I would actually be paid about $40 for buying the radio.   That would have made me one of the first people to actually make a profit out of HD Radio.  Amazing!     

[oldjohnny]

http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/i/Alliance%20Text%20Rebate%20Form_R5.pdf

Summary:  If you text a word to a text address, and complete and mail a form, you get $50 back on the models of HD radios listed on the form.

Many of us have said repeatedly how bad the promotion is for this tech, and how the Alliance fails to understand why their arch-enemy, satellite radio, is in so many cars while their stuff sits on shelves, unsold and discounted down to the close-out bins.  Maybe someone finally clomped them on the forehead ("Wow!  I could'a had an HD radio!").

Forget the HD feature, I am now eyeing the Sony XDR F1HD. Great Dxing stereo I hear.

[KB1OKL]

http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/i/Alliance%20Text%20Rebate%20Form_R5.pdf

Summary:  If you text a word to a text address, and complete and mail a form, you get $50 back on the models of HD radios listed on the form.

Many of us have said repeatedly how bad the promotion is for this tech, and how the Alliance fails to understand why their arch-enemy, satellite radio, is in so many cars while their stuff sits on shelves, unsold and discounted down to the close-out bins.  Maybe someone finally clomped them on the forehead ("Wow!  I could'a had an HD radio!").

I wonder if they will have to give the 50 bucks back when they return the radio?

[Savage]

The Alliance can promote all it wants, in either a savvy or a clueless way, their choice - and it won't make any difference.  If the system doesn't work acceptably in the field - I argue it doesn't - nobody is going to listen or "buy" radios even if they're free.  The key problem with HD Radio is: it doesn't offer sufficient benefit to anyone other than a handful of mad-scientist inventors.

As has been endlessly noted: the AM version not only doesn't offer a decent improvement over correctly-processed analog mono, it's actually harmful to IBOC originating stations and to other broadcasters on adjacent channels.  The FM mode is not robust enough, offers limited coverage and not enough of an audio improvement to be thought worthwhile by most consumers.  The HD-2 and HD-3 channels offer solutions in search of problems.  As Jerry DelColliano succinctly remarked, the last thing the US needs is "more radio stations."  You'd think FM licensees would get this.  Why introduce more market fragmentation?  It doesn't make sense commercially.

The HD Radio experiment is heading into the tank.  Where it belongs.  As noted before, most broadcasters wouldn't install HD equipment if it was free.

[Play Freebird]

Forget the HD feature, I am now eyeing the Sony XDR F1HD. Great Dxing stereo I hear.

I ordered a Sony XDR-F1HD this week from Amazon for $100, so this promotion comes as a pleasant surprise.  The form doesn't specify that the text message must be sent before purchase or sent from a cell phone, so to avoid the possibility of "Text Spam", I'll send it using an free online SMS service next time I'm at the public library.  However, I see that employees of "corporate investors in iBiquity Digital are not eligible for rebate" so if you work for one of those big radio groups, don't bother.

By the way, there's a mod to force this tuner to analog at:

http://www.ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

Unfortunately, Sony didn't take full advantage of DSP to improve the AM analog bandwidth and signal/noise, but I'm looking forward to the FM stereo performance which appears incredible.

[Chuck]

Unfortunately, Sony didn't take full advantage of DSP to improve the AM analog bandwidth and signal/noise, but I'm looking forward to the FM stereo performance which appears incredible.

It is a really good FM tuner, especially when coupled to a good outdoor antenna. Thanks for the forced analog link.

[Chad-Stevens]

Here's a rebate form that doesn't require any text messaging:  http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/i/rebateform-062708.pdf