Radio / FAQ

HD radios sound better.

Regular FM radio has the ability to produce high fidelity sound, but only under the right reception conditions. FM frequencies require a line-of-site path between the FM transmitter and the receiver. Hisses, pops, static, and fading occurs because FM signals are reflected from obstructions such as buildings—or from you when you move around the room where your radio is located.

WPSU currently broadcasts two digital radio signals. The 1st one is a digital version of our regular analogue service. The 2nd one, WPSU2, is a completely separate programming channel that offers many programs not found on our regular service.

HD radio differs by using digital technology.

This technology minimizes reception problems and offers freedom from the interference described above. In addition, digital technology allows stations like WPSU to squeeze in additional services, thanks to cutting-edge compression technology.

HD radios receive more stations than FM radios.

In the past two years, WPSU installed the equipment necessary to broadcast digital signals, in addition to our regular analog signal. Essentially, this allows us to have two signals in the "space" it takes for one. On your HD Radio, these two channels can be found at 91.5 or 90.1 on the dial (depending upon where you listen from). Listeners who tune in at one of our translator signals cannot yet receive the digital signals. We hope to convert those facilities in the next year or so, allowing a larger area in Pennsylvania to receive our digital signal.

WPSU currently broadcasts two digital radio signals. The first one is a digital version of our regular analogue service. The second one, WPSU2, is a completely separate programming channel that offers many programs not found on our regular service.

In addition to receiving WPSU2 on a digital radio, you can also listen to the station online as a MP3 stream though your computer, just as WPSU-FM is available.

More of what you love on WPSU-FM. Our station is programming WPSU2 so that you can hear what you want, when you want. For example, although you generally listen to Morning Edition, maybe on some days, you’d rather hear music on your way to work. Therefore, when Morning Edition is on WPSU-FM, you’ll hear jazz on WPSU2.

Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., when WPSU-FM is playing classical music, you’ll hear news, talk and information on WPSU2—The Diane Rhem Show, Day 2 Day, Fresh Air, and Talk of the Nation.

In the afternoon, it’s BBC World News, PBS’ The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and Democracy Now! from Pacifica.

Weekends will be rich with programs like Performance Today Weekend, Weekend America, Allegheny Front, Take Note, Justice Talking, Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, On The Media, Only A Game, Mountain Stage, Folk Alley, and more.

Visit our schedules page for detailed listings.

Unfortunately, not necessarily. The current digital HD system was designed to offer a service that permits receiving the analog FM signal along with the new digital signals. This requires a careful balance by engineers to establish the power of the digital channels so as to maximize coverage without interference to the existing analog service. Luckily, it takes much less power for a digital signal to cover a specific listening area than its analog equivalent. In order to provide side-by-side analog and digital service in the FM broadcast band, the power of the digital signals is only 1/100th the power of the analog signal. The WPSU analog signal has a power of 2,000 watts. Our two-channel digital service has a power of only 20 watts (45 watts for our 90.1 signal from Kane). Nonetheless, most listeners within the WPSU 91.5/90.1 listening area have reported good results in receiving our digital signals. Our intention is to share the experiences and recommendations of our engineers and listeners who can suggest ways to successfully receive the WPSU digital channels.

Did your HD radio come with a dipole antenna? A dipole antenna can be identified by its shape. It is in the form of a "T." Dipole antennas are inexpensive and available at many electronic retail stores. A dipole antenna captures an FM signal much better than a simple piece of wire. It also receives signals primarily located 90 degrees to the direction of the extended "T" portion of the antenna.

Usually, the higher the dipole is mounted, the better the reception, and you may need to experiment with several locations. Connect the leads of the antenna to the antenna terminals on the back of the HD radio. Tune in to either WPSU or WPSU2 and listen for a while to ensure you have a strong signal that can be consistently received. Sometimes relocating the receiver or even trying a connection to a TV antenna or rabbit ears will bring in the signal. Some listeners report that they have found an amplified indoor antenna works for them. However, in many cases the amplified antenna overloads, and interference from nearby strong stations prevents reception of distant stations.

If this does not produce an acceptable signal and you are a passionate listener to WPSU then it may be necessary to obtain an FM antenna to be mounted in your attic or outside on the roof. FM antennas vary in size and cost depending on the number and type of elements designed to bring in distant signals.

Several listeners in outlying areas with some technical savvy have added an antenna preamplifier to increase the WPSU signal even more. This approach is most effective when the preamplifier is mounted near the antenna. Some experimentation may be needed and results aren't guaranteed. Consider ordering outdoor antennas and amplifiers from a store that has a return policy.

Those of us who have installed an HD radio in our cars have been very pleased with the results. Not only can we hear WPSU2, we also hear WPSU’s main signal without multipath distortion – the pops, clicks, and distortion often heard when driving near tall buildings and in hilly areas.

Installing a new radio seems daunting to some; others like their current factory-installed radios. Professional installers can complete a professional installation of an "after-market" radio such as an HD Radio from JVC or Kenwood in a couple of hours. Templates are available for most car models so the finished installation makes the new HD radio look like it was factory-installed.

Two car radios currently endorsed by NPR Labs that are capable of receiving the WPSU digital signals are the JVC KD-HDR1 and the Kenwood KTC-HR100 TR tuner box.

BMW recently announced a factory-installed HD radio options for their 2008 models. It's likely to take several years for a significant number of automakers to include HD radios in their models. For those who can't wait, the radios mentioned here are great additions to the listening experience in your car.

After reading this FAQ, feel free to contact us with your questions. Also, we'd like to hear from you about your experience with digital reception.

Visit the Ibiquity Web site for general information.

To see the latest HD radio products being offered visit Ibiquity HD radios.