# What is Hi-Definition Radio?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-hi-definition-radio/443864>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 4, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-hi-definition-radio/443864 "2008-04-04T00:41:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-hi-definition-radio/443864/1 "2008-04-04T00:41:28Z")

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My local NPR station announced that they “broadcast in high definition”. What exactly is this? I haven’t noticed any difference.

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**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-hi-definition-radio/443864/2 "2008-04-04T00:57:17Z")

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> **[HD Radio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Radio)**
>
> HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for an in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD Radio is used primarily by AM and FM radio stations in the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, Mexico and the Philippines, with a few implementations outside North America.
> The term "on channel" is a misnomer because the system actually broadca...