Mine was shipped yesterday so I will probably get it Friday.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 8:34 PM
Subject: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good


> For all the hoopla, and touting about its accessibility, I guess I was
> expecting more than a piece of below-average junk.  Here are my quick
> findings:
>
> 1.  As with most Am sections, the radio is completely deaf without
> connecting its loop antenna.  I've only had the radio for a couple hours,
> and haven't figured out a way to attach the loop to the radio.  It has
> enough wire that it could be placed on a wall.
>
> 2.  Similarly the Fm dipole is a must.  Interestingly, instead of the F
> connectors that most tuners use these days, this has a cable type screw-on
> connector.  Sensitivity is good, selectivity and immunity to overload on
> mine is only fair.
>
> 3.  Menu Accessibility:  It doesn't say this in the main radio manual so
> unless you look at the Quick-Start Guide for the Blind, you won't know 
> that
> the Menu Mode is disabled when you are in accessibility mode.  You enable
> accessibility mode by pressing the power button, the lefthand button on 
> the
> top with the Select Button which is the lower-left button on the front of
> the radio.
>
> It appears that in this mode, you can set the time by holding the display
> button in for two seconds.  You can also set the alarm time for Alarm 1 
> and
> Alarm 2.  You can press either alarm to be informed that it is on or off.
> What sighties can do is determine whether the alarm wakes you with radio 
> or
> a tone, this doesn't seem to work in accessibility mode.  Sighted people 
> can
> also access the menu and make all sorts of other adjustments such as 12 or
> 24-hour time, tuning modes like U.S. or International Am/Fm band limits 
> and
> channel spacing,Lcd color and brightness, etc.  These are only available 
> in
> the menu when the accessibility mode is turned off.
>
> There is an option in the menu under the regular non-accessible mode to 
> see
> what the hardware/software version of this radio is.  However, there isn't 
> a
> Usb or some other port to update the software, so even if a new version 
> came
> out, I don't know if there is a way to update it.  The manual doesn't 
> state
> that this is possible.
>
> Also, there is no way to control the radio's verbosity.  The buttons
> typically give you way too much feedback.  For example, if you press the
> volume up button, it says something like Volume Up.  That type of feedback
> is nice when you are familiarizing yourself with the radio, but I think
> after a day or so it would be too verbose.  It would be nice to be able to
> set it to advanced mode, where it wouldn't continue to be so verbose.
>
> Sound quality is better than a $29 off-the-shelf clock radio, but that 
> isn't
> saying a whole lot for it.  Those of you who have had the Sony Dream
> Machine, this doesn't compare to it as far as sound quality.  I think the
> manual is written incorrectly.  It claims it has 4 two-inch speakers, but
> without ripping off the front grill or voiding my right to return the 
> radio,
> it looks more like it has two four-inch speakers.
>
> I am not sure if I will keep this radio or not.  Since I don't need a 
> clock
> radio with all sorts of other alarm options, it is one of those things 
> that
> might be nice, but not sure it is worth the cost.  It can receive Hd
> stations, but not the radio reading service subcarriers.  In accessibility
> mode, you can't bookmark songs, read the Hd display for data, or other
> things that I would have thought would have been made available if the 
> IAAIS
> was as involved with the design as they were.
>
> Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
>
> Steve
> Lansing, MI