IBOC Technology

The IBOC signals are still in the same frequencies used by AM, FM, and HD Radio stations today. They operate on different channels than analog transmissions, but if the receiver doesn’t have the ability to read digital signals yet, we will still be able to tune in on old frequency. All we need is a new receiver or car stereo with an antenna input jack or other mobile device or laptop computer with a headphone jack. As we mentioned before, the only difference between digital radio and analog is IBOC transmission encoding.

IBOC Technology: What Is It?

In the near future, traditional subscription radio services will be replaced by a system known as IBOC Technology. This word refers to a 10-10 form of digital broadcasting where the mobile device is used to generate a local station. The IBOC signal is then picked up and transmitted by traditional terrestrial stations, cordless receivers, and wireless devices such as tablets and laptops. IBOC technology can also be delivered on over-the-air channels similar to the old analog broadcasts of today’s radio stations. But IBOC transmissions and analog signals will be in competition. When will this happen? That depends on the FCC’s ability to regulate the airwaves.

IBOC technology is expected to replace traditional radio broadcasting because it can deliver digital audio channels at a fraction of the cost while providing many of the same features. The principal advantage that IBOC technology provides over traditional radio broadcasting is that it enables listeners to listen to multiple stations through their portable digital devices in real-time.
IBOC technology is the result of the collaboration of two major industry players. The first is the public broadcasting industry, which has successfully launched its own digital services, and the second is an electronics manufacturer, which has been working to develop a handset that can support digital broadcasts.