The letters "HD" held no real significance to any of us a mere ten years ago. My, how things have changed. Mention HD now, and everyone knows that it refers to high definition television, which is an incredibly clear picture. Well, HD is not just about televisions. It also applies to radios.

The idea of a high definition radio may seem a bit far fetched at first. Since there is no picture, how can you make it any clearer? Well, the HD in this case refers to the radio signal. Traditionally, radio signals have been sent in analog format. This degrades the sound, which is why songs on CDs often sound different from what you hear on radio. FM analog is fairly clear, but you can really hear hissing and such on AM channels.

So, just what is HD radio? Well, it refers to the quality of the signal. Instead of analog, the signal is sent in a digital format. Practically speaking, this means you get a sound that is CD quality. There is no more pops, scratching noises or fade in the sound. Your FM channels will sound stunningly clear. The AM channel will sound as good as your FM channel normally does.

Many people assume that HD radio is one of those upgrades you have to take or have to pay for. Actually, this is not the case. The HD aspect is merely an improvement in radio technology in general. This is not a situation like satellite television where you must buy a dish and get a subscription. The only additional cost in this situation is for an HD compatible receiver in your car. Many cars now come with this as part of the base package, but you might need to upgrade.

Is HD radio the wave of the future? Undoubtedly! The improvement in sound is such that it will inevitably become the dominant form of radio transmission within the next five to ten years.

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