OK so I finally decided that my old school MP3 CD Player in my car was so dated it was time to move into something newer.  My main goal was to find a good Bluetooth head unit.  I was very pleased to find out that Bluetooth does a whole lot more than just stream music to your stereo now a days.  My android phone acts as a second display for the stereo, showing current track info, radio station, can stream Pandora, my stereo can control the phone or the phone can control the stereo. From 20 feet away I can turn the stereo up and down with my phone.  Which is very cool, JVC has a great app that does everything for me.  Now when I read HD radio I laughed and thought it was a gimmick because everything is better in HD right, but how in the heck do you get HD Audio.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I now have a lot more radio stations to listen to.  When I go to my favorite station turns out that it has 3 separate broadcasts.  I just needed a new enough stereo to be able to connect to them.   Man this is amazing. 

I found this website with a list of local stations that offer multiple broadcasts. http://members.shaw.ca/nwbroadcasters/digitalradio.htm - http://members.shaw.ca/nwbroadcasters/digitalradio.htm   My questions are What is the best way to use this stuff.  In the menu/settings of the stereo I can disable analog broadcasts and just use the Digital HD ones, or vice versa or run both. 

      So far my favorite function is the hands free calling.  I jump in the car, and as soon as I turn the key on, the phone recognizes the stereo, the stereo recognizes the phone and the phone display lights up with the CD I am playing, Artist and Song Track, then if someone calls, the phone clicks over and shows the name of the caller on the stereo and on the phone, I can tap the phone or tap the "phone button" on the stereo to answer it.  Then an external Mic connected to the stereo and clipped to my interior light pics up my voice while playing the audio through the cars speakers.   I tested the noise reduction feature with the windows down at 80mph and I could hear and they could hear me perfectly.  The stereo even downloaded my contact list and I can dial a call right from the head unit.  WOW car stereo's have came a long way since my first 8 Track Tape Player.  (No I am not "that" old, but I did have an old car, I am only 36) 

             So whats the deal with this HD Radio stuff.  Frankly with the ability to play / stream Pandora I don't need much more.    I have a 16gb Micro Thumb drive plugged in with my favorite 3000 or so songs, plus whats stored on my phone.  Its almost too much options.

                     One complaint I have is the "cue up time"  I don't know if I am saying that right, but when I swap the input to the USB it takes forever, to start playing.  About 20 seconds of "reading" before it starts playing from the thumb drive.  Is that an issue with the size of the drive or too many songs?  I don't mind dropping my song list down to 600 songs, or buying a smaller drive, like a 4gb drive.  If my math is right 4gb will still be almost 1000 songs.   

Thanks for Any Info anyone has on HD Radios.

Just FYI the head unit I bought is a JVC KD-HDR71BT Link here, http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_45847_JVC-KD-HDR71BT.html?gclid=CMbih7udvrICFWXhQgodnz4ACg - http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_45847_JVC-KD-HDR71BT.htm l?gclid=CMbih7udvrICFWXhQgodnz4ACg

General Features:
 •In-dash AM/FM, CD, MP3, WMA Receiver with Remote
•Single-line Dot-Matrix text display
•HD Radio built-in for reception of high quality radio stations
•iTunes Tagging allows you to bookmark songs for later purchase
•App mode enables greater compatibility with iPhone applications and the stereo
•A2DP audio streaming with compatible Bluetooth phone
•Integrated Pandora internet radio control with attached Android or Iphone/Android
•2-location Variable Color Illumination with 30,000 color options
•CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
•Power Output:
◦Peak: 50 watts x 4 channels
◦RMS: 20 watts x 4 channels
•Wireless remote control included
•CD text information display
•12 or 24 hours digital clock display
•MP3 ID3 Tag Display (Title/Artist/Album)
•Authorized Internet Dealer
•1-year Manufacturer's Warranty
 
Playback and Audio Features:
•Playback of CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, WAV and WMA
•DiAS II AM/FM tuner with 18FM/6AM presets
•Electronic Shock Protection (ESP)
•3-band parametric equalizer with 6 selectable tone curves (5 Preset, 1 User)
•24bit Digital Analog Converter (DAC) to enhance your MP3/WMA playback
•Low Pass and High Pass crossover filter control
•Separate sub woofer level control
 
Expandability Options:
 •3 Sets of 2.5V preamp outputs (front, rear and sub woofer)
•SIRIUS or XM Satellite Radio Ready: SIRIUS Radio Package or XM Radio Package and subscription required and sold separately
•Bluetooth technology supports hands-free calling with a compatible Bluetooth phone
•iPod and iPhone Ready: Standard USB-to-iPod Cable compatible
•Front Auxiliary Input: 3.5mm headphone jack allows connection to portable media devices such as MP3 players
•Front and Rear USB Inputs: USB port allows connection to digital devices such as flash drives, portable media players, etc.
•Steering Wheel Control Ready: PAC SWI-JACKv1 or the Axxess ASWC required and sold separately
 
Bluetooth Features:
•Built-in Bluetooth technology for hands-free talking and audio streaming
•Supports 2 phone full-time connection
•Bluetooth version 2.1 +EDR certified
•Bluetooth range up to 32.8 ft.
•Supports A2DP audio streaming
•Bluetooth Profiles Supported:
◦HFP: Hands Free Profile allows a hands-free car kit to connect to a compatible mobile phone
◦PBAP: Phone Book Access Profile allows the car stereo to display the name of the incoming caller, as well as access the contact list of the mobile phone directly from the car stereo
◦A2DP: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile allows high quality audio to be streamed from an audio device to the car stereo
◦AVRCP: Audio/Video Remote Control Profile supports basic remote control functions (play, pause, etc) via Bluetooth
◦OPP: Object Push Profile for sending basic "objects" such as pictures and other virtual material
•Works with most Bluetooth enabled cell phones
•Includes an external wired microphone for clear, distortion-free talking
 Also Found As: KWHDR81BT